Miko Shiatsu Foot Massager Review

We purchased the Miko Shiatsu Foot Massager so our expert reviewer could put it to the test on her own feet. Keep reading for our full product review.

Who doesn’t love a soothing foot massage at the end of a long day? While regularly seeking out a massage therapist would surely put a dent in your wallet, there are at-home solutions to be found. One such option? The Miko Shiatsu Foot Massager. Because it’s one of the most expensive products on the market, we put it to the test to see if it delivers the professional results you’d expect from such a high-tech machine. Although we encountered a few minor hiccups along the way, the massager still surpassed its competition with a bevy of advanced settings.

Performance: High price translates to high performance

The Miko Shiatsu Foot Massager is one of the most advanced options available, and after a few weeks of using it daily, we found it lived up to its caliber. The massager features two cloth-covered foot chambers which apply soothing shiatsu massage to the bottom and sides of feet. The user can choose between deep kneading or something softer with five levels of pressure. We found it was easy to adjust our desired level with the + and - buttons displayed right on top of the massager. Additionally, a built-in heating feature keeps feet warm during the massage, but if you start to run hot, you can turn the setting off.

We used the massager after standing—in two-inch heels which put pressure on the balls of our feet—for most of the day. After using the massager for about 15 minutes, the tightness and pain in our feet was reduced considerably. The foot compartment expands and contracts around your toes, creating a squeezing sensation that mimics the technique an actual massage therapist would use. At certain points, it almost felt like we were getting a professional massage. In terms of comfort level, we preferred to keep the machine at a 2 or 3, which applied a firm but relaxing amount of pressure. While it may be suitable for others, we found the pressure at level 4 and 5 too intense.

One drawback we noticed was that the massager applied a lot of pressure to the front of our foot but wasn’t as effective at massaging our arches or heels. That said, the targeted pressure points may depend on the shape of the user’s foot. With a slightly higher arch, our feet didn’t rest entirely flat on the unit. Along the same lines, one common user complaint is that the Miko can only accommodate people with shoes sizes 12 or smaller. As someone with a size 8 women’s foot, we can’t attest to this as we had extra wiggle room. 

Another small issue is the product’s smell. After unboxing it, we found it gave off a strong chemical odor. The smell did began to dissipate after a few hours, though. And when we used the machine a second time about 24 hours later, the smell was almost entirely gone.

See more reviews of our favorite foot spas available for purchase.

Design: Sleek and intuitive

The Miko massager is quite modern in design. The unit is relatively small and can easily fit in a closet or under a chair (though it may be too tall to slide under a bed or dresser). At 12 pounds, it’s pretty portable too.

The machine is powered via a standard plug-in adapter. It can be operated using the buttons on the center control panel or with a remote. Most often, we chose to sit back and relax using the wireless remote rather than bending over to press the buttons on the unit.

If the idea of sharing a foot massager with other people—even your partner or children—gives you the heebie-jeebies, you can also rest assured knowing the cloth covering on the foot chambers is removable and washable. The lining of the foot compartments is attached with a zipper. To gauge the ease of use, we detached and reattached both liners several times, and it was quite simple to do.

Although the unit itself is well-designed, we did find the remote’s battery panel a bit flawed. A small diagram on the back of the remote illustrates how to replace the batteries, but the black text is very fine and difficult to read, even more so because it’s against a black background. In order to open it, you have to push down on a tiny tab and simultaneously slide out the battery tray. We tried to do so multiple times before finally getting the hang of it. Because the parts are very small and it requires some nimble finger work, we imagine the process of changing the battery would be very difficult for people with mobility issues in their hands. That said, both remotes come with batteries already installed, and it’s not likely that you would have to change them very often.

Price: On the high end, but worth the money

Retailing around $140, this foot massager certainly isn’t pocket change. But, with a variety of features and adjustable modes—including heat and pressure levels—you can fully customize your massage. The washable cloth covering is also a plus you won’t often find on other models. In our book, these extras certainly make it worth the high price.

Competition: The cheaper the model the weaker the performance

Since it is one of the most high-tech options available, the Miko Shiatsu Foot Massager naturally comes with a steeper price tag. If you’re willing to sacrifice some of the customizable features, there are several mid-range options that are more budget-friendly. The HoMedics® Shiatsu AirMax Rolling Foot Massager retails for about $100 and has three massage speeds, as well as high and low air intensity. If you have no qualms about buying a more basic unit, the automatic Shiatsu Foot Massager for Plantar Fasciitis retails for about $50 and delivers an impressive (albeit less powerful) massage.

Want to take a look at some other options? Read through our best foot massagers article.