Table of Contents
Human Touch WholeBody 5.1 Massage Chair Review
Pros
- Incredible Value For Money Considering It Costs So Little!
- Patented Technologies Such As "FlexGlide" & "CirQlation" Greatly Enhance The Massage Experience!
- 100 W Of Power Consumption Makes This The Ideal Budget Chair!
Cons
- Absence Of Airbags Negatively Impacts Stretch Routines
- There Are No Lumbar Heating Pads
(Note: This is an affiliate link to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)
Human Touch: A Quick Overview
Human Touch are an american health and wellness company based out of long beach California. Here’s 3 fun facts about these guys:
- They’ve been in the massage chair business for almost 40 years!
- Several Human Touch massage chairs have been selected for the Award For Design Excellence (ADEX) including the Novo XT, iJoy, and many more!
- Their chairs are recognized by the World Federation Of Chiropractic (WFC) as a supplement to back care therapies.
Oh and they have about 65+ patented technologies to their name! All in all these guys seem to have an impressive record.
Human Touch WholeBody 5.1 Massage Chair—In A Nutshell
I’ll be breaking down this chair in great detail for the rest of this post, but if you’re interested in only knowing a quick summary, this is it:
- It’s very much an entry level budget massage chair That being said, don’t expect to be blown away!
- It performs at a moderate massage intensity, and is a chair best suited for small to medium body types.
- It features Human Touch patented technology such as FlexGlide and CirQlation (more on both of these later!).
Human Touch WholeBody 5.1 Massage Chair—A Detailed Look At 6 Key Features!
#1 FlexGlide Orbital Roller Technology
Before we talk about FlexGlide and what it’s all about, it’s important to understand the roller technology employed in the WholeBody 5.1.
This chair is equipped with 2D rollers that span an overall length of 27”.
The image below illustrates just how 2D rollers function. Whenever you hear 2D, think 2 dimensions: up and down and side to side. 2D roller technology is the most basic you can find in any massage chair today.
So what is FlexGlide and how does it help?
Basically, it’s a technology in which the rollers are designed to move freely and with minimum friction. Because there is reduced friction, you don’t get the feeling of being pinched as the rollers traverse your back. Human Touch describes the experience as being similar to a hot oil massage. Essentially, the overall massage experience feels lighter, smoother, and more refreshing.
#2 3 Auto Massage Routines
The Human Touch WholeBody 5.1 massage chair comes with 3 auto massage programs: full back, upper back, and lower back. All 3 routines are pre-programmed to last 15 minutes in total.
When you select one of the 3 modes, the chair will automatically decide which technique to use (stretch, flex, tone, and glide) to best target the key areas on your back.
If you wanna take matters into your own hands, this chair can also be controlled manually. In this case, you can specifically select from one of the 4 techniques mentioned above. In addition to this, you can also alter vertical massage range and position. Let’s look at the 4 techniques in more detail:
Your basic tapotement massage technique. In essence, it’s a rapid pounding against the back and spine.
This is your basic rolling technique. It’s the vertical movement of the rollers along the back and spine.
This is your basic kneading massage technique. It’s this circular movement throughout the back that helps promote circulation and ease tension.
Simply said, this is a combination of kneading and tapping techniques. In other words, it’s a combination of the flex and stretch techniques.
#3 A Remote Control That’s Foolproof!
Unlike most massage chairs, the WholeBody 5.1 has one of the most simplest remote controls. Not only is everything well laid out, it’s also foolproof!
Looking at the image above, it’s clear that the top panel are your auto modes, and the bottom panel are your manual modes. Sandwiched in between are your back and leg recline buttons!
#4 CirQlation Figure Eight Calf Massage
What in the heck is this!? Quite the mouthful, but it’s actually pretty simple in theory.
CirQlation is a patented Human Touch technology which makes use of paddles to massage the calves and feet in a figure eight wave like motion.
The image below best describes this “figure eight” motion.
With respect to the ottoman, it can be used as either a calf massager or a foot massager at any given time. However, you cannot massage both the feet and calves at the same time.
#5 100 Watts Power Consumption!
The last thing you wanna do is buy a massage chair only to find out it sucks your wallet dry every time you get your electricity bill in the mail.
Which is exactly why I always recommend you pay special attention to power consumption before you buy!
This chair in particular consumes 100 Watts of power. How does that compare to other chairs you ask? Well, it consumes quite a bit less when compared to other S-Track chairs such as the Osaki 1000, and 4000T. Both of these chairs consume 200 W and 250 W respectively.
#6 Swiveling Base & Recline Capabilities
To be entirely honest, i’m not sure why anyone would care for a swiveling base. I mean it probably helps with placement in a way, but other than that I don’t see how else it would be useful.
More important than the swiveling base is the chair’s ability to recline backward. Specifically, you can adjust both the backrest and footrest recline to suit your needs.
