Prospera 12V/AC Kneading Massage Cushion

I'm very happy with this massager. The compact shape lets me position it exactly where it needs to be to get at stiff neck muscles on the back and sides of my neck, which often lead to tension headaches. I have an OSIM reclining massage chair at home which just can't get to the same tight spots. I've also tried those "shiatsu" massagers sold at Brookstone, etc. with the "fingers" that rotate, as well as thumping massagers and the U-shaped percussion massagers you hang around your neck. The rotating knobs on this unit are much better at working out the kinks than any of the other units I've tried. Another great feature is being able to reverse the direction of rotation. It even comes with a cigarette lighter adaptor, a nice bonus I wasn't expecting. The vinyl cover seems durable and easy to clean. The nylon mesh fabric covering the rotating knobs seems durable enough to last a couple of years at least. It would be nice if it came in black and other colors to fit in better with car interiors. It was only available in "light coffee" when I bought it. While it's highly effective for massaging the neck and shoulder blades, the motor doesn't have enough torque for heavier duty "deep tissue" applications. For example, when I placed it at my upper or lower back on a recliner and laid backwards with my full weight on the unit, the weight caused it to slow down and stop (I weigh about 170). This would be less of an issue for a lighter person, but the motor in a unit this small can only do so much. It's best not to put too much pressure on the unit to avoid burning the motor out prematurely. Also, give it time to cool down between sessions (when it shuts down automatically, don't turn it back on right away). The manual also recommends using a surge protector. BTW, an excellent tool I use to work out stiff knots in my back is the Body Back Buddy. The Prosepra and the Body Back Buddy complement each other well and with both of them, I have most of my massage needs covered (short of visiting a professional masseuse). Per the included paperwork, the warranty is only 90 days (this wasn't mentioned anywhere in the Amazon listing). A year at least would have been better. Due to the costs of parts and labor charged by the company after the 90 days is up, plus return shipping, this unit probably wouldn't be worth repairing after the warranty expires. All in all, this is an excellent massager for the current price of forty dollars (less than the cost of one professional massage) and I highly recommend it, based on the assumption that it'll last at least 2 or 3 years of regular use. I was in Singapore about six months ago and several shops were selling what looks to be the exact same massager as this one for the equivalent of about $90 US. The reason I didn't buy one was because the voltage and plug were different than in the US, where I live, and would have required a bulky adaptor. So when I saw this on Amazon, I quickly picked one up.