Your HSA/FSA expires on 31st Dec. All Ekrin massage guns are HSA/FSA eligible! 25% to 35%Discountis applied at checkout. For the best deals, click here →
According to the specs, the 2024 Ekrin Kestrel massage gun ticks all the boxes for a top massage gun. So, in this review, we will test some of those specs and see if this sports massager lives up to them.
The latest offering from Ekrin Athletics, the Ekrin Kestrel, had us eagerly anticipating its arrival. The predecessor, the now somewhat dated Ekrin B37S, was the last we saw of the brand.
The burning question: Is the Ekrin Kestrel its worthy successor? Taking it for ‘our’ spin, we can confidently say – spoiler alert! Yes, it lives up to Ekrin Athletic’s promises and surpasses them in more ways than one!
First, you may want to check out our video—you’ll see the unboxing process, all the massage gun attachments in detail, the controls, and the operation at different speeds (including stall force tests). We also compare it with the Ekrin B37 and Ekrin B37S massage guns to demonstrate how the new Kestrel differs from them.
It matches manufacturer’s specifications, of 13 mm amplitude, stall force 3500 PPM.
Features USB-C charging.
Includes great massage gun attachments, such as the new Air Cushion one.
Exhibits high-quality build and materials.
Lifetime warranty!
What could be better
Color – we really like the metallic colors from previous models; this one is matte black.
The control wheel could have a noticeable click while scrolling.
Our Rating
Quality
Effectiveness
Usability
Accessories
Price Value
4.9
Our Review Summary
Ekrin Kestrel delivers more than previous models with unique performance aspects, including a record-breaking 3500 rpm at max speed. It’s also more ergonomic, quieter, highly versatile, and still comes with a lifetime warranty. There is nothing to complain about; it’s a superb massage gun.
As expected, the packaging is a familiar carrying case, consistent with what we’ve seen before. It feels protective and will do the job. We thought it’d be bigger (not for any particular reason), but it looks compact.
What’s inside the case? Well, the usual suspects are there – the massage gun smack in the middle, surrounded by six massage gun attachments (we’ll cover them later) and a USB-C cable. To the side of the case, there is a detailed user manual and a thoughtful ‘thank you’ card.
Here’s what’s included with the Ekrin Kestrel package.
What about the Ekrin Kestrel massage gun itself? It screams Ekrin Athletics through and through. And you know what? We love it. They’ve stuck with the same design that’s always been a winner for them. I mean, why mess with a good thing?
But wait, there has to be something new, right? Yes, the top metal ring with textured sides stands out here, as does the color (we’ll mention this again in a second). We also have new controls – that’s something!
The Ekrin Kestrel massage gun from different angles.
The materials used to make this massage gun feel superb, not that Ekrin Athletics has ever been underwhelming. This is why we’ve always placed them on par with Theragun and Hypervolt sports massagers.
What’s with the metal ring at the top? Is it actually metal? Yes, it is. And can we talk about that satin-colored black plastic? Smooth, sleek, and oh-so-nice to the touch.
Our take: The same sleek and modern design as always. And oh, the new improvements? Superb!
The chrome bezel and matte black color are classic and stylish.
Potential Improvements: What Could Be Better?
Just for us, a somewhat different approach to color. In the past, Ekrin Athletics dazzled us with those charming pastel hues. But this time around, it’s gone over to the dark side—black. Or is it a sneaky dark shade of blue? We’ll leave that up to you to decide.
From left to right: Ekrin Bantam mini massage gun, Ekrin 365, Ekrin B37, Ekrin Kestrel and Ekrin B37S.
Which one is your favorite color? Let us know in the comments!
Now, black is classic, no doubt, but it feels a tad Theragun-y or even Hypervolt-y. Are they dipping their toes into mainstream waters? Hey, maybe that’s what the majority craves; we can’t judge that. But we, in our little corner, were hoping they’d stick to their unique color palette.
The choice of black also starkly contrasts the chrome bezel at the top. Maybe this is ideal for some people, but we’re not entirely sold on it. Are we throwing the baby with the bath water here? Absolutely not. Who buys a sports massager for the color anyway?
