Our team evaluated over a dozen back massagers on the durability, effectiveness, features, and overall value of each pick through a variety of testing sessions to determine the best options. Although the product does have a heat feature, we found the heat wasn’t very strong and took a long time to warm up.

Pros: Cordless for on-the-go massages; has a deep shiatsu kneading effect despite its small size; can be used on various parts of the body.You can set its eight Shiatsu massage nodes to massage at three different speeds, with optional vibration and heat for additional pain relief. But let’s be frank—some days, it seems impossible to carve out a large chunk of time for your practice. Given the wide range of neck massagers available, the best rule of thumb is to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use. With the HoMedics Shiatsu Neck Massager with Heat, you can experience a new way to enjoy the natural touch of a real massage at home and melt your stress away. You’ll find that the best handheld massagers are lightweight and cordless, giving you more freedom of motion while using the massager.

Truumees cautions against jumping straight into using heat if your neck pain is due to something like a sports-related injury. Ninety-degree rotation lets you fit the massager comfortably into the nape of your neck, without missing any aching spots. The benefit is more control over the massage experience, along with the freedom to use the massager anywhere.It may not be a good choice for anyone with an inability to grip easily, or with weakness in the hands. It should be noted that a percussion-style back massager delivers a more intense action than other styles of back massagers. Of all the back massagers we tested, the RENPHO Back Massager with Heat impressed us the most with its features, effectiveness, and design. We noted that the massage isn’t as strong as a shiatsu-style massager, but that it still delivers comforting, soothing sensations. We could see toting this back massager to the office or using it on a long road trip to provide lower back relief.

This supportive lumbar cushion can’t compete with our other recommendations for a really strong pummelling, but not everyone wants to be beaten up by their back massager! Its powerful motor delivers up to 3,600 pulses per minute for a deep-tissue massage that makes for a great sports massage.Overall the HoMedics sling is easy to use—press the power button once for high intensity, twice for medium, and three times for low. During testing days in The Lab, our testers used each massager for at least 15 minutes, experiencing each model's different settings, speeds, and temperature options. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. This massager took about five minutes to warm up, which was slightly frustrating as well, which seems subpar considering most back massagers are recommended for only 15-minute sessions. While the massager’s small size is part of its portability, it is limited in features, and we feel it could offer more value with the addition of speed, intensity, or directional controls.