The 11 Best Massage Guns of 2021, According to Physical Therapists - Livestrong

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Get help recovering from your workout with a massage gun.


Image Credit: AndreyPopov/iStock/GettyImages


Massage guns have quickly become one of the most popular tools for pre-workout warm-ups, post-workout cool-downs and recovery sessions.


"Massage guns are an excellent portable recovery tool and put the benefits of a massage right at your fingertips," says Ryan Waldman, DPT, a physical therapist at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center in New York City. Many people find them to be especially helpful at easing delayed onset muscle soreness, that ache you get one to two days after a new or hard workout.


With all of the buzz around percussion therapy, there are a lot of options on the market. And they can get pricey. So, to make sure you get what you need, we tested out the most popular massagers and got expert input on what to look for when shopping.


Here are the best massage guns to help you get that deep-tissue recovery your muscles crave.


1. Theragun Mini


Take your massages with you wherever you go.

• Speed Settings: 3
• Attachments: 1
• Battery Life: 150 minutes
• Price: $199

If you're looking to take your tool with you to the gym or when you travel, consider this compact pick. Just because it's small, though, doesn't mean it lacks power.


Choose from three speed settings, knowing that the battery will last for 150 minutes. And if for some reason you do run out of juice, the charger is small enough to fit into the gun's carrying case.


2. Hypervolt Plus


Hypervolt makes some of the best massage guns for athletes and runners.

• Speed Settings: 3
• Attachments: 5
• Battery Life: 150 minutes
• Price: $349

Sync this massager to its companion app to control it via your phone. And while the 90-watt motor provides a good amount of force on the muscles that need it most, you can also scale it back for more sensitive areas.


"Despite its power, it's quieter than some of its competitors, which I like," says Andrew Nuñez, CPT, founder of Drew's Workout and trainer at Barry's in Los Angeles. One charge lasts for two and a half hours. Rotate between the five different head attachments.


3. TimTam Power Massager Pro


This is a good option if you crave a more aggressive massage.

• Speed Settings: 3
• Attachments: 3
• Battery Life: 60 minutes
• Price: $499.99

If you need a heavy hitter, you've met your match with this best deep tissue massage gun. It can make as many as 2,800 strokes per minute, making it a force to be reckoned with.


"It's a good option for those who opt for a more aggressive deep tissue massage," Waldman says.


While it's a bit bulkier than most other options, it still fits in a small carrying case.


4. Sonic LX Percussion Massage Gun


Get tons of speed and attachment options at a comfortable price.

• Speed Settings: 9
• Attachments: 7
• Battery Life: 240 minutes
• Price: $179.99

If you're looking to get the most bang for your buck, this gun just might be your perfect fit.


"It's a great price point," Waldman says. "And it offers a lot of versatility with nine speed intensity levels and seven massage heads. It's pretty quiet, too." Plus, a single charge lasts up to four hours. Impressive.


5. Legiral Le3


This device has the best massage gun reviews on Amazon

• Speed Settings: 20
• Attachments: 6
• Battery Life: 360 minutes
• Price: $129.99

Meet the best massage gun on Amazon. The Legiral Le3 fully charges in just two hours and holds six hours of power. Easily navigate the LED-screen to adjust the speed and vibration level to your liking.


It can penetrate deep into muscles, and reviewers felt that helped their muscles recover faster after difficult workouts. Note that this tool is on the heavier side.


6. Theragun Elite


Despite its power, this recovery tool is extremely quiet.

• Speed Settings: 5
• Attachments: 5
• Battery Life: 120 minutes
• Price: $399

Smaller and 75 percent quieter than its previous versions, the Theragun Elite precision massage gun has a control and display screen for easy use.


"It also has great battery life — approximately 120 minutes or so — and provides up to 40 pounds of force," Waldman says.


7. Vybe Percussion Massage Gun Pro


This pick is lightweight and easy to grip.

• Speed Settings: 9
• Attachments: 8
• Battery Life: 180 minutes
• Price: $149.99

At about half the price of other percussion guns, but equal in its performance capabilities, this option is not to be overlooked. The gun comes with eight different head attachments that you can use at nine different speeds.


"As it competes with the top dogs on the market, VYBE actually puts up a great fight when it comes to deep percussive therapy and great speed," Nuñez says. Plus, it's lightweight and easy to grip.


8. Sportneer Deep Tissue Muscle Percussion Massage Gun


Consider this the best budget massage gun.

• Speed Settings: 5
• Attachments: 6
• Battery Life: 360 minutes
• Price: $99.99

If you're planning to take your device with you to the gym or when you travel, the last thing you need is for the battery to drain. That's hardly an issue with this option, which can last up to six hours.


The gun also has an auto-off feature after 10 minutes of use to help maintain battery life. The company says that's the perfect amount of time to get the benefits without overdoing it. It's extremely quiet, too, at just 35 to 45 decibels max, which is about half as loud as a car driving by. And all for under $100.


9. Hypervolt Go


Reach hard-to-target muscles with this small, lightweight option.

• Speed Settings: 3
• Attachments: 2
• Battery Life: 150 minutes
• Price: $199

Weighing just a pound and a half, this gun will become your favorite gym buddy. Its small size allows you to hit some harder to reach places with ease.


"Your hand won't tire out with this gun because it's lightweight and still has a good grip," Waldman says. And while the motor is only 40-watts, it offers three speed options, each of which is powerful enough to get a good massage.


10. TaoTronics Professional Deep Tissue Muscle Massager Gun


This pick has 10 speed settings and comes with six different attachments.

• Speed Settings: 10
• Attachments: 6
• Battery Life: 600 minutes
• Price: $129.99

The LED screen on the back of this massage tool displays the speed as well as battery level. So not only do you know which of the 10 speed options you're using, but also when you need to recharge.


Users love the range of power and that the gun has an ergonomic design, so it's easy to hold. Plus, even with daily use, the battery life can last up to a week or more.


11. TOLOCO Massage Gun


For under $100, this device gives you 20 speed settings and 15 attachments.

• Speed Settings: 20
• Attachments: 15
• Battery Life: 180 minutes
• Price: $99.99

With 15 different head attachments, it's impossible not to find one you like. And the best part is it's easy to switch and use multiple attachments in one session.


The device also has a carrying case so you can store everything together and avoid misplacing parts.


What to Consider Before You Buy


1. Ease of Use


Chances are good that even if you have a partner, trainer or friend who can use the massager on you, the majority of the time you'll use it on yourself.


"It's important that it's easy to handle," Nuñez says. Read reviews and make sure it doesn't sound too complicated to operate, handle or charge.


2. Noise Level


"This is a pretty big one for me," Nuñez says. "I'm often using mine in public places and on the go, so while I want the gun to be effective, I need it to be enjoyable for the ears as well."


Consider how and where you'll be using your massager and how much noise it will make. Check the product description's listed decibel level. (For reference, 70 decibels is the sound of a car driving by).


3. Power Level


"The most important factors to look for in my opinion are how much power the device can produce and if there is an ability to adjust it," Waldman says. Each part of your body will likely need a different level.


4. Device Weight


"It needs to be comfortable to hold without causing wrist or hand pain," Waldman says. "If you're not the strongest person or have weaker wrists, you may want to look for a gun that's at the lighter end of the spectrum, as it will be more comfortable to hold and use."


Smaller ones can weigh as little as 1.5 pounds, while larger ones can weight closer to 3 pounds.


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