With a massage gun, you don’t get that same manual therapy, says Jeffrey Dreon, licensed massage therapist. But massage guns provide precise and localized percussion therapy that’s ideal for targeting trigger points and great for quick, convenient, and cost-effective relief. You don’t want to purchase a device that will shut down in the middle of your relaxing, restorative massage session. To avoid this inconvenience, purchase a massage gun with a long enough battery life to last you through many therapeutic treatments.
The default head for a massage gun is usually some type of padded ball, but better models come with at least a couple of interchangeable heads. These might be as simple as smaller prods that allow you to dig deep between muscles, or you might be able to get wider vibrating heads for overall relief. “Forked” heads are especially good for massage around the spine, if you can get someone else
to reach that area for you. Look for attachments that attack the muscle groups where you feel the most sore. The Hypervolt 2 offers speeds of up to 2,700 percussions per minute and three levels of pressure to help alleviate post-workout aches, soreness, and stiffness. Plus, it’s lighter than the original Hypervolt, has a longer battery life, and features a more streamlined design.
It also features a long battery life, quiet motor, and convenient traveling case. This makes it a great option for those with chronic muscle pain who don’t want to worry about charging their device between sessions. Renpho is a decent brand with an average customer service experience. This brand doesn’t make top-of-the-line products, but they are of acceptable quality and come at an affordable price. Sure, they’re a nice touch and grounds for bragging rights with your gearhead friends—but they don’t improve the functionality of a massage gun by much.
“It gets you a lot in a very short span of time,” said Ericka Clinton of the Swedish Institute College of Health Sciences. This massage gun has a 120-minute battery life and is easy to charge with a power adapter. If you’re willing to spend extra, you can get the Elite wireless charging stand ($79), which makes charging simple. There are many massage guns on the market, so you’re bound to find one that’s right for you. We tested different massage guns based on quality, battery life, efficacy and variability of settings. This guide will help you find the best massage gun that fits your lifestyle and needs.
At 0.9 pounds, the Mini Massage Gun is the lightest option on our list. We like that it can be gripped perfectly with the palm of your hand and easily packs into a gym bag or suitcase, with or without the included carrying case. Mini massage guns are particularly useful for people who have weaker hands or struggle with chronic arthritis pain and can’t hold heavier devices comfortably for an extended period of time. We like that the Theragun Mini has a sleek, ergonomic grip that helps reduce the strain on your hands. For an even budget-friendlier Theragun that is also easily portable, we recommend this Mini version.
You need easy charging
The Renpho R3 Mini Massage Gun is powered up using the included USB cable. If you’ve enjoyed this article, then please consider subscribing to road.cc from as little as £1.99. Our mission is to bring you all the news that’s relevant to you as a cyclist, independent reviews, impartial buying advice and more. Solidly made, comprehensive, pleasant to use, effective at releasing tension and encouraging recovery. The whole kit feels reassuringly solid and save for superficial wear to the EVA head, there’s little to suggest it won’t pay for itself many times over. The gun itself is stocky and on the portly side for a minigun – it’s closer to a midi, if there were such a category.
The Theragun Elite is a Porsche among massage guns, with a price that’s topped only by another Theragun model (the Theragun Pro). One thing we loved about the Elite is that it can be held in various ways, allowing users to apply pressure more efficiently and comfortably. Our tester found this multi-grip design especially helpful when targeting hard-to-reach spots, like the lower back and hamstrings.
However, I’d hoped Therabody would upgrade to a sturdier case to avoid any possible accidents. The B37S is on par with elite massage guns like Theragun and Hypervolt. It’s just as expensive (at over $300), but it has both brands beat on battery life. This is important if you’re not looking to constantly charge your massage gun.
When shopping around, you’ll find options with varying speed settings, with options going as high as 3200 RPM (revolutions per minute). “It’s always good to try it out before you buy it to make sure it can vibrate enough to do its job.” If you’re more into relaxation than deep-tissue acupressure, consider the Flexir Recovery Lite. This massage fun offers three vibrational speeds ranging from 1750 to 3200 RPM and is designed to provide calming, therapeutic relief post-workout or after a long day on the job. It’s also notably compact and weighs less than a pound, making it perfect for on-the-go use. We conducted hours of research on the best massage guns and tried a couple of the top-rated models out there.