Help me choose a table please!

[one shot]

I am torn between these 4 tables. Which do yall think is the best for me? For doing housecalls, etc.

What is "Auto-Lock"?

http://www.massageking.com/products/Massage-Table-Package/LifeGear-Deluxe-Massage-Table-Package/753/2/1

http://www.massageking.com/products/Massage-Table-Package/NRG-Karma-Massage-Table-Package/1209/1/1

http://www.topmassagetables.com/fellston_puregrace_table.htm

http://www.topmassagetables.com/coronado.htm

Thanks!

 

[Tomz]

Hi ! Auto lock means that the table folds up and down without any free parts that you have to deal with. The Lifegear table have a powerstrut system with struts that you have to put in to the leg and seal with locking pins. If you forget to lock them the table can collapse under the session. I have experience that once. Terrible! Check out the Golden Ratio Woodworks "Portalite" table. A excellent table for outcalls. They have closed their factory but maybe you still can buy their tables. Good luck! David P.s II think the "Karma" table also lock nice d.s

 

[MOULIN ROUGE]

I voted for the Karma. My father has this table and uses it in his Reiki practice. He does not do outcalls so does not need to pack it around; it is a little heavy but if you are strong and careful and get a wheeled cart (which you would want anyway) that shouldn't be a problem.

I like the Karma because it has 3" foam (not just 2"), it is a full 30" wide rather than 27" (it's a v. comfy table), it has a high weight limit, the upholstery doesn't smell chemical-y like some bargain tables, I've never heard it creak, and it is the only one of the 4 choices that comes with a good adjustable face cradle frame. I cannot stress the importance of up-and-down facecradle adjustability enough.

 

[paulad23]

I use a Karma and think it is a good table for a good price. I do think it is a somewhat heavy, but I am a small person.

 

[oldtownfolk]

Best Massage Table!

Check out http://www.bestmassagetable.com for a great deal on wonderful table. Pay around 130 for a table that could run you from $500+ OMG!! The secret is to get a "B" Table. They are perfect except for minor cosmetic flaws. these flaws are just covered by the sheet so no one will notice them anyways. Peace!! MC

 

[Pompal 09.]

Hi. I looked at the tabes, and I can tell you a little of my experience with the Lifegear.

I bought one of these at Sam's in 1999. I used it for hotel call work. I also worked on someone elses at a small day spa, while doing some fill in work for about 1 year.

Pros:

• Least expensive table if you aren't sure what you want or just need something to get by. 179.99 + $39.95 shipping = $220
• May be able to go to your local Sam's Club and pick it up to save S&H.

Cons:

• Table Weight 37 lbs -- That really does become heavy. This coming from a girl who grew up (even as a young teenager with a wheel barrow) toting 40 lb. feed sacks out to the barn on a weekly basis.
• The prongs that fit into the legs at the head portion of the table don't take so much weight. On the second massage I did on that table (new) at the place I filled in, the armrest broke because a client decided to use it to push his body up to look at me mid-massage --- because he thought he had something really important to tell me and wanted to make an emphasis. Unfortunately, all that happened was the arm rest prongs broke and then he didn't know what to say. :?
• The prong in the leg situation, instead of the hinged legs it a bit of a pain to set up quickly, requires a lot more bending {Also, in 2007, one of the prongs for the legs legs finally broke on my original table I spoke of regarding: "I purchased it for hotel work". So, how do I know this? I gave it to a friend back in 2001 and I saw it two days after it broke this year.} I guess the good news is, that it lasted until 2007. But, there are plenty of people who tell you they've had a massage table for 14+ years, so it may be something to take into consideration when making the purchase.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Of the 4 you mentioned, you asked which one we'd pick. I'd have to go with the NRG Karma.

Now, here's why.

First the Fellston Pure Grace Massage Table and Free Matching Stool for $315 w/ S&H and the LifeGear Deluxe Massage Table Package for $220 with S&H automatically get nixed because of the prong arm rest (mentioned in my initial comments about the Lifegear above) and the weights of 38 lbs. and 37 lbs. of weight respectively.

So, now that leaves the NRG Karma and the Coronado to pick from. I would nix the Coronado, because I assume you are looking to get the best bang for your buck. The NRG is less expensive at $280 with S&H to the Coronado's $325 with S&H. The NRG had Reiki Endplates and the Coronado does not. You may never use them, but they don't decrease the stability of the table any (to my knowledge), so why not have them? The weight is the same (33 lbs.) for each, BUT the height range is different. Your call name is MassageChick, so unless you are 6' tall, you don't need a table that goes way up into the sky. Therefore, I would assume that the NRG Karma height range of 22" to 33" would be more beneficial as you get the lower range in case you want to do deeper work as opposed to the Coronado height range of 27" to 35.5".

