How To Choose A Massage Gun

How to Choose a Massage Gun? 6 Key Factors to Consider

Nowadays, it is common to be fascinated by seeing anyone using a massage gun. One good video about percussion massagers is enough to make you ponder it for hours.

If you are looking for a good percussive massager, our step-by-step guide will help you choose the right one.

A Laptop on the background showing a review comparison of two different massage guns
Our team working on a percussive massager review.

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 that you can ask before proceeding to step one.



6 Key Factors to Consider


Price with Purpose

The price affects the choice of a good percussive massager more than anything else. Therefore, before discussing features, you should clearly understand your budget.

Although there is no general rule, we categorize all handheld massagers into three different price categories.


Massage Guns Under $100

Most handheld massagers under $100 are from new Chinese brands. These percussion massagers offer many good but mostly average features. However, some features could be exceptional. 

Although you will see a vast range of percussion massagers in this range, most are not good. This category can prove useful for beginner-level use and a basic level of massage.


Massage Guns Between $100-350

This is the ideal category for buying a handheld massager . In this price range, you will get almost every type of massager. Many famous and new brands target this price category. 

A good number, and currently, some of the best percussive massagers in the market, are in this price range. An exceptional feature in this category is the presence of many lightweight percussive massager.

For personal use and exceptional durability, this price range is perfect. Since the spectrum of this range is broad, we recommend our users choose the median of this range.


Massage Guns Above $350

The industry leaders, top brands flagships, and professional-grade percussion massagers are in this category. Besides simple percussion, most handheld massagers in this category also 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.


What is the Purpose

There are two broad categories of people in terms of their purpose. The first one is those who want to improve their performance or need therapy for sciatica, tendonitis, and similar conditions. We recommend using high-end devices for such people, as they will truly serve the purpose.

Photos of Athletes who use Theraguns
Just the first 12 of the list… impressive!

The second category is hobbyists. In most cases, hobbyists don’t need a percussive massager for highly therapeutic purposes. In such cases, we recommend choosing 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 (with things mentioned earlier).


Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a Massage Gun

Stall Force, Stroke length, and Speed are three core determiners of good percussion therapy. If these features are useful, there is a guarantee that massage will truly serve its purpose.


Stall Force

Many people also call it the “percussion force.” It is the amount of force the motor can apply before it stalls [stop]. It is measured in pounds. 

a theragun pro stall in the air while showing a percussive wave created on the surface below
60 lbs of Stall Force

The greater the stall force, the more potent the massage. Keeping the stroke length and Speed the same, here are the values of stall force in correlation to massage.

20-30 lbs30-50 lbs50+ lbs
For soft massageModerately intense massage
(industry standard)
Highly intense massage
Handheld Massager – Stall Force Classification

So, now you should know how much stall force you need in your massage gun.


Stroke Length

An alternate term for stroke length is amplitude. “It is the number of millimeters the head of a massage gun can move back and forth.

Previously, it had a more significant impact on deep tissue massage. However, since brands are making it a constant factor, its significance keeps declining.

The stroke length effect will be as follows for two percussion massagers working at the same stall force and speed.

up to 13 mm13-16 mmover 16 mm
Soft tissue therapyDeep tissue massage
(industry standard)
Highly beneficial, but rare
Handheld Massager – Stroke Length Classification

You will not find high diversity in the stroke length. Thus, there is no need to worry about choosing this.

A Theragun Pro G5 laying on a table and a digital calliper measuring its Amplitude
Theragun Pro has a 16 mm stroke length and up to 60 lbs stall force.

Speed

In speed, you again have two types of speed. The first is the number of speed options you get, and the second is the speed range. 

Generally, percussive massagers with more than three-speed options are suitable for muscle therapy. But keep in mind to sync the speed options with the two other basic options. Also, speed is not correlated with price, preferably with individual massagers. 

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. On the features chart, massage gun brands mention the speed range in PPM or PPS (Percussion per Minute/Second).

a digital device measuring with a laser the percussions of the Ekrin B37s Percussions massager
Ekrin B37S – RPM measurement using a digital device with a laser.

It is seen that many expensive massagers offer great options, but the range of speed is narrow. The standard Speed range is from 1400-2800 percussions per minute.

At the end of this section, you should be clear about the stall force that will suit you. For stall force and speed, standard options usually perform brilliantly.


Design & Ergonomics

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 muscles that are hard-to reach, such as your lower back.

We found three types of designs after looking at all the top-selling massage guns currently in the market.

  1. Triangular Framework
  2. Standard Handheld massager
  3. Jigsaw Frame
a side by side Massage Gun comparison - frame designs

Triangular Framework

Such a design is a distinguishing feature of TheraGuns. Percussion massagers like 4th and 5th Generation Pro and all other popular Therabody massage guns have this type of design.

Also, devices that tried to imitate Theragun have such a design. The rotating arm feature is mostly part of this design. 

