Bob and Brad 721 Foot Massager Review: Strong on Big Feet, Loose on Small

Six of our clients have reported back on the Bob and Brad 721, and their ratings split almost exactly along foot shape. Two gave it five stars, and one man, who could barely get his foot in and out, gave it one.

This Bob and Brad 721 foot massager review pulls together those six client reviews, what members of our Facebook recovery-gear group posted, and what a handful of other buyers wrote. My bottom line is simple: it's a strong, warm, full-foot machine for people whose feet fit it, and a frustrating one for people whose feet don't.

What Do You Actually Get for $159.99?

The 721 is a corded shiatsu foot massager with air compression, heat and a wireless remote, priced at $159.99 at the time of writing. That puts it in the middle of the foot massager market, toward the upper end of what members call the mid-tier.

Here is what the brand lists, with what each spec means once your feet are inside it. (Shiatsu - rollers that press and knead in a rhythm, a bit like thumbs working into the sole) is the main event, and the airbags squeeze on top of it.

The brand also says the 721 massages the toes, which most foot massagers skip. Whether it reaches them is a fit question, and I'll come back to it.

If the spec list suits you, you can check the current price of the Bob and Brad 721 before reading on.

(If you buy through this link we may earn a small commission. It doesn't change what our clients and group members reported.)

Who Is the 721 For, and Who Should Skip It?

The pattern across clients and members is consistent enough that I can sort buyers into two groups.

It suits:

• Average-to-large feet that fill the chamber, including the men's size 11-12 feet that clients and members described as a good fit
• People on their feet most of the day who want a strong, warm massage at home
• Anyone who likes adjusting things from the sofa with a remote

Skip it if:

• Your feet are small or narrow, such as a women's 7.5 to 8.5, because the massage may not feel matched to them and the arch and heel may never be reached
• You have a high instep or swollen feet that make getting in and out a struggle
• Heel work matters most, since heels were the weakest spot for two clients
• You want a very gentle rub or a very aggressive one from a single setting

If what really aches is your back rather than your feet, what our clients found with the EZBack Pro is a better place to start.

How Did Six of Our Clients Get On With It?

The six client reviews average 3.5 out of 5: two at 5 stars, two at 4, one at 2 and one at 1. The low scores are almost all about fit, not power.

Greg is the case that stuck with me. He wears a size 12 but has some swelling from neuropathy, and he told me he thought the machine was going to hurt his left foot after the fourth attempt to get in.

That's the opposite of what a foot massager should do, and it's why I tell clients with swollen or reduced-feeling feet never to force a foot into any chamber. He ordered a second unit to find out whether his was a fluke, and I don't have that result yet.

The client in a women's size 7.5 to 8 had the underlying problem that the 721 didn't feel matched to their feet, and found the massage gentle and repetitive.

Carlos was the opposite case: size 12 EEEE feet filled the chamber and the results were good. The only complaint was how much effort it took to get out, so Carlos stopped using it to protect the liner for a spouse.

Nate liked the power but said the heel roller sits too high, so it took tinkering with the air pressure and pushing the heel down to get anything there. Heels are where Nate needs the most help, so the keep-or-return decision is still open.

The client who cleans houses has the approach I'd copy. They started on medium, worked up to level 3, and said it left their feet feeling almost brand new after a long day of standing.

Other Observations From Friends, Relatives and Other User Reviews

• A reviewer in a women's size 8.5 narrow foot, with plantar fascia soreness, found the front of the foot massaged well but the arch and heel never touched, even at max intensity and air (3/5).
• A reviewer with plantar fasciitis used it 3 to 4 times a day on a chiropractor's suggestion, felt it was helping, and the chiropractor agreed (5/5).
• A reviewer with a foot neuroma used it at the end of a 12,000-step day and found it soothing, with the tingling calmer afterward (5/5).
• Our sixth client bought it as a birthday gift for a spouse, who uses it most, and enjoys it too for the pressure, heat and options (5/5).

What Did Members of Our Facebook Group Say?

Our Facebook recovery-gear group talks about the 721 less than it talks about massage guns, and not every post names the exact model. Where a member just says "the Bob and Brad foot massager," I've labelled it that way.

The member with years of heel pain is worth a second look. They had tried a podiatrist, orthotics and night splints, and credited a combination of stretching, rubbing their feet, ice and cortisone shots rather than any one device.

Clients and members agree on the headline: the 721 works when the foot fits. Where they differ is on size 12 and up, since one member says the 721 is the right pick for big feet, while my client Greg, at size 12 with swelling, found it too tight to enter.