Ekrin Kestrel Size and Weight: Compact Power
We love that the manufacturer didn’t change the compact size. In fact, if you place their four massage gun models side by side, they look like a set of well-behaved quadruplets. I mean, sure, maybe the Ekrin B37S is the slightly taller sibling—who said quadruplets can’t have a bit of size diversity? The only really smaller one is the Ekrin Bantam mini massage gun.
All Ekrin Athletics Massage Guns Manufactured to Date – May/2024
The Kestrel weighs 2.2 pounds. Compared to the B37S, the difference is negligible, approximately 2.7 ounces or about 77 grams.
Ergonomic Design of the Ekrin Kestrel
Here again, the manufacturer chose to keep the slanted handle design we’ve always associated with them. It’s a familiar handshake – comfortable, keeping the wrist happy during the percussive therapy experience, and with a natural extension so you can treat pain in lower back and buttocks.
Is it just the same old same old? Well, it is. But there’s more.
The rubber handle is now textured for a better grip. If you have used your massage gun for a massage after workout, you know how tough it can be to get a quick DIY and best deep tissue massage. Sweaty hands and a slipping handle can be a mess. This isn’t a problem anymore here.
Remember the textured metal bezel at the top; it’s not just decorative, as we thought earlier. Ekrin Athletics noticed a little quirk in how people hold their massage guns. Sometimes, you grab the top part for certain angles or when you’re doubling down on pressure. But sweaty palms could turn that into a slip-and-slide party. The textured metal bezel provides a firmer grip at the top to nullify this problem. This improves the ergonomics and keeps the sports massager decent for longer. Unlike plastic, metal will likely still look okay after a hundred uses.
The control setup has also been redesigned with ergonomics in mind. Instead of making the bezel do the controlling, the manufacturer opted to hide the controls elsewhere. Why? Keep away the accidental speed changes mid-massage. They say, “You focus on the massage; we’ve got the controls sorted.” Smart move.
Our Take:
Ekrin Athletics definitely listens to their customers (and hey, maybe some of our readers too).
They didn’t just keep the good things that the predecessor Ekrin B37S has; they also added notable improvements to make this new sports massager easy to use and highly ergonomic. It is also now smaller than its predecessor. Well done!
Usually, we don’t need a whole section for controls, but this one is different. Let’s examine what has changed here.
First, the controls here are different from the Ekrin B37S massage gun (which we believe is what the Ekrin Kestrel is replacing). The Kestrel doesn’t have any standard buttons. Instead, the control is now a small scrolling wheel perched at the top. See the photos.
We like the concept of using a scroll wheel to change the speed. It’s very intuitive.
Operation is a Sunday stroll. Press the wheel down to turn the sports massager on or off. The rest of the operation happens when you scroll the wheel. You can scroll up to increase the speed and vice versa. Simple and intuitive.
The LED structure that indicates the current speed also differs because of the scroll wheel. There are 6 LEDs (the vertical line at the top of the scroll) that indicate speeds.
The light color changes depending on the speed, which makes it easy to quickly identify at what speed the sports massager has been set. The colors used are green for the first two speeds, yellow for the two medium speeds, and purple for the highest two speeds.
The four visible blue dot LEDs below the wheel are battery charge indicators.
Our take:
This is not the first massage gun we’ve seen with a dial. Hypervolt 2 and 2 Pro both have it—we love both—but unlike these two, the whole panel isn’t rotatable, so you only need your thumb to control it.
We also like this approach because there are no accidental rotations, which is a problem we noticed with the two Hypervolt massager guns. Also, the fact that you can change speeds by simply rotating the dial up or down is fantastic. It is certainly an upgrade from the button presses to cycle-through speeds.
The Ekrin Kestrel massage gun is now very easy to use, and the dial feels intuitive. Plus, scrolling up and down also feels nice and rewarding.
Any cons? Well, perhaps the only criticism of this new system is the missing click feedback when rotating the wheel. It’s not a big deal, as you can see from the change in the LEDs and how the sports massager operates, but it would add an extra UX touch.
Massage Gun Attachments: Versatility at Your Fingertips
The Kestrel comes with six massage gun attachments.
