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If you’re looking to knock your aches and pains out of commission, you can do no better than the best percussion massager on the market.
Percussive therapy treatment [1] is a physical therapy consisting of repetitive, vibrational movements on your body’s muscle tissue to alleviate pain, break down lactic acid, and improve circulation.
With a beneficial tool like a massage gun, which delivers pulsating, vibrational movement to your muscles to alleviate tightness and pain, you can increase your athletic output with just a few minutes a day. Some massage guns have different attachments to get into those stubborn knots [2], and others have a long battery life or whisper-quiet performance.
Deep percussive movements shake the tension and ache right out of tight muscles or tendons, and the operational modes have different speeds – standard at 40 percussions per second and sensitive at 29. You don’t have to be a pro athlete or trainer to benefit from a massage gun because the intensities range for all athletic capabilities.
Here are the top percussion massager guns we tested so you can find the right tool for your health and wellness needs.
Best Overall Pick
Theragun G3PRO Percussive Therapy Device
- Adjustable arm for hard-to-reach spots
- One-handed usage
- Interchangeable heads for maximum variety
Our Favorite Picks for Percussion Massagers
- Theragun G3PRO Percussive Therapy Device
- Hyperice Hypervolt
- Achedaway Vibration And Percussion Massager
- Vybe Percussion Massage Gun
- Tim Tam All New Power Massager
- Rexbeti Massage Gun
- Sonic X Personal Percussion Massage Gun
- Wahl Deep Tissue Percussion Massager
- Sudilo Handheld Percussion Massage Gun
- JMADENQ Massage Gun Deep Tissue Percussion Electric Muscle Massager
Image | Product | Purchase |
---|---|---|
Best Overall Percussion Massager | Theragun G3PRO Percussive Therapy Device
| |
Quietest Device | Hyperice Hypervolt
| |
Best All-in-One Massage Gun | Sonic X Personal Percussion Massage Gun
|
Top 10 Best Percussion Massager Reviews
1. Best Overall Percussion Massager: Theragun G3PRO Percussive Therapy Device
Product Specifications and Features
- Max Force – 60 lbs.
- Weighs 3.1 lbs.
- 2 swappable batteries for a combined total of 150 minutes
- 2 speeds – standard and sensitive
- 6 interchangeable heads, carrying case, charging set-up
Efficiency
User Friendly
What we like
- Myofascial release in seconds
- Pinpoint muscle tension
- 40 or 29 PPS
What we don’t like
- Can be too loud for some
Description
The Theragun G3Pro sets the standard for best percussion massager in 2020. What is a percussion massager but an investment in your overall health and athletic achievement, as it delivers percussive therapy?
Six interchangeable massage heads provide a varied and in-depth wellness routine. Choose between a dampener, large ball, standard ball, wedge, and thumb cone for a whole-body application of percussion therapy.
The Theragun’s arm is adaptable, which means you can move it to better reach sore or out-of-reach areas like your upper back muscles. The arm articulates 175˚ for an epic amount of ergonomic reachability. The 1-touch trigger and a 30 mm stroke allows you to use this device easily on your own and still gain ultimate relaxation.
The interactive app takes the Theragun to the highest level of personal pulse percussion massage. With an enviable OLED screen, the app connects with other health apps to give you a big picture view of your health and progress. For this reason, the Theragun is the best percussion massager for athletes, consistently making the top spot in percussion massager reviews.
2. Quietest Device: Hyperice Hypervolt
Product Specifications and Features
- Weighs 2.5 lbs.
- 1 lithium polymer battery
- 3 hours of battery life
- 3 speed settings
- 5 attachments; AC/DC wall adaptor
Efficiency
User Friendly
What we like
- Quiet glide technology is state-of-the-art and whisper-quiet
- Delivers 3,200 percussions per minute
- 3-speed settings for varied intensity
What we don’t like
- Can be unwieldy for one-handed use
- Hard case sold separately
Description
The other big contender that consistently scores well on a percussion massager review is the Hyperice Hypervolt. With similar intensity and power of other best massage guns, the Hypervolt is extremely quiet and versatile. Not to mention, its also one of the best massage gun brands.
