Our Bob and Brad EZBack Plus Review: Great Feel, but Some Reviewers Lost the Charge

One reviewer bought the EZBack Plus in February 2025 and loved how penetrating it felt. Two months later an overnight charge gave only 3 to 4 minutes of runtime, and the return window had already closed.

That story sets the tone for this Bob and Brad EZBack Plus cordless shiatsu back massager review, which draws on reviews from friends and relatives, 19 buyer reviews and what a member of our Facebook group posted. It is a $55.42 cordless pillow with four nodes and heat, and the massage feel gets good reviews.

My bottom line: the kneading is the best part and the brand's support is better than most. The battery and a few build problems are the reason I can't call it a safe buy.

What Do You Get for $55.42?

The pillow has four kneading nodes that can reverse direction, one heat setting, and a memory foam core under a knit cover. The table below sticks to the listing, and I wrote "not reported" where it says nothing.

I checked the price on October 14, 2026, and you can check the current price to see where it sits now.

(If you buy through this link we may earn a small commission. It doesn't change what reviewers and group members reported.) The key term is (shiatsu kneading - round nodes that press, roll and reverse, a bit like thumbs working both sides of your spine).

Who Is It For, and Who Should Skip It?

It suits people who want a light, cordless back kneader with heat for short sessions. Here is who did well with it.

• Back and hip users: Reviewers said it works from the upper back down through the hips, and one liked the shape better than square pillows.
• People who like to lie back with heat: One reviewer lay on it and felt relaxed and sleepy, and another called the warmth comforting.
• People tired of holding a gun: Two reviewers used a handheld massager before and liked that this one covers more area hands-free.
• Buyers who value support: Two reviewers were offered a refund or replacement by the brand or seller.

And here is who should look elsewhere, based on reviewers and buyers who struggled.

• Anyone who wants a neck massager: Two reviewers could not get the nodes onto neck muscle, with one hitting the skull and the other bone.
• Anyone who wants a daily driver: Reviewers and buyers report batteries and parts failing within a few months.
• Anyone who wants steady, strong pressure: The pressure depends on your lean, and two reviewers found it too light.
• Anyone who wants to plug in and keep going: It won't run while charging.

Other Observations From Friends, Relatives and Other User Reviews

Friends, relatives and other reviewers tried this pillow, and the pattern is easy to see: it feels good at first, then the battery or the parts decide the score. Here is what each of them said.

• A reviewer who bought it in February 2025 found it awesome at first, with a feel that was amazing and super penetrating. After about 2 months it would only run 3 to 4 minutes on an all-night charge and would not take or hold a charge after that, and by then the return window had already ended; the company reached out to refund them but never did (2/5).
• A small-framed reviewer used it daily for about 3 months and said the battery seemed decent and the run time still seemed the same. Leaning back on it caused one of the balls to crack audibly even though they weren't leaning hard, the motor gears on that side then wore out, and the heads stopped turning at 4 months. The cover can't be removed without cutting it open, so the battery isn't replaceable either, and the brand offered a free replacement with the corded model, which they found markedly better built, with a remote and no wait to charge (3/5).
• A reviewer back after a gap year wanted to love it, but there wasn't enough pressure to work out the tension. To get depth they had to lean into a tense position, which defeated the point of relaxing (3/5).
• A nurse wanted a heated massager to unwind in the evenings and loves sitting in a chair with it behind her back. The warmth and the rolling movement are comforting, the battery ran out only once, and it stops after a while, which she believes is overheating, and starts again after it cools; she still recommends it for a sore back (4/5).
• A reviewer who bought it for neck relief found it works amazingly from the upper back down through the hips but could not make it work on the neck, because it was difficult to find an area where the kneading hit muscle and not bone. They liked the unusual shape better than square pillows, noted that the strength depends on how much you lean, and hadn't realized the back hurt until using it (4/5).
• A reviewer who prefers heat over percussion lies on the pillow, and it kneads deep into the back and hits a spot that hurts so good. They felt relaxed and sleepy right away, like the heat, and chose it because a corded massager had eventually malfunctioned from the wire getting tugged (5/5).
• Another reviewer found it fine on the back but nothing to get excited about, and thought a small-framed person might appreciate the pressure. The pillow gives only what your lean gives it, and some people have no way to lean enough without bracing.
• A reviewer who received it as a gift said it relieved neck and shoulder pain, then had the start button jam after 2 months of minimal use, and asked for a replacement instead of a refund, which arrived within a week.
• Another reviewer said the pressure was way too much and that it hurt, and that the support from the company was amazing anyway.
• One reviewer had the retailer send a used unit in a torn bag with the charger missing, and the seller then sent a replacement after they followed up.
• A 5-star reviewer first wrote an angry review, then updated it with an apology, because the unit was fine and the button just needs to be held down for 3 seconds. The brand's offer of a full refund came before the correction was posted, which says something about the support (5/5).

