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While running shoes have certainly improved by leaps and bounds in the past few decades, high mileage can still take a toll on your feet. Whether you are tight and tired from a hard workout or are suffering from an injury, adding a foot massager to your recovery routine can help prevent an injury from happening, or treat one that you already have. Foot massagers—particularly ones that focus on reflexology—not only work to pamper your feet, but can also help to release tension in your entire body. Check out our picks below and our buying advice to ensure you get the best foot massager for you.
The Best Foot Massagers
What to Look for in a Foot Massager
While any foot massager will feel pretty good on tired toes, there are a few considerations to make to ensure you find the one that best fulfills your needs. Most massagers will target only the feet but some models are able to work up the calf as well—if you suffer from shin splints or calf tightness, you may want to invest in a more versatile model. When it comes to the type of massager, there are typically three types: electric massagers, water spas, and manual massagers.
Electric massagers can usually offer the most pressure, the greatest variety of settings, and the addition of heat therapy—but that also means they're usually the most expensive. Water spas massage using heated water jets and reflexology mats—these are less aggressive and great for people who are more sensitive or are recovering from an injury. Manual massagers are the most budget-friendly but also require a bit of work. You will have to roll your foot yourself but that also means that you are totally in charge of pressure and duration, which is great for a massage newbie.
How We Choose
To find the best options among the many foot massagers on the market, we researched the most popular models available and looked to expert sources like Good Housekeeping and The Strategist that tested and reviewed these products. We then took into account price, ease of use, and massage type. Finally, we consulted more than 66,000 reviews, written by people who’ve bought these models, on sites like Amazon and Walmart to settle on the nine foot massagers you'll find below.
The 9 Best Foot Massagers to Soothe Achy Feet balms and compression socks.
Cloud Massage Shiatsu Foot Massager Machine
Who says the massage has to stop at your feet? This model can be adjusted to massage feet, ankles, and calves—though not all at the same time.
It has five different settings, including rolling massage, compression therapy, sway function, heat function, and a quiet mode that all serve a purpose in helping you relax and loosen up. Plus it has 15-minute programmed massages and an adjustable bar that allows you to get the most comfortable angle.
Nekteck Shiatsu Foot Massager Machine
If you always ask for a deep tissue massage in person, you will want a foot massager that can provide that level of sensation as well. This massager uses compression to intensify the massage and boost blood circulation in your feet. It has deep rotating nodes that press firmly into the feet, and a warming feature that can help release tension and keep your feet warm on a cold day.
The foot sleeves are removable and washable, which makes it a great option if you plan to share it with others—or just a more hygienic option for yourself.
Nekteck Foot Massager with Heat
One of the most common ailments among runners is the dreaded plantar fasciitis. While for some people, it is mostly a nagging discomfort, it can become quite debilitating if not properly treated, and may take you out of training for quite a while.
This massager will not only help loosen up those tight tendons and muscles but it's also able to give you a deeper massage by adding heat to the mix. If you still aren't sold, check out the over 23,000 customer reviews that give it an average of 4.4 out of 5 stars.
RENPHO Foot Massager Machine with Heat
Another heated model, this Renpho foot massager comes with a remote control. This makes it super convenient to control without having to bend over every time you want to change a setting—and while you may be thinking, "I don’t need this, I’m fit,” revisit that though after a hard workout day—you'll be grateful for the remote.
The massager is easy to use and set up, and reviewers remarked that it felt quite similar to a person massaging their feet. This is also a good fit for larger feet, as it will fit up to a men’s size 12.
Human Touch Reflex SOL Foot & Calf Massager
This heated massager covers not only your feet, but your calves as well. It’s great for those who suffer from plantar fasciitis and is adjustable for people with feet up to a men’s size 12. It has three massage programs, two speeds, and warm-air heat, which helps loosen muscles without overheating.
Another budget option, this one is a great tool for runners to have. It falls more into the category of PT than full-on relaxation, but if you are willing to do a bit of the work yourself, it can be a great tool to keep your feet happy. This massager focuses on reflexology with its domed shape and pointy rollers. When done properly, reflexology can help to improve circulation and provide a sense of full-body relaxation. While a massager like this does take a bit more work than an electric model, it's also a great option for people who are not used to massage, as you directly control the pressure and duration of the massage yourself.
TOBREFE Foot Roller and Massage Balls
These massagers are great for on-the-go use. Since they are small and lightweight, you can easily slip them in a bag or keep them in a drawer at the office. The roller and balls are great for tight arches and plantar fasciitis, and the little spikes provide acupressure massage to release stress and tightness. The balls can also be used on other parts of the body, like hips, calves, and shoulder blades.
We all wish that we could have a personal pedicurist, right? Well, this foot spa may not paint your toes for you, but it will give you a salon-worthy hydro-massage. The heated, jet-like vibrations and bumpy pads help to both massage and exfoliate your feet. The bath reaches easily up to your ankles, so you won't have to worry about overflowing the edges trying to get your whole foot in.
If you suffer from severe foot pain, this can be a much gentler way to relieve some of that discomfort than with a traditional massager.
BESKAR Shower Foot Scrubber Mat
Don't have time to sit through a massage session? This mat is super affordable and allows you to get a bit of foot relief while in the shower. It has both fine bristles and larger nodes that both exfoliate and release tension in your feet. This can also help keep your feet clean without bending over to wash them.
While it won't provide quite the same experience as an electric foot massager, it does access pressure points on your feet, which can help release tension throughout your whole body.
Before joining Runner's World, Gabrielle Hondorp spent 6 years in running retail (she has tested top gear from shoes, to watches, to rain jackets which has expanded her expertise—and her closets); she specializes in health and wellness, and is an expert on running gear from head-to-toe. Gabi began her journalism career as a Digital Editorial Fellow for Runner’s World and Bicycling Magazine, and has since advanced to a Runner's World Editor specializing in commerce. She has a double degree in English and Media and Communication from Muhlenberg College where she also ran cross country and track.
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