Best Massage Guns for the Perfect Post-Workout Recovery
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After a long hard workout, if you’ve pushed yourself to the max your muscles are going to be feeling it the next day.
While I do love that burn, I also want to make sure that I’m able to carry on with the rest of my life in somewhat of a normal fashion. This is why I look to turn towards massage guns to help me out.
I’m going to give you a quick breakdown of the science that happens when you work out and why your muscles get sore. During a workout, your muscles start to form tiny tears that need to be healed up.
Your body then sends cells over to help repair it and make it stronger. The one downside however is that there are often waste products as well in the area that are going to need to be disposed of.
A good post-workout massage is key to recovery. Here are the best massage guns for a perfect cooldown.
#1
5/5
Theragun Pro
Theragun has a wide range of massage guns, but none better than the Theragun Pro.
While it carries a hefty pricetag, it's the best message gun for a reason. Customizable variable speeds, strong motor, generous battery life, and Bluetooth functionality make it the top of the line.
How Does A Massage Gun Help?
By massaging the area, you are helping to speed up the blood flow in the area.
This means that your body can get the nutrients and resources needed to repair the muscle much quicker, and your body can also work to get the waste materials out of that area that much faster also.
You aren’t going to get bigger just by getting a massage, but you are going to recover faster.
Does this mean you can get to the gym more?
I’d still recommend giving yourself the same amount of rest days before attempting to work out that muscle group again.
As mentioned above, the point of a massage through a massage gun is to help you reduce the swelling and pain that comes after a workout.
That soreness is great, but if I’m struggling to do my job the next day, I’m going to need to do something to help me out.
The other positive to using a massage gun is that it simply feels great. Who doesn’t love getting a nice massage, especially after a rigorous workout?
What Is A Massage Gun?
When people think of massagers, they often think of that big chunk of plastic that you can use for your back and other parts of your body.
While that can still give you a good massage, that’s not a massage gun. A massage gun often looks like a drill or a gun and provides a percussive massage to the affected area.
Percussive massages have been shown to help out with pain relief more than the vibration massager a standard massager gives you.
Percussive Massages Vs. Vibration Massages
Let’s first talk about the vibration massages that you can get from a standard massager. These work exactly as they sound, it’s multiple points that vibrate on the body to help provide relief.
The massager does not leave the body during this type of massage and it can start to make the area numb.
Vibration massages definitely do help, but your body begins to adjust to the steady vibration patterns, and therefore the effectiveness drop.
Percussive massages on the other hand come from massage guns and as I mentioned, they help a lot more than vibration massages.
With a massage gun, it’s an up and down motion that works to dig deep into the tissues to give you the perfect massage.
Your body is not able to adjust to the frequency and depth of the massage provided with a massage gun, so you are getting continuous pain relief when using it. It can take a bit of time to find the right setting for you, but a massage gun can definitely get you what you are looking for.
Now that I’ve covered why massage guns are a step above the other massagers out there, it’s time for me to give you my recommendations on which ones you should try out. I’ve used a lot of massage guns throughout my life, especially after workouts, and here are some of my all-time favorites.
My Top Picks for Best Massage Guns
1. Theragun Pro - Best Overall Massage Gun
The Theragun Pro has some skeptics cause of the price, but the performance isn't something you can argue with.
While it does carry a top-of-the-line price tag ($599), it fits the role to a tee and gives me the relief that I am looking for after an intense workout.
Using the Theragun Pro, the massage gun has 6 different attachments you can use to vary up the type of massage that you are getting.
You can also adjust the arm as well to help you get any place on your body. In total, there are four different arm positions that you can use to get the right location.
The Theragun Pro massage gun also comes with five different speed settings to help get you the perfect massage that you are looking for. With so many things to change, you can get the right massage for the right body part with the Theragun Pro massage gun.
As for the power of this massage gun, it’s one of the best out there. If you want a deep and powerful massage gun, the Theragun Pro is going to be the choice for you.
All that power does come at a slight cost however as the batteries only last for about 75 minutes and it does run a little loud. That being said, the 75 minutes you’re going to be getting out of the Theragun Pro are going to be excellent.