The pattern across these reviews is that the feel is rarely the problem, and the durability is. Support often stepped in with a replacement or refund, though one refund never arrived.

What Members of Our Facebook Group Reported

Only one detailed post in our group covers this model line, and it is about a corded EZBack, so I label it that way. The other rows are Bob and Brad brand posts about other devices, which say more about the company than about this pillow.

Reviewers and the member who tested the corded EZBack agree that the kneading is the good part. They agree on the battery too, since that member warned the cordless version runs short.

Nobody in our group has posted long-term results on this pillow, and that is a real gap. The brand-level posts on lifespan run from 3 years to under 2, so they don't predict this pillow either way.

Bob and Brad EZBack Plus Cordless Shiatsu Back Massager Review: Claims vs. Reality

The listing pitches cordless freedom, deep kneading and a shape that molds to you. Here is how the promises compare with what reviewers and buyers found.

The listing lists "quiet" among the features, but gives no number. No reviewer rated the noise, so I can't back that up either way.

How Does It Feel, and Is It Quiet?

How hard does it press?

Only as hard as you lean. Two reviewers wanted more pressure and had to brace to get it, while another said the pressure was way too much and that it hurt.

One reviewer found it intense on the first try and then kept it. Members say 3 or more blanket layers over the nodes soften things for people who find them pointy.

Does the heat actually get warm?

It gets pleasantly warm, not hot. One reviewer called the warmth comforting, another said it was perfectly warm for winter, and a buyer said it takes a while to warm up and feels more warm than hot.

One reviewer found the heat was not as good as hoped, and a buyer could not get the heat to work at all. If strong heat is the reason you are buying, this one has a single gentle setting.

Is it quiet?

The data doesn't say. The only sounds buyers mention are failure sounds, like a ball that cracked and a unit that made an odd noise before it quit.

How Long Does It Last, and Where Do Problems Start?

Battery and parts are the two weak points. Here is the timeline from what reviewers and buyers reported.

• First 30 days: The return window covers you, so this is the time to test the battery.
• About 2 months: One reviewer's battery gave 3 to 4 minutes, another had a unit that would not charge after one use, and a third had the start button jam.
• About 3 months: One buyer called it useless after losing its charge, and another said it lost most of its speed.
• 4 months: The small-framed reviewer's gears had stripped so the heads would not turn.
• A year or more: One buyer's unit stopped after a little over a year, and a second said it stopped just under 2 years with minimal use.

The counts back that up: 6 of the 19 buyer reviews say the charge doesn't last or won't hold, and 3 more say it simply stopped working. One buyer said the inside wires came out with the charging plug, and another said the unit made an odd sound and quit.

Charging is a pain point on its own. It won't run while plugged in, and a buyer said it is tricky to restart once it stops and would be better with the button on the front.

Will It Fit Your Frame and Where You Need It?

The fit story is mostly about the neck. The pillow is 4 inches longer than ordinary pillows, which helps it span the back and hips but makes it hard to nestle into the neck curve.

• Neck: Two reviewers could not get the nodes onto neck muscle, and a buyer said it didn't work for the neck but is great for the upper to mid back.
• Back and hips: Reviewers called it excellent from the upper back down through the hips.
• Small frames: One reviewer thought a small-framed person might appreciate the pressure, while another small-framed reviewer had a ball crack under a light lean.
• Bed or couch: One reviewer found it uncomfortable in bed and better on the couch.

If the neck is your main target, how the Bob and Brad iNeck Go held up shows a model made for the neck. People with a history of back or nerve problems should check with a doctor first, since the listing states no precautions.

Is It Worth $55.42 Compared With Other Options?