Six attachments. We think it’s the perfect set as none is duplicating another.
Let’s look at each one, starting with something fresh.
Air Cushion Head: Soothing Soft-Tissue Relief
(Soft Silicone)
This is the first time we’ve seen an Ekrin Athletics with this type of head. It’s no surprise since the whole market has been crying for more sports massagers to include this head for a softer trigger point massage.
At first, we confused it with the flat head, which appears almost entirely flat. But our doubts were cleared when we touched it.
It’s pleasantly soft but not too soft that it would wobble on your body—just enough to do the job. Three ridges form indentations in the middle, providing an additional trigger point massage effect, which we found very pleasant.
This massage gun attachment is suitable for soft tissues, achy joints, and muscles. But not only. Most people will love this one. It could be the new universal tip.
Ball/Round Head: All-Purpose Muscle Massage
(Soft Silicone)
This one’s suitable for large muscle groups, such as sore legs. It’s slightly different from what we are used to with the Ekrin B37/B37S.
The tip is now silicone instead of foam. It also feels softer than the previous iterations. For a hard massager, this massage gun attachment will soften the impact and make it more bearable; this one works just fine.
Cone Head: Pinpoint Precision for Best Deep Tissue Massage
(Plastic with Silicone Tip)
The cone can also work on large muscle groups, including the arms, waist, back, and legs. Its tip is also covered with silicone, making it perfect for trigger point therapy.
When we first saw the cone head in Theragun attachments, it felt like a less aggressive bullet head. We think the same about this one.
Fork Head: Perfect for Spine and Neck
(Hard Plastic)
This one works on the lumbar vertebrae and other large muscle groups. It also works on the Achilles. You could argue this one’s slightly larger and fancier than the one with the B37S, but maybe it’s just us.
Flat Head: Broad Coverage and Muscle Activation
(Plastic)
This attachment can work on most parts of the body. It’s still the same hard plastic we’re used to, but this time, Ekrin Athletics has added a glossy shell. It doesn’t just look nice and shiny; it actually glides better than other massage gun attachments on clothes and skin.
Bullet Head: Intense Focus on Trigger Points
(Hard Plastic)
This one gives you the best deep tissue massage suitable for deep muscle groups like shoulder blades. You can also use it on the plantar. It’s also made of hard plastic.
You can now have a gentle percussive therapy massage with the Air Cushion head whenever needed.
The locking mechanism is Twist-On/Off instead of the common push-pull type, which often causes a rattling noise during operation. We vastly prefer this solution.
Ekrin Kestrel Performance: Power Meets Precision
Now, let’s get to the business part of our review. How does this sports massager perform?
Note: Stroke length is the distance the head travels as the sports massager percusses. Here’s more on this.
The Ekrin Kestrel’s amplitude is about a third longer than its predecessor, the B37S. We finally have an Ekrin Athletics massage gun with more than 12mm amplitude!
The specs said 13mm, and our eyes got as big as saucers. We took out our caliper for confirmation. We measured 12.8mm, about a 0.2mm difference, which is negligible. It could just be an allowance of some sort.
It’s great to finally have a 13mm amplitude massage gun!
Verified amplitude. Indeed, it’s a 13mm stroke-length massage gun.
Verified amplitude. Indeed, it’s a 13mm stroke-length massage gun. In practice, it feels more percussive than the Ekrin B37S, but it doesn’t compromise the vibrations – more on this later.
For now, the percussive therapy hits are deep enough yet not overly aggressive, as you would feel with a 14-16mm amplitude Hypervolt, Theragun, or Bob and Brad D6 Pro massage gun. Most consumers have complained about the high-amplitude guns, and Ekrin Athletics seems to have addressed this here.
We like to call this the “sweet spot” amplitude, where the sports massager is not too vibrational and not too punchy either – it’s just right.
Percussions Per Minute: Speed That Heals
If our eyes got as big as saucers with the amplitude figure, they nearly popped out of their sockets when we saw the percussion specs. The manufacturer says, ‘This massage gun can rev between 1800 RPM and 3500 RPM.‘
Ekrin Athletics always delivers what it promises in the specs, and we often have no reason to doubt it. But when we saw this range, we said, “Alright, if you can convince us of this, we’ve got a bridge to sell you.”
