Hard training and exercise can take a toll on the body. As athletes, we are always looking for an advantage to recover and train harder the next session. Even if you are a hobbyist or weekend warrior, being able to recover and function after a hard workout is a must.
This is true in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, MMA, CrossFit and any other demanding athletic endeavor. Massage guns can help you to recover faster.
We will take a look at the best massage guns on the market today and give honest feedback on each. Here is our Quick Review if you are pressed for time:
| BRAND / MODEL | REVIEW | RATING | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
THERAGUN G3PRO  | Best all round value with Swappable Batteries, 6 attachments, adjustable arm, 2 speed functionality and up to 60lbs of force with Best in Class Warranty. | CHECK PRICE | |
HYPERVOLT HYPERICE | 3 Speed Settings deliver up to 3200 percussions per minute, ergonomic grip, quiet, 5 attachments, 180 minutes per use on battery & great warranty | CHECK PRICE | |
TIMTAM | One of the original massage gun brands on the market, TimTam is a favorite for serious athletes and crossfitters. Great warranty and customer service. Adjustable Head and extended battery life make this a solid choice. | CHECK PRICE | |
VYBE MASSAGER | LOUD but solid. This massager is meant to do the job of getting out knots and does it well. Not meant to be a relaxing soothing experience but for the price point it is a good buy. | CHECK PRICE |
The Science Behind Massage Guns and Percussive therapy and Myofascial Release
Table of Contents
Percussive Therapy (also known as tapotement) type of massage that achieves accelerated growth of muscle tissues and repairs through strong, rapid, short-duration pulses deep into the tissues of the body. To simplify, with this treatment patients receive rapid percussive tapping that then increases blood flow to the treatment area providing myofascial release.
Myofascial release is a safe and very effective hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure into the Myofascial connective tissue restrictions to eliminate pain and restore motion. This essential “time element” has to do with the viscous flow and the piezoelectric phenomenon: a low load (gentle pressure) applied slowly will allow a viscoelastic medium (fascia) to elongate.
In short Percussive Therapy helps to relieve soft tissue pain and aches we get after a hard workout.
How Massage Guns Help
Therapeutic: helps break down knots, increase blood flow, and release stored lactic acid. Also excellent for chronic pain
Massage guns are a tool to achieve percussive therapy by apply systematic regular pressure into the muscle connective tissue through rapidly pulsing a rubber end point (usually a ball shape massager) against your muscles. The advantages of the massage gun is that it never gets tired and delivers controlled regular pulses into your muscles. Also you can work specific areas with the massage gun which allows you to focus on deep tissue, which is the layer of tissue beneath your skin that needs to be massaged and release to occur.
Top Message Guns for 2020
Theragun G3PRO Percussive Therapy Device
PROS:
Multiple arm angles
Features an adjustable arm w/ 4 perfectly angled arm positions, 2 scientifically tested speeds, 6 pro-designed attachments & swappable rechargeable batteries for continuous use.
INDUSTRY-LEADING CONSTRUCTION + WARRANTY. Superior build & quality like nothing else on the market. Backed by an industry-leading 2-year limited warranty.
CONS
From user feedback some of the downsides are the following:
Attachments Build Quality
The attachments are not well manufactured. During the first use of the Theragun the attachment deconstructed (that should not happened when you are spending $$$). I assumed this was fluke and could happen. Well it happened on the piece that was sent as a replacement (guess not so much a fluke this time). I contacted customer service and they resolved the issue but at this point I’m not happy as this happened more than once. The second time I contacted customer service I did not get a reply (shame on them). It really irks me that when you spend this sort of money you cant speak with a customer service representative but have to wait till they can email you back.
Battery Life
The batteries. They don’t last as long as stated. I would probably give them about an hour each on setting number 2. This was kind of a pain as I had to ensure I always had them charged and ready to go. If the device was used on setting one that would probably drop the run time down to 45 mins or less.
If Theragun was being used for any extended periods of time it became hot to the tough so beware. Last and final thing is the sound. It is down right loud. Makes tons of noise so if you don’t mind then it don’t matter.
The product works great until the batteries stop taking a charge. We previously had a G2Pro which we had to put on the shelf when the batteries died. We then bought a G3Pro and one of the two batteries stopped taking a charge after 6 months. It’s really great that they won’t sell replacement/extra batteries.