Hyperice listened to its customer base when it clamored for a quieter massage gun, and the Hypervolt delivers on this. If decibel emission is a major selling point, the Hypervolt – the quietest and most powerful device out there – is the perfect purchase.
The Hypervolt has quiet glide technology, which makes it usable in even the most public of places. The removable battery runs for a whopping 3 hours, much better than other contenders; the Hypervolt comes with 5 attachments, so it never finds a muscle knot it can’t relax.
Three speed variations let you choose how intense you want your massage session to be. The Hypervolt delivers an incredible percussive massage at the level of professional athletes.
If you’re considering a percussion vs vibration massager, you may not be sure which one is better for your needs/ Percussion massagers are similar to vibration massagers, but they are much more intense, almost 60% more intense than vibrations. Percussive therapy gets to the root of the issue by penetrating deep into the muscle fibers and relieving any tension there. A vibration massager relieves tension in the short-term, but may not work the muscles in a way that provides long-term relief.
3. Best For Sensitive Muscles: Achedaway Vibration And Percussion Massager
Product Specifications and Features
- Weighs 2.43 lbs.
- Rechargeable lithium-ion battery for 5 hours of run-time
- 5 power and speed settings
- 4 attachments for a variety of therapies
Efficiency
User Friendly
What we like
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Only emits at 30 to 50 decibels
- 50 lbs. of force
What we don’t like
- Not as powerful as other guns at a similar price point
Description
If you’re an athlete that wants to improve your performance, but you’ve also had sensitive muscles [3], this is the massage gun for you. The Achedaway Vibration and Percussion Massager, with an excellent array of speeds and modes, is perfect if you need to target some muscles with a certain intensity, but other muscles need a lighter touch.
The company provides guidelines for the 5 different intensities and speeds. The lowest is for waking up muscles, the middle eliminates lactic acid, and the highest power is for muscle recovery.
The charging dock and carrying case make this massage gun easy to charge up and take with you. If you’re on-the-go as a personal trainer or professional athlete, portability is a major factor. The battery will last for 5 hours so that you can use it for multiple therapy sessions.
Like many pro athletes, you can switch between the intensity and speeds to find your perfect combination for your sensitive muscles if you, like many pro athletes, have areas that are more sensitive than others.
4. Best Massager For Professionals: Vybe Percussion Massage Gun
Product Specifications and Features
- 2.5 lbs. weight makes it easy to lift and hold
- 2 hours of battery life with 2 lithium-ion batteries
- 6 speeds for wide variety of treatments
- 3 attachments – standard ball, small ball, and cone
Efficiency
User Friendly
What we like
- Intensity commensurate with higher-end products
- Comes with lightweight carrying case
- Fast-charging ability
What we don’t like
- Loud when operating
Description
The Vybe is an excellent product that isn’t as high-priced as other offerings of similar intensity. This deep-tissue percussion massager is a perfect companion for the serious athlete. A percussive massager can help release tension, speed recovery, and improve your athletic performance.
One of the most substantial assets of the Vybe, besides its low price point, is its variability and convenience. With 6 speeds and intensities ranging from 500 RPM for sensitive muscles to 2,400 RPM for a deeper massage, you can always find your perfect zone.
The head of the Vybe can rotate to different locked positions so that you can easily reach areas that are notoriously hard to get to, like your upper back. With the 3 other head options, you are sure to release the tension in any muscle knot. It charges quickly and stays powered for up to 5 hours so that you can have multiple massage sessions with a single charge.
5. Best Heated Massager: Tim Tam All New Power Massager
Product Specifications and Features
- Weighs 4 lbs.
- 1 lithium-ion battery provides 6 hours of use
- 2 speeds, both robust
- Multiple tips for varied purposes
Efficiency
User Friendly
What we like
- 2,000 strokes per minute
- 2 robust power modes
- More percussion, less vibration
- One-of-a-kind heated tip
What we don’t like
- Needs 2 hands to control it
- The battery may not charge effectively
Description
Lightweight and quiet, Tim Tam is one of the front-runners of massage gun therapy. It provides both vibration and percussive massage therapy to worn-out, tight, or achy muscles. It also has a patented, unique heating tip to allow even more access into those knots of tension.
