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In this Bob and Brad T2 review, we explore the successor to the Bob and Brad C2 massage gun – we got that device and reviewed it last year. This is another device from the two famous internet physical therapists.
Today, let’s see what this small Bob and Brad T2 massage gun offers.
Fact: Bob and Brad have over 4 million subscribers on their YouTube channel and have helped many people with practical advice. They have gone all-in on massage guns and have quite a few on Amazon.
| Feature | Bob and Brad T2 Specs |
|---|---|
| Stall Force | 44 lbs* |
| Stroke Length | 10 mm |
| Percussion range | 2000 – 3200 RPM |
| Speeds | 5 |
| Attachments | 5 included |
| Weight | 1.45 lbs |
| Noise (decibel) | 45 – 55 dB |
| Battery Life / Capacity | 3.5 hours / 2500 mAh |
| Pros | Well equipped Carrying case included Overall quality |
| Cons | Overstated amplitude Regular ergonomics Attachments tend to pop out |
| Current Price | Check it at Amazon.com |
Bob and Brad massage guns are what we would call “basic” – there’s little chance that you are going to drool over them for long. However, there’s a level of consistency that we like about them – they look and feel about the same.
For instance, it’s effortless to mistake the T2 model with the earlier C2 – even the X6 Pro isn’t very different either. We guess that Bob and Brad want their clientele to identify their product easily. Also, the focus may be more on what the device can do than what you can see.
The T2 has a familiar straight handle that makes a 90-degree turn at the top. It’s not necessarily a T-shape – more of an upside L than a T.
One consistency here is the rather short handle – unlike what you find with a Hypervolt, for example.
The materials used are more plastic than anything – but it looks and feels like durable plastic. It’s also well put together; there are no visible screws. It’s a mixture of glossy black and satin.
The combination is well thought out and may resonate well with many people. We think the T2 is more appealing than the C2. Unlike the C2, this one doesn’t have the ventilation sticking out at the top.
It comes in a sturdy, compact, and zippered carrying case. We found a charging cable, spare gaskets for the attachments, and a pretty awesome manual inside the case. The manual has information on the attachments, the device, and how to use it to massage different parts of your body.
Compactness is another consistency that Bob and Brad like to maintain with all their devices.
Like the C2, the T2 model measures 5.4 x 2.4 x 7.6 inches – that sounds like a mini massage gun, right? No, it’s not a mini massage gun, but we wouldn’t call it a full-sized massager either – something in between, maybe.
It weighs 1.45 pounds without an attachment and 1.57 pounds with a flat head attached. That is just about the perfect size and weight for a comfortable massage. It balances well with most of the weight in the handle.
This gun’s ergonomics aren’t great, but also not so bad.
For starters, even though it’s T-shaped, which we don’t like, for good reason – it puts a lot of strain on your wrist – the handle is oval-shaped rather than round-shaped. That means it’s more comfortable to hold.
We might say it’s similar to what Hyperice has done with their new devices. However, we know that Bob and Brad had this configuration first – think the C2. Even so, the T2 has the upper hand compared to the Hypervolts because it’s compact and weighs much less.
We also have to mention that because of this massage gun’s short handle and compact nature, massaging the lower back or mid-back (DIY) may not be easy. However, we like that part of the handle has good rubber to make the grip firm.
There is no rubber at the top or bottom of the handle. That complicates things for people who like to hold the device at the top or those who may hold the bottom when massaging the lower back.
We love how Taotronics (an alternative below) executed the rubber on the handle. Maybe Bob and Brad can borrow a thing or two.
Overall, we believe the T2 is a perfect size and weighs just enough to be a full-sized gun. However, it feels more like a revamped C2 than an all-new device.
Apart from minor configuration changes, this looks like the C2 2.0.
The controls couldn’t be more straightforward. This one has a one-button control instead of the main switch at the bottom of the handle, as we’ve seen with Hypervolts and many other devices.
The button works in the following way:
Just like we saw with the C2, the power button is inset. That means you won’t press it accidentally when pushing down the device to apply pressure. This is a practical solution to a common issue.
5 blue LEDs indicate speed, and 4 others at the bottom of the handle indicate the battery level.
Bob and Brad know what attachments you need to massage the whole body, so they included 5 nicely varied heads for this gun.
Let’s discuss them:
The mechanism for inserting the attachments is push-in. You won’t need a lot of force to push them in.
However, we encountered a bit of a problem using them. They tend to pop out. It happened too often, especially when we used higher speeds (for a few minutes).
