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Nowadays, it is common to be fascinated by seeing anyone using a massage gun. One good video about these devices is enough to make you ponder it for hours.
If you are looking for a good one for your needs, our step-by-step guide will help you understand how to choose a massage gun.
Not only, it’s a guide, but the terminologies that might confuse new customers are also explained. Additionally, under each heading, we have written a set of questions you can ask before proceeding to step one.
Price affects the choice of which massage gun you should buy more than anything else. Therefore, before discussing features, you should clearly understand your budget.
Although there is no general rule, we categorize all pistol massagers into three different price categories.
Most devices under $100 are from new Chinese brands. They usually offer many good features, but they are average. However, you may find a diamond in the rough with exceptional characteristics.
Although you will see a wide range of massagers in this category, most are not good. This category can prove helpful for beginner-level use and a basic level of massage.
This is the ideal price range for buying a message gun. Almost every type of massager is available in this price range, and many famous and new brands target this price category.
A good number, and currently, some of the best percussive massagers on the market, are in this price range. An exceptional feature in this category is the presence of many lightweight devices.
This price range is perfect for choosing a product for personal use and exceptional durability. Since the spectrum of this range is broad, we recommend that our users choose the median.
This category includes the industry leaders, flagships of top brands, and professional-grade percussion massagers. In addition to simple percussion, most handheld massagers in this category offer many unique features.
Moreover, customization options are available. We recommend this category to people who are looking for serious therapeutic devices. It is not a category for hobbyists.
There are two broad categories of people in terms of their purpose. The first is those who must choose a massage gun to improve their performance or require therapy for sciatica, tendonitis, and similar conditions.
We recommend using high-end devices for such people, as they will truly serve the purpose.
The second category is hobbyists. Most hobbyists don’t need to choose a massage gun for highly therapeutic purposes, so we recommend selecting an affordable massage gun.
If you fall under the category of serious buyers but don’t want to spend too much, you can still get many value options. However, such options will not meet your requirements.
Before moving to the next step, you should be crystal clear about your budget and the purpose.
Stall Force, Stroke length, and Speed are three core determinants of good percussion therapy. If these features are helpful, there is a guarantee that the massage will truly serve its purpose.
This is the amount of pressure needed to stall the motor of any given percussive massager.
This is measured in pounds force (you’ll notice we always abbreviate it as “lbs.”). A stronger motor will not stall easily when pressed hard on the body.
It’s crucial that when you choose a massage gun, it has at least 20 lbs.
We prefer going for those listed as having 30 pounds or more of stall force. This is because many cheap devices bearing the same title are listed as having only 10 lbs of stall force. Sorry, but those aren’t really offering percussive therapy, but vibration therapy.
The greater the stall force, the more potent the massage. Here are the values of stall force in correlation to mass.
| 20-30 lbs | 30-50 lbs | +50 lbs |
| For soft massage | Moderately intense massage (industry standard) | Highly intense massage |
So, now you should know how much stall force you need in your massage gun.
This is also known as the stroke length. It refers to how far the massage head will travel as the device vibrates.
The massage gun attachment hits the part of the body you’re trying to massage rather than just vibrating over it. With this one, the longer the length, the better the deep tissue massage punch you’ll feel.
For some people, longer amplitude punches get the job done much more effectively. For others, however, the frequency (percussions per minute) matters the most—think of what kind of feeling you refer to (light or hard kicking).
The stroke length effect will be as follows for two percussion massagers with the same stall force and speed.
| up to 12 mm | 13-16 mm | over 16 mm |
| Soft tissue therapy | Deep tissue massage (industry standard) | Highly beneficial, but rare |
Again, there are two types of speed: the number of speed options and the speed range.
How many speed options are good enough?
Generally, percussive massagers with more than three speed options are suitable for muscle therapy. However, keep in mind to sync the speed options with the two other basic options. Also, speed is not correlated with price but rather with individual massagers.
Look for at least 3 on the lower end, but you’ll probably need 4 or, at most, 5. Sometimes, however, it’s not surprising to find devices with over 15 speed options.
This is ridiculous. How many times do you think you’ll have to press the device’s button to find the right range?
Custom speed options are now available since we are moving towards more innovative percussive massagers. But such massagers are rare.
Another crucial thing most people ignore is the speed range. It can be expressed in RPM or PPM (Percussion per Minute), which can be different when referring to double-head massage guns.
Many expensive massagers offer great options, but the speed range is narrow. The most common speed range is from 1400 to 2800 percussions per minute. When we were researching how to pick a massage gun, we found one with an extremely broad range, from 100 to 5200 PPM!
There are no specific instructions for design. Always choose the design that enthralls you. It is important to select one that can help you massage hard-to-reach muscles, such as your lower back.
We found three types of designs after looking at all the top-selling massage guns on the market.
Such a design is a distinguishing feature of TheraGuns. Their percussion massagers, like the 4th and 5th Gen Pro and even the smallest Theragun Relief, are like this, with the expectation of their Mini.
Devices that try to imitate this brand have similar designs. The rotating arm feature is mostly part of this design.
The ergonomics of this design are supreme. You get many types of grips and easy access to difficult-to-percuss areas. But only a few massage guns offer such a design.
About 95% of these recovery tools have such a design. The ergonomics are also okay, but the best part is the diversity in the price range.
You can get a percussive massager anywhere from $50 to $400. HyperVolt Plus and Lifepro Sonic are currently leaders in this design class.
However, when studying the market on how to choose a massage gun, we found that Ekrin Athletics produces devices with a 15-degree angle handle. This reduces wrist stress when massaging muscles.
Massage guns with this design are not actually like Jigsaw, but their minimalistic versions. This design is an intermediate between standard handheld and triangular framework massagers.
