Vetted

2022-07-09 19:06:00 By : Mr. Jianbin Ge

Looking to save money on a massage gun? Check out the deals at Amazon Prime Day to find sales on massage guns, health and wellness products and more. Read on for the best picks and prices on massage guns today.

Massage guns are a great way to provide yourself with some instant relief from sore, knotted muscles. They’re much more powerful than our own or other people’s hands, are less expensive over time than investing in repeat trips to a massage or physical therapist and having one at home means sweet relief is always within reach. The truth is that most, if not all, of us could benefit from using one of the best massage guns. This is true whether you’re an athlete whose overdone it, waking up to a stiff neck, in an uncomfortable chair all day for work or suffering from an ailment or disability.

Therabody's Theragun Elite nabs the spot for the best massage gun overall.

Picking out the best massage gun for you depends on exactly who you are and how you’re going to use one. If you need daily, targeted therapy, a higher-end option makes more sense, but if you’re an occasional user, something more affordable might fit the bill. If you’re focusing on a particular body part, the type of head on the massager is important, but if you’re going to be using it all over, something with interchangeable options is the way to go. Some massage guns are designed to be especially quiet, while others can drown out your TV—this power and sound balance comes into play when making your choice, too. And if you travel often, you should consider one that’s easily packable so you can take it on the go and have your handy massager at the ready. Check out our top picks below.

Weight: 5.3 pounds | Battery Life: 2 hours | Interchangeable Heads: 5

This massage gun checks all of our most sought-after boxes. The Theragun Elite can be customized to suit exactly what ails you with five different attachment heads and the ability to control the power and percussion. The gun runs on an ultra-quiet motor, plus it integrates with the Therabody app, giving users personalized guidance and controls for more targeted recovery. It has an OLED screen, Bluetooth connectivity and three built-in presets for high-tech features that make the user experience that much easier and streamlined. Shoppers say they’re “blown away” by how strong and quiet the Theragun Elite is and that it “pays for itself in just a few sessions.”

Weight: 9.5 pounds | Battery Life: Two 2.5-hour batteries | Interchangeable Heads: 6

The “Cadillac” of percussive guns (according to one shopper), the Theragun Pro is a professional-grade recovery tool made for people who are serious about targeting specific muscle groups. Compared to the Elite, it comes with six attachments instead of five and offers 60 pounds of force versus the Elite’s 40. These extra massage heads and stronger percussion make it ideal for people who train hard and often, and have the knotted muscles to prove it. While it’s more powerful than other massage guns, it’s not any louder thanks to a quiet motor. This model is also app-enabled and has an easy-to-read digital OLED screen. Plus, the massager comes with a backup battery that can be swapped in when the other battery needs to charge, meaning it’s always ready to go. One shopper who describes themselves as s former professional soccer player called the massager the “best way to get therapy constantly without spending a ton of money,” and added that they use it both before and after their workouts.

Weight: 2.3 pounds | Battery Life: 6 hours | Interchangeable Heads: 7

With a decibel rating of 30 to 50 (which is somewhere between a whisper and a normal conversation), the Hydragun is one of the quietest massage guns on the market. It’s powered by what the brand calls its SmoothDrive Technology, a quiet motor that still beats at 3,200 pulses per minute. It comes with seven swappable attachment heads, each designed to provide relief in different areas, and it has an industry-leading six-hour battery life. The massage gun is one of the lightest options here at just over two pounds, but it still has the comfortable features of larger instruments, like an ergonomic handle and a single-button operation, so you don’t have to fumble around trying to figure out which buttons to use. Unsurprisingly, Hydragun reviewers are wildly impressed with its lack of noise. Many wrote that they “love how quiet it is,” with a few noting that it’s “great for recovery” and that they’ve “recommended it to anyone.”

