It comes with four massage heads and a bomb-proof carry case that neatly fits everything inside. The app is fairly basic but it offers some useful tips for beginners, as does the user guide. It’s quite bulky and weighty, and it vibrates a lot at max speed, but it’s a brilliant all-rounder at a reasonable price. Some massage guns come with additional attachments—such as flat, round, and bullet massage heads—that target specific areas and concerns.
Other research has found that vibration therapy can have a positive effect on the nervous system and help prevent delayed-onset muscle soreness. But vibration therapy—a shaking or trembling sensation that can come from equipment like vibrating foam rollers—differs from the percussive massage that massage guns offer. It comes with four massage heads, but these could be better quality. The battery life is unsurpassable at six hours and there’s a USB charging cable and carry case included. If you’ve been inside a gym, visited a physio or even just scrolled through your Instagram feed, you’ve probably seen a percussive massage gun.
For instance, smaller, narrower attachments work well on areas like feet, hands, and calves; rounder, wider shapes work well on larger muscle groups such as quads, glutes, and hamstrings. Nearly all massage guns are relatively noisy and, depending on your level of sensitivity, fairly intense. While it can’t compete with the Hyperices and MuscleGuns of the world when it comes to strength, it instead provides more relaxing recovery sessions. When you’re browsing the best massage guns, ideally your purchasing priorities should centre on noise, battery life and quality. It has more power than the R3 and it’s backed up by a great brand that is improving each day.
Priyankaa is our renpho massage and fitness writer, specialising in expert-tested reviews and roundups on the latest health and fitness products. It comes with eight head attachments – the highest number on our list – allowing you to target specific areas and fine tune your recovery. Our tester was a big fan of the more unusual ones, including the ‘thumb’, which mimics a human thumb to release tension, and the ‘damper’, which is ideal for gliding over joints.
“I renpho massage for it after workouts, especially the day after when the delayed onset muscle soreness sets in,” she said. This powerful RENPHO 2022 Deep Tissue Massage Gun is reduced by a whopping 63%, saving you $170. With optimized battery life, this active deep tissue muscle massage gun can power 1-2 weeks’ worth of post-workout massage after fully charging. The Mebak 3 has a main on/off switch at the base of its handle, which is rubberized and has widely spaced vertical ribs. You adjust the speed via the touchscreen display, which requires a lighter touch than physical buttons. A pressure sensor uses green, yellow, and red lights to indicate increasing amounts of pressure being applied during use, but they’re tough to see when you’re using the device on yourself.
Despite the options, after a few weeks of use I’m still unsure of the optimum massage gun head to use. The ball attachment feels too light and fragile to transfer power from the gun into the muscles and the flat plastic head has no give. An issue I had with the Sonic is that I had to set it at the highest setting to feel the power of the massage gun.
One reviewer noted that this model is “quite ” and has a battery that “lasts a good amount of time,” making this a worthwhile purchase. Luckily, there are tons of at-home options that can bring a piece of the experience to your home, including handheld massage guns. Not only are they convenient, portable and effective, they’re also an affordable alternative to hitting the spa after a tough workout.
Small, but packing a punch, the mini massage gun from pulseroll has been our go-to massage gun for those quick little tune ups prior to and after running. It packs away nicely and provides enough myofascial stimulation through speed and head choices to satisfy most peoples needs. Weighing only 1.5 lb (.68 kg), the Renpho R3 is a good option if you’re looking for a full-size massage gun that’s still lightweight and easy to carry with you. It also features five speeds and four attachable heads to fit all your post-workout massage needs. It’s also quieter than many other massage guns and weighs just 2.2 pounds , making it easy to pack in your gym bag.