I’m a big guy, 6’5″ and over 300 lbs but gradually losing weight while lifting and weight training. I’ve a desk job so that doesn’t help either. I’ve always gained muscle or fat easy, but cardio is a struggle let alone the weight training puts those already work-strained muscles to task. My calves, hammies, t-bands, and feet are often tense and can get very tight. I stretch two times a day, more if traveling let alone around work outs. Yet I’ll still get crazy muscle cramps in my legs even with extra potassium and water. I had to try this after my bro let me test a model that he has, though it didn’t have the strength, adaptability, or accessories this one does.
I used it immediately on my calves and hamstrings yesterday. I’d done a chest and shoulders heavy day with a couple miles. I was feeling it and eager to use this. The relief was immediate and amazing. They relaxed as I moved the theragun, letting it float. I used the mobile app to guide me; it’s extremely helpful. I worked out my t-bands too and felt them loosen up like they haven’t in months, even though I see a massage therapist but this was something else. I felt so good after, like I hadn’t been stuck in a chair all day followed up by the intense gym session. Reminded me of a couple days into my last beach vacation honestly.
Overall – Theragun has great user feedback
So I took a nice walk around my neighborhood and then used the theragun on my feet. Absolutely amazing and I slept better too. It honestly loosened me up and when I stretched this morning I felt like I was in my early 20’s again.
I know my Theragun will help me continue to work out regularly, to lose weight, and to simply feel better overall. I 100% recommend the investment.
This thing is GREAT! I got it to get over chronic tightness in my back and hamstrings. It’s better than I hoped! It is truly easy to use. And it works. I’m a big fan of deep tissue massage and muscle release, and haven’t been able to find anyone in my home city. This is better! And my friends who don’t like deep tissue massage like the Theragun just as much as I do.
I use it before running and working out, and after. I use it after an international flight to get over the soreness and tight muscles that occur from sitting so long—and jet lag!!! I can’t say enough about this product. I like it so much, I’ve already bought one for my girlfriend and my mom. Also, when I contacted the company because I thought I had a defective unit, they contacted me back within hours and it turns out the unit is fine. I just hadn’t seated the battery in the charger correctly. So make sure it’s pushed and clicked firmly in place.
- The G3PRO is scientifically-calibrated to deliver deep muscle treatment, 40 times per second, to relieve muscle tension, accelerate warm up & recovery, & enhance performance
- 50% quieter with fully redesigned proprietary gearbox & powerful Japanese motor. 2 speeds for customized treatment, Standard (40 percussions per second) & Sensitive (29 percussions per second)
- 2 swappable Lithium-ion batteries for continuous use, 75-minute run time each.Frame:Professional-grade plastic composite
- Adjustable arm with 4 angles for an ergonomic full-body reach. 6 unique attachments designed to target specific needs of every muscle group
- Includes: G3PRO, 6 Attachments w/ Pouch, premium Travel Case, 2 Samsung Lithium-ion batteries, Lithium-ion Battery Charger
Hypervolt HYPERVOLT HYPERICE
PROS
- Battery- lasts forever on a charge
- Relieves muscles- 10 stars and works great
- Quality- attachments are well made, but base product is not well made.
Good quality but way over priced, should cost half as much $150-200 should be the price range
HAS warranty and good customer service
This is an amazing product, I could work through some of the tight muscles to gain some mobility. The battery is the problem, it does not fit all the way in and the click was not heard, I emailed the company and got response after a week, turns out I needed to push the battery in and press until I heard the click, It is better after that. Also the vibration is too much even at level 1 for areas like the chest so use it at your own pace. I was a bit pissed that they had $100 off during thanksgiving.
QUIET GLIDE TECHNOLOGY- whisper quiet percussion device
3 SPEED SETTINGS deliver up to 3200 percussions per minute
UP TO 3 HOURS OF USE PER CHARGE- Rechargeable lithium-ion battery
I like it very much when it works and I think it’s effective for relaxing tense muscles and relief muscle soreness, which is the only reason I’m keeping them. I use mine almost daily at most 30-45min or so. I would say this is not excessive use and I have a DIY case for it and always put it back for storage.
TimTam
Durable: patent-pending threaded shaft provides durability and superior performance.
Versatile: 90-degree articulating head and an available variety of thread-on tips give the TIMTAM Power massager a wide range of applications.
Complete: comes standard with a 12V lithium-ion battery, charger, carrying case and a round massage tip.
