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The Earthlite Massage Table Warmer and Fleece Pad is the first warmer/pad I had for my table. I eventually upgraded to the higher end "Earthlite Massage Table Warmer Deluxe - 1” Premium Fleece Heating Pad, Digital Timer & Temperature Control" (we'll be calling that the "Deluxe" version), specifically for the thicker pad and the better temperature control, but that is a review for another day. Honestly, when I was just starting out as a massage therapist, it was hard to decipher what to spend extra on to get the upgraded version or to get the base version of items and to upgrade when/if I needed to. I usually went with the base version to keep costs down which is a smart thing to do with a new business. So this article is for the base version of this massage pad. I did recognize as I was setting up my massage business, however, that it was a good thing to try to stick with recognized companies like Earthlite because of their quality reputation and the fact that they offer a 1-year warranty for their accessory products (and on tables and chairs there is a 5-year warranty). I also want to add that I chose this combo set up - fleece pad with heat - because I thought I could get both aspects of a luxury massage experience in one item. It did that, but there were some limitations, which I will get into later. Overall I was very happy with this purchase and it really improved the massage experience for my clients. Heating Capability and Control I liked that this “base model” had temperature control, which I didn’t expect when I started looking for heated pads for my massage table. The hand controller has 3 settings and is enough to get you by with most clients. And if your clients love heat, then this one is especially good for them because it will offer them a lot of it. But you must be careful with it and not set it on high with the first massage session with a new client. I mention this because when I was testing the massage table heat pad by lying pronate on the table myself, I noticed that when it was on high it was way too hot for me. I felt like my skin was burning a bit. It was not burning, but it was not comfortable either. I felt much better with the temperature on the medium setting. It is possible that I am more sensitive to the hotter settings than a lot of people (although I tend to have a body that runs a bit cold so I typically love to be exposed to high heat, like saunas and steam rooms) but just to be on the safe side, start a new client on the medium or low setting and check in with them to see if they want the temperature higher after you are 10-20 minutes into your massage therapy session. Plushness and Cushioning This massage pad is listed as having 0.5” padding which is half an inch lower than their deluxe version. I already had a very comfortable massage table with excellent padding so it didn’t need anything to make my clients more comfortable, but I wanted to add extra luxury for them and so I got this pad for the cushioning and the heat. I think it was effective in doing that. If my table was more uncomfortable, I might have chosen the Earthlite Massage Table Warmer Deluxe to prevent my clients from feeling the hardness of a lower end table. But the base version of the Earthlite massage table warming pad worked for me. Also, I could see needing extra padding if you were working on people that were extra bony or extra heavy, or if you did a lot of sideline massage. The bony landmarks on the sides of the body can be sensitive, and sometimes lying on one’s side on a massage table can be uncomfortable because the bones feel pressure from the table, even if the person isn’t particularly skinny or heavy. So if you do a lot of sideline massage, you may want to get the massage table with the deluxe 1-inch padding. But the half-inch padding on the base version should be fine for most people. Is 2-in-1 Heat + Fleece Padding A Good Choice? As I mentioned earlier, I bought a 2-in-1 because I was trying to get two tools in one product. I felt this was important because I would be often doing outcall massage and didn’t want to bring two extra pieces of equipment (a heating pad and a fleece lining) and I did not feel my outcall clients should have to miss out on such luxuries because I didn’t want to carry all of that. So a heat plus fleece pad seemed like the right solution. I also was living in a one-bedroom apartment with minimal storage and was trying to keep the amount of equipment down to a minimum. I stored this pad in a large footlocker and it still took up the whole huge footlocker. So space was a consideration also. What I learned quickly from using the 2-in-1 pads was that you really couldn’t wash the fleece. From a sanitary perspective, that is ok and safe for clients because you are still covering a fleece pad with a protective sheet. I am just the sort of person that wants to clean EVERYTHING every once in a while. But because this is electric, you can’t wash it. I’m not making this relevant to my start rating, though, because they are all like that. If you could wipe it down, it would not feel as plush. I suppose a company could create a pad that could release its wire and then protect the plug from water while being hand-washed, but I have not seen that anywhere. I used to hang it out in the sun on breezy days from my balcony that that was effective IMHO. I also used to clean it with White Sage smoke, which has antimicrobial and antibacterial qualities. Durability The Earthlite name and warranty is a good place to start when deciding whether to purchase this. I purchased this massage table heating pad around 2005 and it lasted the three years I used it. I have read recent reviews that the newer versions don’t last that long, but I never had any problem with it and I think if you take care of the setup and the cords it will last a long time. But 2005 was a long time ago (before Amazon ruled the world) so there might be something going on with recent manufacturing, so just keep that in mind. Final Thoughts As a side note, I want to mention that I have read that some people have purchased this item to put on their normal sleep bed. I never did that but it sounds like a nice idea and a good alternative to an electric blanket. I would never do that with the one I use professionally, but I wanted to mention another use for it, because when we invest in massage equipment and tools, it is good to be able to stack functions with those tools. I am not a fan of keeping electrical things near you when you sleep because I feel the body should be a rest from EMFs (but that’s a whole other discussion), but if feeling cold is keeping you awake then lack of sleep could be as harmful as constant EMF exposure. So you have to weigh that. I will say that on days when I feel cold or just want to rest a bit in a pronate position (which feels very nice on my spine) I will sometimes set up this Earthlite heat pad, put a sheet over it and lie down and it is quite a nice feeling. It reminds me why I got the massage table pad in the first place and after a long day of massage it can feel soothing on my own body, and self-maintenance is an important aspect of having a long career as a massage therapist. Conclusion So, would I recommend the Earthlte Massage Table Warmer and Fleece Pad? Yes, I would. It was a great way to add value and luxury and comfort to what was already luxurious healthful experience. Think about it. A massage is an experience of feeling good and healthy and pampered in the form of touch, but there are so many other ways to add to that feel-good sensation. A massage warmer and fleece pad is akin to the comfort of a warm hug when your client lies down, and before you even walk in to start the massage that can be enough comfort to allow a stressed-out client to relax and make the work that you do infinitely more effective. This massage pad and heater will definitely help you do that.

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