Weight: 2.5 pounds | Battery Life: 6 hours | Interchangeable Heads: 8

Not all massage guns have to be super expensive to be effective. The Sonic Handheld massager is lightweight, has a long battery life and ships with eight different massage heads and a handy carrying case. Similar to its competitors, the Sonic has a vibration level switch that controls how gentle or strong you want it to work on your muscles and five total levels of intensity. What this massager has that plenty of its much more expensive counterparts doesn’t is a lifetime guarantee. Several reviewers noted that if they had an issue with their massager, it was “quickly and easily” replaced by the Amazon seller. Others added that they were skeptical that it would get the job done at this price point, but added that they were “pleasantly surprised” because this massager is “well built, sturdy and gives a strong power output at the same time.”

Weight: 2.3 pounds | Battery Life: 4 hours | Interchangeable Heads: 10

One of the more versatile options in this roundup, the LifePro Sonic LX Professional Massage gun includes 10 massage heads and offers nine settings so you can really customize your massage experience to suit your needs and target the muscles that are giving you the biggest problems. When you want a deeper massage, you can adjust the intensity level from 1,800 strokes per minute to 3,400 strokes per minute, depending on how sore you are, and it has the option to heat the massaging head to better facilitate recovery. One of the benefits of buying through Amazon is the ability to send it back if you’re not happy with the order, and it’s also frequently on sale, making it an even more attractive option when compared to pricier models.

Weight: 1.7 pounds | Battery Life: 6 hours | Interchangeable Heads: 6

The Sportneer Deep Tissue massager may be a fraction of the cost of some other massage guns, but the obvious user satisfaction (it has over 2,600 five-star ratings) proves you don’t have to spend lots of money to get a quality percussion massager. It boasts five speeds, ranging from 1,200 to 3,200 pulses per minute, and it comes with six attachments for targeted massage. Because it weighs less than two pounds and comes with a carrying case, it’s easy to hold or take with you on the go. It’s also quiet with a maximum volume reaching only 45 decibels. Amazon reviewers love it because it’s powerful and easy to use on all kinds of muscle tension. One mentioned that they’ve been able to “recover quicker” since they started using this massager and that they appreciate that it comes with several different attachments, “which is great for different muscle groups, and the battery lasts long.”

Weight: 1.6 pounds | Battery Life: N/A | Interchangeable Heads: 4

The Wahl percussion massager is at the lower end of the price spectrum, but still racks up over 9,600 five-star ratings on Amazon. It has a variable speed dial to change the intensity, comes with four massaging heads and is powered by a 9-foot cord so you never have to worry about the battery dying. Shoppers say it has “great percussion” to work out kinks and knots, and that it’s surprisingly powerful for something so affordable. Another added that the massaging heads, though limited, screw into the wand and stay in place while they do their job. Wahl is also a brand and a name in electronics and personal devices that, as several point out, makes quality products, so reviewers felt confident in making what seemed to be a budget purchase thanks to brand recognition.

Weight: 2.5 pounds | Battery Life: 2 hours | Interchangeable Heads: 5

The Hyperice Hypervolt is a top pick for runners because of its carefuly crafted and designed attachments that are designed to uniquely work on the muscles in your legs. These five massage heads include a ball attachment, which is ideal for runner-prone pain points in the hamstrings and glutes, a flat head for IT bands and bullet shape for calf muscles. It also connects to Bluetooth if you want to create custom programs or take advantage of the pre-programmed settings. There are three speed options available that are powered by a 60-watt motor, and a carrying case makes this TSA-approved package easy to transport nearly anywhere. Shoppers love it so much that one even called it the “best purchase I think we’ve made all year.”

Weight: 1.4 pounds | Battery Life: 3 hours | Interchangeable Heads: 5

This massager might be affordable and lightweight at under 1.5 pounds, but it has a unique feature that sets it apart and earned it several hundred five-star reviews from shoppers looking for a little something extra from their massager. The powerful motor delivers up to 2,800 to 3,200 percussions per minute through three different speed and strength settings and the quiet design keeps it to under 50 decibels. But best of all, the massager can run hot or cold to deliver powerful soothing, muscle-loosening heat or numbing temperatures to reduce pain where you need it most.