2. Hyperice Hypervolt 2 - Best Portable Massage Gun
From my experience with the Hyperive Hypervolt 2, what I loved most was how easy it was for me to transport it and move it around.
This is going to be a great massage gun for personal trainers and therapists who need to travel around and have a lot of clients to see.
The Hypervolt massage gun has “Quiet Glide” technology which will make it one of the quieter massage guns on the list, but that doesn’t mean it lacks power.
Out of all the Hyperice products, the Hypervolt Plus has the strongest motor, meaning you are going to get the most powerful massage here. It comes in at $249.00 which is quite nice considering how strong it is.
The best part about the Hypervolt massage gun is the Bluetooth connectivity. You can program your own recovery programs into the app and use it with your phone, or simply pick from the presets on the app as well. If you want to avoid pressing buttons, the Hypervolt massage gun has you covered.
In terms of customization, you are getting 5 different attachment heads that you can use to help with your massages. I found the standard ball to be my favorite, but feel free to experiment with this massage gun to see what works for you.
3. Cryotex Massage Gun - Best Budget Massage Gun
If you are looking for a solid massage gun that is affordable, I would recommend getting the Cryotex Massage Gun.
Coming in at a low price of $39.90, you are still going to be able to get massage gun relief for a cheap price.
It has 6 hours of battery life which gives it the edge on some of the more powerful massage guns.
Although not as powerful as some, it still has 6 head attachments, quiet 45db noise, and it's only 2lbs
That being said, this massage gun definitely has a lot to offer.
With 30 different speed settings and 6 different attachments, you are going to have some control over the type of massage that you are going to be getting. The massage gun also uses a bit of vibration to help with pain relief as well.
Overall, using this gun I was fairly impressed with what I was getting for the price. Based on sheer power alone, this massage gun is not going to be able to compete with massage guns like the Hypervolt and Theragun Pro, however that price tag definitely does make this an alluring massage gun.
4. Relxbit Pro Handheld Massager - Best Battery-Life Massage Gun
If you are looking for a massage gun that will last plenty of time, then the Relxbit Pro Handheld Massager is the one for you.
This massage gun is quite lightweight which makes sense for its lengthy battery life.
It lasts for 7 hours on low setting, or 420 minutes, on a 2.5 hour charge, and 4 hours on max setting.
This makes it the perfect fit for athletes on the go or even athletic therapists that need their massage gun to last for extended periods.
When it comes to the massage gun you are getting from the Relxbit Pro Massager, it does just about every right, and even at high speed, it's relatively quiet.
The one gripe I will point out, and this varies from person to person, is that the hgiher settings and the deep massaging head mounts can be very intense for some. Even then, you can simply reduce the RPM speed and enjoy even longer battery life.
It's available for $209.00 on their site, down from its usual $349.00, so it's also a great value for how well it performed.
5. Theragun Elite - Best High-Tech Massage Gun
If you are looking for a premium massage gun from Theragun but don’t want to spend too much, you might be interested in the Theragun Elite Massage Gun.
Coming in at $399, it’s slightly cheaper than the Pro and still packs quite the punch.
The thing I love the most about this massage gun is the technological aspect behind it. It has Bluetooth connectivity and an OLED screen, allowing you to easily customize your massage and monitor what it is doing at the same time.
The OLED screen is going to relay the speed and pressure of the massage, giving you instant feedback on what the Theragun Elite Massage Gun is doing.
The battery life is another area where this massage gun shines, giving you 120 minutes of bliss. It’s not the quietest massage gun out there, but when compared to the Theragun Pro Massage Gun it’s quite quiet.
The app itself is passable, but they can definitely make some improvements to it, and I expect them to continue working on it as they release more Bluetooth massagers. I like the Theragun Elite Massage Gun and think it’s a great option if you are looking for a more affordable Theragun.
6. Vybe Percussion Massage Gun Pro - Another Great Budget Option
If the NordicTrack massage gun doesn’t interest you and you still want a budget massage gun, you should look at the Vybe Percussion Massage Gun Pro.
Coming in at $150, it’s slightly more expensive than the NordicTrack, but not by much.
It has a great range of speeds (9) and attachments (8) you can truly customize this massage gun to get the deep tissue relief that you are looking for.
