Miko Shiatsu Massager Review

Perhaps the highest praise possible for an electric foot massager is saying it feels like a real person is massaging your feet. That’s how this Miko Shiatsu Deep-Kneading Food Massager has been described.

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I’ve never heard of Miko before, but they offer a few products. I suspect they’re private-labeling generically imported products, although perhaps they are a full company. In addition to a couple massage devices, they also offer kitchenware, glassware, and soybean paste. Interesting combination, right? They have a website here.

Generic though it may be, this is one of the best looking devices in its class. Now, physical appearance shouldn’t matter for a device that will live under your desk or next to the recliner, but it’s certainly doesn’t hurt as a nice bonus. Someone at Miko has some design taste. I love the sharp angles and lines with the charcoal grey color. Even the button shapes are tastefully designed.

Miko Features

The control panel includes 5 buttons and a red-numbered display showing a countdown time – this works in 15 minute intervals. It can also show the pressure level. There are light-up buttons for heat, pressure +, pressure -, toggling the kneading feature, and of course, power.

There’s also a remote control, which is nice to include, although far from essential. Apparently it does operate on the same frequencies as some television sets, so there are a few reports of accidentally changing your tv channels when adjusting the pressure. Adds to the adventure, I suppose!

Many reviewers have affirmed how powerful this Miko device is, especially at the top of its 5 pressure settings. Even if you usually turn this kind of device all the way up to the max setting, this one you’ll be able to adjust a little lower. The highest pressure setting can feel like your toes are getting ripped off (Spoiler: It’s pretty unlikely for them to actually get ripped off!).

If you have smaller feet, it works well to shift your feet every so often to massage different parts. Also, try switching sides every so often for a different feeling. While it’s advertised as fitting up to a size 12 foot, several people have reported fitting a size 13 without discomfort.

So how does it work? The compression on your feet comes from the air compressors, and there are two rollers on the bottom for each foot. And no, you can’t stand up while using it. There are cloth sleeves for your feet, and you can remove them for washing, although do note that replacement sleeves are not available for purchase. Crucially, it’s quiet enough to use comfortably as well.

Great for people who are on their feet all day. It’s even been described as a “life-saver”! Note: This will almost certainly not literally save your life (if it does, please comment below!), but it has helped some people sleep better at night. It’s also much better at massaging the front and ball of your feet than doing anything with the heels, so if heels are your priority, this is probably not the right tone for you. Great for that area right behind the toes.

Finally, all Miko products have a 1 year warranty, although I wasn’t able to figure out exactly what that covers, and you’ll probably need to pay to have it shipped back if it’s defective. That’s one of the reasons I personally buy lots of stuff from Amazon – they’re great at dealing with returns.

Cons

Now, as you might expect, there are a few negatives to be aware of. One is that a few people have reported the cheap plastic has an unpleasant odor. Personally, I have a weak sense of smell, so I don’t think this would bother me – and of course, feet don’t always smell that great anyway! – Check out this shoe deodorizer review I wrote if you don’t like foot smell!

Another disadvantage is the weakness of the heat. It just isn’t that great, and it seems like the most likely part to break. If you’re just interested in heating your feet, check out a heated foot spa tub.

Overall, I’d recommend this as a good mid-range shiatsu foot massager. It’s reasonably priced for the category, and extremely highly reviewed. Let me know if it’s a good fit for you and your tired, sore feet!

Check out more reviews and purchase on Amazon here.