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Welcome to our article on The Best Shoulder and Neck Massager (Updated)
The neck and shoulders are common areas where tension is most visible. After all, many people spend the majority of their day slouched over the computer screen or commuting on public transit looking down at their phones. This can lead to tension through the neck and shoulder area as well as stiff necks.
Plus daily visits to the physio, chiropractor or massage therapist can cost a pretty penny. It would be nice to have an alternative that doesn’t break the bank.
That’s where neck and shoulder massagers come into the picture. There are a ton of variety of products to choose from. We did the research, and the due diligence in finding a perfect balance between relief and price of the massagers to give you a highly curated list of the best shoulder and neck massagers.
Brookstone Cordless Shiatsu Neck and Shoulder Massager
Brookstone – as you may already know – is an internationally recognized massage product brand. It’s no surprise that their neck and back massager is one of our top choices.
According to Candice Matthews, a product design engineer at Brookstone:
This product is cordless and uses the popular massage style Shiatsu which is a circular motion to alleviate your body. It is a portable masseuse.
The massager contains two sets of Shiatsu massage rollers contained in mesh that turn red when the heat is turned on. On both sides, there is a strap with a trapezoid-shaped handle.
Total control of your massage.
With the handles, you can freely adjust the angle, the placement, and the strength of the massage by applying more pressure on the handles. Using the control panel, you can select clockwise or counterclockwise rotation of the massage balls or automatic which will switch directions at intervals. This is a very versatile piece of equipment as you could also use it on the lower back, feet, and legs.
Featuring a 3D deep kneading massage, the Brookstone also boasts 16 Shiatsu massage nodes and is ergonomically designed so that it will curve around the neck and shoulders.
Lithium-ion battery for untethered massage experience.
The device stays on for about 1.5 hours with the heat on and 3 hours without heat when not connected to an outlet with the AC adapter. So it can stay portable for about a session or two.
PROS:
The Brookstone Shiatsu Neck & Lumbar Massager is a versatile massager, capable of massaging not only the neck and shoulders but back, legs, arms, and feet.
Features:
– 3D Deep Kneading Massage
– 16 Shiatsu Massage Nodes
– 1 Speed
– Built-in heat function
– Clockwise & Counterclockwise
– 2 Arm handles for Pressure Control
– Ergonomic curved design to fit snug around neck. Extra cushion for comfort.
– Premium PU leather for easy care & durable use
CONS:
Deep massage lovers may be disappointed because it’s not strong enough. If you have a muscular build like one of our staff, the massage is a bit light.
Nekteck Shiatsu Massage Pillow
One would think that a business called ‘Nekteck’ that it started by selling neck massagers. Interestingly enough, they started by providing mobile phone accessories. Neck massagers are only a small portion of the suite of products they offer (most of it is adapters, chargers, and phone accessories).
Anyway, I digress. Nekteck’s design is similar to Brookstone’s neck massager but with two key differences:
- It is not cordless
- It has a sling on each side as opposed to a handle
Made out of faux leather, the unit is very comfortable to rest on any part of the body. The four buttons allow you to power it on, change speed and direction, and turn the heat on. The 8 Shiatsu massage heads rotate circularly to give you the kneading experience.
It is versatile
This massager is versatile which means it can be used on many parts of the body including the abs, upper thigh muscle, calves, and even your feet. The straps give you the creativity to place it anywhere.
It’s strong
We usually gauge the strengths of a massager by how much it protrudes through the mesh. Or simply put, how bumpy the part where the actual massage happens. It’s pretty bumpy and we recommend using a towel if you want to dampen the strength.
In a perfect world…
The massager wouldn’t have to turn off after 15 minutes. The heat is hardly noticeable, just lukewarm.
Zyllion ZMA-13 Neck Massager Pillow
Zyllion is a familiar name – in a good way. In our review of the massage chairs, their customer service responded right away when we asked them for more photos of their ZMA14 massage cushion.
One-button operation and ultra-slim
The pillow is made out of leatherette and is soft and easy to clean. There are no straps or handles to pull on it to increase the pressure of the massage heads. At 3.5 inches in thickness, the slim profile makes it easier to carry and store.
There is one button on the unit and it’s pressed once to turn it on, again to keep it on without heat, and another to power it off.
Deep kneading Shiatsu massage
The pillow contains two sets of two massage balls that rotate circularly. Unfortunately, you cannot control when the directions change; it will automatically change directions every minute.
The strength depends on how much you lean on the pillow and what you lean against. The more rigid the surface is, the stronger the massage will be. In our tests, we found it more effective in upright positions such as a computer desk or a car seat rather than lying down on it. The contours of the pillow help fit the crevice of the neck and other body parts nicely.
Mesh wears off over time
The kryptonite of this massager is the durability of the mesh that contains the massage nodes. With force on both sides of the mesh, after about 6 months the mesh will rip, showing the white ball rollers beneath them. However, Zyllion is responsive to refunds and replacements.
You may be interested in our article on the TENS unit.
