Table of Contents
You can find my review of the WholeBody 5.1 by clicking here.
What are the key differences? Well there’s a couple to talk about, but the main ones are:
Later on in this post i’ll do a side by side comparison of the WholeBody 7.1 to the 5.1. In that section, we’ll discuss whether the improvements are worth the extra $$$. For now, let’s look at 5 key features of the WholeBody 7.1!
If you’re new to the world of massage chairs, you should know that rollers are the most critical component to a chair. They are the contraption that move up/down and all around your back, performing various massage techniques. If you’ve ever used a massage chair before, you’ll know exactly what i’m talking about!
4D is the most advanced, 3D is somewhere in between, and 2D is the least advanced in terms of function. Since this review doesn’t concern 4D technology, i’ll refrain from saying much about it here. For the purpose of this post, let’s look at 2D and 3D rollers and how they work.
2D rollers are the most simple. 2D stands for two dimensions, and that’s exactly how these rollers operate. They move along the vertical i.e. up and down, and along the horizontal i.e. left and right.
3D rollers are an improvement to 2D rollers because they have an added dimension to them. In addition to moving up/down and side to side, 3D rollers can also massage by moving inward and outward.
It’s important to have a basic understanding of roller technology because it gives you an appreciation of how all the different chairs function and why they’re priced the way they are.
“FlexGlide” is a Human Touch patent technology that’s designed to reduce friction and pinch as the rollers move up and down along your back and spine. In other words, it aims to make the overall massage experience more smooth and comfortable by minimizing the friction.
In fact, patented technologies like “FlexGlide” are what really made Human Touch the brand it is today. It is their claim to fame in many ways!
When it comes to automated wellness solutions, there’s usually 2 types of people:
If you’re like most people, you’re a type 1! Basically you don’t care about manual settings too much and just wanna be able to massage with minimal fuss. If this is the case, auto massage modes will be very important for you to consider when buying a massage chair.
And if you’re somewhere in between, then pick a chair that has a decent number of auto modes, with some freedom in manual mode! I hope this at least gives you something to think about before buying.
All that being said, the WholeBody 7.1 has 5 auto routines: full, upper, lower, relax, and sleep. Below is a brief description of what each mode does:
Each of the 5 auto modes mentioned above will run for 15 minutes max. Once you power on the massage chair, you can select one of the 5 modes directly from the remote control.
Ever had a specific area of your back cause you continuous grief? I don’t know why but the right side of my upper back always seems to cause me trouble!
BodyMap Pro is the technology that helps achieve this. It’s essentially a simplified map of the back that gives you the option to target specific pain points. It’s kinda like a spot massage, if you will!
As can be seen from the image above, you can pick from 6 different points throughout the back. When you select a point, the rollers will re-position and focus on that specific area. Definitely a cool little feature to have if you constantly suffer from isolated pain points!
Warm air technology is just a fancy way of saying the chair has heating elements!
Which system works better? I prefer warm air circulation over static heat simply because it feels more distributed. The problem with heating pads is that they’re too concentrated on one area, so you get a lot of heat on just one spot of the lower back. Human Touch have done well to resolve this problem with their patented warm air technology!
“CirQlation” is yet another Human Touch patented technology. Instead of employing airbags, this technology makes use of paddles/impellers to massage the feet and calves in a figure eight wave like motion. Note: you can only massage the feet or calves at a given time, not both. When not in use the foot ottoman can be turned into a foot rest.
FlexGlide, Warm Air Technology, and CirQlation are only a few of these. CirQlation in particular is one of my favorites, and that’s because it places great emphasis on circulation in the lower extremities. This is an area which the conventional airbag system common to 90% of massage chairs fails!
What’s the first thing you do when you set out to buy a phone or even a camera for that matter? You look at what’s out there! Usually that means you compare specs, warranty, prices etc. Of course we all tend to do this differently.
Why am I telling you all this? Simply because I want you to avoid many of the mistakes people make when comparing massage chairs. I’ve seen people comparing a 2D chair that costs $1000 to a 4D chair that costs $5000. Not only is this wrong, but it can also be very misleading! Here’s a rule of thumb I follow and recommend you also follow:
Comparing in this way ensures you’re comparing chairs with similar technology. Just the same way you wouldn’t compare the latest iPhone to a flip phone from 10 years ago! Hopefully this makes a little sense, so you can avoid making this schoolboy error.
Now then let’s see how the WholeBody 7.1 compares to a similar chair with 3D rollers. Specifically, let’s see how it compares against Titan’s Pro Executive. I’ve previously completed a detailed review of the Pro Executive which you can check out by clicking here.
Let’s discuss some of the key differences.
When I said you’d be hard pressed to find a 3D chair cheaper than the WholeBody 7.1, I wasn’t kidding!
Roller span or track is simply the distance a set of rollers will travel along the back. A large roller track means the rollers will massage all along the back right down to the glutes and even the hamstring. That being said, the larger the roller track, the better!
7” is more than half a foot! In my opinion it does make a significant difference as far as massage is concerned. Again, these are all things you need to consider and think about before buying!
What is deep tissue massage anyways?
Deep tissue is usually done on patients that suffer from chronic pain, posture problems, and limited mobility. That’s not to say deep tissue is only reserved for people who suffer from these conditions. Anyone can enjoy a deep tissue massage. I certainly do!
It’s a preference thing. I’ve got several friends who swear by deep tissue, and at the same time I know people who absolutely detest the firm pressure! Decide what you like and pick a chair based on that.
The Titan Pro Executive can massage at deep tissue intensities. This is not true for the WholeBody 7.1.
All Titan chairs are equipped with a pre-massage body scan feature. Essentially, a computer will scan the individual’s entire body to produce a map. This map is then used to determine the optimum settings for massage.
The WholeBody 7.1 does not have a body scan feature. In comparison to the Pro Executive, this is a definite shortcoming for the WholeBody 7.1.
Both chairs have some form of heat therapy.
Personally speaking, I tend to prefer the warm air technology over the heating pads. As mentioned earlier, I find the heat to be better distributed around the entire back, instead of being focused in one area.
Yes I certainly think so. Airbags serve 2 main purposes:
This second reason is why I think airbags are so important. Because they hold the body in place during a routine, they ensure the rollers are more effective at doing their job.
If you’re under tight space constraints, you’ll be better off going with the WholeBody 7.1 instead of the Pro Executive.
As you can see from above, the Pro Executive is a monster in comparison to the WholeBody 7.1!
Because it’s a bigger chair, Titan’s Pro Executive is able to accommodate a wider user height range.
Before we get ahead of ourselves, let me say the following:
The WholeBody 7.1 is in many ways an updated version of the 5.1 While this is true, it’s important to understand that both chairs employ different roller technology. The WholeBody 5.1 makes use of 2D rollers, while the 7.1 makes use of 3D rollers. Other differences include:
The biggest and most significant improvement is in the roller technology. The 3D rollers alone makes it worthwhile to spend the extra $200 to get the 7.1!
If you haven’t noticed yet, I have several affiliate links placed throughout this post. If you click on my link, you will be redirected to massage chairs. If you decide to purchase the chair, I will receive a small commission.
Honestly, yes I would. They usually have the lowest prices on the web, and their customer service is awesome! Even still, I encourage you to check for the lowest price online, if you’re interested in buying this chair. If you’re ready to buy, below is an affiliate link that will redirect you to massage chairs. Feel free to use it if you think I deserve the commission!
I hope you got some value out of this review post. If you did, a share on the socials would be appreciated. Finally, let me know if there’s anything more you’d like to know about this chair. Leave me a comment below and i’ll be sure to get back to you!
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