Allow at least 20 minutes per chair when you try it in person, wear comfortable clothing and test the chair in the position you will use it in later. Check whether the rollers reach your shoulders and seat, whether the intensity can be turned down far enough and how loud the chair is. While you are there, also ask about delivery, assembly and service.
Why trying it in person makes such a difference
A massage chair is a purchase for many years. Whether it suits you depends less on the data sheet than on your body. Two people of the same height can experience the same massage completely differently, because shoulder width, back length and sensitivity vary. Five minutes in the chair tell you more about this than any table.
Where you can test massage chairs
You can try NAIPO chairs in person at more than 40 locations. The store finder shows the locations with address, directions and appointment booking. In Hamburg there are two NAIPO stores, in HafenCity and on Ballindamm in the city centre.
A second option is the Relax Lounge. There you book a room with a NAIPO massage chair and use it in peace for half an hour or longer, instead of just briefly in a shop. In the open area of the Relax Lounge Light in HafenCity, you can try models from the Base, Compact and Pro series. For the Relax Lounge in HafenCity: if you later buy a NAIPO massage chair, the service fee for a directly booked session is credited against the purchase price. The details are in the terms of use. Booking is online, for example the Relax Lounge on Ballindamm.
Well prepared for your appointment
Time
Allow 20 to 30 minutes per chair, so a good hour for two or three models. An automatic programme takes a few minutes to work through all areas. If you get up after three minutes, you only know the beginning.
Clothing
Wear comfortable clothing without a chunky belt buckle, studs or a hood. Jewellery, a watch and full pockets get in the way of the rollers and air cushions. A thick jumper dampens the massage, so it feels weaker than it will at home in a T-shirt.
Your own questions
Note down beforehand what you want to use the chair for: to relax in the evening, for your neck after the office or for the whole family. Measure the space at home as well. How much room a chair needs is explained in Massage chair: space requirements.
Ten points to check when you try it
- Do the rollers reach your shoulders without pressing into your neck?
- Can you still feel the rollers under your seat?
- Can the intensity be turned down far enough to stay comfortable, and up far enough to have an effect?
- Do your calves and feet fit in the rest without being squashed?
- Does the reclined position with raised legs feel good?
- How loud are the motors and the air pump? More on this in How loud is a massage chair?.
- Can you find the most important programmes without the manual?
- Can the massage be targeted at individual spots?
- Is the heat noticeable but not too hot?
- After the programme, do you feel relaxed or rather shaken about?
Particularly tall or particularly short?
For very tall or rather short people, trying it in person matters more than for anyone else. Body heights in data sheets are guide values. Only the test shows whether a chair fits you. Tips for tall people are collected in Massage chairs for tall people.
What you should ask on site
An appointment in the shop is the best opportunity to clear up everything that matters after the purchase. Ask how the chair is delivered, whether it is assembled and who takes care of things in a warranty case. Also ask how much clearance from the wall the chair needs in the reclined position. If you then want to compare what sets expensive models apart, Luxury massage chairs: how to recognise true top-of-the-range quality will help.
You will find every model with prices and details in the overview of massage chairs.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I allow?
20 to 30 minutes per chair. So a good hour for two or three models.
How many chairs should I test?
Two to three models are usually enough. More tends to blur the impression.
Do I need an appointment?
An appointment makes sense for a consultation. Whether a location offers appointments is shown in the store finder.
Can I come with someone else?
Yes, and it is a good idea if several people will use the chair.
Written by NAIPO Editorial Team · Massage & Product Experts from Hamburg
Product experts, service technicians, and massage enthusiasts at Alsterwell GmbH — specializing in massage technology for over a decade, with our own workshop and showrooms for test sitting.
Fact-checked by David Eberst · Co-founder of NAIPO
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