by Philip |
Last Updated: May 13, 2018 When you buy something using the links on our posts, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Learn more.
Executive Summary
The Ogawa Active SuperTrac is a well-constructed massage chair from the same company and manufacturing plant as the Cozzia. It has a unique ‘Supertrac’ roller configuration that you can’t find with other chairs.
It also has 56 airbags, body scan, UNIQ massage for your glutes, kneading foot rollers, and much more. This massage chair provides a ton of features aiming to provide you with hours of relaxation.
- Air compression-the Ogawa active is designed with 56 perfectly placed multi-layer air chambers to perform a full body compression massage
- Ogawa warranty - this warranty includes in-home service, parts & labor for the 1st (one) year at no cost to the customer
- Kneading foot rollers-equipped with deep kneading foot rollers, the Ogawa active eliminates tightness and calms the muscles of overworked...
Last update on 2023-04-01 at 13:46 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / More info
Company Background
Ogawa is the Japanese word for stream. Ogawa was established in 1996 in Malaysia and has been a leading company in the health and wellness equipment field ever since. Ogawa has steadily grown globally and provides incredible equipment that is efficient and stylish.
Ogawa Active Supertrac Specs
Dimensions
The Ogawa Active has an upright dimension of 60L x 233W x 49H and a reclined dimension of 82L x 33W x 24H.
It’s recommended for people from 5’2” to 6’4”.
Warranty
The Ogawa Active has a 5-year limited warranty: 1 year of in-home service, 2 years for parts, and 5 years for the structural framework.
Main Features
- Supertrac Roller Technology – When you hit the UNIQ button, this chair will recline and go fully flat. A feature unique to L-tracks, this will enable you to get an excellent full-body massage right down to your buttocks.
- Zero Gravity Recline – One of the most sought-after features from a massage chair, the Ogawa Active has two stages of Zero-Grav recline positions.
- 56 Multi-Layered Airbags – Experience a high quality massage experience with a combination of both rollers and airbags.
- Body Scan Technology – This advanced pressure sensor technology scans your body and creates a virtual map. This map is used to create a custom massage program for you.
Additional Features
- Foot Rollers and Automated Footrest
- Chair Programs and Pre-Programmed Massages
- Massage Techniques: Kneading, Swedish, Tapping, Shiatsu, Clapping, Rolling
- Massage Adjustments: 5 levels of intensity, strength, and speed, plus 3 width adjustments of rollers, and removable back pad
- Adjustable Massage Time and Length
- Stretching Programs
- Partial and Spot Massage
- Heat and Vibration
- Remote Control
Pros
Enhanced L-Track That Straightens Out
Let’s talk about the roller track first because that’s what this Ogawa model is named after. The Ogawa Active has L-track rollers that extend for 43 inches. This is long, but not as long as say, the Infinity Iyashi’s 49 inches, or the newer Luraco iRobotics Legend‘s 58 inches.
(Now, we’ve discussed what L-track rollers are before in this guide we wrote way back, but long story short, the S-track follows the S curve of the back but the L-track continues further down the body in an “L” shape and traverses the glutes, piriformis, and hamstrings.)
The uniqueness of this Ogawa model doesn’t come from the length of its track, but rather from the fact that it can be flattened. L-track rollers typically can’t be: they’re in an L shape and when you recline or move the chair to an upright position, the tracks retain their L-shape.
The SuperTrac, however, straightens and flattens out. This means you can lay yourself flat on your chair if needed. In short, I’d say the Supertrack is an enhanced L-track.
When in an upright position, the Supertrac can massage you from neck to tailbone. When either in Zero Gravity or fully flattened position, it can massage you further down and help relieve tightness down to your buttocks and glutes.
Two Stages Of Zero Gravity
The Zero Gravity recline is a posture based on NASA research, and is a huge reason why people buy massage chairs. When you use the Zero Gravity recline, this massage chair elevates the knees above or level with your heart while you’re being massaged. This helps take off the compression along the spine, lowers blood pressure, and improves circulation. This position is one that a regular massage therapist can’t perform (unless you get on an inversion board.)
With the Ogawa Active, you have two options via a touch button for the Zero Gravity recline.
Thorough Massage Via The Air Compression System
The Ogawa Active comes with 56 airbags that are multi-layered. All of these airbags are placed throughout the chair for a total body massage. The locations of the airbags are placed conveniently to target the arms, shoulders, hands, waist, legs, seat, feet, and calves.
The advanced compression system helps reduce inflammation, provides relaxation, and speeds up muscle recovery. Muscles get to eliminate waste and also increase circulation.
Stretching Programs To Alleviate Pain
If you’re in the market for a massage chair to help you with pain management, one of the things to look out for is a Stretching program. The stretching program on this model will hold you in place with the shoulder airbags and then simultaneously pull you back in your seat. As your spine is stretched, the rollers travel up and down your back. This type of stretch is ideal for those suffering from neck or back pain.
The Therapy program, in the meantime, will stretch your lower leg and back, while massaging your tight calf muscles. This makes it ideal for those suffering from leg pain or cramps.
You can also check out our recommendations of massage chairs for neck pain.
Adjustable To Your Height
Usually, massage chairs are either recommended for short people or tall people. This chair, though, allows for more room for adjustment, thanks to its footrest that automatically adjusts to its user’s height from a petite 5′ to a tall 6’4”.
Cons
Price
When the Ogawa Active first came out, it was a little just below the $5k mark. The price has dropped a bit since then. However, it’s still a pricey chair when you consider that there are better performing models or newer brand models at that.
Lackluster Performance in Showrooms
On paper, and as you can see from our Pros list, the features of this massage chair are solid. However, it has never been a bestseller in the showrooms that we had access to.
The root may possibly be traced to some reviews on this chair’s actual massage performance. For some users, specific parts of their body (like neck or shoulders) are not being hit or massaged well. For others, they’re not happy that the tracks do not extend as far down as other chairs.
You should take this part of our review with a grain of salt though as we only have limited insight in how it performs in showrooms and reviews from real people. But it’s fair to say it doesn’t have the ‘wow’ factor you sometimes get.
Heavy And Difficult To Move Around
Photo Source: ogawaworldusa.com
Many massage chairs share this same engineering design and while they are choc full of amazing features, one drawback is that they are as heavy as a beached whale. They’re very cumbersome and difficult to move around.
Save yourself a busted back and pay for White Glove service to bring it into the house and position it where you want it placed.
Conclusion
The Ogawa Active Supertrac is a solid chair with equally solid features. If you’ve sat on it and felt in your gut that it’s the perfect chair for you, then by all means, go ahead and purchase it.
If you are on the fence though, we’d advise you to shop a bit more and see what your budget can get. We’d say that there are equally (or more) amazing chairs out there for this price point and they’re either time-tested or exciting new models. Check out our Top Massage Chairs by price and scroll right down to our Best Mid-Ranged Priced Chairs.
- Air compression-the Ogawa active is designed with 56 perfectly placed multi-layer air chambers to perform a full body compression massage
- Ogawa warranty - this warranty includes in-home service, parts & labor for the 1st (one) year at no cost to the customer
- Kneading foot rollers-equipped with deep kneading foot rollers, the Ogawa active eliminates tightness and calms the muscles of overworked...
Last update on 2023-04-01 at 13:46 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API / More info
Author: Philip Andrew
A writer and teacher who enjoys lazing around and building winter nests out of duvets. “Most are too itchy. You’ve got to be picky.” His goal is to create a complete home spa for 24/7 access to rest and relaxation. Next on the agenda: a barrel sauna for the garden. Connect with Philip on Twitter @completehomespa.