Weight: 1.4 pounds | Battery Life: 2.5 hours | Interchangeable Heads: 1

This small-but-mighty portable massager is only eight inches by seven inches, making it easy to slip into a purse or backpack. It’s small stature doesn’t mean it’s lacking in power; the design has three speed options and can reach up to 2,400 ppm. It has a unique shape but is ergonomically designed to fit easily in your hand and is lightweight enough to not be a burden while carrying or using. Theragun is a brand that has become synonymous with high-quality personal massage guns, and the price tag on many of its models usually reflects that, but this compact version is much more reasonably priced. Shoppers say they love how lightweight it is and one even said that it’s so easy to use and figure out when compared to other models with many settings.

Save more at Amazon Prime Day by visiting our Amazon coupons page.

“Massage guns are great tools to aid in the recovery process after exercising,” says Cathy Spencer-Browning, vice president of programming and training at MOSSA, a group fitness provider. “We call these recovery processes work-ins. Work-ins are just as important as the exercise, as they help the body regulate the autonomic nervous system and drive the internal recovery needed so you feel and perform better in your body.”

While massage guns don’t completely eliminate muscle soreness, they can make a drastic difference in pain levels, tension and inflammation when used regularly. They may not completely take the place of other options, like sports massages, foam rolling and stretching, but they’re a worthwhile addition to your recovery program.

You can use a massage gun daily, but be careful not to overdo it. You should limit use to two minutes per muscle group. If you experience pain or tenderness, stop using the massage gun.

“You can use percussion therapy pre- and post-workout, as well as to target any onset muscle soreness,” adds Spencer-Browning. “Pre-workout use primes the muscles for training, and using post-workout eases any tension or tightness. You also can use it for any onset muscle soreness you may experience in the days after your workout.”

She shares a final tip: “Many people, especially first time users, may have questions about the speed of their percussion tool. Based on the science behind these tools, lower speeds are better for pre-workout sessions, while faster speeds are better suited for post-workout recovery.”

You should never use a massage gun on your neck. Doing so can increase the risk of developing a carotid dissection—a tear in your carotid artery that can interfere with blood flow to your brain. You should also avoid using a massage gun on:

If you have chronic conditions like high blood pressure, autoimmune disease, osteoporosis, muscle dystrophy or severe varicose veins, talk to your doctor before using a massage gun.

We’re here to help relieve your sore muscles in the best possible way for you and your specific needs. In order to do that effectively, we scoured the internet for best-seller lists and crossed referenced these lists with actual shopper reviews to see if the massagers delivered on their promises. We did exhaustive research on what’s available and took a long look at product specs, designs, features and particularities that set them apart from the rest to ensure that this list encompasses the best of the best, and included any cons, too. Plus, these are typically big ticket items, and the brands and retailers that sell them know they’re an investment, so most of them are returnable if they don’t meet your needs.

As previously stated, buying a massage gun is a big deal (typically with a big price tag), so we understand that you’re going to want the one that arrives at your door to be a keeper from day one. Here are a few things to take into account when deciding which one is right for you.

While you can use your massage gun safely on a daily basis, some models are designed to perform for hours on end over a prolonged period of time, and some aren’t. How much you spend on a massage gun will come into play here, as a more expensive brand will likely have a longer warranty and, by extension, a guarantee to operate time and time again. But, if you’re going to be reaching for a massager once or twice a week, or even less often than that, something more affordable makes perfect sense.

As noted several times in our list, some massagers have heads that can be switched out based on the muscle group and thea area of your body that you’re targeting. If you’re only going to be using this tool on your back or thighs, a larger massage head will do the trick. If, however, you’re going to be switching from the arch of your foot to your biceps to your calves, a model with interchangeable heads will better suit your needs.

Taking your massage gun with you on vacation or work trips might be top of mind. If this is the case, consider investing in a model that comes with a carrying case, features a lightweight design, or has very few moving pieces that will make it easier to transport from one location to the next.