The ergonomics of this design are supreme. You get many types of grip and easy access to difficult-to-percuss areas. But only a few massage guns offer such a design.


Jigsaw Frame

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 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.


Standard Handheld Massager

About 95% of all massage guns have such a design. Ergonomics are also excellent. 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.


Which design do other people choose?

About 70% of our readers choose the third category: Standard Handheld. This is because this category’s “features vs. price ratio” is the best (solely design played a little role).


Features that Determine Usage

These factors affect your usage, but many of them actually determine the final purchase of the massage gun. These include:


Weight

Like any other gadget, people love to purchase lightweight products. Due to high demand, brands specifically emphasize weight.

Note:
We consider a handheld massager weighing between 1.5 lbs and 3.0 lbs suitable. Currently, Ekrin Kestrel, D5 Pro (Bob and Brad), and Theragun Prime are some of the lightweight massage guns 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., 3.0 lbs, 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.


Battery Life

Nothing can determine usability more than battery life. The massagers capable enough to be called “Good” have battery life ≥ 2 hours. Tim Tam’s massage guns are an exception to this rule.


Which Battery to Choose: Removable or Non-Removable?

About 50% of all massage guns have removable batteries, and few of them offer additional batteries. Removable batteries are useful from a portability aspect, but at the same time, charging them requires a lot more time. On the other hand, non-removable batteries mostly charge very quickly.

Now the question is which one to choose, either removable or non-removable. So, the answer is:

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.

recoverfun plus removable battery

Noise

Noise is one crucial factor in choosing a good massage gun. It is measured in decibels (dB). Our categorization of noise level for massage guns is as follows.

Less than 50 dB50-60 dB60-70 dBGreater than 70 dB
Very QuietModerately QuietStandard and AcceptableLoud
Handheld massager – Noise Classification

Regular conversations are usually around 60 dB. To get an idea of how loud these sounds are, use this sound Level guide.

Note: We consider noise a crucial factor, so we recommend avoiding massage guns higher than 70 dB.


Attachments

You might neglect attachments, but they can completely change your massaging experience. Hence, the more attachments you get, the better the therapy you enjoy. Almost every good handheld massager will have four or more attachments.

opove m3 pro massage gun attachments and pouch
Opove M3 Pro attachments set.

Moving Next?

Before moving to the next section, select the percussive massager with (at least) the following features.

FeatureThe right choice
WeightLess than 3 lbs
Battery LifeAt least 2 hours
Noise55-65 dB (max)
AttachmentsGreater than 4

Convenience and Luxury

These features, besides being important, enhance your massaging experience. Percussion massagers in every price range have some luxury and convenience features.

Such features include:


Portability

Since most massage gun customers are gym enthusiasts, they must carry their massagers from place to place. You also want to keep your massager with you while traveling. Thus, portability possesses functional significance. 

Most massage guns come with a case, making carrying them easier. Besides the case, design, weight, and battery life impact portability. 

So, if you want to choose a portable massage gun, prefer the previously mentioned factors accordingly.

Ekrin Bantam And Attachments Protective Case
Bantam inside the carrying case.

Warranty

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) for repair, which is excellent. But remember, the warranty has nothing to do with the durability of the massager.


Unique Features

It is these features that make “Good Massage Guns” the best. Usually, high-end, but many mid-rangers also allow many unique features.

Some of the unique features include app control, Bluetooth options, pressure sensors, vibration, and heat therapy. If any percussive massager has any of the previously listed features, it is one step ahead of others.

If you prefer a massager with exclusive features, choose the more personalized ones for you.

Theragun Mini Custom Speed Setting Via Therabody App
Theragun mini and its’ Bluetooth App.

Brand Reputation

About 95% of users ignore this thing by purchasing some random product. But we highly recommend not making this mistake. 

Whenever you think of purchasing a massage gun, make sure to 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), Opove

In short, purchasing a percussive massager with fancy features but from non-reputable sellers will do more harm than good.

Useful Guide: Best Massage Gun Brands


Finalize your Selection

When you know all the factors that you need to consider, follow these steps. 

  • Select three massage guns from each price range (prefer those with a better design).
  • Scrutinize each one of them (start from basic features).
  • If you are confused between two options, simply prefer the one that will be convenient for you.
  • Make your selection.

Closing Thoughts

To this day, no percussive massager has all the features mentioned above. All of them have some kind of drawbacks. 

It is better that instead of looking for perfect features, you prefer those that seem decent to you. Still, if you are confused, tell us your issue, and we’ll help you choose a good massage gun.   

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luke massagegunadvice

Luke Deszczulka

luke massagegunadvice
Luke Deszczulka

Hi! I'm Luke, a Biomedical Engineer with a passion for sports. I'm a lead reviewer for massage guns and wellness tech products at Massage Gun Advice. Alongside a dedicated Experts Board, I ensures each review is the result of thorough testing, in-depth research, and rigorous fact-checking, providing our readers with reliable and comprehensive insights.

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