Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsScore one for targeted advertising. Highly recommended!
Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2018
I can't say I was really in the market for a massaging product. I've never found them to be particularly effective - usually requiring C/D batteries, and getting quickly relegated to bins of stuff I don't use. However, I did see a reciprocating sports massage appliance the other day. I clicked on the ad and was rewarded a ridiculously high price. I can't say if it's worth that amount of money, but I can say that I would never budget that amount for anything of the type. The result of clicking on that ad, though, was relentless remarketing of similar devices on a social media feed.
The Pure-Wave device showed up on the feed. A quick search showed that: 1.) Amazon carried some of the products, 2.) they were heavily reviewed, 3.) the reviews were mostly favorable, and 4.) the items were within my budget. I looked at both the CM5 and CM7, which are very similar. The only significant difference is the inclusion of a second motor in the CM7. While I didn't know if I'd have occasion to use the extra functionality, the incremental cost difference was very small - better to have it and not use it, though YMMV.
The item arrived one-day Prime. The packaging is pretty minimal. I did notice that the normal exterior marking stickers for lithium batteries were absent, but that could just be because Amazon was the freight carrier. There's a conspicuous tamper/open seal on the product packaging. Once in, there's a stand, the device, and a bag of accessories. The stand is cheap and doesn't integrate the charging, so it's probably not something I'll keep. A little drawstring bag or plastic container will be good enough for the accessories. The power adapter operates from 100-240V, at both 50 and 60hz, so it can operate virtually anywhere in the world with just a plug adapter (a nice plus). The adapter is very low profile, with its housing perpendicular to the alignment of outlets in a utility box - the upshot here is that it's not a huge brick that will block any other outlets. The only negative is that the charging cable connects to the device with an old barrel connector. I don't like that just from a mechanical perspective, as it's easy to imagine clumsy accidents breaking the connector off of the internal PCB. An induction-based charger or magnetic interconnect would be nicer, but it's not that big a deal if you are not going to accidentally hit or drop the item. The device comes with an extremely obvious sticker demanding the user charge the device for at least an hour before first use. Aside from a small manual, the rest of the accessories consist of the 6 attachments. While everything appears to be clean, it's a good idea to clean all of the contents before use.
In use, the device is pretty powerful. Battery technology has clearly come a long way, and I was impressed with the power of the reciprocating motor. Ergonomically, the handle is long enough that you shouldn't have to be a yogi to reach anywhere that needs attention. If there's one gripe, it's that the power of the device probably can't be used to full advantage when you are using the device without help. At full power, it's best if you can have a hand directly behind the massaging head, to better control the rebound. The battery life is listed at 180 minutes, but that's at no load, and probably at the lowest setting... expect 45 minutes or so.
The use of 18650 cells is a plus, but it's worth noting that the manufacturer specifies that these are not user-replaceable. If/when my 18650s expire, I will void my warranty (assuming there's any left), remove the 4 screws, and take care of it myself. While I haven't opened the unit, it really can't be that hard. Worst-case, the batteries are soldered, which isn't that big a deal.
This item was much better than I expected, and I highly recommend it. However, you should get the CM5 if you just need deep tissue massage.