REVIEWS
first for a price tag of $399 you should be offered a warranty, and a full set of different massage heads and maybe a backup battery since the battery runs out pretty quick . that being said the timtam has helped loosen up some extremely tight spots I’ve had . even though i love the product i don’t think the price tag is justified for what you get
Every aspect of this massager seemed to be of a high quality. BUT it literally just about beat everyone who tried using it to death. I hesitate giving it too negative of a review. It was just so much more (like an electric battering ram) brutally strong than ever expected. The company was great and we immediately returned it for a full refund
Works great but so loud.
Only one speed. That speed should be called “seek and destroy”. Only good for large muscles and short periods of time. Made me nauseous.
Battery doesn’t last very long
Very strong and durable except for the battery. I’m not sure the issue but I have to order a new one. It is loader then some of the other guns
This is a $300+ dollar product that comes with no manual or instructions or tips on how to use it. Basically, we’ve got your money here’s your TImTam, thanks. One would think George and Faras could do a bit better than this.
- TimTam Power Massager - Handheld Deep Tissue Massage Gun for Athletes (Gray) OPEN BOX
VYBE Handheld Deep Muscle Massager
LOUD, BUT POWERFUL This is a loud massager and not ideal for a relaxing massage or for people who are sensitive to loud sounds. If you’re looking for the quietest and weakest massage gun, this is NOT for you. But if you’re looking for the best self recovery tool, you’re in the right place. Included with your VYBE is 3 massage tips: Standard Ball (for small muscle groups), Large Ball (for large muscle groups), Cone (for deep tissue). The compact size and case makes it easy to take with you to an
30 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE & 1 YEAR WARRANTY If you’re not completely satisfied we will provide a replacement or full refund!! Unlike similar massagers that only come with one massage head and battery, with the Vybe massager you get more for your money! The Vybe deep tissue massager comes with all of the tools you need to get the best and most powerful massage.
QUALITY The Vybe is a well built high quality machine with 6 speeds and a very powerful percussion vibration giving you 500-2400 strokes per minute depending on the speed you select. While similar massagers feel like they are vibrating, ours feels like real percussion. The ergonomic handle, power push button and articulating head is designed so you can reach many of your pain points yourself.
LIMITLESS USES There are so many different ways you can use the VYBE massager and leave your body feeling amazing. Perfect for breaking up the knots in muscles and muscle recovery after a workout. The VYBE is also effective at increasing your range of motion and engaging and relaxing the muscle. The pulsating action gets deep into the muscle and is a great remover of your aches and pains. Many customers have reported that they have cut down on their recovery time after their workout.
BENEFITS You will feel like the VYBE really brings life back into those muscles so you can resume your favorite activities without constant pain. Our top rated Vybe electric massager is cordless and comes with 3 massage heads and 2 fast charging rechargeable lithium batteries, so theres always enough charge.
So let’s start off with the good.
So first off – nice carrying case. Good touch, looks like someone cared when they designed it.
First impressions on use were that it was a little too intense. But I have quickly grown to like that it is quite a powerful and intense message gun.
The battery life isnt THAT great – but IT HAS 2 BATTERIES! Friggen genius! That means when the thing cuts out, you just battery swap and you don’t have to wait a couple of hours for a fully charged battery. This shows that during the design of this thing, some people actually used and tested it – and noticed that it was an issue and did something about it. Good job there.
Now to the OK stuff
Build quality is OK. Injection mold work isn’t the best but the thing fits together and does not feel flimsy in the hand. The design of the whole thing looks like its trying too hard – trying to copy a lot of power tools from the last few years. I would have simplified the design of the whole bottom half to be just over molded in the black, what is it butyl rubber or TPE/TPU or whatever you guys used and had just a blue – black – blue look with only two lines. Screws are exposed on one side – so one side is definitely prettier than the other. But again – overall OK. It works.
Foam ball tips and attachments get an OK. They work but do feel and look kind of cheap. Gets the job done but I would have gone with a silicon or some kind of textured rubber.
I am sure this thing will crap out at some point because of the gears inside it or trigger or batteries wearing out. It just does not have that “yeah, this thing will last forever, it’s so over built” feel to it. It’s just OK in this category. But I am sure I will get my monies worth out of it. Like you know – if this thing lasts 5 to 10 years, and shits the bed – I will be OK with that. If it makes it 6 months to 2 years and craps out – I will be editing this review.