In our line of work, experience reigns supreme. If something quacks and walks like a duck, in our book, it’s a duck. Now, let’s talk about the physics of massage guns—typically, a sports massager with a longer amplitude tends to have lower percussions. We’ve seen this rule play out across over a hundred massage guns we’ve tested. And in all our testing, a 13mm amplitude gun hitting 3500 RPM? Uncharted territory.
So, we took out our trusty laser tachometer and got to work. You should’ve seen our faces when the sports massager registered 3500 RPM and more when we cranked up the speed. It was breathtaking!
We can confirm that we reached 3500 RPM on our tachometer!
Why are we making up a fuss over this? Well, it stems from one principle. You see, in percussive therapy, the vibrations play a crucial role 234. They don’t just make you feel good; they also help override the muscle pain signals in the brain. This then leads to muscle tension release by increasing blood flow, facilitating lymphatic drainage, and much more.
Now, this new massage gun, with its 13mm amplitude and excellent percussion range, has become the quintessential versatile massage gun. With it, you can have a slow muscle relaxation treatment or super-aggressive for the best deep tissue massage that is enough with 13mm and 3500 hits per minute intensity.
At top speed (3500 hits), it’s so intense that you don’t even need to apply any pressure. Simply by gliding it over painful muscles, you can feel the vibrations deep into the tissue. This makes the Kestrel an incredible sports massager, even for advanced users.
With it, you can take your muscle recovery game to the next level with a warm-up massage before workout and a fast recovery muscle massage after workout!
If you use the massage gun for daily routines such as recovering after hard workouts, before-bed routines, or after-work massages, this massage gun definitely feels like a solid all-rounder. It can deliver a soothing and gentle percussive therapy massage experience – especially when paired with one of those soft massage gun attachments.
Stall Force: Maximum Power Output
Stall force is the massage gun’s motor ability to withstand pressure.
Does the Ekrin Kestrel deliver any surprises here? The answer is no.
The stall force here is about the same as that of the Ekrin B37S, which is 50-60 lbs. This is a top stall force, in case you are wondering.
It’s hard to stall this massage gun at top speed. It revs too fast to stop for anything. Did you see our video above? I wasn’t able to stop it with my hand. So, even if you are a top professional athlete, a bodybuilder, or someone with a lot of experience with professional-grade sports massagers, the Ekrin Kestrel’s stall force is just right. This would be a chiropractor massage gun!
Additionally, we noticed the absence of a pressure sensor similar to that in the B37S. However, we believe a sensor is likely superfluous for this model, given its profound impacts and high vibrations.
Performance Comparison: Ekrin Kestrel vs Competitors
Stall Force (lbs.)
With a force of 56 lbs., the Ekrin Kestrel secures its spot among the elite ‘hard massager’ category.
Stroke Length (mm)
A 13mm amplitude hits the sweet spot and, when combined with a high stall force, offers the best deep tissue massage experience.
Our Take:on Ekrin Kestrel’s Performance
It is definitely one of the most powerful massage guns today. Its intensity, deep amplitude, and robust stall force are unmatched.
The manufacturer has pushed the amplitude and percussion setup envelope, increasing the amplitude while simultaneously ramping up the motor to deliver more hits per minute.
With these performance stats, we now have a unicorn of massage guns. More importantly, it is also the most suitable sports massager for demanding users.
It is quieter than all the previous models. Our measurement results range from 50-64 dB, as seen below:
Our measurement results: ~50 – 64 dB for speeds 1 – 6.
But shouldn’t it be louder, given the improved performance? Quite the opposite.
It buzzes smoothly, delivering a hushed, consistent sound. You won’t hear massage gun attachment noises, rattling due to loose parts, or a creaking when pressed against the body, just a smooth, whirly sound for a quiet massage. To hear how smoothly it operates (also compared to previous models), check out our video above.
Interestingly, at that super-high 3500 RPM, the sound is also reasonably hushed—you’ll still hear it all right, but your neighbors won’t!