I had a little of a hard time finding if the NRG comes with the carry case or not, but it does (see the bottom of the NRG linked page).

This Purchase Includes:

NRG Karma Massage Table
NRG Carrying Case
NRG Headrest

- so that helps.

I don't see that the Coronado comes with a carrycase, so you may have to purchase one on your own. However, I did find some less expensive carry cases the other day and will try to add them to the Tools section (or to this post in a few days - in working on this post which seems to have taken longer than I planned, that info is at another location ).

Now the last comparison that I want to make is on the working weights.

NRG:
Weight Capacity 450 lbs.
Static Weight 1000 lbs.

Coronado:
Working weight 525 lbs 238.6 kgs
Static weight 2,200 lbs 1,000 kgs

Since you are asking about the tables, I figure you are fairly new in the profession. With that assumption comes the guesstimate that you will most likely eventually get another table at some time down the road. Your high end model so-to-speak. So, if you don't have the need for working on anyone over 450 lbs. right now then I don't see that the extra 100 lbx. of working weight makes a big difference.


And, therefore, that is why you get an NRG Karma vote from me.

I do hope this helps.


=========================================

PS. Because of the A & B table post made above mine, I would consider looking at this table, The New Masterpiece: especially if they have it in a B and the B is actually only cosmetic --- as that too would be in the price range you are interested in. It gives you a little more working weight and an arms shelf (which you don't have in the NRG Karma).

 

[pumpernickel o]

Actually I have a "Duralite" that is made by the same company(bestmassagetables.com) and it is made similar to the "Masterlite" model.
I bought it at Sam's Club in January of this year and really like it a lot.
My clients all claimed they were fine with my 10 year old Earthlite Avalon... but it was just getting to be too much to carry.
I was delighted to find the table I'd been looking at online for a year actually "in store" so that I could see it and touch it. (Yeah I considered asking one of the sales associates to lay down on the table for a few minutes so I could see how it was to work on... but I restrained myself.) :
I've been using it for about 4 months now and because it's so much lighter than my old table it's helped me keep doing the outcalls!
I know Rose of Sharon owns a massage chair by the same company as well. (She's the one who told me about them.)
The best part for me is that my clients who thought the old table was comfy... they're totally blown away by the comfort of the new one.

 

[- Uaeconnect]

I went with the NRG Chi table, and I love it...so my vote would be for the NRG Karma. I don't believe there is a whole lot of difference b/w the two tables except in price. I like the size of the table...not too big or small. I also was amazed at how much cushion was on the table even though it says that the Karma has even more! (although to me this wasn't a huge deal considering how much comfy stuff I add to the table under the sheets).

The only thing I would re-consider...knowing what I know now...is to purchase a table with metal legs to make it easier for set up on days when I have multiple clients (not that I do now, b/c I'm just a student). However, my next table will definitely have metal legs for that reason...but this is a great table, and it's serving me very well to practice on. Plus, I'm really big on instant gratification and massagewarehouse.com delivered it within 2 days- which was excellent service. BIG SHOUT OUTS TO THEM!

 

[BrokkenHarted]

The only thing I would re-consider...knowing what I know now...is to purchase a table with metal legs to make it easier for set up on days when I have multiple clients (not that I do now, b/c I'm just a student).

Call me dim, but why do you find metal legs make a difference in set-up? For me it doesn't make a real difference, so I am curious to understand what it does for you. Maybe I need to broaden my brain cells a bit!

 

[Susilo N]

Call me dim, but why do you find metal legs make a difference in set-up? For me it doesn't make a real difference, so I am curious to understand what it does for you. Maybe I need to broaden my brain cells a bit!

Well, on my table I have to spend time unscrewing and rescrewing. Probably doesn't make a difference if you don't have clients back to back...but in cases where there would be multiple clients back to back...it would save time not to have to do all of that screwing and unscrewing. I'm thinking in terms of my own private practice where to begin I wouldn't want a stationary table yet if I couldn't afford it, because I'd still be trying to do out-calls. So in terms of affordable tables when I begin my own practice...I'd definitely want some metal leg tables to save time between clients and to be able to take with me in case of outcalls.

This was verified to me by a lady who is in her own practice and is returning to my school for her MMT. Hope this helps!

 

[caraohara]

Well, on my table I have to spend time unscrewing and rescrewing.

The table that I have at home has wooden legs and I've never had to screw or rescrew anything to set it up. t017 You just unfold the table, the legs pop out, you turn the table upright and away you go! Perhaps this is something specific to that brand???

Angie

 

[Snizz -o- cranky]

Well, on my table I have to spend time unscrewing and rescrewing.

