The Mountrax with Remote: Why We Can’t Stop Fighting Over This Foot Massager
Remember when I said the Mountrax DIY foot massager was recovery equipment, not a luxury?
Mountrax read that review and sent us their upgraded model, the Foot Massager with Heat and Remote.
My first thought: How different can it really be?
Turns out? Different enough that my husband has claimed it as his personal property.
What Actually Changed
On paper, the upgrades sound incremental:
- Touch panel + remote control
- 3 kneading levels (vs. 2 on the DIY) and 3 compression levels
- 9 customized massage intensities when you combine them
- Heat that reaches 122°F
- No suction cups on the bottom (hallelujah)
- Same 15 or 30-minute auto shut-off
- Same quiet operation
- 1-year warranty
In practice? These changes completely transformed how we use it.
The Remote That Started a Domestic Dispute
I didn’t think a remote control would matter. I was wrong.
With the DIY model, you set your intensity before starting and mostly leave it alone. With this one, the remote lets you adjust kneading and compression mid-session without leaning forward or squinting at tiny buttons.
Sounds minor. It’s not.
My husband now parks himself in front of this thing for an hour at a time. He starts with just kneading. Switches to compression. Tries combinations. All without moving from his chair.
The man has very sensitive feet (see my original review where he couldn’t handle the Shiatsu at all). Now he’s experimenting with different intensities like he’s conducting a personal foot recovery laboratory.
The Heat That Actually Shows Up
The DIY model has a slow heat build up.
This one? My feet are toasty warm within minutes.
This heat is immediate, noticeable, and reaches 122°F. It’s the difference between “It’s warm.” and “Oh, this is what heated foot massage is supposed to feel like.”
Why More Customization Actually Matters
The DIY has 2 kneading levels and 3 compression levels. You can mix and match for different combinations, which works well.
This upgraded model has 3 kneading levels and 3 compression levels—giving you 9 distinct intensity combinations total. That extra kneading option makes a bigger difference than I expected.
Those gradual adjustments mean you can find your exact comfort zone, not just “tolerable” or “too much,” but that sweet spot where deep pressure meets relaxation.
For my husband’s sensitive feet, the gentler options made the difference between “I can only use compression” and “I’m doing full hour-long sessions mixing everything.”
For my post-hike recovery, it means I can start gentle and work up to intense as my feet relax.
The remote makes switching between levels effortless. You’re responding to what your feet need in real-time, not committing to one setting for the full session.
The Suction Cup Situation
Small thing: the DIY has suction cups on the bottom. This one doesn’t.
I’m not a big fan of the suction cups. They might be a great option for someone else but for me, this version, without the suction cups is perfect, it just sits there, stable and quiet.
The Honest Comparison
We love both models. But this one lives in our TV room and gets used daily. The DIY will probably head to our cabin for post-hike recovery.
Deciding which one goes where is honestly going to be harder than I expect. The upgraded model has the remote, better heat, and more customization. But the DIY is still excellent and will be perfect for targeted recovery after long hikes.
The Bottom Line:
If you’re choosing between them, here’s what matters:
The DIY is perfect if you want effective foot recovery without bells and whistles. It works, it’s affordable, and it does exactly what it promises. You can still customize with 2 kneading and 3 compression levels.
This upgraded model is for people who are going to actually use a foot massager regularly. The remote, the immediate heat, the extra kneading level, and those 9 intensity combinations make it something you’ll reach for daily instead of “when your feet are really bad.”
Overall, this model gives a gentler, more comfortable massage, which ironically means we use it more intensely and more often.
What You Get:
- Touch panel + remote control
- Deep kneading Shiatsu massage with 3 intensity levels
- 3 levels of air compression (low, medium, high)
- 9 customized massage intensity combinations
- Soothing heat up to 122°F
- Auto shut-off after 15 or 30 minutes
- Low noise operation
- Washable, removable foot liners
- Fits up to men’s size 12
- 1-year warranty
My feet are currently tucked into it as I type this. My husband will fight me for it the second I’m done.
If you’re looking for a Valentine’s Day gift that’ll actually get used (not just appreciated once and forgotten) check out the Mountrax lineup here: Mountrax
Fair warning: You might need to buy two.
Amy F. White, MSN, BCHN, FNLP, is a board-certified holistic nutritionist and life coach who helps women over 40 lose weight and feel energized again — without extremes, restriction, or rebound. Through her science-backed, hormone-smart approach, Amy teaches women how to work with their bodies for lasting change. She’s the owner of The Simplicity of Wellness and the creator of the Metabolic Jump Start method and Hangry to Healthy Transformation program.