Battery Life: Lasting Power for Prolonged Use
The 2500mAh battery capacity is 50mAh more juiced than the B37S. The battery is non-removable, a feature that hasn’t changed here, either. You can expect about 6 hours of operation time before you may need to charge it. That’s roughly a week or more of battery use, even when you use it daily.
As usual, we know the battery is high-quality – Ekrin Athletics always uses top-class batteries.
Even better, you can charge it with a USB-C this time—no more brick-wall chargers. This is very convenient. You can also use your phone’s cable to charge it.
How to Use the Ekrin Kestrel Massage Gun
Here are a few shots from our testing session. Expect more as we continue to test it and compare it with more sports massagers soon.
Who is Ekrin Kestrel Best For?
It is the top model in Ekrin’s lineup, boasting the best specs and most features. This makes it suitable for advanced users (e.g., for the best deep tissue massage for bodybuilding) who understand the benefits of high RPM and power.
It’s highly recommended for professional athletes looking for a comprehensive massage gun for pre-training use and, most importantly, to help muscle recovery post-exercise and aid in healinginjuries.
The Ekrin Kestrel’s high frequency and sweet-spot amplitude make it ideal for trigger point therapy, massage muscle, myofascial release physical therapy, or as a chiropractic percussion tool (AKA chirogun). Its excellent design, ergonomics, and lifetime warranty also make it ideal.
But it’s not just for the pros; beginners can use it, too. If the price isn’t a barrier, it’s an excellent everyday massage gun. It offers various massage gun attachments and high-quality construction.
Just remember—it’s not designed for travel and portability. It’s a full-size sports massager, not something you can easily fit into a handbag like the smaller Ekrin Bantam mini massage gun. Frankly, in our opinion, the best option is to own both sports massagers; that’s what we will do!
Warranty and Price
Like all other Ekrin Athletic products, this massage gun has a lifetime warranty, and it’s totally worth it.
When it comes to price, you’ll have to part with $349 to get it. But here’s a sweet deal: a special discount coupon that slashes the price by 20%. Buy Ekrin Kestrel here.
Compared to Theragun Pro 5th Gen, which costs $599, it is a steal. Ekrin Kestrel also offers more bang for your buck than Hypervolt 2 Pro. While the Hypervolt 2 Pro is slightly less expensive, it is also noticeably weaker than the Ekrin Kestrel.
Ekrin Kestrel vs. B37S: A Side-by-Side Comparison
Let’s do a quick head-to-head between the successor and the predecessor to see what changed and was improved.
So, both sports massagers may look similar, but the Ekrin Kestrel brings slightly more to the table. Let’s outline the most significant differences you need to know:
Kestrel’s Performance
A higher amplitude, 13mm, while the Ekrin B37S has a 12mm amplitude.
A better percussion range, 1800-3500 RPM vs. Ekrin B37S’ 2000-3200 RPM.
A higher top speed of 3500 PPM.
It is noticeably quieter than the Ekrin B37S.
Overall Design and Other Features
The Ekrin Kestrel has a scroll wheel to control the sports massager’s operation. You can increase and decrease the speeds without cycling through (like in the Ekrin B37S).
It has a textured rubberized handle which improves ergonomics, and the metal bezel adds to it. The Ekrin B37S has none of these.
The Ekrin Kestrel is slightly more compact.
The USB-C charger and a tad juicier battery are advantages.
A new air cushion head is included. Ekrin B37S didn’t have it.
The Ekrin Kestrel is the way to go! It offers the latest tech, has a whole new level of performance, and is more friendly to use. Although the B37S is slightly cheaper and may drop due to this massage gun, the Ekrin Kestrel is still worth every penny. Just look at the performance!
And if you’re considering upgrading from the Ekrin B37 or the Ekrin B37S, go for it! The Kestrel is improved where it matters: portability, charging, ergonomics, and controls. Plus, it feels great on your muscles during a trigger point massage – mainly at top speed (didn’t we just repeat ourselves?).
Ekrin Kestrel vs. Theragun Pro 5th Gen: Battle of the Titans
What about Theragun Pro 5th Gen? How does it compare? We all know there is no percussive therapy without Theragun. But Theragun Pro and Ekrin Kestrel perhaps address different clientele. Let’s compare.
