5 Editor-Tested Massage Guns We Love for Muscle Recovery

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REST AND RECOVERY are critical parts of training for athletes and fitness buffs alike—and massage guns are at the forefront of at-home athletic recovery. Not only can massage guns help relieve sore muscles, but they can actually help improve circulation and mitigate stiffness after tough workouts. They're more compact than foam rollers, and pack way more of a punch when it comes to targeting your muscles. (If it's your neck that's giving you issues in particular, check out our best neck massagers.)

But let's be real: The massage gun market has become totally saturated. And with so many options out there, it's hard to decipher which ones are actually worth your hard-earned cash. (Although if you really want to save some dough, you can attempt to turn a jigsaw into your very own massage gun. This guy did.)

Best Massage Guns of 2024

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With specific recovery routines and preferences in mind, the below list of massage guns represents some of the best options on the market right now—including a deep dive into our favorite models from Theragun and Hyperice, the two most popular massage gun brands out there.

Discover why we love each percussion massage gun model below, then keep scrolling to read advice from our experts on what to look for and the best practices for use.

Why Use a Percussion Massage Gun?

Renato Sanchez, PT, DPT, C.S.C.S., a physical therapist from Bespoke Treatments San Diego recommends first asking yourself why you’re considering a massage gun in the first place.

"What are you looking to get out of one? Is it for recovery, pain relief, or helping you reach your fitness goals? If you answered yes to any of those, then you might be a good candidate to add one to your shopping cart," he explains.

"There’s plenty of research to show massage guns have the ability to increase mobility, decrease pain and soreness, and improve overall performance. It won’t be the fix-all tool to dramatically improve your health, but it will be a valuable supplement to your routine," adds Sanchez.

"Massage guns can be used as an alternative to the foam roller as a self-myofascial release tool," says Pham. He notes that benefits include everything from decreased stress, pain and tissue tension to enhanced recovery, blood circulation and range of motion.

"You can use it pre-workout to warm up the muscles and post-workout to decrease tightness and soreness," adds Pham.

What to Look For in a Percussion Massage Gun

To learn more about what to look for in a massage gun, we spoke with Vinh Pham, PT, a physical therapist and the founder of Myodetox, a manual therapy and movement clinic with locations in Canada and the U.S..

According to Pham, the three most important things are reliability, noise, and battery life. “I need something that I know is well-made and won’t malfunction during operation, especially because I’m using it on injured athletes. Noise is the next most important factor. I need to be able to talk to my athletes over the noise of the gun without yelling at them.”

Noise

Keeping treatment quiet is a major priority. “Personally, noise to me is number one,” says Pham. “I want to be able to use the massage guns in public, and having it sound like a power tool would make it unusable.”

Battery Life

Next up is battery life, as PTs and athletes can’t have guns dying in the middle of treatment. Pham says that he expects a massage gun to last several full days without requiring a charge. “You’ll also want to be able to throw the gun in your bag or take it on a weekend trip without worrying about finding an outlet,” he says.

Reliability

Pham notes that reliability is still key and that it’s worth investing in a legitimate brand with high-quality standards rather than a knockoff. “Be prepared to spend at least $250 to $350 for a quality product,” he says. “I would be very suspect of guns in the $100 range.”

Power and Speed

Sufficient power and speed is essential to effectively penetrate the muscles and promote blood flow. Look for a massage gun with a high percussive force and adjustable speed settings so you can deliver adequate force to different muscles.

Attachments

Different attachments can provide different massage techniques and sensations that may be suitable for different muscles. Look for a massage gun that comes with a variety of attachments to target different muscle groups and areas of the body.

Size and Weight

A portable and lightweight massage gun is ideal, especially if you plan to use it on the go or travel with it. Consider the weight, size, and the case included.

Additional Accessories

Of course, even the best guns leave room for improvement. Some options come with convenient travel cases and charging stands—something Pham would like to see more products offer. He also mentions that dishwasher-safe attachment heads would make for easier cleaning. And, as the market continues to progress, he hopes for smaller (yet still powerful) designs and Bluetooth app integration.

