Ataraxia Deluxe Portable Folding Massage Chair Review 2024

Are you a massage therapist, or at least an aspiring one? Looking to break into the business but don’t have a lot of money to work with?

Finding the “right” equipment on a budget can be daunting. There are some great portable massage chairs out there, but the top-of-the-line models may cost far more money than you’ve got at your disposal, especially when you’re starting out.

Recently, we conducted an extensive search in a quest for the best value portable massage chairs on the market today. To view this review, click on this link. The Ataraxia Deluxe got an honorable mention in the budget segment of our roundup. So, if money is tight, it’s well worth considering.

We’ll be quick to say that it’s far from being a perfect portable massage chair. It’s got its share of limitations, but it’s better than you might expect.

In the following sections, we’ll outline what it can and just as importantly, what it can’t do so you’ll have all the information you need to decide if this is the model you’ve been searching for. Ready to take a closer look? Let’s get to it!

Overview of the Ataraxia Deluxe Portable Folding Massage Chair

The Ataraxia Deluxe portable folding massage chair is a conventionally-designed portable massage chair. At first glance, it looks like most of the more expensive models are being sold today.

Of course, given its incredibly low price, sacrifices have been made. Low-end materials were used in its construction. The welds aren’t as good as you find on more expensive products. The padding is acceptable but far from world-class, so it’s not as comfortable as more expensive ones.

When fully assembled, the Ataraxia Deluxe massage chair measures 20.5” x 10.2” x 39” and weighs 24.5 pounds, making it the heaviest portable massage chair of our finalists in the budget section. 

The small footprint makes it ideal for those who are just starting out since space may be quite limited if you’re doing massages from an office or a room in your home, but its weight will work against you to a degree if you mean to take it with you on the road. 

It’s not so heavy that this will prove impossible, but you will get more of a workout than you would if you purchased a lighter chair.

Comfort

In the section above, we mentioned comfort in passing.  The Ataraxia Deluxe massage chair isn’t uncomfortable, but it’s certainly true that the padding and upholstery don’t compare especially favorably with more expensive models. 

Of course, your clients aren’t going to be spending extended amounts of time in the chair in any case, and it’s not so uncomfortable that they’ll have any difficulty sitting in it for the duration of the massage you’re giving.

Adjustability

Where adjustability is concerned, you’ve got a few options here, but not many.  The height and angle of the face pillow can be adjusted, as can the height of the chest pad, the seat, and the armrest. Although, the more you change the chair’s settings, the more quickly you’ll wear out the knobs that keep everything tight and firmly in place.

Note that there’s no sternum pad available for this model.

Extras

Regarding extras, the Ataraxia Deluxe folding massage chair doesn’t have much to offer, but it does come with a zippered, duffel-style carrying case. So, although it’s heavier than other portable massage chairs, once you’ve got it in the bag, getting it from Point A to Point B won’t be too difficult.

Pros and Cons of the Ataraxia Deluxe Massage Chair

For what it is, this is a decent chair, although it should be noted that it’s not going to age well.  The low-grade PU upholstery is going to start to crack, probably a lot sooner than you were hoping, and the inexpensive components are going to get loose with everyday use, so don’t expect it to stand up well in the long term.

In our view though, all of those are given, and things that just come with the territory when you buy a low-end chair.

The Ataraxia Deluxe portable massage chair shouldn’t be considered a long-term investment in equipment.  It’s a short-term fix designed to get your business off the ground.  Once you start making money, you’ll be able to replace it with a more robust and capable model.

Ataraxia Deluxe Review Conclusion

We can’t say that we give the Ataraxia Deluxe portable folding massage chair a strong recommendation.  It’s a niche product, marketed to people who want to get started in the business and are on a shoestring budget.  For those people, it’s better than you might expect, and will certainly enable you to launch and grow your business in the early days.

If you have even a little more money to spend, you’re better served getting a more robust and capable chair, but not everybody does.  If that describes you, this will get you started.  On that basis, we provisionally recommend it.

Recommended Reading

Noooshi Portable Folding Massage Chair Review & Rating

Our evaluation of the Noooshi Portable folding massage chair explores why it’s a great choice for budget-conscious newcomers.

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Official Manufacturer Support

References & Resources

• ​Do Massages Do Anything Besides Relax You?, Live Science.
• How Long Should My Massage Be?, Elements Massage.
• What to Expect After a Massage, The Massage Company.
• Massage Therapy Business Plan Basics, American Massage Therapy Association.
• Essential Skills Needed for Massage Therapists, Chron.