Human Touch Massage Chair Review: My Honest Experience With the WholeBody 7.1

For years, I’d been toying with the idea of owning a massage chair. Between long workdays, chronic back stiffness, and a desire to replace expensive visits to the massage therapist, I finally pulled the trigger on the Human Touch WholeBody 7.1 massage chair. After seeing it listed as a mid-range option that doesn’t look like a spaceship sitting in your living room, I thought this was the perfect compromise between design, affordability, and functionality.

What follows is my unfiltered experience living with this chair for months—the good, the bad, and everything in between. If you’re researching this model, I hope this review will save you time, money, and frustration before you decide whether it’s worth it.

First Impressions & Setup

The delivery experience was smoother than I expected, though the chair arrived fully reclined, which initially made the setup a little confusing. Thankfully, there’s almost no assembly required—I just removed packaging, attached the headrest, and it was ready to go.

The first thing I noticed? The design. Unlike the oversized pod-like chairs that dominate an entire room, the WholeBody 7.1 actually looks like a recliner. It blended into my living room without screaming “massage chair.” The faux leather is decent quality and feels durable at first touch, though I could tell it wasn’t premium leather.

The downside of the initial setup? The instruction manual is poorly written. There are functions on the controller that aren’t explained well, and it took a lot of trial-and-error to learn what all the buttons did. I still feel the company could’ve invested more effort into making the manual clearer.

Design & Comfort

From a visual standpoint, this chair is attractive and compact. But once I sat in it, I noticed a few things right away:

• The seat is firm. It doesn’t feel like a cozy recliner you’d sink into for hours. Instead, it feels more like a supportive car seat—functional, but not plush.
• Size limitations. I’m average height, and it fits me reasonably well. But taller people (over 6 feet) will find the neck rollers don’t reach properly, and shorter people may find the headrest awkward, forcing them to strain their neck.
• Armrests & recline. The armrests are too low for natural lounging, and the chair never sits fully upright, which makes it awkward if you want to read or watch TV in it.

So while the WholeBody 7.1 looks like a recliner, don’t expect it to double as your everyday lounging chair—it’s really designed for massage sessions, not all-day comfort.

Features & Technology

This chair comes with some solid features:

• 3D FlexGlide Massage Rollers: These mimic human hands and can be set from light to extremely deep. The deep setting is so strong it literally lifts me off the backrest at times. For some, that’s therapeutic. For others, it’s too much.
• Heat Function: The lumbar heat is soothing, especially in colder months. It’s not blazing hot but adds gentle warmth to relax tight muscles.
• Five Auto Programs: Pre-programmed routines like “Relax,” “Sleep,” or “Full Back” are available. Personally, I find them underwhelming because they move around too quickly. I prefer switching to manual mode and targeting problem spots.
• Foot & Calf Massage: This is where things get divisive. The calf massage can be painfully intense and even awkwardly positioned for some people. The foot rollers are decent on arches but don’t always align well unless your height matches the design.
• Swivel Base: It swivels about 45 degrees, which is a nice touch for moving around in smaller spaces.

Overall, the feature set is solid for a chair in this price bracket, but it’s not as advanced as high-end models with airbags, zero-gravity modes, or app controls.

Massage Experience

Here’s where things got interesting.

The Good

• Deep Tissue Relief: If you like strong pressure, this chair delivers. It works deeply into knots and sore spots, especially in the lower back. After sessions, I often felt looser and more mobile.
• Neck & Skull Massage: When aligned properly, the rollers dig into pressure points at the base of the skull—this felt incredible and reminded me of acupressure techniques.
• Customizable Settings: I appreciated being able to control width, intensity, and type (stretch, percussion, etc.). The manual mode allowed me to stop the rollers exactly where I needed them.

The Not-So-Good

• Too Aggressive at Times: Even on lower settings, the rollers can feel brutal. I sometimes added an extra cushion just to tolerate it.
• Inconsistent Coverage: The rollers sometimes miss the lower back entirely, leaving a frustrating gap. Other times, they push me so far forward it’s hard to relax.
• Leg Massage Flaws: The calf massage is either too tight or misaligned. For skinny legs, there’s barely any pressure; for larger calves, it can be unbearably strong.
• Short Programs: Massage cycles last only about 15 minutes and stop abruptly, requiring me to restart if I wanted longer sessions.

Living With the Chair: Daily Use

Over time, I settled into a routine: one session in the morning to wake up my back and another at night before bed. The chair quickly became part of my lifestyle. However, a few frustrations kept resurfacing:

1. Slow Recline Mechanism – Adjusting the back and footrest feels sluggish, and the massage pauses while it’s moving.
2. Noise – The mechanical sounds aren’t whisper-quiet. It’s noticeable, though not unbearable.
3. Not a Lounging Chair – When not in massage mode, it’s too firm and awkward to use as a normal recliner.

That said, the massages themselves did help reduce my lower back pain and tension after long workdays.

Build Quality & Reliability

The frame feels sturdy, and the faux leather looks fine initially. But after reading about peeling upholstery and cracks after a year, I’m cautious. For a chair that costs well over $1,500, durability is a real concern.

I also experienced one small glitch early on where the footrest stopped moving. A reset fixed it, but it didn’t inspire confidence. Others have reported parts failing within months, so I strongly recommend purchasing an extended warranty.

Who This Chair Is For (and Who It Isn’t)

This chair is a great fit if:

• You want deep tissue back massage at home.
• You value a sleek, furniture-like design over a giant pod chair.
• You’re willing to experiment with manual settings to get the most out of it.
• You’re average height and weight.

It’s not ideal if:

• You’re very tall or very short.
• You want a cozy recliner for lounging or napping.
• You have sensitive muscles or can’t tolerate firm pressure.
• You expect flawless durability over the long term.

Price & Value

At around $1,500–$2,000, the WholeBody 7.1 sits in the entry-to-mid range of massage chairs. Compared to $6,000+ models, it’s a bargain. But compared to budget chairs under $1,000, it’s pricey given the shortcomings with calf massage, comfort, and durability.

If you find it on sale closer to $1,200–$1,400, it’s a fair deal. At full price, I’d hesitate unless you’re sure its massage style suits you.

Final Verdict

So, would I recommend the Human Touch WholeBody 7.1 Massage Chair?

Yes—with reservations.

It’s fantastic for deep back and neck massage and looks like a normal recliner, making it a solid option if you want therapeutic relief without sacrificing your living room’s style. However, it’s not a perfect all-rounder. The calf massage feels like an afterthought, the controls are poorly documented, and comfort as a regular chair is lacking.

I see it as a tool—something I use for short, intense sessions to work out back tension—not as an everyday lounge chair. If you’re okay with that distinction, it’s worth considering. But if you want plush comfort, flawless durability, or gentle massages, you’ll probably be disappointed.

Bottom Line

If you came here searching for “human touch massage chair review”, here’s my one-sentence takeaway:

The Human Touch WholeBody 7.1 is a stylish, compact massage chair that delivers strong, therapeutic back relief but falls short in comfort, calf massage, and long-term durability—best for those who want intensity over luxury.