We can’t always get to a massage therapist when we’re in pain.

That’s when one of these neck & back massagers can really come in handy.

They’ll give you some pain relief and also take away some muscle tension.

Below you’ll find some of my favorite devices on the market.

I’ll also give you some advice about what to think about when purchasing.

Our Favorite Neck & Shoulder Massager

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If you’re looking for a powerful and effective Shiatsu massager, Naipo has the product for you. The 8 massage nodes on this item deliver a deep and effective massaging experience that’s well complemented by their 3D design. The strength of the massage can be too painful for more petite people but that’s manageable with a thicker layer of clothes. At the end of the day, the massager is intended to deliver a powerful experience.

What customers are saying?

Aside from the people who weren’t aware that massagers such as this Naipo item can be quite strong and powerful, and were therefore taken aback and hurt, most other customers were pleased by the product. The 8 Shiatsu nodes seem to deliver an effective massage and their effects can be mitigated by using a thicker layer of clothes.

Pros:

• The 3D design of the nodes makes for a fuller experience.
• The heat function compliments the powerful massage quite well.
• The adjustable settings allow you to customize your experience.

Cons:

• The buttons are in a weird spot and are not easily accessible.

Second Best Massager

Resteck Deep Tissue 3D Pillow

A great alternative to our top entry, the Resteck Deep Tissue Pillow offers a powerful 3D massage experience for most areas of the body. Intended specifically for neck, shoulders, and back massages, the pillow can really be used anywhere. The massage nodes are covered with soft fabric to compliment the experience, while the heating function offers a nice warmth while the Shiatsu nodes are doing their magic. The massager also has 4 settings buttons for easier customization of your experience.

What customers are saying?

What few complaints some customers have seem to be the standard remarks you can hear for any massage tool – it’s too powerful, the heating setting wasn’t strong enough, etc. These are typically things that are not drawbacks but intended features, however, and the vast majority of customers realize that and appreciate the product.

Pros:

• It’s very lightweight.
• The massager’s design is flexible enough to deliver powerful massages on almost all areas of the body.
• The heat function compliments the powerful massage quite well.

Cons:

• The power cord accidentally unplugs very often which may ruin the experience.

Favorite Handheld Option

Vivreal Portable Deep Tissue Massager

For an easily portable and handheld option, the Vivreal handheld Deep Tissue massager offers a great and multifunctional product. The 6 interchangeable massage nodes on this massager can offer different experiences that you can apply to different parts of your body. The massager is also cordless and rechargeable with a battery that can last 100 minutes when it’s at full charge. There are also 6 different speeds and modes of operation which further increase the applications of this massager.

What customers are saying?

A lot of customers were caught by surprise by how heavy the massager actually is. With a weight of ~2 pounds, it’s not hard to pick up but can start weighing on your arm after a while. This can be viewed as a feature as well, however, as it allows for a deeper massage without having to press the massager too hard. Overall, the majority of the customers are satisfied with every other feature of this massager.

Pros:

• Cordless and rechargeable.
• The interchangeable massage nodes allow you to give yourself the exact type of massage you want whenever you want.
• The intricate yet simple to use settings of this massager allow you to customize your experience.

Cons:

• The massager is quite heavy which affects any prolonged use.

Best Heat Massager

Snailax Heating Pad For Neck & Shoulders

For a full-back item with an emphasis on the heating, this Snailax heating pad can deliver a much more substantial heating experience. It covers most of the torso on both the front and back side, and the heating it provides is very effective. The vibration massage function is good for surface-level relaxation and relief, which complements the pad well as it’s intended mostly for that. Nevertheless, there are still 5 different massage modes to choose from so you’ll have the option to customize the intensity of the experience.

What customers are saying?

This item seems to be preferred mostly by people that want relaxation and pleasure out of a massage/heating pad. The vibration massage doesn’t offer too powerful of a sensation even at its highest setting, but for those that aren’t looking for a deep tissue massage and just want the relaxation and surface tissue relief – this is a great option.

Pros:

• The heating is very effective and the massager warms up quickly
• The vibration massage is not too powerful but complements the overall relaxing and pleasurable experience.
• There are 5 different modes of operation.

Cons:

• It’s relatively heavy for some people at a weight of around 3 pounds.

Other Great Massagers

Neckteck Shoulder & Neck Massager

Another good neck and shoulder Shiatsu massager, this Neckteck product has 8 strong deep Shiatsu massage nodes. Their performance can be customized by the three different pre-determined modes of operation. They can also be accompanied by a pleasant heating function.

Shiatsu Back Shoulder and Neck Massager

This is a fairly comparable product to the previous ones on this list – its 8 deep kneading massage nodes are capable of delivering an effective and powerful experience, while the advanced heating function helps by soothing and softening your muscles. There are 3 settings to choose from here as well.

Snailax Cordless Shoulder Massager

Most neck and shoulder massagers are advertised as “portable” but that really means that you can carry them around not that you can use them anywhere. This Snailax massager, however, is battery powered and can indeed be used at any time. Its battery life lasts up to 70 minutes which is enough for the 8 deep kneading massage nodes and the well-done heat function to deliver several effective massages – whether Shiatsu or percussion ones.

Features To Look For

When choosing a neck & shoulder massager, you’d do best to examine every feature the device has to offer. Regardless of whether you’re buying it for yourself or as a gift, it’s very common for people to just buy a massager that doesn’t have the exact features they need and are then disappointed by the device itself. Instead, if you make sure that the device’s features and details match your needs, you can make sure that you’ll a great experience.

The first thing we’d recommend that you should consider is the type of massage you want. Here are the 3 main options offered by neck and shoulder massagers:

• Shiatsu – singular area pressure technique.
• Kneading – circular compression technique.
• Vibration – simple vibrating massage, typically meant for relaxation and surface tension relief.

Once you’ve chosen the type of massager you want, consider how intense you want it to be as well. Most massagers have different power settings to help you customize your experience but some are still more powerful than others. If you’re afraid you’ll get hurt, choose a massager that’s softer and less intense.

The next thing to consider is the design of the device itself and what it includes:

• How many massage nodes are available and how are they placed?
• Is there a heat function and how effective is it?
• Is the power source a battery or does the massager need to be connected to an electrical socket at all times?
• How many intensity/speed settings are there and are they easy to operate?

Tips for using a massager

Neck and shoulder massagers aren’t really hard to use devices so there isn’t much to keep in mind while getting a relaxing massage. As long as you read and follow the instructions of the specific item you should be 100% safe. Still, let’s go over some basic tips and advices to give you a general idea of what to look out for with such a massager:

• Be careful with the temperature settings – most of the time the heating isn’t too strong but some fabrics are susceptible to high temperatures so you may accidentally burn a favorite shirt.
• If the massage nodes are too powerful for you even on the lowest setting (and you can’t or don’t want to return the product) try using a towel or a thicker piece of clothing between you and the massager.
• Do not use such a massager while driving. It can be distracting as well as too relaxing and it can cause accidents.
• Use the massager only as often as the device’s instructions recommend. Overusing a massager can cause soreness and muscle pain.

Conclusion

Neck & shoulder massagers are truly ingenious in their design and when done well they can deliver an invaluable amount of pleasure, relaxation, and relief to their user.