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How We Tested and Selected the Best Massage Guns

For the past two years, Men's Health fitness editors and writers have been testing the top percussion massage guns for post-workout recovery. Experts including MH Fitness Director Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S. and Senior Fitness Editor Brett Williams, NASM, and Fitness and Commerce Editor Talene Appleton, NASM, began the massage gun testing process by using the best massage guns from the two major brands we see most credible in the industry for a minimum of one month: Therabody and Hyperice. Following that, we branched out to test top-rated massage guns from other brands, including six budget models. When evaluating each device over the course of at least one month with three to four sessions per week, we looked at factors like durability, effectiveness, and portability. We also considered price point, as many massage guns pack a better overall value than others.

Theragun PRO

Theragun's latest model is a humdinger. The 4th generation Theragun PRO includes a 300-minute battery life, a rotating arm, and a multi-grip handle that makes hard-to-reach areas more accessible for me. With four different arm positions and six attachments, plus five different percussion settings with up to 60 pounds of force, this massager leaves nothing to be desired. It's not too heavy, not too light, and a unique design that allows me to change up my grip however I wish.

This device is a favorite of Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S., MH Fitness Director. "Partly because I have such fine control of the settings. It’s also well-weighted, which is why it’s one of the first devices that lets me comfortably treat my upper back."

Unlike other Thergaun models, the Pro also has 'smart' capabilities with the Therabody app, which allows users to track progress and data with Bluetooth connectivity. Last but not least, it has an OLED screen complete with a force meter, so I can keep an eye on exactly how much oomph I'm targeting my muscles with.

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Theragun mini

As a person who leads a busy, on-the-go lifestyle and travels a lot, I've never utilized a massage gun as much as this compact one. It's scaled-down size and lightweight design make it practical to chuck in my carry-on, purse, or gym/work bag, so I bring it out of the house with me nearly every day.

Despite its smaller stature, this massage gun's performance stands out, delivering a powerful massage experience that's comparable to its larger counterparts. It weighs less than 1.5 pounds, has 150 minutes of battery life, three different speed settings, and three attachment heads, so you're not missing out on much that bigger models may offer. I will say, however, it does deliver a slightly more surface level massage than the Theragun PRO (which I used before acquiring the Mini). That being said, the power and depth offered by the Mini is plenty for most people to reap the benefits of percussion therapy.

"This is hands-down my favorite massage gun. It’s small enough that I can travel with it anywhere, and despite its odd shape, I find it easy to hold and use," says Samuel. "It’s my go-to for loosening chest and IT bands."

My only qualm with this thing is that it's noise level is a limited factor in terms of where I actually use it. It's compact and lightweight enough to bring on-the-go, but it's definitely not quiet enough to use in a quiet office setting, for example.

Read more: Theragun Mini Review

Hypervolt 2

The Hypervolt 2 isn't the most high-powered massager in Hyperice's Hypervolt line (that would be the Hypervolt 2 Pro), but I actually prefer it for a number of reasons.

Let's get one thing straight: power isn't all it's cracked up to be in the world of massage guns. Yes, the device needs to deliver enough power to get into the muscle tissue, but the threshold for how much power that actually requires is not much for most people. Plus, more powerful massagers tend to be heavy, which impacts how comfortable it is to use. For me, that's a deal breaker.

This lightweight device weighs only 2.5 pounds, so it won't sit like a rock in your gym bag (or make your arms quake post-upper body lift). It has three different percussion speeds and five different head attachments to vary your experience, so it's nearly just as customizable as more premium models (you get two more percussion speed settings with the Hypervolt 2 Pro). Best of all, the motor on this machine is extremely quiet, which allows me to use it more often and conveniently.

You won’t find a more accessible massage gun than the Hypervolt 2, according to Samuel. "I got my parents one of these because of how simple and comfortable it is to use. The dial is easy to adjust and gives them the feedback they need (power, battery life) without overwhelming with info."

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PulseTech Percussion Therapy Gun

This massage gun from NordicTrack retails for $179 on the brand's site, which makes the $34 price tag on Amazon nearly unbelievable. With four interchangeable massage heads and five speed settings, this sub-$40 device competes with the likes of Hyperice and Therabody for pennies on the dollar.

