Customer Reviews

Homedics RMM-300H Therapist Select Masseur-In-A-Box Portable Massage Mat, Black

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Do not be concerned about the one negative review- heres why:

1) this mat is indeed meant for a deeper, more thorough massage than any "backrest" mat can give:

All of the new Homedics Therapist-select units have the same EXCELLENT rolling Shiatsu mechanism - but if you need to really "get in there", you have to have your body weight lying down on it - just leaning on it may be ok for some people, but for others, you need your weight on a MAT like this.

And yes, this is indeed a real 5" thick MAT -folded in half when stored, its still about 1 foot x24" x 36" - so it is definitely a bit bigger to store, but on the other hand it does a much deeper massage.

By the way - the mat comes with a couple "buffer pads" to lay over the traveling rollers if the massage is TOO deep for you - and of course you could also add a couple towels, etc if you were still too delicate for it.

But for the money, i have NEVER seen such great comments, GROANS of RELIEF, and "WOW's!, than letting my family and friends try this mat over Christmas (we set it up on an army cot for the perfect height)
It was the hit of the holidays hearing people moaning and saying "ive GOT to get one of these!" Its that good.

Takes a little getting used to, but overall, a very worthwhile product.

Pros:
1)Nice deep rolling massage
2)Covers the full length of the back, even for long torsos
3)Adjustable pressure with use of barrier pads
4)Easy set up/take down
5)Optional Heated massage
6)Adjustable width in "rolling" mode

Cons:
1)does not reach neck at all
2)Can not adjust to curves in the spine so unless you adjust yourself, you will feel less pressure on lower back and more on middle and upper back.
3)Grates in shoulder blades in Shiatsu mode (at least it does on mine)
4) width is not adjustable in shiatsu mode

Having said all that, I have had problems with muscle tension in my back and neck for years and regular use of this product over the past month has made a significant difference and is saving me money (on massage therapy). I am sure there are better products out there, but this one was within my budget and I am very happy with the purchase.

Is this review helpful? Please let me know. Vote. :-)

We have tried many back machines, but this one is Top Notch, its not for the Wimpy person, this works well and you know its working on you your Back with rollers and heat, both the wife and I love it...

We work daily and come home tried and Beat.........you Lay this out on the bed, and the Injoyment begins......

It gives you a work out from your Neck to your Bottom spine,Many run choices and Heat, unlike those others who want big $$$ and don't work, or just BUZZ and do nothing for you.....

It has Our Vote........Rick/Kathi,Florida USA

*******Update is at the bottom*******

So I got my husband one of the Homedics Portable Massage Mats for the Chair a couple of years ago. It has been a good chair but never got the full back and we always wanted to lay down and use it. Then I found the reviews on this and ordered it.

I recommend if you are using this for the first time that you first do the rolling option, it is less intense than shiatsu. After a few minutes of that then try the shiatsu. If you think it is too painful, there are 2 attached mats you can use to make the massage less intense.

Myself, however went right in for the shiatsu massage. Some spots DID hurt but in that good kind of way...like I've got some really tense muscles and this really gets in there and gets out the knots. I noticed that you can move your body up or down if you want the massage higher or lower. If you want a more intense massage on your upper back try folding your arms across your chest & hugging yourself. If you want to reach the lower curve of your back better try bending your knees. The rolling massage actually popped my back a few times which was nice. My husband tried it and he thought it "Hurt So Good" too and was better than the chair.

I don't think this reached the neck very well, I could only barely feel it rubbing my neck but I've tried a lot of 'at home' massagers and this is the best one I have ever tried.

Now I have had many Professional Massages and this is no where near as good as that but I don't really know how any man made product could ever be that good. To me, this is fantastic, a great way to relax and help your back pain and we are completely happy with our purchase.

I will give an update if we encounter any problems.

If you like back massages or have back pain or just want to relax, BUY THIS MAT. Laying down is SO much better than having to sit up for a massage.