Human Touch WholeBody 5.1 Massage Chair Specifications
- WholeBody 5.1 Specs
- Roller Type: 2D S-Track
- Roller Length: 27 Inches
- Total Airbags: None
- Upright Dimensions (L x W x H): 40"L x 28"W x 40"H
- Reclined Dimensions (L x W x H): 67"L x 28"W x 28"H
- Chair Material: Synthetic Leather
- Recommended Height Range: 5’0 – 6’0 ft
- Maximum Recommended Weight: 285 lbs
- Power Usage: 100 Watts
(Note: This is an affiliate link to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)
What I Like And Dislike About It!
What I Like (AKA Pros)
What I Don’t Like (AKA Cons)
(Note: This is an affiliate link to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)
How Does It Compare To Other “S-Track” Chairs In The Market?
In this section I’ll be doing a side by side comparison of the WholeBody 5.1 to Osaki’s OS 1000. Both chairs have similar price points and both employ similar 2D roller technology.
- Human Touch WholeBody 5.1
- 27'' S-Track
Roller Track Span - $$
Price - No
Adjustable Roller Intensity - No
Adjustable Roller Speed - No
Body Scan - 3
Auto Modes - Patented CirQlation Technology
Foot/Leg Massage Technology - 100 W
Power Consumption
- Osaki OS 1000
- 29'' S-Track
Roller Track Span - $$
Price - Yes
Adjustable Roller Intensity - Yes
Adjustable Roller Speed - Yes
Body Scan - 5
Auto Modes - Airbags
Foot/Leg Massage Technology - 200 W
Power Consumption
(Note: This is an affiliate link to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)
Let’s talk about some of the key differences in more detail.
Key Difference #1—Roller Intensity & Speed Adjustment
There’s no way to adjust roller intensity and speed on the WholeBody 5.1. However, this is possible to do in the Osaki OS 1000.
Is this a big deal?
If you’re someone who mostly uses one of the preset auto modes, then no it’s not a big deal. It’s a big deal if you intend to primarily use a chair in manual mode. To give you some perspective, 85 to 90% of the time I operate my massage chair using one of the preset auto routines. If you’re anything like me, this won’t be a deal breaker!
Key Difference #2—Body Scan
Here’s another important difference worth taking note of. Osaki incorporates a body scan feature to all of its massage chairs. This body scan essentially ensures the rollers are set in the most optimum position based on the individual’s body type. In essence, the resulting massage experience feels more customized from person to person.
The Human Touch WholeBody 5.1 massage chair doesn’t have a body scan. A definite shortcoming as far as I’m concerned!
Key Difference #3—Auto Programs
Osaki OS 1000 has a total of 5 auto programs, whereas the WholeBody 5.1 has 3.
More auto programs equals more variety and experience!
Auto routines are important simply because most of us don’t like to mess around with manual settings. Basically you just wanna sit back, push one button, and relax!
Key Difference #4—Airbag System Vs. CirQlation Figure Eight Technology
Osaki OS 1000 employs an airbag system consisting of 20 airbags mostly located in the leg and foot regions of the chair. On the other-hand, the WholeBody 5.1 employs the CirQlation figure eight technology discussed earlier.
Which system works better at massaging the legs and feet?
I personally prefer the figure eight technology over airbags, simply because it’s a dynamic massage. In other words, it massages with a motion and rhythm. Airbags simply inflate in a static manner. However, the absence of airbags does have its shortcomings. One being there isn’t anything to hold the body in place for a stretch routine and two there isn’t anything to massage the waist and hips.
Key Difference #5—Power Consumption
Osaki OS 1000 consumes double the power (200 W) than the WholeBody 5.1 (100 W). The search for a budget chair isn’t just about price. Pick a chair with high power consumption, and you can expect a high energy bill!
Always consider power consumption before buying a chair!
Clear winner here is the WholeBody 5.1!
Should You Buy The WholeBody 5.1 Massage Chair?
If you’re in the market for a massage chair that costs less than $1500, the Human Touch WholeBody 5.1 is a fantastic choice. The patented FlexGlide and CirQlation technology really makes a big difference as far massage experience is concerned. In addition to these, the chair has a fairly low rate of power consumption, thereby making it ideal for anyone on a seriously tight budget!
Final Recommendation: The WholeBody 5.1 is a fantastic entry level massage chair!
(Note: This is an affiliate link to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)
Here’s Some Additional Resources!
For those of who you are seriously considering buying the WholeBody 5.1, here are some additional resources you may wanna look into.
- User Manual—Click here to check out the user manual.
- Remote Control User Guide—Click here to check out the remote control user guide.
- Human Touch Official Website—Click here to head over to Human Touch’s official website where you’ll be able to check out several verified buyer reviews of this chair.
Here’s a quick demo of the chair from Human Touch:
Lastly, if you have any more questions about this chair, please drop a comment below and I’ll be sure to get back to you. Otherwise, please show your support by sharing this review post on the socials. Hope you enjoyed reading, and I’ll see you next time!