Because of this, we can’t help but feel that the twist on/off system is better. We have seen it with Ekrin 365; the attachments lock on securely—a simple but effective solution.
In performance, we look at Amplitude (stroke length), Stall force, and Percussions Per Minute. How does the T2 rank here? Is it better than the previous C2 or the newer X6 Pro? Let’s find out!
The amplitude or stroke length is the distance the massage gun head covers as it percusses.
The T2 has an advertised stroke length of 10mm. We measured with our digital caliper, and the amplitude is indeed 10 mm (or 10.19 mm, on our device, to be precise).
Compared to the previous C2, this is already an improvement. The C2 had an 8mm amplitude. To put that into numbers, that is a 20% improvement in amplitude. This is the greatest difference between the C2 and the T2 models.
Having 8 mm, the C2 model made it to the mini massage gun category rather than the full-sized one. That said, 10 mm isn’t percussive territory either—it’s vibrational at best but still better than 8mm. This means you won’t get any percussive or punchy hits like in a Theragun or the D6 Pro (from Bob and Brad, too).
However, this is okay if you want a soothing massage or need to warm up the body for an exercise. It’s also good enough for muscle soreness relief, improving blood flow, and a general massage for most body parts.
Don’t expect this gun to hit deep into the muscle – especially not large muscles. That job is for massage guns with longer amplitudes – those can hit harder and penetrate deeper into the muscle tissue.
To compare, the earliest (first generation) Hypervolt had the same amplitude. The new guns have better amplitude – Hypervolt 2 has a 12 mm amplitude. We can also say that it has 50% less amplitude than Theragun or Achedaway Pro. Even the Theragun mini has a 12 mm amplitude.
Bob and Brad advertise the stall force for this gun as 44lbs. That is decent, even better than many guns we have seen before with this kind of stroke length. But is it really that strong?
Well, we tested it against guns with the same caliber, and we have to say it doesn’t feel like 44 lbs at all. We tested it against the Taotronics TA-PCA004 gun (one of the alternatives shown below), and it felt way stronger than this gun. Maybe this gun is slightly stronger than the previous C2 model but not as strong as the newer X6 Pro.
It stalls rather easily on lower gears. The resistance is slightly better when the speed is cranked up a notch. However, even at higher speeds, you can’t apply much pressure before it significantly slows down.
We also noticed that when it stalls, it takes about 2-3 seconds before it can start revving again. That differs from the Taotronics and Ekrin 365, which kick off immediately.
We still believe its stall force can serve about 80% of folks who need a massage gun. However, after seeing the specs, you can’t blame us for expecting more.
The advertised percussion range is 2000-3200 RPM. We measured with a digital laser tachometer, and the results were 2012-3113 RPM – pretty much the same.
It has 5-speed gears to go with that percussion range, which is fairly reasonable.
It’s a high-revving device, and we’re guessing that’s because of the low amplitude. That also means it can get pretty intense on higher gears, especially when gliding it over the skin.
A thing to keep in mind is that when you try to apply some more force, the speed will slow – the weak motor can’t handle a lot of pressure.
Bob and Brad’s massage guns have always been quiet, but most massage guns with similar amplitudes are rarely loud. For comparison, the T2 percussive therapy massager is a tad louder than the previous C2 model, but, again, a lower amplitude means a quieter motor.
Our dB meter gave us 54.4/58.2 dB for the first and last gear. That is decent enough, but we’ve seen quieter percussive massage guns.
The manufacturer’s specs say it’s quieter than our dB readings – they claim a minimum working noise of 45 dB.
But we guess it’s okay. We heard some rattling sound at the highest speed and vibrations in the holding hand, but nothing unusual.
The T2 massager has a 2600mAh capacity battery – which is reasonable and perfectly okay. They say the battery can last for 2 – 5 hours of continuous use, and we will not argue with that.
However, we must say that the battery time will depend on speed and the pressure applied during this continuous use. Expect the battery to drain out in 2-3 hours at higher speeds or when more pressure is applied.
Update: Bob and Brad have bumped the T2 percussive massager’s battery capacity. While our unit, from 2022, rocks a 2600 mAh battery, the current ones on sale sport a beefier 4000 mAh.
This means longer usage on a single charge, which is pretty awesome. However, keep in mind that the increased capacity might lead to slightly longer charging times.
Note: A big thanks to Jay for bringing this to our attention in the comments. It is much appreciated!
The battery isn’t removable like on the RecoverFun Pro or Achedaway Pro. There is a 10-minute auto-shutoff to prevent overheating (it gets hot when used for a while).
The battery charge is USB-C, a great convenience – better than wall chargers. You can charge it via a power bank.