********UPDATE*********

We've had this about a month now and there is a HUGE difference in my daily back pain. When I use this on a daily basis I can go through the day and typically I don't notice my back hurting. There was a little over a week that my twins & husband were sick and I skipped using this mat...I was back to my daily back pain. And the type of back pain I get is TERRIBLE. For example, before this mat & when I skipped using it, if I am standing at the sink to do dishes for even 5 minutes there is a spot in my back that hurts so bad I literally have to stop & sit down, it practically takes my breath away. When that happened I used the mat, my back popped several times and I the massage gave me immediate relief. Since I've been using the mat everyday again I can do the dishes and have no back pain or very little. My back also hurts when I am constantly picking up my 14 month old twins but when using the mat daily it either doesn't hurt at all or hurts very little.

Also, at first I was just laying on the mat w/out any of the pads and I still do that from time to time but I have found it even more relaxing and enjoyable if I 1st put on both the pads-shiatsu w/ heat(I cant feel the heat) but I only do it w/ the pads on for a few minutes just to relax myself completely. 2nd I take off the pads and just enjoy the shiatsu w/heat. I have found doing this seems to relax my back more and it is less painful even though I don't think it really hurts in a bad way, I just think it feels better if I do it this way. Also, the heat on this thing works really well if you don't use the pads.

I started getting my back pain when I was about 6 months pregnant with my twins and it has never gone away-I had them 14 months ago.

My daily phrase was "my back HURTS" and now it is "I LOVE that mat"

Length:: 8:51 Mins

Homedics RMM-300H Therapist Select Masseur-in-a-Box / B00170BITO

This is the second massage mat I've tried, and it's by far the best thing I've used. It's not the answer to my every wish, and I still prefer human hands, but I use this for hours every night without worrying that my "masseur" is getting tired, and I definitely feel that it helps with my scoliosis back pain.

I think the strongest thing in favor for this mat is the high level of customization. Roller massage and shiatsu massage is offered here (I favor the shiatsu almost exclusively with this mat), with varying widths for the roller (thought not for the shiatsu, but it's the perfect width for me, fortunately). You can select full, upper, or lower back massage, and you can also designate "spot" areas to concentrate on. Heat is an option, or you can leave it off - dry heat doesn't do a whole lot for me, so I don't use it very often.

The biggest thing to be aware of with this mat is to be ready to experiment with different positions. When I first got the mat, I laid it on the ground, and lay down directly on the mesh, and I found the experience to be terribly uncomfortable. Even with the "pillowed" layers, I still felt the rollers were jamming into me too hard. When I switched to a sitting up position, though, with the back of the mat braced against the couch, everything was the perfect level of intensity. People who want even softer massages would do well to experiment with towels or thin pillows from that point.

I really chewed my lip over what star rating to give this mat - it's a godsend for me, because I really needed something that worked, and in this price range. On the other hand, I will admit that this mat isn't 100% perfect. The power shuts off automatically after 15 minutes, which means that you'll be turning this mat back on manually 8 times for every movie you sit down to watch. The bottom half of the cushion, where your bottom sits if you favor the sitting position like me, isn't nearly as padded as I'd like it to be, probably because it was designed with lying in mind, instead of sitting - bottom line, your bum will get a tad sore if you sit here for a few hours. A speed option on the rollers would be a neat thing to have, and I'd give anything for some sort of neck massage function that could be worked into the design. And I'll confess that the mat is a touch heavy and is not easy to move around the house (even storage is kind of tricky - I've given up and let it sit in the middle of the living room at all times). However, despite these very minor flaws, I highly recommend this mat and I'd buy it again in a heartbeat.

~ Ana Mardoll

A few things that need to be addressed here:

(1), as of this writing, street price is $100 including shipping! HoMedics is selling directly at that price, new with warranty and free shipping. Do your homework!

(2), Complaints about mechanism breaking are likely due to misuse. This unit requires a firm surface. Use on a soft mattress or similar surface can lead to bent track and damaged or broken massage mechanism.

(3), Yes, it can be painful. Shiatsu massage is SUPPOSED to be painful! I used it with maximum padding, and it's much less severe than an actual professional shiatsu massage.

