What you should know when investing in this foot massager
[[VIDEOID:9e29f50fd04feddb524fde569839d071]] When considering spending nearly $150 for this Sharper Image product I think it's important to know the pros and cons of this purchase and whether this will make for a sound investment when it comes to your health.<br /><br />My first impression when taking this out of the box is that this is a well-built heavy piece of furniture/machinery weighing in at a little over 12 lbs.<br /><br />With an overall height of approx. 6.5" off the ground, it seems a bit of a "stretch" to call this an Ottoman. I am used to such pieces of furniture being much taller.  My opinion is that this comes across as more of a footstool.<br /><br />That being said, it looks like a nice piece of furniture, handsomely covered in fabric.  When in use, a long cord protrudes from the top cushion.  That cord can be removed and stored when you wish to make its functionality less noticeable to those who visit your home.<br /><br />The top cushion of the Ottoman easily flips over, serving two purposes.  On its flat Ottoman side, it's a simple footrest that provides heat and/or vibration.  When you flip the cushion over, a more elaborate Shiatsu function allows you to slip your feet into sleeves for a customized massage.<br /><br />Now that I have given you an overview of this Sharper Image product, let me dive into my impressions using the Ottoman and Shiatsu functions.<br /><br />As I previously noted, this really doesn't act as an Ottoman.  So, if you are relaxing in your favorite chair, this serves more like a footstool.  The Ottoman functionality is not very exciting.  It's basically a heated vibrating pad for your feet.  A small button in the upper corner lets you choose vibration, heat, or both.  I really don't see the benefit of having a constant level of vibration and a slight amount of heat being applied to my feet.  If this were all that this Ottoman offered, this would be a big fail in my opinion.<br /><br />But fortunately, there's more...<br /><br />When I pulled a tab and flipped the cushion over to the Shiatsu side, things got more interesting.  I slipped my feet into the sandal-like sleeves, turned on the power, and felt the rollers inside the unit provide an intense massage to the bottom of my feet.  As this was happening, the sandal-like sleeves that cover my feet began to compress tightly and release.  The combination of bottom rollers, and top compression in constant motion along with a little bit of added heat provided for a very soothing and relaxing sensation.<br /><br />I must say, the Shiatsu aspect of this device is the most compelling.  I think that it could probably do wonders for sore, tired feet.  The motor inside is very powerful and as a result, the level of massage is very satisfying.  Of course, if it's too much too quick, you can lower the intensity of the massage.<br /><br />So, I have mixed feelings about this very expensive device.<br /><br />It's certainly well-built.  It's a handsome piece of furniture though I would not consider it an Ottoman.  The flat side does nothing more than vibrate and provides a little heat (it never really gets noticeably hot). The Shiatsu side is quite good as it provides a really strong acupressure massage to the feet.<br /><br />I almost feel you could spend less money and get something that's not designed to be furniture in order to get an equally good Shiatsu massage.  However, if you opt for this Sharper Image massager you are getting an expensive, but solid product.
Rating: 4 stars