Featuring a sleek and ergonomic design, this massage gun feels comfortable and manageable in my hand targeting everything from my traps to calves. The motor is powerful, delivering a massage that falls somewhere between the Hypervolt 2 and the Theragun PRO in terms of intensity.

Its battery life also impressed me, requiring a charge for the first time after nearly two weeks of using it once every two days. Whether you're looking for an entry-level massage gun to test the waters or want to purchase a spare to leave at a S/O's apartment or the office, this one is a no brainer in terms of overall value.

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Fixx 2.0

This powerful massager has a reach-friendly angled, multi-grip handle that makes reaching hard-to-reach areas more accessible and comfortable. Even better, it's one of the only massage guns we've tested that has a fully adjustable head angle. Further than grip alone, you can fine-tune your experience and accommodate your own mobility and preferences by adjusting the head to perfectly target your muscles.

It's easy to use, and comes with four different massage heads to target different muscle groups. The device also three different speed settings and a rechargeable battery, which provides up to 90 minutes of use on a single charge. It also delivers up to 3,200 percussions per minute, meaning it's a good option if power is towards the top of your massage gun 'must haves' list.

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How to Use a Percussion Massage Gun

You don’t want to spend hours up hours using your massage gun. Instead, you’ll want to spend 90-120 seconds on any given muscle group, floating the gun across that area, according to Samuel. "Aim to follow the direction of the muscle fibers. That means running your gun across your chest, from the center toward you shoulder, instead of running it up and down your chest."

But be mindful to not run your massage gun across joints; you want to keep it focused on the soft tissue only.

"And don’t try to aggressively drive the gun deep into the muscle, expecting more 'relief.' Using a massage gun shouldn’t hurt," explains Samuel.

Want to learn more on how you should be using one of these buzzy tools? Check out our how-to-use massage guns guide for instructions for best practices before, during, and after workouts.

Can a Massage Gun Really Aid Muscle Recovery?

Massage guns have gained a lot of popularity in recent years as a tool for muscle recovery, but do they really work? The blunt answer is they can. But it all depends on how, when, and where you use them.

These massagers offer rapid, percussive strokes designed to penetrate into the muscle tissue, stimulate blood flow, and help to break up adhesions. The research on the effectiveness of massage guns for muscle recovery is promising, but still limited.

A study published in the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research found that using a massage gun on the quadriceps muscles after exercise resulted in a significant reduction in muscle soreness and an increase in muscle flexibility compared to a control group. Another study found that using a massage gun after exercise improved blood flow to the muscles and reduced muscle fatigue.

So, they can help with muscle soreness with correct use, but shouldn't be used as a replacement for other recovery methods such as rest, proper nutrition, active stretching and dynamic mobility work.

How to Target Hard-to-Reach Areas with a Percussion Massage Gun

We asked Sanchez how folks can get to those hard-to-reach areas with their massage guns. Here's his take:

"Massage guns mainly target superficial muscles making it hard to isolate deeper musculature. Therefore, yes, the location of muscles can impact the effectiveness of this modality.

There are various types of massage guns out there, if you’re in the market for one make sure to do proper research. I think it’s safe to say the majority of people can reach the front side of their bodies using a massage gun, but you’ll need decent shoulder mobility if you’re looking to target the mid and low back. That’s when you’d want to get a massage gun that is more ergonomic or can be adjusted.

If mobility is a limiting factor you may consider trading the massage gun for a lacrosse ball for pin point contact. Sometimes you might just be better off asking a friend, what’s the saying…I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine?"

Why You Can Trust Us

At Men's Health, we take great pride in providing our readers with reliable and trustworthy product recommendations. We believe that our readers deserve the best, which is why we always make sure to conduct thorough research and testing before making any recommendations. For this story, we spent hours researching the top-rated massage guns online and testing 8 out of the 10 listed above. We also interviewed experts including physical therapists Vinh Pham and Renato Sanchez.

Our writers and editors are also experts in their own right, using their informed opinions to select products and ensuring that our content is of the highest quality. Our product recommendations are purely editorial, and while we may receive free products to test and review, we only recommend the products we are most impressed by. We never let retailers or public relations contacts dictate our content or product coverage, which is why you can trust us to provide you with reliable and unbiased product recommendations.

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