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No matter how you get in a workout, is just as important as the activity itself. Most approaches to muscle recovery involve a , but you can also take advantage of high-tech recovery tools meant to (including the hard-to-resist ). While many athletes might have hit up a massage therapist prior to the , many people are looking for solutions that they can utilize themselves in the comfort of their own home. This has led to the rise of the massage gun.
A massager gun uses the force of — also known as vibration therapy — to manipulate your body’s soft tissue. They’re essentially backed by the same that supports massage therapy as the optimal tool for treating a sore muscle after a workout. Everyone from recreational gym-goers to and people with — they all love percussion therapy from these powerful massagers for many reasons.
Percussive therapy is said to while reducing muscle pain, muscle fatigue and lactic acid buildup. They can also help prevent delayed onset muscle soreness. A percussion gun allows you to focus on a certain muscle group or muscle knots for immediate pain relief. They can also improve your range of motion and flexibility, encourage blood flow, help with muscle stiffness and more. Percussive therapy may even . Also, not that you should invest in a muscle massage gun for this reason alone, but the look insanely Insta-worthy. Just with using a massager gun if you have any injuries beyond a muscle ache from a tough workout.
We’ve tested over 30 massage guns at this point and the following six are CNET’s picks for the best massage gun options in 2021 for muscle recovery and pain relief. We’ll continue to update this best massage gun list.
David Carnoy/C is pretty dang impressive — especially compared to the previous line of Therabody massage guns. (The Theragun G3, a similar version, was previously on this list. You can to learn more.)
The Theragun Pro G4 is, first and foremost, much quieter than its former iteration. Loudness has been a chief complaint of Theragun buyers since the company’s early days, and the brand finally made a move to remedy that.
I’m not saying the Pro G4 is silent — the noise level is still louder than most other massage guns — but it doesn’t rattle my brain like the G3 did, thanks to Theragun’s new QuietForce Technology. If you’re an athlete or serious exerciser who can deal with a massage device that sounds like a muted turkey carver (and you’re willing to pay top dollar for percussive therapy at your fingertips), the Theragun Pro G4 is a great choice for you.
With up to 60 pounds of force, a rotating arm and ergonomic handle, a deep reach of 16mm into your muscle tissue, and speeds up to 2,400 repetitions per minute, the Theragun Pro is built for those who need legitimate percussive therapy multiple times per week. In short, this percussion massager is the real deal, but it’s probably not worth it for the average exerciser.
Previously the TimTam All New Power Massager was my pick for the best high-powered massage gun, but if you have money to spend, you can’t beat the power and relative quietness of the Theragun Pro.
Sportneer
This $130 percussive massage gun from works surprisingly well for the price. It delivers six speeds of percussive therapy and reaches up to 220 watts and 3,200 repetitions per minute.
Depending on what power setting you use, the battery life on this massage gun can last from two to six hours. I used the Sportneer device before and after workouts, as well as on rest days, and I never felt dissatisfied with the deep tissue massage experience.
The Sportneer massage gun comes with six head attachments, two of which have metal tips. You can use the metal attachments to massage yourself with , essential oils or pop them in the freezer for a touch of cryotherapy.
This percussive massager is also relatively quiet: The website claims the massage gun reaches a maximum of 40 decibels, which is a softer noise level than the .
I previously reviewed the Sportneer K1 massage gun, which is another good value massage device pick from this brand for $30 less.
Ekrin Athletics
In the percussive therapy arena, there’s a common trade-off: power for sound. It’s tough to find a moderately priced and quiet yet powerful massage gun. Ekrin Athletics has created just that with its B37 massage gun.
The Ekrin Athletics B37 massage gun packs all the leading industry standards, including an ultra-quiet motor (even quieter than the Hypervolt, in my opinion), multiple speed and pressure settings that deliver up to 56 pounds of force, an eight-hour battery life, an ergonomic design and a convenient carrying case with several massage head attachments.
At a list price of $230, the value is phenomenal — it’s a low price for the value you get, as the Ekrin massage gun compares to the well-known and highly desired brands in the percussive therapy arena. And, it’s backed by a lifetime warranty, so there’s really no reason not to at least try the Ekrin Athletics B37 massage gun.
Ekrin Athletics is a relative newcomer on the muscle gun scene, but make no mistake: This brand, founded by two former collegiate athletes, is raising standards and lowering prices for percussive therapy.
Hyperice
The Hypervolt Go is the newest launch from Hyperice, and it’s lighter, smaller and the most affordable gun in the Hypervolt line. At $200, it’s a great deal for a gun that’s nearly as powerful as the full-size models that retail for $300 and up. It weighs 1.5 pounds, making it ideal for travel when you don’t want to compromise precious space in your carry-on or gym bag.
I tested the Hypervolt Go and was seriously impressed at how powerful the gun felt. Compared to the Hypervolt (which I also tested), I almost could not tell a difference in terms of force. The full-size Hypervolt does come with more attachments (the Go has two), but the Go also has three speed settings, which is still impressive for a small gun. If you’re new to massage guns and are looking for a solid product to try at a lower price, the Go is a great product to start with.
— Mercey Livingston, CNET contributor
Achedaway
The Achedaway Pro is a favorite for super-sore days. Quiet and easy to handle, this massage tool features five power and speed settings ranging from 1,700 to 2,800 rpm, which according to the company are suited to wake up muscles, release fascia, eliminate lactic acid, provide deep tissue massage and facilitate muscle recovery.
Its list price of $539 is on the high end — actually, it’s up there with the top-level — but the Achedaway Pro often goes on sale for $299. The Achedaway massager feels very sturdy, doesn’t make the inside of your head rattle and provides varying levels of muscle relief massage that are suitable for sore muscles.
The higher power settings felt great when I wasn’t sore, but didn’t hurt tender muscles, either — a perfect combo in my book. Like many other massagers, the Achedaway Pro comes with multiple head attachments for massaging different muscle groups. The rechargeable battery is removable for easy and portable charging.
Previously, I reviewed the (the predecessor to the Achedaway Pro) and I liked that one, too. There are only minor differences between the two (the amplitude and force are greater on the Pro), so the original Achedaway is still a good percussion massage gun choice for a lesser price.
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Best massage guns of 2021