Could there be anything more relaxing after a long day than a nice spa treatment or a pedicure? For many, the spa is the place to go to unwind and self-pamper. However, it’s simply not possible to go every day. This is why we celebrate the invention of the home foot spa.
About Foot Spas
Home foot spas are a great way to get a spa-like treatment in the comfort of your own home. They come in a variety of models with different features to fit any budget, making them an affordable alternative to sometimes costly spa memberships.
Home Foot spas are generally built to look like tiny whirlpools. They come in the form of a tiny basin that holds water and places to slip in your feet and relax. Some bubble or vibrate. These features are typically powered through the use of a wall outlet.
Diabetics, sufferers of collapsed arches, and those who suffer with chronic pain disorders like fibromyalgia or MS can benefit from daily foot spa treatments. Also, athletes, construction workers, and anyone who wears high-heeled, flat, or heavy footwear throughout the day should consider purchasing a home foot spa for their overall foot health.
Factors to Consider When Buying Foot Spa
When deciding to purchase a home foot spa, there are factors to be considered. The factors are:
- Heat Offering
- Roller Offering
- Size
- Water Jets
- Drain
- Can it be used with Salt/Soap
- Price
- Durability
Factor #1: Heat Offering
Simply stated, home foot spas work better with heat. Some spas offer a heating unit that maintains the temperature of warm water you add to the spa. Others will actually heat the water for you. There are those, though, with no heat source. You must pre-heat the water before filing the spa and then the water will naturally cool throughout the treatment. Those products might work for someone that only wants a short treatment here or there, but the heating units are almost always the way to go.
Factor #2: Roller Ball Offering
Some spas also feature roller balls at the bottom of the basin. These are used to massage the arches of the feet and relieve tension. They are a great addition for women who wear high heels regularly or for anyone that wears sturdy work boots throughout their day. Shoes that offer minimal arch support can place strain on the most sensitive parts of the feet, so you want to be sure you are treating your feet well when the shoes are off.
Factor #3: Size
How big should your foot spa be? Well, how big are your feet? Some foot spas have very small basins in comparison to others on the market. If you are of a larger shoe size, you’ll undoubtedly want to be sure that the basin is large enough for both feet to get an efficient treatment. Water should be able to fully surround both feet without air pockets or dry spots between the feet. Ideally, water would also completely cover the feet to provide the most efficient spa treatment available.
Factor #4: Water Jets
Some spas don’t have water jets or bubblers and, for some, that is okay. However, a water jet or a bubbler is the best way to massage the soft tissue of the feet and get between toes and other hard-to-reach areas where tense muscles can occur.
Jets typically come in the form of bubblers when it comes to foot spas, however there are times when typical whirlpool-like jets can occur. Bubblers are most recommended because they are softer on the feet, overall, and have less tendency to throw water from the tub.
Factor #5: Drain
You will want to be sure your machine drains properly to prevent grime and mold. Some basins must be dumped while others will have a drain plug in the bottom for draining into the sink. Which is easiest for you? Does the draining method clear all the water entirely from the machine or will you have to drain separate compartments? These are things to consider when you look at the life expectancy of your unit.
Factor #6: Can it be used with Salt/Soap?
A massage is always better when you can add additives to the water. Some machines, however, are not equipped to handle additives and can corrode or develop blockages in the jet systems.
Soaps, oils, and salts are common for skin and wound treatment. Also, aromatherapy is a great way to relieve muscle tension and relax. Because of the many positives associated with additives in a foot massager, it is not uncommon for consumers to consider this a must-have feature for their home spa products.
Many may try to use additives despite the manufacturer recommending not to. This almost always results in a faulty or not-working machine.
If you are the type of person who likes to use oil, salts, or soaps in your foot spa, you will want to be sure that yours is built to handle them.
Factor #7: Price
Of course, we all want to spend within our means. We also all want to get the best product for our budget. By comparing machines within your price range, you can determine which option is best, overall. Rarely is the cheapest option going to be the most efficient. On the flipside, the most expensive option usually isn’t, either. Be wise in your comparison shopping and make sure that not only is it affordable, but also worth the money.
Factor #8: Durability
There is no point buying a product that won’t last. Research how your machine is manufactured and read product reviews to determine if the life of the machine is worth the upfront cost.
Best Foot Spa Reviews
Below, we will review three of the top Foot Spas on the market. These foot spas include:
- HoMedics FB-600 Foot Salon Pro Pedicure Spa with Heat
- All in One Foot Spa Bath Massager with Heat
- Conair Waterfall Foot Spa with Lights, Bubbles and Heat
So which is the best for you? Let’s take a look.
1. HoMedics FB-600 Foot Salon Pro Pedicure Spa and Heat Review
Feature #1: Pedi Center
This machine has four attachments that soften and scrub the feet. Working together, they are advertised to leave feet feeling smooth, silky, and relaxed- just like they would from a real spa treatment. The attachments use water to massage and scrub away dead skin and unsightly calluses to leave your feet feeling baby soft.
Feature #2: Heat Boost Power
The Heat Boost power core can warm cold water to ninety-eight degrees in a matter of minutes. It also maintains the temperature throughout the duration of the treatment. This is a valuable feature for those who like long treatments.
Feature #3: Pressure Rollers
There are four pressure rollers at the bottom of the spa basin to massage the arches and provide relaxation support to the feet throughout the treatment. They work together to knead the bottom of the feet and into the arches to relax tension in the muscles and smooth the skin.