Note this is a shiatsu massager. Sturdy, kneading massage with heat, but no vibration.

Overall, I'm pretty impressed with the product and presentation. It's fairly large, comes in the form of a 19" x 64" mattress that folds in half and stores neatly in its (rather large) box with carrying handle. The two half-pads have sturdy handles for carrying, a velcro strap to hold it closed when folded, and ergonomic pockets for storing pillow, remote, and power cord (plugs directly to outlet, no adapter needed).

It includes two overlay pads so you can soften the massage action as you see fit, and I recommend an additional towel if you don't like sticking to the soft, plasticky faux leather surface.

If you intend to use on a mattress or sofa, I recommend a 19" x 32" sheet of 1/4" plywood or similar rigid material to support upper pad and prevent damage to massage mechanism.

Positioning yourself on it is also very important. If you don't center yourself, the shiatsu mechanism will not straddle your spine correctly, which can be potentially painful and harmful. You want to align your head as close to the top as possible to benefit the full length of your spine.

This mat works really well. It has 2 different modes, straight up and down the back and a rolling (shiatsu)mode. Both modes serve a purpose and learning to use them is part of the break-in period. I love massage but can't always make time or have the money to have one so this really fits the bill for me. I am very physically active and NEED this mat. I highly recommend it. I think this is much more efficient than the one that you use sitting down. The prone position is the best thing for this kind of mechanical massage.

This is the best massage you will get when a human massage therapist isn't an option. I paddle outrigger canoe competitively, which is really hard on my back resulting in chronic muscular back issues. My better half is a massage therapist who specializes in deep tissue and sports massage (she's a paddler and uses the mat too), so I have a bit of experience with a really good deep tissue massage. I get a real massage a few times a month, and since getting one daily isn't an option I use this mat on a near daily basis. It significantly helps by back issues and allows me to paddle more.

This mat allows for significantly more pressure than the popular seated chair mats. If you just want some feel-good rubbing and don't have real issues that need to be worked out, then a chair mat is a good option. If you need something deeper, get this. It also helps if you have experience getting professional massages so you know how to target it and how much pressure to use. I really like the rolling massage, which I use more than the shiatsu, even though I was expecting the opposite when I purchased it. I use the rolling massage more for my upper and mid back (rhomboid and erector issues), and use the shiatsu more for my lower back.

The area that could use some improvement would be a way of adjusting the depth other than laying the extra pads on it. Although the pads are effective, since I need more pressure on some parts of my back than others, and usually have to increase pressure during the massage, I end up having to sit up several times to change the pads. Also, the heat is completely ineffective when using the pads. The mat could use a bit of refinement, but it is surprising to me that this style of mat is not more popular. I guess most people must just want some feel good rubbing and don't have any real issues.

I have owned several of Homedics Shiatsu products, but this product, overall is the BEST THEY YET TO CREATE!! The pad itself is thick and comfortable, sooo comfortable that you can fall asleep on it!! The Shiatsu mechanism is fantastic and VERY adjustable. Then, when you're done, you can simply fold it up and tuck it away under your bed or in a corner.

The included pillow is very soft and jsut the right amount of cushioning. I also like how you can adjust the number of "covers" over the Shiatsu rollers to increase or decrease the intensity.


Finally, you can use this as a "nap pad" since its long enough to accommodate "most" of your body. You don't even need to turn on the Shiatsu device to enjoy this product!!!

A+++++ for the money!!! Thanks Amazon for selling it for UNDER $60!!!!

This is a great product for the price. On the back it varies from too intense to too mild, as it can't accommodate the curve of the spine. However with the pads and towels it can be softened and the spot feature allows you to work on one area. You can also sit on a chair, use it to massage your feet. If you swing round the 'wrong' way or lie off the mat on the floor it will do your calves and thighs. If you roll slightly to one side it will do a great job on your buttocks. The only thing that is poorly designed is the controller, the lead is too short to allow operation from a fully prone position. I'm a qualified masseur and I charge 60 bucks for one hour. With this thing for virtually the same price you can get a massage every day until it breaks. (Can't beat the real thing though).