Unusual feeling, but very relaxing. Wish it was a bit larger.
When I first started to use this I was not impressed – the rotating massage balls felt really odd on my back and not that comfortable. But after a few minutes, it started to feel pretty good. A few more minutes and I really felt my back muscles relax. Very nice!<br /><br />There are two rotating balls on each side of the pad. They have infrared heating (which you can turn off) so you get a nice gentle heat during the massage. The balls automatically invert their rotation direction after a few minutes to keep the massage from getting monotonous.<br /><br />The front cover is a mesh material that feels pretty sturdy. The case is covered with what looks and feels like a faux leather. It has a good feel as well, and seems very sturdy. There’s an elastic band on the back so you can strap this to a chair in the proper position to hit the areas of your back you want massaged.<br /><br />The on/off switch is on the base and is fairly flush with the casing so it doesn’t stab you in the back if you lean against it. Press it once turns it on with heat; press it again turns off the heat; press and hold turns it off. It’s powered by a transformer (included) that plugs into the wall outlet, or via a car power port adapter if you want to use it in the car while driving.<br /><br />The sound level is muted, but clearly heard. It makes a grinding, whirring type of sound while operating. It’s not grating, but it’s clearly loud enough to hear in the next cubicle if you plan on using this at work.<br /><br />The warmth level is moderate. You readily feel the warmth penetrate your muscles, but it is not what I would call hot.<br /><br />My main complaint is the size – it’s rather small in terms of coverage when used on my back. While the overall size is reasonable (about 12 inches wide and 8 inches tall at the widest parts) the massage action is limited to a much smaller area. Something that was a few inches larger would make a big difference in the coverage area.  It's also rather thick and bulky (about 4 inches thick) so positioning it on a chair can be challenging if you have a narrow chair seat depth.<br /><br />The elastic strap is also a bit too small for some chairs, and does not hold the unit all that securely. I ended up using it on the sofa and holding it in place by leaning against it. That proved to be more effective that trying to strap it to a chair and have it stay in place.<br /><br />Even with these limitations this is a handy device to have if you have bad back or just get sore from sitting too much. It’s a welcome massage break during the work day.<br />[Sample provide for review]
Rating: 4 stars