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The Bob and Brad Air 2 Massage Gun costs half as much as the Theragun Mini — and it's just as good
Who knew a triangle was the secret to relieving sore muscles?
Wouldn't a massage feel great right about now? Granted, if you want the full-body experience, you'll need a therapist, but for quick, targeted muscle relief, grab a gun — a massage gun, natch. There are dozens upon dozens of models to choose from, so why consider the new Bob and Brad Air 2? Because it's a dead ringer for the distinctive, top-rated Theragun Mini.
During my recent testing of the best massage guns, I found another Bob and Brad product, the D6 Pro, an excellent alternative to the Theragun Pro. Similar design, same power, less than half the price. It's mostly the same story with the Air 2 — but is it every bit as good as the Theragun Mini (which also made that "best" list)? Here's my Bob and Brad Air 2 review.
VERDICT: If you want powerful muscle relief from a compact massager, the Air 2 matches the Theragun Mini in almost every way — but is far more affordable. It's an excellent alternative.
- Priced under $100
- Powerful
- Includes 5 attachments and carrying case
- Detailed user guide
- Design less comfortable than gun-shaped massagers
- No companion app
Massage gun? More like massage triangle. I'll admit I don't fully understand the thinking behind this design, because it's a lot easier to hold a traditional gun-shaped massager. Here you have to clamp your hand over the outside edge, and while that's not uncomfortable, per se, it's a bit awkward.
The Air 2 is a hair larger and heavier (1.25 pounds) than the Theragun Mini (1.1 pounds), but the differences are barely noticeable when you're using them. The Air 2 makes a bit more noise as well, though not so much as to be distracting.
It couldn't be much simpler to operate: Just charge it via USB-C (Bob and Brad supplies a cord but no AC adapter, same as Theragun), then press and hold the power button to turn it on. There are three available speeds; quick-pressing that same button toggles between them.
Bob and Brad's massager matches the Mini in one key area: amplitude. They both provide a 12mm stroke length, which translates to a pretty powerful punch without having to exert much pressure. A lot of mini massagers top out at 6-8mm amplitude.
But where the Mini comes with just three massage heads, the Air 2 includes five — plus a spacious carrying case to hold everything. Theragun's soft-sided case offers limited protection for the Mini itself and no space for even a single extra head.
I like the included instruction guide, which provides simple, illustrated instructions for massaging various parts of the body: what head to use, what motion and for how long.
However, Theragun wins the "instruction" round thanks to its companion app, which can actually pair to the Mini to control speeds while you follow along with instructional videos. I'm not sure that's worth another $110, but it's a feature I definitely like.
Speaking of price, the Theragun Mini lists for $200; you can pick up an Air 2 for just $90. Should you? If you want a powerful mini massager and like the triangular design, this is a pretty simple decision: The Air 2 rivals or exceeds the Mini in most ways, and for considerably less money. Between the two, there's no question which one I'd pick.