TheraBody’s first two generations had such a design.
The ergonomics are extraordinary, with many of them offering rotating arm features as well. Such a design is rare but highly worthy.
Which design do other people choose?
About 70% of our readers choose the Standard Handheld with the 15-degree variation. This category’s “features vs. price ratio” is the best, with design playing a little role.
These factors affect your usage, but many of them determine the final purchase. These include:
Like any other gadget, people love to purchase lightweight products. Due to high demand, brands specifically emphasize lightweight devices.
Note:
We consider a handheld massager weighing between 1.5 lbs and 2.5 lbs suitable. Currently, Ekrin Kestrel, D5 Pro (Bob and Brad), and Theragun Prime are some of the best and effective lightweight massagers on the market.
However, we exclusively emphasize not neglecting other features just for lightweight and sleekness. Even if the weight is at the high end of the spectrum (i.e., 2.8 lbs Thera Pro), and all other features are brilliant, we recommend compromising the weight.
On the other hand, completely neglecting weight will not prove good results.
So, the advice is “Never overthink about the weight, just go with the standard options.“
Nothing can determine usability more than battery life. So, how to choose a massage gun in this area?
If a massager is capable enough to be called “Good,” its battery life is≥ 1.5 hours. We found Ekrin Athletics and KiCA massage guns with run times above 2 hours.
This means that you can do more full massage sessions without having to interrupt them because there is no battery left. Even if you do short sessions now and then, you won’t have to worry about recharging it every time after a percussive massage.
These days, only a few brands offer removable batteries with the option for you to buy spares.
Removable batteries are useful for portability and demanding use, but charging them requires much more time. On the other hand, non-removable batteries mostly charge very quickly.
Now, the question is how to choose a massage gun in terms of its battery. Whether it is removable or non-removable will depend on how continuously you need to use it.
For the same features, always go with a removable battery. But if you’re getting better price and features, there is no wrongdoing in choosing a non-retractable battery.
Noise is a crucial factor in choosing a good massage gun. It is measured in decibels (dB). Our categorization of massage gun noise levels will assist you in “how to pick a massage gun” correctly:
| Less than 50 dB | 50-60 dB | 60-70 dB | Greater than 70 dB |
| Very Quiet | Moderately Quiet | Standard and Acceptable | Loud |
Regular conversations are usually around 60 dB. Use this sound level guide to get an idea of how loud these sounds are.
Note: We consider noise a crucial factor, so we recommend avoiding massage guns higher than 70 dB.
We recommend less noisy sports massagers since you’re probably looking for something to use in the office or gym without drawing unnecessary attention.
The optimum noise level for us would be less than 65 dB, with 30 dB being the ambient sound in the room. Mini and small devices tend to be quieter than their full-sized counterparts, so this shouldn’t be a hassle.
The small device that surprised us the most was the KiCA 3, which has a maximum noise level of 30 dB; that’s extraordinary.
You might neglect attachments, but they can completely change your massaging experience.
Hence, some manufacturers offer you 10 or 14 attachments (all made of plastic), and not always the more attachments you get, the better the therapy.
Almost every good handheld massager has four or more attachments, which are made of different materials to make them softer. The shape of the attachment is selected depending on the size of the muscle and the desired intensity.
Before moving to the next section, select a massage gun with (at least) the following features:
| Feature | The right choice |
|---|---|
| Weight | Less than 3 lbs |
| Battery Life | At least 2 hours |
| Noise | 55-65 dB (max) |
| Attachments | Greater than 4 |
These features, besides being important, enhance your massaging experience. Percussion massagers in every price range have some luxury and convenience features.
Such features include:
Since most massage gun customers are gym enthusiasts, they must carry them from place to place. You also must bring it with you when traveling on a plane. Thus, portability possesses functional significance.
Most devices come with a case, making carrying them easier. Besides the case, design, weight, and battery life impact portability.
If you need to choose a massage gun to carry around, consider the factors above.
Percussion massagers are relatively new gadgets in the market; therefore, a warranty works like a charm to attract more people.
We recommend only those massage guns with at least one year of warranty.
The warranty has now become a brand-centered thing. Many brands even offer a lifetime warranty (i.e. Ekrin Athletics) for repair, which is excellent.
But remember, the warranty has nothing to do with the durability or normal wear of the massager.
These features make “Good Massage Guns” the best. High-end models usually allow many unique features, but many mid-range models also allow them.
Some unique features may include:
If any muscle massager has any of the previously listed features, then it is one step ahead of the others.
If you prefer a massager with exclusive features, choose the more personalized ones for you.
About 95% of users ignore this critical factor by purchasing a random product. However, we highly recommend against this mistake.
Whenever you think about “how to choose a massage gun, ” check the brand’s online presence, years in the industry, and overall value. Some of our favorite brands are:
Ekrin Athletics, Bob and Brad, LifePro Fitness, Hyperice, Theragun (TheraBody), KiCA…
In short, purchasing a percussive massager with fancy features but from non-reputable sellers will do more harm than good.
Practical Guide: Best Massage Gun Brands
When you know all the factors you must consider, follow these steps.
Yes, we know. It can be overwhelming to choose a massage gun these days, when there are so many devices advertising the best characteristics and fabulous results that you don’t know where to look.
To this day, no percussive massager has all the features mentioned above. All of them have some kind of drawbacks.
Instead of looking for perfect features, you should choose a massage gun for those that seem important to you.
For that reason, some devices are designed for the senior community, travellers, gym goers, runners, professional athletes, and so on.
Still, if you are confused, tell us your issue, and we’ll let you know how to pick a massage gun for your needs.
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.
Published on:
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Written by:
Luke Deszczulka
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