Sportneer Elite D9 Massage Gun Review – It Looks Good But Does It Deliver Where It Matters?

Today it is time for the hands-on Sportneer Elite D9 massage gun review!

If you’re looking for a new massage gun, you’ve probably heard of Sportneer, a brand with a wide range of products, from fitness to outdoor gear.

They’re best known for their massage guns, and this Elite D9 is their most potent full-sized model. For the record, they also have two other options: the Sportneer K1, a smaller massager (very similar to the Taotronics 004), and the Mini 3, a mini massage gun.

So, is the Sportneer Elite D9 massage gun the right choice for you?

It looks promising, but we’ll dive into its effectiveness, quality, reliability, and how it compares to market leaders. Let’s find out together if this massage gun is worth the investment.

Sportneer Elite D9 Massage Gun Review

Sportneer Elite D9 Specifications (Verified)

What is Included?

When it comes to packaging, the Sportneer Elite D9 massage gun comes in classic packaging. Nothing fancy, but it gets the job done.

Inside, you’ll find a black, zippered carrying case. Now, this is a pretty standard setup, but it’s not always the case (just take a look at Hypervolts, for example). The case is on the larger side, but it could be better organized. There’s a lot of “air” in there.

However, once you unzip it, you’ll find all the goodies you need to get started. You’ll find the gun, 6 attachments, a wall charger, a simple user manual, and some replacement gaskets for mounting the massage heads.

All in all, it’s a solid package that has everything you need to get started with your Sportneer Elite D9 massage gun.

Device Design

When you first open the carrying case of the Sportneer Elite D9 massage gun, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. This thing looks like a quality device! It looks sleek and stylish with its round corners and classic black body accented by a metallic red ring around the control panel.

There are no screws, it’s well put together, and seems solid. Nothing creaks or feels flimsy. And that’s a good thing, because you don’t want your massage gun falling apart on you during your recovery session.

The quality materials are another positive aspect of the Elite D9.

It has a rubberized handle for a comfortable grip, a metal upper part of the housing for durability, a sleek rubber-like matte control panel with discreet LEDs, and an “invisible” operating button (which, by the way, has a satisfying physical click).

Now, when you pick up the D9 for the first time, you might be a little surprised by its weight.

It clocks in at 2.3lbs (1.05kg), which might seem heavy at first. But when you compare it to the Urikar Pro 2, it’s about the same weight.

So, no need to worry about having Popeye-like biceps just to use your massage gun. Just enjoy the quality materials and solid build.

Ergonomics

When it comes to the ergonomics of the Sportneer Elite D9 massage gun, there are some pros and cons to take into consideration. Let’s dive in, shall we?

First of all, the slanted handle is a big plus, just like in the Ekrin devices. It helps to relieve some tension from the wrist during operation, which is always a good thing. And the handle itself is quite long, making it easy to reach those hard-to-get-to middle and lower back muscles.

The handle’s oval shape with a thicker back part and thinner front part makes it fit nicely in the hand and not prone to slipping around. Plus for that too.

On the downside, the metal upper part of the device is large and square-ish, making it a bit difficult to change up your grip as needed. And, as metal always is, it can be pretty cold to the touch, so watch out for any unexpected skin contact.

Finally, the balance of the device is a little more towards the upper part, which might help with applying more pressure, but also adds to the overall weight of the device.

Overall, the ergonomics of the Sportneer D9 massage gun are a mixed bag, but there are definitely some positive aspects to take into consideration.

Controls

The Sportneer Elite D9 massage gun has a unique and interesting control panel located at the back of the gun.

The design is eye-catching, with the LEDs crossing and the button located at the intersection.

This makes it easy to use and control. The device features a single button that does it all. It looks like a touch button, but it’s a physical button with satisfying clicks.

The 6 LED lights located horizontally indicate the speed levels, while the vertically placed LED lights indicate the pressure sensor (top three) and battery charging level (bottom three).

It’s great to see the attention to detail in the design and functionality of the Sportneer D9’s controls.