Both power modes are robust, and the Tim Tam delivers a whopping 2,000 strokes per minute. The manufacturer guarantees that you can loosen even the most stubborn muscle knots within 60 seconds.
With that much power, it is sometimes hard to hold, especially in contorted positions. It makes up for this with its swiveling head that rotates 175° so you can get to the most hard-to-reach areas on your body.
The combination of the more percussive massage therapy, the undertones of vibration, and the one-of-a-kind heated tip create a well-rounded and effective trigger point massage. There is also a growing line of rubber tips that you can use with the heating feature to deliver even more powerful percussive therapy to your muscles.
6. Best Battery Life: Rexbeti Massage Gun
Product Specifications and Features
- Weighs 4.3 lbs.
- 1 rechargeable lithium battery for 6 to 8 hours of battery life
- 30 speeds for outstanding focused massage energy
- Comes with 10 heads and a carrying case
Efficiency
User Friendly
What we like
- Touchscreen for easy user interface
- Brushless and high-torque delivery
- So many combinations of heads and speeds
What we don’t like
- The battery may drain quickly
Description
If you’re the type of person who’s always forgetting to bring your phone charger, this is the massage gun for you. With an impressive battery lifespan and easy charging sessions, the Rexbeti is an excellent tool to boost your athletic performance and ease your recovery time without a lot of hassle.
With a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, the device has a life of 6 to 8 hours. The Rexbeti’s battery lifespan is much better than other massage guns on the market. On the easy-to-read touchscreen, you can switch between any of the 30 speed settings. The Rexbeti is quiet, only emitting 30 to 50 decibels of sound while in use.
It has a variety of heads to combine with the different speeds so you can create a focused, full-body recovery system with only 1 device. This is an incredibly useful device for personal trainers or athletic masseuses who are always on-the-go; it comes with a handy carrying case to make it even easier to transport.
Using this on your neck and shoulders can help reduce strain from sitting in front of your computer all day if you work from home. The attachments are perfect for relieving muscle tension in these areas.
7. Best All-In-One Massage Gun: Sonic X Personal Percussion Massage Gun
Product Specifications and Features
- Weighs 4.15 lbs.
- 1 lithium-Ion battery included for 5 hours battery life
- 5 levels of intensity
- 4 interchangeable heads and a carrying case
Efficiency
User Friendly
What we like
- 100% lifetime guarantee
- Delivers high-penetration vibrations
- Single-button control
What we don’t like
- Sometimes it’s difficult to hold a charge
Description
This is a great all-in-one device that delivers an above-average intensity in an ergonomically designed package. The simplicity, along with subtle details like a curved handle, makes the Sonic X a perfect massage gun for those who have many different issues or aims or for professionals who serve a range of clientele. Its variety is one of its strongest selling points.
The 4 interchangeable heads – prong, flat, round, and bullet – make it easy to target sore muscles and radically improve circulation. The prong is especially suitable for working tight muscles in the lower back area, while the bullet is beneficial for joints and joint health. The flat head is perfect for those areas that need a little more attention, and the round attachment is for all-around muscle and circulation health.
The on/off switch is logically placed and easy to use, and the curved handle lets you apply more or less pressure where you need it. Sonic X has an ultra-quiet design and a handy carrying case so that you can bring and use it anywhere.
8. Best Budget: Wahl Deep Tissue Percussion Massager
Product Specifications and Features
- Weighs 1.6 lbs.
- Runs with an electric cord
- Dial provides gentle to intense percussive therapy
- 4 different attachment heads
Efficiency
User Friendly
What we like
- Easy-to-use dial
- Use acupoint head to pinpoint specific knots or deep muscle for all-over comfort
- Light-to-deep penetrating vibrations
What we don’t like
- It is not cordless
Description
This percussion massager is an ideal choice for someone looking into ways to relieve tension and pain and boost their athletic performance quickly and easily and without putting a large dent in their budget.
