Though the manual gives little information as to which muscle areas to focus on with each of the four interchangeable heads, this massage gun is the perfect gateway accessory for the more experienced gym-goer, or athlete.

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. We were impressed with the battery life and weight of this gun, but there are a couple of downsides — the massage gun doesn't have Bluetooth connectivity, so you can't sync it to your app. The app itself isn't all that helpful, especially for beginners.

However, there are a few aspects that reveal why the Le3 is priced the way it is — namely, a less powerful motor and very light stall force threshold. If you’re a professional or recreational athlete, these weaknesses may be pretty glaring. Even a CrossFit devotee or amateur powerlifter would probably be happier with one of the Theragun or Hyperice models. At 1.5 pounds, the Hypervolt Go 2 is seriously light. Surprisingly light, in fact, when you consider its top speed of 3,200 PPM — about the same as that of far more expensive, and heftier massage guns on the market. It’s lightweight enough to be portable and is approved by the TSA to stow in your carry-on, however, it doesn’t come in a carry case, which is a little disappointing, especially when the likes of the Theragun Mini does. I mentioned that the B37 features 12 millimeters of amplitude—a figure that’s expected from a massage gun of this size—but Ekrin Athletics pairs that with an impressive stall force of 56 pounds, so it’s easy to push the massager firmly against your body without causing the motor to stall. For context, the Theragun Elite, at the top of this list, only has a stall force of 40 pounds. As I increased my training mileage leading up to my race during testing, the B37 provided a deep, to-the-bone massage that left my legs feeling like jello (in a good way). With up to eight hours of battery life on a single charge, I could hypothetically use this massager for an entire day, or pass it around at a race or athletic event where others might need it, too.

The sleek, sturdy device has four interchangeable heads (a bullet, a fork, a flat head and a soft head) and five oomph-inducing speed settings for more targeted recovery. The brand boldly claims it reaches 60% deeper into muscles than standard massage guns to banish deep-set aches and pains. Sure enough, it worked wonders on our tester’s sore, knotted muscles. They even felt a difference after just one use. If you find a particularly tough knot, the bullet attachment lets you really target that, too. Each attachment has a different shape or density, designed for targeting muscles and knots in different intensities and locations on your body. Testers try out the various settings on each massage gun and rate them for how comfortable and effective they feel to use, and if they provide the desired level of power.Customization: A massage gun that offers more customization will be more versatile. Based on your needs, look for various head attachments or adjustable angles. Also, look for a range of speeds and levels.

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:Consider the battery life of the massage gun and weigh that against how long it takes to recharge the battery once it’s dead. Longer battery life is particularly useful if you plan to use the massage gun for extended sessions or multiple sessions between charges, like if you’re taking the device along for a running race. Some massagers, like the Bob & Brad C2 and Q2 Mini, feature fast-charging capabilities to reduce the time it takes to recharge. Ergonomics The PRO stands out from others on the market, due to its ergonomic grip and adjustable head, which allows you to apply the massager at different angles without tiring out your hand.

According to the user manual, you should expect up to four hours of continuous use from the Mighty Bliss before the battery dies. During testing, we got roughly half that, about two hours. Recharging took a respectable 60 minutes (and unlike most massagers, we were still able to use the gun during charging). That’s nearly identical to the far costlier Theragun Elite’s battery life and charge times. So all in all, the Mighty Bliss’ battery performance isn’t too bad.When deciding whether or not to use a massage gun, Costigan recommends performing a pre-test and post-test. “I focus on an area for a three- to five-minute period, going through ranges of motion or just holding it there,” she says. From there, you can remove the massage gun and slowly perform different range-of-motion exercises to see if the massage gun has helped the area or made it feel worse. This will help you understand whether to use a massage gun or give your body more time to heal on its own. How Much Should I Spend On A Massage Gun?