Attachments

Well, the attachments for the Sportneer Elite D9 percussive massage gun are quite a letdown, to say the least. It’s like the designers put all their focus into the gun itself, and completely overlooked the attachments.

The 6 attachments that come with the D9 use the classic push in-pull out mounting system, but that’s about the only good thing about them.

Here’s what we get:

• Flat, Fork, and Cone heads are made of hard plastic that feels like they have nothing to give, which can be a bit of a bummer. The Fork and cone are intended for speed levels 1 & 2. The flat one is good for general use, suitable for larger body muscles^​2​.
• Ball attachment is made of EVA foam, but it’s just as hard as the others. This one is also designed for large muscle groups (quads, glutes, hamestring^​3​ etc.).
• Chrom Flat and Chrome Ball heads. These two chrome-coated (they could be something else; we’re not sure) attachments look nice, but we don’t see much difference in them from other plastic ones. Maybe their are more suited for oil massages (ease of cleaning) but definitely not for heating therapy, such as those in Bob and Brad X6 Pro. After all, they’re mostly plastic.

All in all, it’s safe to say that the attachments for the Elite D9 could use a bit of improvement.

Performance

Let’s see if Sportneer D9’s beauty is more than skin deep. We’ll put its power to the test by measuring its amplitude, stall force, and percussions.

Amplitude

The Sportneer D9’s amplitude is an important aspect to consider when evaluating its effectiveness.

Amplitude refers to the depth of the massage gun head’s travel and in this case, it’s advertised as 11mm. However, upon our measurements, we found it to be 10.3mm, which is typical for massage guns in this price range.

While it will provide a vibrational experience, don’t expect the heavy-duty feel of full-sized Theraguns, Bob and Brad’s D6 Pro, or Achedaway Pro.

To ensure it does a good job, it needs to have enough stall force and percuss fast so that it doesn’t slow down when in contact with the body. Let’s take a closer look at the other aspects. 

Percussions and Speeds

The Sportneer D9 promises a percussion range of 1300 RPM to 3200 RPM, which sounds pretty impressive. But how does it measure up in reality?

Well, we put it to the test with our trusty laser tachometer and found that it actually revs up to around 3150 RPM (and starts at 1100RPMs), which is is almost in line with the specification.

Now, when it comes to percussion therapy^​4​, intensity is key. The faster the hits, the more effective the therapy. While the D9’s RPM might not reach the dizzying heights of 3300-3600 RPM like some of the other models, it still packs a decent punch at 3200 RPM, especially given its 10mm amplitude.

One thing we noticed is that the D9 kicks back immediately after stalling. Another plus, the 6-speed setup works really well for the reasonably wide range of RPMs.

So all in all, we can say that the Sportneer D9 delivers on its advertised RPM range, which is a plus in our book.

But as always, the proof is in the pudding – or in this case, the tension release.

Stall Force

Well, let’s talk about the stall force of the Sportneer D9, shall we?

Stall force is a fancy term for how much pressure a device can handle when pressed against your body.

The Elite D9 advertises a stall force of 35lbs. but after some testing, we estimate it to be around 30lbs. on the top speed and single-digit lbs. on the low gears. It’s an entry-level stall force, which is okay for a starter device, but let’s not get too excited here.

On the first few gears, it takes very little pressure to stall it, which feels pretty underwhelming. However, on the higher gears, it feels a bit better, but press it more on larger muscles and it slows down considerably. So, it’s a bit of a double-edged sword. But hey, you gotta start somewhere, right?

Pressure Sensor

The Sportneer D9 comes with a pressure sensor (how’s that for cheap but fancy?), which is pretty rare to find in a device at this price point.

Three LEDs indicate the pressure level, but let’s be real, the pressure should be controlled by the person giving the massage, not by the device’s LEDs. We’re not convinced this feature is necessary, but hey, every little extra helps, right?

Noise

The Sportneer D9 is a real whisper in the massage world! Advertised to be between 30dB-40dB, we measured it to be between 40-60dB – still a great result for a massage gun.