Does It Do What the Listing Promises?

The size claim is where I'd be most careful. Length is only one part of fit, and width, instep height and swelling decided how clients felt about it.

On the health claims, take them as what individual people said, not as proof. In the user reviews I read, one person with plantar fasciitis felt it helped and their chiropractor said to keep using it, while another with the same condition said the machine never reached her arch.

What Does It Feel and Sound Like in Use?

Pressure and noise decide whether a foot machine becomes an evening habit or a closet ornament. Here is what clients and members told me about both.

How do the kneading, air and heat feel?

Expect a firm, rhythmic squeeze that is strong on high and mild on low. The client who cleans houses called the top setting very strong and perfect for sore feet once they had worked up to it, while the client in a women's 7.5 to 8 called that same setting a pleasant, gentle rub at best.

One older couple among the buyers said the massage felt uncomfortable at first and got better as their feet relaxed. A client buying for a spouse called the heat excellent.

I have no client complaint about the heat, though members say some foot machines take up to 15 minutes to warm up, which would eat a whole 15-minute cycle. Nobody in our data timed this one.

How loud is it?

Quiet enough for most living rooms, but you will hear it. The client who cleans houses said the noise is there but not too loud or annoying, and the client buying for a spouse called it small and quiet.

The brand lists a "quiet massage" and nobody has measured decibels, so if you share a wall with a sleeping partner, try the lowest setting first.

Where does it live between sessions?

It is bigger than the photos suggest at 15.3 by 15.7 inches, though light at 3.7 kg. The client who cleans houses slides it under a chair, and another client keeps it under a table or in a closet.

Members warn that big foot machines end up hidden in closets and forgotten, so give it a spot you walk past. One client already wondered aloud whether theirs would end up in the closet.

How Long Does It Last, and What Goes Wrong?

I can't tell you much about lifespan, because the data doesn't go far enough. None of the five buyer reviews describes the machine itself failing, though one remote was dead on arrival, and other buyer feedback says some units do stop working.

Here is what keeps coming up, counted from what I have:

• Fit, access or heel-reach problems: 4 of our 6 clients (Greg, the smaller-footed client, Carlos and Nate) hit one
• Returns and refunds: 2 of our 6 clients mention sending it back or waiting on a refund
• Remote: 1 of the 5 buyers got a remote that did not work, even with a new battery
• Intensity: 1 client found the highest setting only a gentle rub

One reviewer, rated 3 out of 5, simply didn't see the benefit and wasn't sure it would survive past the closet. That's an honest outcome, and it deserves to be on the list next to the ones I can explain.

Members praise Bob and Brad's customer service, but those posts are about the brand's massage guns. I don't have a single foot-massager story that shows how support handles a 721 problem.

What Did the Clients Who Made It Work Do Differently?

The happy clients mostly had feet that fit the chamber, and a few of them worked out habits that I now pass on to everyone.

• Build up slowly: medium for the first sessions, then level 3, as the client who cleans houses did
• Tinker with the air: Nate found the right air pressure by trial and error before the heel roller did anything
• Push the heel down: Nate also pressed the heel into the roller and nudged it outward, and skipped the front-edge lift when heel work was the goal
• Use the toe-point trick to get out: Carlos points the toes and slants each foot, then uses the back of the unit to ease it off
• Use the timer as a rest: the 15-minute cycle is a natural pause, and starting again after a short break is fine

None of these tricks changes the fit, so they help most at the margins. They can't make a size 7 foot fill a chamber built for a size 13.

Is It Worth the Money?

At $159.99, the 721 asks for more than the cheapest foot massagers, and the people who bought it cheaper first had mixed luck. One buyer who tried less expensive models and returned them called this one among the best of the bunch, and one client said they were glad they hadn't gone for a cheaper machine.

Members put the sweet spot for build quality at roughly $90 to $170, and say mid-tier machines with daily use tend to last about one to two years. That's a general figure, not a promise for the 721, but it's the yardstick I'd use: if it fits you and works for a year or two, it's fair value, and if it doesn't fit, no price is a good price.

How Does It Compare With Other Foot Massagers?

The honest comparison is on size and price, since that is what members compare. Here are the alternatives that came up most.

If your feet are on the smaller side, the Renpho class of machine is the one members describe working for women's size 6. For larger feet, the 721 is the one members keep recommending, while my Comfier CF-5212 review covers a cheaper option with its own coverage trade-off.