This kind of setup screams entry-level all the way. That means it’s probably just good enough for everyday use at home. It will be good for folks just starting with massage guns and needing something basic.
It will also serve well;
But it’s probably not the best gun for:
Last we checked, it was priced at around $109 on Amazon. There was also a limited-time deal for 20% off, making it $87. It’s a fair price for this kind of massage gun. Check the current price at Amazon here.
This sounds like an amazing deal until you find better alternatives at a similar price. Even better, you can get a solid alternative at half that price.
The warranty here is 1 year – the bare minimum.
What’s new in the T2 hand-held massager model?
What stayed the same?
You will have to spend a little more on this one, but it’s worth every extra dollar.
For starters, the stall force is greater and better. It’s 40 lbs, which is actually 40 lbs and not just bait. The percussion range is similar here – which is a plus for Ekrin 365, but the other specs are better. It also feels more percussive, although the amplitude is more or less similar to the T2 model.
The handling is a massive advantage of the Ekrin 365 percussive massager over the ‘Bob and Brad’s’ T2. The ergonomics are way better here.
You could argue for different approaches, but the slanted handle sits better in your hand than the straight handle. Moreover, the Ekrin 365 handle is longer (for hard-to-reach body parts, such as the lower back) and thinner (for folks with small hands, especially females).
The T2 model may be elegant, but the Ekrin 365 feels more premium; the materials used are softer and feel nicer in quality. There is a USB-C-type charger here as well.
However, perhaps the major advantage is the attachment lock-in mechanism. The twist-to-secure option is better than push-in on the T2—the attachments don’t pop out on higher gears.
It’s safe to buy Ekrin 365 because you get a lifetime warranty compared to the 1-year warranty with the T2.
The Ekrin 365 normally costs $179, but you can use the MGA20 coupon for a 20% discount and get it for $143.20. That is about a third more than Bob and Brad T2, but it’s worth it.
MORE INFO: Read our hands-on Ekrin 365 Review for more details.
The Taotronics TT-004 is better executed than the Bob and Brad T2. However, what’s even better is that it’s about half the price of the T2!
In terms of size, the Taotronics looks slightly larger than the T2. The weight of the Taotronics is slightly higher at 1.65 pounds.
The handle is also slightly longer and, contrary to the T2, has rubber all over it to make the handling easier.
The body is also not just plastic like the T2; there are some metallic parts here and there that make it look rather stylish. The quality of the materials used is also better, which is ironic given the price!
Performance is also not so bad for a gun that costs so little. You get a 9 mm amplitude – 1 mm less than the T2 model, but more than enough stall force.
During our tests, we discovered that Taotronics was stronger than the T2. That happened during our test when pressure was applied. The Taotronics may stall, but it resumes revving instantly. The T2 needs a 2-3-second pause to resume.
The Taotronics also has one of the broadest percussion ranges we’ve seen—1000-3000 RPM, which is awesome! If only they did not overdo it with 20 speeds. Maybe it’s the wide range, but 20 speeds are a bit of an overstretch.
With this handheld massager, you get a dedicated charger, not just a USB-C (like in the Ekrin 365). It comes with a 1-year warranty like the Bob and Brad T2 massager.
The price is what makes this device a winner. It only costs $79.99, and when on sale, it can be as little as $29.99 – Now, that’s an incredible deal.
You can buy it in Taotronics’s store.
We bought several devices from them and always had a smooth shopping experience.
READ MORE: our hands-on the Taotronics TT-PCA004 review
Before we end our Bob and Brad T2 review, we have to note a few things;
So, if you love Bob and Brad, this is one gun that stays consistent with everything you love about their devices. However, we think that at this price point, it doesn’t represent the best value for money.
There are better alternatives that have similar (or often better) features and cost the same or even lower – the Taotronics massage gun is a great example.
Summary
The T2 is a decent, well-equipped massage gun for those looking for a starter massage gun. The design is good and it weighs just enough for anyone to feel comfortable using it. The 10mm amplitude is the biggest upgrade versus the previous C2, but the less than advertised stall force is a bit of a bother. Not the best value for the money out there, but a solid buy it if you love the Bob and Brad duo.
Here's a quick rundown of all the tweaks and edits we've made to this article to keep it accurate and up-to-date!
Current version.
February 5, 2024 New introduction text; a few minor content tweaks; changes to internal linking; removal of the Addsfit massager recommendation (no longer available). (Author: Greg)
September 26, 2023 Battery new capacity update. (Author: Luke)
Published on:
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Written by:
Luke Deszczulka
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