Portability: Some massage guns lend themselves to travel better than others. While testing our massage guns, we look for travel-friendly features, like a compact design, a carrying case with space for attachments, and a secure off-and-on setting. We also consider whether it's quiet enough to be used in public settings (like a gym or the airport), and if the battery life is long enough to last during our travels. Choose a model that comes with multiple massage heads, from the standard ball head for bigger muscle groups to cone, wedge and thumb heads for working on smaller and more sensitive areas. If you’re planning to take your massage gun to the gym with you, consider its weight, portability and battery life. How we test massage guns As its name implies, this massage gun from HoMedics wouldn't be out of place in the hands of a physiotherapist. Of all the machines we've tested (including those that didn't make this roundup), it's the one that delivered the strongest, most assertive massage – and when you really need it, the optional heated attachment is bliss, aiding in helping tough muscles relax. To narrow down the best massage guns, we tested 32 devices over 840 hours in the Verywell Testing Lab and continue to test each massage gun at home as part of our regular recovery routines. During the testing process, we evaluate each one for the following six key attributes:

Carry case - If you want to take your massage gun to the gym, a carry case would be helpful; some massage guns come with their own protective case For example, a 2014 study from the National Library of Medicine in the USA confirmed that percussive therapy 'significantly' reduces DOMS at 24, 48 and 72 hours after exercise. Best treadmills | Best adjustable dumbbells | Best home gym equipment | Best resistance bands | Best foam rollers | Best yoga mats | Best weighted jump ropes | Best smart scales | Best shoes for Peloton and indoor cycling The MuscleGun Carbon is a travel-sized massage gun that's comfortable and easy to wield. During testing, we found it quieter than other options we tried. But we also noted that it wasn't as powerful as massage guns with a higher stall force, and we ultimately reached for more powerful massage guns to relieve muscle tension. Electrical stimulation: A TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) device can stimulate muscles and promote relaxation.It may be the size of a small water bottle, but it’s brimming with impressive features. You get five interchangeable heads (most mini massagers come with just one or two) and there are five speed settings to flit between, giving you a whopping 25 massage combos to try. If you need some guidance, there’s a handy user manual, which provides step-by-step routines for warm-up, mobility and recovery. According to our tester, these were genuinely useful. When some consumers are looking at the best massage guns, having a variety of attachments or heads will be important to them. Most devices average about five attachment head options, usually, a cushioned head, rounded, fork, and flat options, as well as some cone-shaped (bullet) attachments that target a specific area. How do I use a massage gun? It's definitely an investment, but if you really want to treat yourself, or have a partner who'll be using it as well, you may be able to justify spending the extra cash.

The Wahl Mini Massage Gun is a convenient sized, cordless massager that can be used anytime, anywhere. This powerful massager offers on-the-go massage with complete freedom of movement. Generally, a higher price tag will indicate a more reliable product and, when fully charged, a decent massage gun should last for a few days to a week, based on around 15 minutes' use per day. Men's Health Lab Approved To prevent the massage gun from overheating, always follow the time limit set in place by the manufacturer. This device offers a lighter touch, so it’s better suited to less intense recovery sessions or general R&R in front of the telly. On that note, it was one of the quietest models we tried, scoring almost full marks in our noise tests.With up to 200 minutes cordless run time from a single charge, this portable massaging tool offers complete freedom of movement and enough time to target aching muscles all over the body. It comes with a convenient USB charging cable for charging. The Hypervolt 2 offers speeds of up to 2,700 percussions per minute and three levels of pressure to help alleviate post-workout aches, soreness, and stiffness. Plus, it’s lighter than the original Hypervolt, has a longer battery life, and features a more streamlined design. The Sportneer Deep Tissue massage made this list for its reasonable price, number of attachments, carrying case, quiet level, and being an overall good product for the price. This device is also as lightweight as some “portable” versions, so it’s easy to take outside the home. The Sportneer Deep Tissue Muscle Percussion Massager is a hit among athletes for reducing muscle pain. It comes with six massage heads, five speed levels and has a 11mm stroke amplitude.