Bob and Brad also makes a smaller sibling, and how the Lite held up for our clients is worth reading if you are on the border of the size limit. If you are weighing something far bigger, what a $3,300 chair gets you is the other end of this price range.

If it doesn't suit you

• Small or narrow feet: a Renpho-style enclosed machine, which a member described working at a women's size 6, or a compact model like the Miko, which members say fits women's sizes 4 to 5
• Heel pain flaring up: an open vibration board such as the MedMassager at about $240 per members, which uses less pressure and lets you keep your shoes on
• Tight calves behind sore feet: a foot-and-calf machine like the Miko at $249, though members say these are bulkier
• Size 13 or 14 feet: check the model number, since members put Snailax at size 13 and the newer Comfier at size 14

What Should You Look for When Buying a Foot Massager?

The 721 is a good example of why this category trips people up. Here are the factors that mattered most across our clients and group members, and how the 721 does on each.

Two more things come from the group. The first is calf work: tight calves often sit behind sore feet, so a foot-only machine, however good, may leave the cause untouched.

The second is realism. Members who got the most lasting relief paired a massager with supportive shoes, stretching and calf strength work, and the people who expected a machine to fix a long-term foot problem were the ones most disappointed.

How Do You Use It Safely and Get the Most From It?

Start on medium for your first sessions, and work up only if your feet feel good afterward. The client who cleans houses and several members did exactly that, and the 15-minute timer gives you a natural stopping point.

One member of our group ran four sessions of 20 to 40 minutes on day one with a different heated foot machine and hobbled around for hours, so resist the urge to overdo it. Wearing socks softens the nodes and keeps the sleeves cleaner.

Some people need to be more careful than others:

• Diabetes, neuropathy or reduced feeling in the feet: you may not feel heat or pressure building, so talk to your doctor first and check your feet afterward for redness or bruising
• Swelling or a high instep: never force a foot into the chamber; Greg's experience is the warning
• An acute plantar fasciitis flare: members say hard kneading on an inflamed heel made things worse; leaning on gentler settings or working the calves instead is the usual advice
• Pregnancy, a pacemaker, blood clots or open wounds: the listing doesn't state any precautions, so check the manual and ask a clinician before using it

Stop if anything goes numb or tingly. Plantar fasciitis and neuropathy stories in this review are about comfort, and none of them replaces seeing a professional if the pain keeps coming back.

Questions People Ask About This Foot Massager

Will it fit size 13 or 14 feet?

The brand says up to men's size 14, but nobody in our data wears a 13 or 14 to confirm it, and the biggest feet here were a size 12 EEEE that fought the entry and a size 12 with swelling that barely got in. Members also warn that look-alike models from one maker can have different size limits.

Is it safe if I have diabetes or neuropathy?

Ask your doctor first, because with reduced feeling in the feet you may not notice heat or pressure building. Check your feet afterward for redness or bruising and stop if anything goes numb or tingly; one reviewer with a foot neuroma found it soothing, which is one person's comfort story, not a promise.

Will it help plantar fasciitis?

It can feel good, but it won't fix it: one reviewer felt it helped and their chiropractor approved, while another reviewer's machine never touched the arch. Members say hard kneading on an inflamed heel can make a flare worse, so go gentler and work the calves too.

Does it really massage the toes?

The brand says it does, but one buyer who bought it for that reason said it doesn't focus on the toes. Fit decides this, since on feet that slide around inside the toes may never reach the rollers, while a member with larger feet said the rollers reach the base of the heel.

Can someone with a high instep or sore knees use it?

Getting in and out was the hard part for Carlos, whose high instep made it a struggle, enough to stop using it. Sit down to put it on, use the wireless remote so you don't have to bend over, and never force a foot in.

Is it a good gift?

One client gave it to a spouse for a birthday and both ended up enjoying it. At $159.99 it sits above the $80 to $120 range members mention for partner recovery gear, so check shoe size and foot width before you buy.

Should You Buy the Bob and Brad 721 Foot Massager?

Buy it if your feet are average to large, you want strong kneading with real warmth, and you like having a remote. The clients who fit it kept using it, and the ones who loved it described tired feet feeling better after long days.

Skip it if your feet are narrow or small, if you have a high instep or swelling, or if your heels are the main problem. In those cases look at a smaller-chamber machine like the Renpho class, or read about the Lite first.

For this Bob and Brad 721 foot massager review, my verdict is a cautious yes for the right foot. I'd measure your feet against the machine's width and instep before ordering, not just the shoe-size number on the listing.

If it fits, check the current price, and keep the return window in mind until you know your feet fit.