While it does have a lot to offer, the lower price point does come with some sacrifices. It’s slightly awkward to hold in your hand and the lower quality of the material does make this a fairly loud massager.
Overall though I can’t really complain as for the price you are getting a solid massager. If you are looking for a cheap option to help you out after workouts, this is going to help get you the massage that you’re looking for.
7. opove M3 Pro Massage Gun - Best Quiet Massage Gun - Best Quiet Massage Gun
Some people want a quiet massage gun when looking for recovery therapy. If you are one of those people, you might like the Vybe Percussion Massage Gun Pro.
Coming in at a fairly reasonable price tag of $200, you’re going to be getting a solid massage gun.
Out of all the massage guns on this list, I’d see the build quality of it isn’t the best, but it does still provide a surprisingly strong massage.
That’s not the only thing this massage gun brings to the table either. One full charge of this massage gun will give you three hours of use. The M3 Pro Massage Gun blows the competition out of the water in this department.
The other thing I do want to mention with this massage gun is the volume. The highest setting on this massage gun is quieter than some of the lowest settings on other guns. I was surprised to find that out and was impressed with this massage gun.
The final thing I want to mention on this massage gun is the speed settings. The lowest speed is still rather intense, and if I was looking for a soft massage, I would not be getting that from this massage gun. That being said, for the price it’s sold at, this is definitely a great massage gun to check out.
8. Theragun Mini
Theragun also has their own version of a portable massage gun aptly titled the Theragun Mini.
As you can see, and as you'd expect, it's designed with ergonomics and portability in mind.
It doesn't feature a traditional grip, but it can be slotted into any gym bag without taking up any space.
In fact, it's just over 1lb and it measures 5.4” x 4.3” x 1.6” - so Mini is right!
Due to the miniature size of the Theragun Mini, it doesn't have an enormous battery life, but it lasts 150 minutes and takes 80 minutes for a full charge, which is pretty good nonetheless.
Theragun Mini also features 3 built-in speeds (1750, 2100, or 2400 percussions per minute), and QX35 motor with QuietForce Technology, which I don't know much about but it's evidently quiet.
If you're looking for a good massage gun that you can bring with you anywhere, the Theragun Mini is hard to beat.
9. Hyperice Hypervolt 2 Pro
Although I've already listed the Hyperice Hypervolt 2, there's a Hypervolt 2 Pro model if you're looking for further massage needs.
Hypervolt 2 Pro looks and works very similar to the 2, but it has some differences.
Featuring 5 massage head attachments, you can pick and choose what kind of deep-massaging action you need.
The Hypervolt 2 Pro also has a 90w brushless motor, so it's powerful enough for whatever it is you need.
The design is also really nice, looking very similar to the standard Hypervolt 2, except it has a new digital dial which is very clean looking.
Featuring a 3-hour battery life, it can last a pretty good amount of time too.
Beyond that, if you're tired of using a corded massage gun/massager, it's Bluetooth connectivity so you have the freedom to bring it wherever (TSA approved - so even a plane).
I will say, for the increase in price ($349.00), it doesn't add a whole lot over the Hypervolt 2 besides more variable speed and a stronger motor, but it's definitely a top-choice.
10. Everyfun M3 Pro
Last but not least is the Everyfun M3 Pro.
Designed much like many of the massage guns before it, it's a lightweight but still very capable massager.
What makes it a great choice is that it features plenty of functionality, but it's not crazy expensive.
At $129.00, it's not a budget model, but it's not too expensive either.
Regardless, it has a lot to like about it.
A pro-grade large torque brushless motor allows for up to 3200 percussion per minute making it fairly strong.
On top of that, it has 5 variable speed settings along with 6 massage head attachments so there's a wide range of massaging capabilities.
Possibly the best feature is that it has a 10-hour battery life which is absurd for the price point and makes it an unbelievable option for people who travel a lot or those who forget to charge their devices (myself included).
Final Thoughts
Overall, there should be something for everyone on this massage gun list. From those who are looking for a premium model to those who want to find something cheap, you can find a great product for you.
Take a look and see what features are most important for you and find something within your price range.
Theragun Pro
Best Overall Massage Gun