The Wahl Percussion Massage Gun plugs into the wall and has a speed dial to adjust the intensity from gentle to intense vibration and percussion. The Wahl delivers 3,350 pulses per minute and has 4 attachment heads – flat disc, 4-finger flex, acupoint, and a deep muscle massager.
You will never have to worry about losing a charge in your massage gun since this model plugs into the wall and uses electrical current. Small and well-designed to fit comfortably in all sorts of hands, this massage gun can deliver the intensity of some of the most expensive guns without the price tag.
This model is specially designed for targeting tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, and arthritis issues, in addition to the traditional back, neck, and limb aches and pains. Chiropractors will love keeping one of these in every treatment room to break up stubborn knots in the shoulders and neck.
If you’re looking for a percussive massager that’s easy to wield, will not give you battery charging problems, and has the intensity of larger massage guns, the Wahl is a perfect choice for you.
9. Best For Very Sore Muscles: Sudilo Handheld Percussion Massage Gun
Product Specifications and Features
- Weighs 3.95 lbs.
- 2,800mAh, 24v lithium-ion rechargeable battery
- 30 variable settings
- 6 massage heads
Efficiency
User Friendly
What we like
- It takes 2 to 3 hours to charge
- Charge lasts 5 to 6 hours
- Comes with carrying case and charging station
- Gets rid of muscle knots, spasms, soreness, and fatigue
What we don’t like
- May get hot after 2-3 minutes of use
Description
If you’re a professional athlete or if your muscles are sorer than most from an extremely physical job occupation, the Sudilo is the massage gun you may need in your life. This is an excellent pick for athletic trainers [4] or professional masseuses because it has 30 settings to pinpoint problem areas.
Just as some people are tall and others are short, our muscles, specifically how they react after a heavy workout, are dissimilar. Some find that they have sorer muscles than other people, and need a massage gun with sublime sensitivity.
The 6 adaptors are great additions to your wellness regimen, and you’ll be able to use this device multiple times without having to recharge. Although it’s not very energy efficient, it holds a charge well, up to 6 hours, after 2 to 3 hours of charging.
A powerful and silent motor helps you find the relief you need, especially if you have incredibly sore or overworked muscles. The Sodilu brings a level of intensity to your post-workout recovery that can help you boost your performance the next time you work out. It can get to the deepest and tightest muscle knots to help you recover faster.
10. Best Deep Tissue Massager: JMADENQ Massage Gun Deep Tissue Percussion Electric Muscle Massager
Product Specifications and Features
- Weighs 2.3 lbs.
- 3 rechargeable lithium-ion battery packs
- Features 6 adjustable speeds
- 4 attachment heads
Efficiency
User Friendly
What we like
- Decibel levels of only 40 to 55
- LED lights indicate the intensity level
- Easy-to-use 1-button system
What we don’t like
- Sometimes battery won’t charge
Description
If you like to get into your muscle knots with a massage gun quickly and easily, this is the product for you. With multiple ventilation holes, the JMADENQ Massage Gun does not overheat. It also has ventilation holes on the specially designed handle to ensure that the motor’s service life is extended.
The handle is designed in such a way to minimize vibrations in it, so your hand won’t get too tired as you are using the massage gun on your achy muscles. Often, when you hold onto a device that is vibrating at high speeds, your hand’s muscles and tendons can start to feel strange after a few minutes. The JMADENQ Massage Gun is specifically engineered to avoid muscle and hand fatigue while in use.
With 4 attachment heads and 6 speed variations, you can quickly hone your recovery practice to relieve specific aches and pains. It also can last a long time between charges, as it comes with 3 ion battery packs. Charge up all 3, and you are set for up to 18 hours of massage therapy time.
Conclusion
With its adjustable arm, interchangeable heads, and impressive intensity, the Theragun G3PRO is a unique percussive therapy massage gun. The aspects that stood out to us are the adjustable arm, the intensity of the G3PRO’s power, and the excellent attachment heads.