Theragun Pro 5th Gn and Ekrin Kestrel head-to-head. The value for the money lies on Ekrin’s side.
Performance
Theragun is a hard massager, and its 16mm amplitude punches harder—a whopping 3mm more than Kestrel’s. Some users prefer this heavy-hitting approach for the best deep tissue massage, so the Theragun is the better choice for them.
Ekrin Kestrel revs faster than Theragun Pro, much faster. Theragun Pro maxes out at 2400 hits per minute. That’s about a third less than Ekrin Kestrel’s percussions. Theragun also only has 5 speeds compared to Kestrel’s 6.
Theragun Pro’s intensity comes from the deeper hits (the longer amplitude). But the Kestrel may just be more effective because of the many hits per minute – remember the numbing of pain signals to the brain principle?
Both can serve professional users (e.g., chiropractor massage guns). However, in our opinion, Ekrin Kestrel is an all-rounder, meaning it can provide a soothing and aggressive massage when needed. Theragun Pro, as a hard massager, will always punch hard, even at lower speeds. The Theragun soft head may dampen the impact a bit.
Everything Else
The Ekrin Kestrel is a compact massage gun compared to the Theragun Pro 5th Gen – the bulkiest of them all.
The Kestrel has 6 massage gun attachments, and so does Theragun Pro. But if you ask us, Ekrin Kestrel’s attachments are more varied compared to Theragun Pro’s, which are all soft.
Theragun offers the Therabody App for guided routines and precise massage gun speed control, which may be an advantage for beginner users.
Our Verdict:
Ultimately, it boils down to personal preference when choosing between these two established massage gun brands. Ekrin Kestrel offers something unique in performance – the first sports massager we’ve seen that can hit deep and rev so fast.
And don’t forget about one important aspect—the price. The Theragun Pro is more expensive than the Ekrin Kestrel, at $599 vs. $349. Although we really like and appreciate what the Theragun Pro offers, we think the Kestrel provides better value for the price.
Final Verdict: Is the Ekrin Kestrel Worth It?
We had fun with our Ekrin Kestrel review because of the surprising features it offers.
We expected a well-executed design, an impressive look, and quality. What puzzled us was the performance. Penetrative, smooth, aggressive, and all-rounded. It’s an improvement over the previous sports massagers (Ekrin B37/Ekrin B37S).
Sure, the $349 price tag isn’t pocket change, but when you consider the performance, features, and tempting lifetime warranty, we’re more than willing to make the deal.
We needed a refresher of Ekrin Athletic’s massage gun line-up, and they more than delivered. Superb!
Seckel M, Remel B. Evidence-Based Practice: Percussion and Vibration Therapy. Crit Care Nurse. 2017;37(3):82-83. doi:10.4037/ccn2017775↩︎
Konrad A, Glashüttner C, Reiner M, Bernsteiner D, Tilp M. The Acute Effects of a Percussive Massage Treatment with a Hypervolt Device on Plantar Flexor Muscles’ Range of Motion and Performance. J Sports Sci Med. 2020;19(4):690-694. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/33239942↩︎
Leabeater A, Clarke A, James L, Huynh M, Driller M. Under the Gun: The effect of percussive massage therapy on physical and perceptual recovery in active adults. Journal of Athletic Training. Published online May 26, 2023. doi:10.4085/1062-6050-0041.23↩︎
Was this article helpful?
Yes
No
Thanks for your feedback!
Post Update History
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.
<strong>November 29, 2024:</strong> Small content corrections, updates to recent product prices, and enhancements in internal linking. <em>(Author: Mario)</em>
Published on:
•
Written by:
Luke Deszczulka
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.
The views and opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors. Any content provided by our bloggers or authors is of their opinion and is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything.
All product names, logos, and brands are the property of their respective owners. All company, product, and service names used on this website are for identification purposes only. Use of these names, logos, and brands does not imply endorsement.
Our policy is to make every effort to respect the copyrights of outside parties. If you believe your copyright has been misused, please provide us with a message stating your position, and we will endeavor to correct any misuse immediately.
Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links. If you click on the link and purchase the item, we may receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more here.