Pros
- Heats well
- Drains well
- Softens feet
Cons
- Weak bubbler
- Wears out fast
2. Kendal All in One Foot Spa Bath Massager and Heat Review
Feature #1: Self-Draining System
The All in One model comes equipped with a self-draining hose attachment that actually suctions the water from the machine and into the sink for easy disposal. This means no dumping or messing with awkward drain plugs! This is a great feature for anyone that has trouble lifting heavy, bulky bins of water or for anyone that is simply not strong enough to pull the plug on a tub when there is water pressure fighting back. Also, because there is no plug, the chance of future leaks associated with drain plugs is eliminated.
Feature #2: Pre-Set Functions
This model has a variety of three pre-set spa functions. Along with the functions, there is a combination of high-frequency vibration, heat, and bubbling massage available. This means that you can custom-tailor your own spa treatment to meet your individual needs and preferences.
Feature #3: Semi-Conductor Speed Heating
Similar to the speed-heating of the HoMedics model, this unit uses a semiconductor to speed up the heating process. It can bring cold air to hot in a matter of minutes and hold the temperature for as long as you like.
Pros
- Large deep basin
- Offers a good massage
- Self-drains
- Works with additives to the water
Cons
- No water temperature adjustments
- No roller balls
3. Conair Waterfall Foot Spa with Lights Bubbles and Heat Review
Feature #1: LED Lighting
Conair boasts the LED lighting feature of this machine as a must-have for anyone that wants to see the machine in action. Also, they claim their blue light LED setting can make the spa treatment feel more soothing.
Feature #2: Waterfall
Another addition meant to add relaxation to the treatment is the waterfall feature. The machine has a spout at the top, front side of the basin that trickles water into the tub in a waterfall-like design. The water pours over the tops of the feet and creates a waterfall noise, which Conair says adds ambience and a soothing atmosphere to the spa process.
Feature #3: Non-Slip Feet
The machine has non-slip pads on the feet of the basin, ensuring that the tub doesn’t run away from you during your treatment.
Pros
- Detachable Rollers
- Non-slip base
- Affordable
Cons
- Too noisy for most
- Weak heating system
- Narrow basin
Comparison between All 3 Models
So, now that we have reviewed each of these models separately, we should do a side-by-side comparison to determine which model would be the best quality for the purchase.
Let’s get started.
Comparison Factor #1: Heat Offering
The Conair model flopped in the category of heat. The machine claims to have a good heating unit, but most real-world reviewers said that it simply didn’t work to the standard they had hoped. A lot of them complained of water only being lukewarm by the end of the treatment which is simply unacceptable when it comes to a relaxing experience.
Both the HoMedics and All in One models had a very efficient heating system that was even able to heat water from cold in a matter of minutes. The downside, though, was that they both also fell short when it came to a user’s freedom to adjust the water temperature to suit their individual preferences.
Comparison Factor #2: Roller Offering
The HoMedics model had a roller system to massage and treat the arches and bottoms of the feet, which was a big positive for many Amazon reviewers.
While the All in One Model did not have roller balls available, the basin itself did vibrate. While that can provide a suitable massage for the bottoms of the feet in general, it does very little to support or relax the arches of the feet.
The Conair system comes with detachable rollers, for which there were mixed reviews. Some people loved the roller system while others loved that they could take them out.
Comparison Factor #3: Size
Both the HoMedics model and All in One model are able to accommodate feet up to a men’s size 12 or even larger in some cases. The Conair disappointed many by using a basin that was simply too narrow for larger feet sizes.
Comparison Factor #4: Jets
All of the machines have bubbler jets. While the Conair and All in One Models seemed to have adequate bubbling systems, the HoMedics model struggled. That model came equipped with a weak bubbler system that even had some users looking for “hacks” to improve the quality of the jets.
By far, the winner of this category is the All in One Model. Not only does it come equipped with jets, but a system pre-set to be able to adjust the intensity, which is great news for anyone.
Comparison Factor #5: Drain
Both the HoMedics and Conair models have drain plugs at the bottom of their basins for draining into the sink. There did not seem to be any negative reviews concerning the drains, so one is left to assume that they work rather efficiently.
The All in One Model, though, beats the other two yet again by having a self-draining hose system which vacuums the water from the machine. This saves consumers the hassle of dumping a heavy basin or fighting with awkward plug systems.
Comparison Factor #6: Salt & Soap
Salt, soap, and other additives are not recommended for the Conair model, putting yet another negative mark on the overall comparison to its counterparts.
The HoMedics model allows for bath salts to be used, but discourages the use of soap or oil.
Yet again, the All in One model wins by welcoming any additive the consumer would like into the spa experience.
Comparison Factor #7: Durability
While all three machines are generally very durable, the HoMedics machine does have a bubbler that can wear out and quit rather easily. Also, if someone were to use additives not recommended by either the HoMedics or the Conair machines, it is safe to assume their machine would wear out faster than expected.
Final Verdict
There are many reasons why the All in One Model wins out in this scenario. While it lacks the roller attachments that are typically sought out, it does give a decent vibrating massage and roller slip-in attachments are available at a minimal price on Amazon to fit almost any foot basin, making for an easy alternative to the vibrating massage if it is simply not suiting an individual’s needs The heating system not only maintains heat, but can heat water up from cool which is a great feature for anyone who enjoys one or more long soaks per day. The massage machine can also stand up to the wear and tear associated with using additives in the tub and is built to last.
The jets are not only in good working order, but come with a variety of pre-set functions to make the massage experience one that is fully customizable to suit the consumer. Not to mention, when the massage is over, the machine will drain itself.
Although at the highest price, the All in One System is also at the highest quality. So, in this case, the most expensive really is the best.
