Homedics SBM-300H Therapist Select Shiatsu PLUS Massaging Cushion with Heat
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Our Price: $179.99 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Health Care See more product details |
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Customer Reviews of Homedics SBM-300H Therapist Select Shiatsu PLUS Massaging Cushion with Heat
Customer Review: Good Value - but one size does NOT fit all
Summary: 4 Stars
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
First let's clear up one issue, there is NO product available that can reproduce or compensate for the benefits of a real massage from a professional masseuse.
That having been said, most of us have neither the time (nor money) to utilize the services of such a professional on a regular basis, and this product (like many others) can provide some daily comfort and relief for not much time or money.
PROS
The combined deep tissue and shiatsu features give a full range of good penetration and relaxing muscle manipulation.
The added heat feature is a nice touch.
The spot massage (my favorite) allows you to hold the massage motion in one place specific to personal aches or targeted areas.
The unit is well made, sturdy, foldable (with Velcro strap) reasonably portable and has a pouch to house the remote to prevent damage.
CONS
One size does NOT fit all, and although this unit is much better than many I have tried, it falls foul of the same problem.
I am 6'2" and don't consider that to be overly tall, but using the unit in a high back leather office chair (using it on a soft chair is not recommended) the massage action reaches only to about 8 inches below the nape of my neck.
Laying the pad out flat on a bed is also not effective to move the pad into a better position as it doesn't give enough support, and as good as it is, you don't get even a reasonable "upper back" massage.
All that said, this unit is better than some cheaper models, looks more durable and the heat and spot features make it worth the extra few dollars. The hardest thing about owning this massager is being disciplined enough to take 20-30 minutes a day to pamper yourself.
Customer Review: This definitely is a life saver
Summary: 4 Stars
The Homedics Back Massager is not as good as a massage given by a masseuse or masseur, but it definitely can make your life better. For the price of a single full body massage, you can have an item that can give massage after massage for the life of the machine. It is not a perfect item and it needs to be used with care, but used correctly, it can definitely alleviate tension and pain.
Today is an example. I awoke with absolutely savage back pain as a result of spasms. (I have a very mild case of scoliosis, which results in ongoing pain right in between the shoulder blades.) After some pain killer and a hot bath, my back had relaxed enough to tolerate using my back massager. Although my back was too sensitive for it to massage the area that was causing me the most pain, it did help the areas of my lower back relax.
Even better, I like to use the Back Massager after a particularly stressful day. I have several Homedics products. Although I hate the neck massager, I'm a huge fan of the Shiatsu pillow (still my favorite of all their products). I also very much enjoy using the foot massager.
The one real trick with the back massager is putting it in the correct chair. I have found that if I try to use it on my recliner, my back is not properly aligned for the massage. It can result in a massage that is quite painful. I find that the back massager works best in a solid, fairly upright chair. Although this wouldn't be my first positioning choice in getting a massage, the results are worth it. It does work well in my computer desk chair, as well as a straight back kitchen chair. It does not work very well laying down. The rotating balls just hit certain spots with too much force.
But if you use the back massager in a good chair, this can provide a very decent massage. It isn't in the class of a massage by a real life masseuse or masseur, but it will do until you can get to one.
Customer Review: FYI
Summary: 5 Stars
First let me say that I have really enjoyed all of the massage options this machine has to offer. Secondly, the price was also just right and the "FREE SHIPPING" option from Amazon was even faster than expected. Now with that said, this machine does a GREAT job of massaging your lower, mid and upper back areas. I personally enjoy the spot and heat massage options, because it really works out those tight knots on my back that are hard to get too with most regular hand held massagers.
I had tried this shiatsu masssager out prior while I was waiting for my prescriptions at Walgreens and I had liked the feel and options available, but apparently their used one felt VERY different compared to the brand new one I just bought. The new one is much more firm and stiff, so it takes some getting used to, but I have figured out how to manuever my back against the machine without major discomfort. This machine can also leave you a little bit sore at first, but that usually only happens if you press up too hard against the machine. I'm more than sure that once it gets broken in, it won't feel so stiff.
The adjustable width control feature is also a great option, BUT it can only be adjusted while you are using the rolling massage setting. However, once the desired width is set, you can click back to the normal shiatsu massage setting and it will recall the previous width setting. So far this machine has worked out pretty darn good for me. I had thought about buying the other shiatsu massager that had the built in neck massager, but my wife is too short, so this one worked out better for both of us. I also have the shiatsu pillow, so we use that instead, PLUS it give us more control over what parts of the neck we want massaged, not to mention it was more cost effective this way too.
Customer Review: Great product, perfected, better than SBM 500-H
Summary: 4 Stars
I purchased the SBM-500H because I thought at last there was a "massage technology" with heat that I could afford. I liked the idea that it had two massage centres- the back and the shoulders, and was the latest model of massage cushion from Charlescraft. I took this model home for 2 weeks to try it out, but found the position of the back on the cushion to be a little pushed forward. I felt this caused a little distance between the lower back and the cushion.
I returned the cushion after two weeks for the following reason:
-disliked the back position
-felt the massage to be a little rough
-shoulder massage does not move automatically up and down on the shoulders, but remains instead in one position- position can be changed by user.
In exchange I purchased Charlescraft's earlier model, the SBM-300H for half the price.
I truly think this model has been perfected for the following reasons:
-the massage, although not soft, is not overly rough and seems "perfect"
-does not try to do everything, some of them badly
-enough choices including spot control
Conclusion:
I believe that SBM-500H was rushed to market, whereas SBM-300H, in my opinion, is the cushion that Charlescraft perfected. I think what Charlescraft should make next is the exact same mechanism and software as SBM-300H that goes higher- perhaps up to the shoulders, plus a neck massage extension that moves as high as the top of the back of the head. The neck massage balls should also be automatically programmed and offer spot treatment. The cushion design should allow placement on a chair, just as easily as it can be lain on the floor.
If these features were all included and perfected, I would upgrade my SBM-300H to it.
Customer Review: Great product- perfected- better than SBM-500H
Summary: 4 Stars
I purchased the SBM-500H because I thought at last there was a "massage technology" with heat that I could afford. I liked the idea that it had two massage centres- the back and the shoulders, and was the latest model of massage cushion from Charlescraft. I took this model home for 2 weeks to try it out, but found the position of the back on the cushion to be a little pushed forward. I felt this caused a little distance between the lower back and the cushion.
I returned the cushion after two weeks for the following reason:
-disliked the back position
-felt the massage to be a little rough
-shoulder massage does not move automatically up and down on the shoulders, but remains instead in one position- position can be changed by user.
In exchange I purchased Charlescraft's earlier model, the SBM-300H for half the price.
I truly think this model has been perfected for the following reasons:
-the massage, although not soft, is not overly rough and seems "perfect"
-does not try to do everything, some of them badly
-enough choices including spot control
Conclusion:
I believe that SBM-500H was rushed to market, whereas SBM-300H, in my opinion, is the cushion that Charlescraft perfected. I think what Charlescraft should make next is the exact same mechanism and software as SBM-300H that goes higher- perhaps up to the shoulders, plus a neck massage extension that moves as high as the top of the back of the head. The neck massage balls should also be automatically programmed and offer spot treatment. The cushion design should allow placement on a chair, just as easily as it can be lain on the floor.
If these features were all included and perfected, I would upgrade my SBM-300H to it.