It’s almost inaudible when you turn it on, but gets a bit louder as you increase the speed. Even on its highest speeds, it’s still a reasonable noise level in the low 60sdBs.

The metal casing and hidden head mounting mechanism make sure it stays quiet, giving you the peace of mind to enjoy a massage in peace.

TIP Find more quietest massage guns that we know.

Battery

The Sportneer D9’s battery pack is a powerhouse, with a large 3350 mAh battery! You won’t have to worry about running out of juice during a long massage session.

According to the manufacturer, it can last up to 6.6 hours, but in reality, you’ll probably get 1.5 to 2 hours on a single charge (with max speed and preassure).

It takes about 3 to 5 hours to fully charge, but with a battery indicator showing you the percentage (3 LEDs indicating 0-30%, 30-70%, and 70-100%), you’ll always know when it’s time for a recharge.

So go ahead and give your muscles a break without having to worry about the device dying on you!

Oh, one more thing to mention, the D9 comes with a traditional wall charger. This is a drawback for us as we prefer the convenience of USB-C charging.

Warranty, Price, and Is It Worth It?

The Sportneer D9 comes with a 12-month warranty, which isn’t as long as the lifetime warranty offered by some other brands (think Ekrin and Lifepro).

It should cost you $129.99. However, you can snag the best deal by buying directly from sportneer.com where it’s currently 50% off, making it only $64.99. If there’s no sale, you can still save 15% by using the code AFDKOF.

Overall, at the current price, it’s definitely worth the buy. But don’t forget, once the price returns to regular, you may want to weigh your options against the competition.

Sportneer Elite D9 Alternatives

Urikar Pro 2

The Urikar Pro 2 is a budget-friendly massage gun that packs a punch with its impressive features.

The adjustable handle makes for better ergonomics and a more comfortable hold, but the real standout feature of this device is the heated massage therapy provided by the special ceramic attachment. 

With a slower percussion rate but an impressive 12mm amplitude, this massage gun provides a more percussive feel despite stalling at the same rate as the Sharper Image. Plus, the different massage modes with dynamic speeds make it a versatile tool for all your muscle-relieving needs.

And let’s not forget the squishy head attachment, a feature not found on the Sportneer D9.

To top it all off, with the code URIKAR02 you can grab this amazing massage gun for a jaw-dropping price of $57.72 – over half off the regular price. Get it right here.

If you’re in the market for a budget-friendly, feature-packed alternative to the Sportneer D9, look no further than the Urikar Pro 2.

Read More Here is our hands-on Urikar Pro 2 review.

Bob and Brad X6 Pro

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly massage gun that can hold its own against the Sportneer D9, then the Bob and Brad X6 Pro might just be the perfect choice for you.

Though it doesn’t have the active heating option that the Urikar Pro 2 offers, it more than makes up for it with its performance. With an amplitude of 10mm, a stall force of about 30-35lbs, and percussions ranging from 2000 to 3000 rpm, the Bob and Brad X6 Pro packs a punch.

And the best part? A soft head is included, as well as an innovative hot/cold attachment which is a great bonus compared to the Sportneer D9.

So, for about the same price (clip the coupon on Amazon that makes it an under $150 massage gun), the Bob and Brad X6 Pro feels like a better choice in terms of performance and value.

Read More Check our in-depth Bob and Brad X6 Pro review.

Review Summary

Well, there you have it; our Sportneer Elite D9 massage gun review. It is a well-designed device with great aesthetics and good materials.

However, it falls short in performance when compared to other massage guns in the market. It is a decent option for beginners, but may not be enough for more demanding users who are looking for a more intense massage experience.

If you’re in the market for a massage gun, we recommend checking out the Urikar Pro 2 or Bob and Brad’s X6 Pro. Both offer better features and performance.

If you’re feeling indecisive, let us know in the comments – we’d love to hear your thoughts and opinions on your massage gun journey!