My review of the I Need Soothing Foot Massager
If you are looking for a powerful, deep shiatsu style massage at home, the i-need Soothing Foot Massager from Brookstone might be just what you need. This is one of the most intense, most powerful home foot massagers available. Here’s my review.
What is it?
The somewhat unfortunate name “i-need” is an attempt – in my view, a failed attempt – at a pun based on how the machine works. As a shiatsu foot massager, the i-need is based on principles of pressure. While the bottom uses rolling nodes to stimulate and massage your soles, the shiatsu part comes in at the top. Shiatsu means “finger pressure,” so the top works by using air pressure to apply firm pressure to the tops of your feet and around your ankles.
Controls
Controls
The controls are pretty straightforward. There’s an off-white plastic control panel inlaid within a nice-looking wood patterned panel. There are just three buttons in the control panel: Power, Intensity, and Mode. Power obviously turns it on and off, starting and stopping your massage. Intensity only has two options, each indicated by a small red light, and controls how much air pressure is used. Mode has three options, what the manufacturer describes as “rolling Shiatsu programs.”
Use
This machine completely envelops your feet. The advantage of this foot-encompassing design is that it massages the tops of your foot and even your ankles, not just your sole, ball, and heal. Also, the covers can be removed and washed.
It’s important to insert your feet completely into the massager, in order to make sure the rolling nodes are putting pressure in the right places. Some reviewers have said that this machine is too powerful, causing pain in their feet, but other reviewers have suggested that it only causes actual pain if your feet are not in far enough.
Size
Considering that it fits your entire feet and ankles inside, the i-need Soothing Foot Massager is actually quite short in profile. It’s about 15 inches deep, 20.5 inches long, and just 9 inches tall.
It does require a wall outlet to plug into, and there’s no option for battery power. While it’s nice to not need to worry about batteries, especially since for a device like this where dying batteries would mean your last few massages would be weaker, it does limit the portability and convenience to have to be restricted to an outlet. Sadly, no massaging your feet on a camping trip with this one. For both safety and power savings, it will automatically power off if you leave it on for 20 minutes.
Summary
This is not the cheapest option for a home foot massager, or even for one that claims to use shiatsu techniques. However, you get what you pay for. This is one of the best looking foot massagers I’ve ever seen. If you need it, it’s worth it. Reviewers on Amazon report that it has helped with “severe plantar fasciitis symptoms” although it doesn’t promise a complete cure.
Pros:
Good mid-price range home foot massager.
Powerful, intense foot-enveloping massages.
Cons:
Very powerful, some say painful.
No battery power option.
No heat provided during massage.
Read more reviews on Amazon here.