Choosing a cordless pillow means weighing battery, pressure and price. I used prices from our own review pages for the products we have covered.

If you want a cordless pillow from the same brand with a handle and a different battery story, my Bob and Brad EZBack Go review covers it, though its battery is also mixed. A cordless pillow from another brand is covered in our Comfier CF-6419 Cordless Shiatsu Pillow findings.

The one reviewer who was given the corded EZBack as a replacement found it markedly better built, with a remote and no wait to charge. I would take that as a hint, not a rule, since it comes from one reviewer and the price isn't reported.

If it doesn't suit you

• Battery trouble: A corded pillow that stays plugged in.
• Neck focus: A neck-specific massager.
• Want deep spot work: A handheld gun, which several reviewers used alongside or before the pillow.
• Pressure too hard: A towel or blanket layers between you and the nodes.

What to Look for When Buying a Back Massager

Before you buy any cordless back massager, check these factors. Each one comes from something reviewers or members ran into.

• Battery and return window: Several failures showed up around month two, so use it hard in the first 30 days and keep your receipt.
• Pressure range: The EZBack has no intensity levels, so you control pressure with your lean, and two reviewers couldn't lean enough.
• Heat output: A single gentle setting won't cut through deep stiffness, and members say overly subtle warmth is a letdown.
• Neck fit: Members of shorter stature report rollers hitting bone, and two reviewers had trouble landing the nodes on the neck.
• Repairability: One reviewer found the cover can't be removed without cutting it, so the battery isn't replaceable.
• Controls: One button runs everything, and a buyer found it tricky to restart. Hold it for 3 seconds to turn it on.
• Warranty and support: A 2-year warranty matters when units fail past the return window, and reviewers said they were offered help.
• Price: Members say $40 to $80 is the typical range for shiatsu neck and back massagers, so $55.42 is in the middle.

Use the list against how you plan to use it. If you will use it a few times a month on the couch, battery life matters less, and if you want a daily driver, the failures in our data say to look elsewhere.

How Should You Use It Safely?

The timer shuts the unit off after 10 minutes, so count that as one session. Start with one session a day and see how your back responds before adding more.

Do not use it while it is charging, and keep it dry, since the listing says it is not water resistant. Don't lean your full weight on it, because one reviewer's ball cracked under a light lean.

If the nodes feel pointy, put a towel or a few blanket layers between you and the pillow, as members do. Keep the nodes on soft muscle beside the spine and off bone.

This pillow is a comfort device and not a fix for sciatica, disc problems or back pain conditions. People with recent surgery, osteoporosis, pregnancy or reduced heat sensation should check with a doctor before using a heated massager.

The listing states no precautions. If you notice numbness, pain spreading down a leg, or back pain after a fall, see a clinician instead of using a massager.

Questions People Ask About the EZBack Plus

Can I use it while it charges?

No, several reviewers and buyers say it does not run while plugged in. Charge it fully before a session, which takes about 2 hours by the listing.

Why won't mine turn on?

Hold the power button for 3 seconds. One reviewer thought a unit was dead, wrote a bad review, and later apologized after learning that.

Can I replace the battery or the cover?

Probably not. One reviewer reports the cover can't be removed without cutting it open, so the battery isn't replaceable either.

What if it fails after the 30-day return window?

Contact the brand or seller directly. Several reviewers were offered a refund or replacement, including some past the return window, though one says the refund never arrived.

Is the heat strong?

It is gentle. A reviewer called it comforting and a buyer found it more warm than hot, while another buyer couldn't get it to work.

Is it okay for the neck?

Not for most of the reviewers who tried. Two could not get the nodes onto neck muscle, though two reviewers with neck and shoulder tension said it helped.

Final Verdict on the Bob and Brad EZBack Plus Cordless Shiatsu Back Massager

This Bob and Brad EZBack Plus cordless shiatsu back massager review finds a low-priced pillow with kneading that reviewers like and support that reviewers praise. The battery, the build and the neck fit are the weak points.

Buy it if you want an affordable, gentle back rub with heat for the couch, you don't lean hard on it, and you will test it in the first 30 days. Check the current price if that sounds like you.

Skip it if you want daily deep pressure, neck work, or a battery you don't have to babysit. For longer cordless sessions, the EZBack Go is the sibling I would look at, and for the neck a dedicated neck model is the better choice.