The table that I have at home has wooden legs and I've never had to screw or rescrew anything to set it up. t017 You just unfold the table, the legs pop out, you turn the table upright and away you go! Perhaps this is something specific to that brand???

Angie

LOL...I think the way I wrote that read wrong. What I'm trying to say is to adjust the table height b/w clients there is some screwing and unscrewing. Me being a shorty, the table height is very important for me. Bigger people means I have to lower my table so I'm not climbing and reaching up to high.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Ahh, I see what you are thinking.

I se clients back to back all the time, but rarely re-adjust the legs. Minaly because I work at a pretty low height anyway. And, I too am short.

You must be very particular about your exact table height. I am figuring you are looking for one of those tables with the leg heights that snap into place.

Personally, I don't see a problem with the knobbed legs, but I can see where some therapist may not like this, after your description.

Thanks so much for the added information.

 

[heogog]

Ahh, I see what you are thinking.

I se clients back to back all the time, but rarely re-adjust the legs. Minaly because I work at a pretty low height anyway. And, I too am short.

You must be very particular about your exact table height. I am figuring you are looking for one of those tables with the leg heights that snap into place.

Personally, I don't see a problem with the knobbed legs, but I can see where some therapist may not like this, after your description.

Thanks so much for the added information.

I'm trying to find a height that I can work at like that (at all times). I'm still figuring out my body mechanics though, and so far the people that I practice on are all different sizes. One girl barely fits on the table...almost blends in. Yet another is so large that her back is so high that I don't feel like I'm getting to her good. And I've been feeling worn out, so I'm trying to figure out how to accomodate all of that.

Do you mind me asking how short you are? I'm about 5'4, medium build. I'm a student and I just got my new table...so maybe I can figure out how to make it work like you suggested. I sure am going to try. Where I am (in the south), people are either really skinny or really just, well NOT. So I end up with really small folks or really large ones.

 

[neboptics]

I'm trying to find a height that I can work at like that (at all times). I'm still figuring out my body mechanics though, and so far the people that I practice on are all different sizes. One girl barely fits on the table...almost blends in. Yet another is so large that her back is so high that I don't feel like I'm getting to her good. And I've been feeling worn out, so I'm trying to figure out how to accomodate all of that.

Do you mind me asking how short you are? I'm about 5'4, medium build. I'm a student and I just got my new table...so maybe I can figure out how to make it work like you suggested. I sure am going to try. Where I am (in the south), people are either really skinny or really just, well NOT. So I end up with really small folks or really large ones.

I know what you mean. I mostly keep my table at it's lowest setting, so that I don't have to keep raising it and lowering it when I am on location for a day. If I have a client who is smaller and the only one I'll be seeing then, and not an elderly person, then I'll go ahead and adjust. It would sometimes be nice to have two tables, and just direct the client to the appropriate one. :

 

[Laurie]

I am 5'1" and have a wood oakworks table with an arm rest. Because of the size of the arm rest, the lowest table setting is 24 inches. Oakworks tables without the armrest can go down to 17 inches. My school didnt give good advise when we ordered our tables. The majority of my classmates ordered our tables before our first day of school.

I dont even use the arm rest very much, its a pain to put up and down. What I should do is take it off and have my dad do some surgery to my table legs. Oakworks now sells this nifty arm sling which goes on the underside of the face cradle, I have been eyeing them up for a while, I believe they cost about $30.

If I had it to do all over again, I wouldnt have had the arm rest option on my table, and I would have made sure the table goes down to 17 or 18 inches at its lowest.

 

[Yogart n]

Do you mind me asking how short you are? I'm about 5'4, medium build. I'm a student and I just got my new table...so maybe I can figure out how to make it work like you suggested. I sure am going to try. Where I am (in the south), people are either really skinny or really just, well NOT. So I end up with really small folks or really large ones.

I don't mind at all. I am 5'2" (well, it's really 5' 1 and 1/2" - but boy do I like to claim the 2"!). I am in the south too, but not the deep south. So I do understand what you are saying about the "thickness" of people. I will PM you and we can gab back and forth a little more about it if you like.

 

[basketball addict]

You know, I keep my table almost as low as it will go at all times too -- I rarely move it up or down. Bigger folks are easier to get into that way, and smaller ones, I have learned to sit on my stool and lean with my forearms. That won't help you much right now as it can be hard to cram a stool into a school setting and you'll want to practice stand-up work as much as possible now. But it might be an option for you later.

I am 5'3" so I know what you're talking about!

 

[King Crimson]

Thanks for all of your input guys! I ended up finding an Earthlite table that I fell in love with.

http://earthlite.com/massageTables_harmonyIII.htm

I can't wait to start using it! It's so much softer than the one I have now.

 

[The Mad Russian (????)]

I looked into the Karma table but it's on backorder until next month and I needed it asap!