The bad
They used a brushed motor instead of a brushless motor. This means you get that wonderful electricity O zone smell when you use the thing. I would have gone with a brushless motor. This is actually my single biggest gripe with the thing. You (vybe) should really look into getting a replacement brushless motor and just quietly work that into anything you sell in the future.
The trigger is on / off. I would have gone with a trigger that allows for some speed control – and still kept the speed adjust knob to limit the max speed. And once you have the electronic controls to make that happen – you could add nice features like speed ramp up and ramp down or little single punches like 3 in a row. Put a second knob on there that clicks to select all the different stuff. I mean I would probably just find one I like and use that one exclusively – and it still might be the “normal” setting, but it would bring product quality and features more in line with the price.
The noise is pretty bad. They admit this – so gets a pass. But it’s about equivalent to a power reciprocating saw or jigsaw.
In fact this is a nice transition to my next point. What does this message gun look like? A battery powered jigsaw? hmmm.
By my calculation the price for this thing should be about $100-$120. So I would argue it’s a bad deal.
- Powerful: The muscle gun is built with 6 speeds ranging from 500 to 2400 strokes per minute. It is a deep tissue massager that creates the right amount of pressure to help relieve pain.
- Professional: Perfect for athletes at every level of training, our deep muscle massager gun helps loosen stiff muscles pre-and post-workout.
- Premium Quality: Complete with a comfortable ergonomic handle and a power push button, our high-quality muscle massager takes sports recovery to the next level.
- Personalized: With 3 interchangeable massage tips each targetting different muscle groups, our massage gun allows you to experience sports recovery your way.
- Christmas Gift Grab: If you’re looking for a memorable Christmas present for someone this holiday season, look no further. This gift will have everyone fighting over it!
Conclusion:
Would I buy this again. In one word – Yes. In a paragraph: I would need to try some other percussion massagers, I don’t have much to compare it to. Would I pay twice as much for one that was half the noise? No. Would I buy one that had a brushless motor and was a little quieter for plus or minus 10% of the price of this one. Yes.
So the review is 4 stars – because anything I say “would buy again to” gets 3 automatically. And its not a piece of crap – gets the job done – so it gets one more star. But I would say to get the last star, they really need to batten down on the look and feel of the finish and accessories, use a brushless motor, and possibly add some premium features.
| BRAND / MODEL | REVIEW | RATING | PRICE |
|---|---|---|---|
| THERAGUN G3PRO | Best all round value with Swappable Batteries, 6 attachments, adjustable arm, 2 speed functionality and up to 60lbs of force with Best in Class Warranty. | CHECK PRICE | |
| HYPERVOLT HYPERICE | 3 Speed Settings deliver up to 3200 percussions per minute, ergonomic grip, quiet, 5 attachments, 180 minutes per use on battery & great warranty | CHECK PRICE | |
| TIMTAM | One of the original massage gun brands on the market, TimTam is a favorite for serious athletes and crossfitters. Great warranty and customer service. Adjustable Head and extended battery life make this a solid choice. | CHECK PRICE | |
| VYBE MASSAGER | LOUD but solid. This massager is meant to do the job of getting out knots and does it well. Not meant to be a relaxing soothing experience but for the price point it is a good buy. | CHECK PRICE |
Warning About Massage Guns
There are a lot of cheap knock offs flooding the market on amazon and other big retailers. The price of these knockoffs will be 25 to 50% less than the brands mentioned above.
Should you buy one?
Well while it is true that most if not all the massage guns are manufactured overseas in China, the difference in the quality of the build, quality control (QC) in general and the Warranty offered post sale should be factored in.
Factories value relationships and the major brands will have great relationships with manufacturers thus greater care by the factories will be taken in the construction of the massage gun.
An electronic equipment such as a massage gun that can move at 2000 to 5000 rpms and be used for long periods of time.. the question will not be”if it breaks”….. but when. When you go with a name brand manufacturer you can be assured to have a higher quality control product plus a warranty and customer service behind the brand.
We also recommend purchasing an extended warranty as well, especially if you use the massage gun for professional work.
I spent way too much time researching massage guns just to realize that Bob and Brad C2 is prob best. This is my third massage gun. The last 2 tend to be more of a vibrator than a massage device. Not really helpful. The price + performance of C2 looked just like an absolute steal. It is nothing short of amazing! Over the years i’ve gone to their channel when ive had the odd niggle and i’ve always found their advice to be right “on the money”.