Theragun has made the G3PRO 50% quieter than its predecessor, the G2PRO. Even though it is quieter, it still is a reasonably noisy machine, so if the amount of decibels the device emits is a crucial feature, you need to take that into account.
Regularly used as a chiropractic percussion tool and a professional percussion massager, the Theragun exceeds expectations in adaptability, intuitive user interface, and overall ergonomic design. And the Theragun helps you achieve your expectations in record time.
Best Overall Pick
Theragun G3PRO Percussive Therapy Device
Percussion Massager Overview
The 3 most important expectations of your percussion massager are battery life, intensity, and noise. These 3 elements will determine if and when you use your percussive massager for healing and recovery. Other additional benefits of percussion massagers are different attachments, ease of use, and portability.
Battery Life
How long your massager can last on a single charge plays a big part in how easy and convenient the device is to use. Most massage guns are wireless (although if you’re looking for the convenience of a plug-in device, there are some quality offerings out there) and have rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. The top contenders usually will hold a charge for 4 to 6 hours, and some that boast exceptional battery life can hold a charge for 8.
Percussion Intensity
How powerful your massage gun is depends on the different speeds and operational modes. Many massage guns are geared towards professional athletes or athletic trainers, and they’re meant to deliver powerful percussive massages. Massage guns can help break up scar tissue and muscle knots, increase circulation, and improve your athletic performance and recovery over time.
Because of these benefits, more chiropractors are using percussion massagers to help loosen up knots in the muscles after adjusting their patients.
Noise Level
How loud your massage gun is will also directly affect how often you use it. If you live alone and noise is not an issue, this factor does not mean much. However, if you consistently use your massage therapy device at the gym or the office after a workout, you may want to make sure that the device you purchase has a decibel level within 20 to 50 decibels to make sure it is not too loud.
Some massage gun manufacturers make a point of producing whisper-quiet devices so you can use them in the same room as a sleeping baby without disturbing them. Others focus more on innovative apps and wireless capabilities.
Attachments
Many percussive therapy massagers come with various attachment heads to focus the vibrational therapy on particular sets of muscles. Some massagers have a flat disc for deep-tissue massage, small and larger balls to break up muscle knots, or cones to pinpoint sore and achy muscles.
The more attachment heads, the more focused your recuperation therapy can be. Along with the variety of attachment heads, it’s crucial that you can easily switch them out. There’s no use in having many attachment heads if you’re unable to switch them comfortably.
Ease Of Use
How easy or difficult the therapy gun is to hold in your hand can make a big difference in whether you use it regularly to support muscle and circulatory health.
Some handles are made of moldable silicone to ease your grip, whereas other devices are more lightweight to reduce fatigue while in use. If your massage gun is too heavy, you won’t be able to wield it to take care of your shoulders. If one-handed use is important to you, you need to grip and hold the massage gun comfortably.
Check the weight of the device you’re interested in to make sure you can easily hoist it and get to those hard-to-reach areas like your upper back. Additionally, some tools, like the Theragun G3PRO, have adjustable arms with multiple angles so that you can change the angle to suit your sore muscles best.
Some massage guns have ventilation holes to make sure that the device doesn’t overheat during usage. Look for ergonomically designed handles, lightweight materials, and ventilation features to ensure that the massage gun doesn’t get too hot when you’re holding it.
Device Portability
If you’re always on-the-go, including before and after your workouts, you need to consider portability as a factor when you’re looking into buying a massage gun. Does it come with a carrying case? Do the charging station and attachments fit easily into the case, which has a strap?
These questions, especially if you’re a personal trainer or athlete, can make or break your decision to buy a particular massage gun. If you need to use the device in public or are often on-the-go, it’s not just about the intensity of attachment heads. You will also need to consider decibel emission and portability.
A massage gun is an excellent contribution to your wellness routine. Studies have shown that percussive therapy goes deep and works effectively to unknot muscles, improve circulation, and boost your athletic performance. If you’re a professional athlete or trainer or are interested in improving your physical therapy, a massage gun could be as important as the right set of sneakers.