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When it comes to massage guns, Theragun is often a brand synonymous with quality and performance.
Therabody released the Theragun Relief in Q2/2024. By all accounts, it looks to be designed for those looking for something lightweight, quiet and simple to use.
In this review, we’ll uncover the key strengths, features, and any potential drawbacks of the Theragun Relief Massage Gun to help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.
First, consider watching our video—it showcases the unboxing process, details all the massage gun attachments, explains the controls, and demonstrates operation at various speeds, including stall force tests.
TIP: For more videos like this, subscribe to our YouTube Channel.
Let’s begin with the product specifications.
| Feature | Specs |
|---|---|
| Stall Force | 20 lbs |
| Stroke Length | 10 mm (verified) |
| Speeds | 3 |
| Percussion range | 1750 – 2400 RPM (verified) |
| Weight | 1.37 lbs |
| Attachments | 3 included |
| Noise (decibel) | 30 dB (verified) |
| Battery Charging Time | 90 min. |
| Warranty | 1 Year |
| Base Price | $149 before coupon |
| Promotional Price | SAVE 10% |
| Where to Buy | Buy at Theragun.com |
What we like the most:
3.3
Our Review Summary
Therabody Theragun has introduced an entry-level massage gun that targets the senior population. Known as Theragun Relief, it is best for casual users and budget-conscious buyers.
Unsure as to the reasons why, perhaps just for presentation, but the packaging seems excessively big. In comparison to previous Therabody massage guns, the box for the Theragun Relief is large, with a considerable amount of empty space inside. Nonetheless, it looks nicely packaged!
Opening the box, the first thing we noticed was the size. Despite adopting the same shape as the larger Theraguns, the Relief is smaller overall, and has a thinner grip. Externally, the massage device is made from quality plastic, but lacks a texturized grip.
It does not include an OLED screen and adopts the design concept of the Theragun Mini, featuring a single button to operate, along with three small LEDs to indicate the speed level and battery status during charging.
For $149, we shouldn’t be surprised that the Theragun Relief only comes with three attachments: the dampener, the standard ball, and the thumb. The massage gun already has the standard ball attachment in place.
Of course, you also get a USB-C cable packaged neatly in a small box and another box containing an information leaflet. In addition, the Theragun Relief comes with three simple quick-start routines printed on a quality card.
As mentioned above, the Theragun Relief comes with three attachments.
This massage gun attachment is effective for soft tissues, achy joints, and muscles. Most senior people will appreciate its soothing massage.
This one is harder and smaller than the Dumpener. It is a semi-soft attachment that can massage the entire body. It would be the universal attachment to target most muscles.
This is the only firm head in the set. It is also the smallest and perfect for trigger point therapy. This one would be ideal to use on the plantar.
These attachments are the same ones included with the Theragun Mini 2.0. Since the Theragun Relief is a larger massage gun, we felt Therabody could have been more generous with its attachments. Adding a wedge head for scraping would have been a valuable improvement.
When comparing massage gun attachments, we think there are better Theragun Relief alternatives in this space. For instance, the Ekrin 3651, with similar specs, comes with four attachments offering a wide variety of therapy options.
At the end of the day, if you’re keen on the Theragun Relief, Therabody sells the attachments individually, and as mentioned before, they can be mounted on any of their percussion massagers. They usually cost between $20 and $30 each on therabody.com.
Despite the specs being closer to Therabody’s mini massage gun range, the Theragun Relief, with a triangular handle design, follows its larger siblings. Comparing sizes, the Theragun Relief is notably smaller than the Theragun Elite.
Its triangular handle is also thinner than those on the full-size Theraguns. Nevertheless, its ergonomics ensure a comfortable grip and reduce wrist strain during use. This approach allows you to reach every part of your body with ease.
With a weight close to that of the Theragun Mini – just 1.37 lbs (1lbs 30 oz), the Theragun Relief is light-weight, making it comfortable for the user to perform massage.
Its compact size and lightweight characteristics make it a very portable massage gun.
Keeping their well-known design, Therabody has passed on its simple yet ergonomic design to the Theragun Relief—and we love that!
Theragun’s patented triangular design is still one of our favorites. The design provides reliable and comfortable grip and handling for just about any body part.
With the ability to hold different sides of the triangular frame and change your grip, getting a comfortable massage without wrist and arm tension is easy. Combined with its light weight, the Theragun Relief is one of the nicest-handling massage guns we’ve tested.
But is that enough or will performance let it down?
In general, the Theragun Relief matches the specifications Therabody provides, which is not surprising. Other massage gun manufacturers advertise a longer amplitude, more potent force, and lower noise levels than the device’s actual capabilities.
But don’t worry. Here at Massage Gun Advice, we measure those characteristics and tell you about them, so you know what to expect.
The Theragun Relief has an amplitude of 10mm, which makes it Therabody’s shortest-amplitude massage gun. In comparison, the Theragun Mini has 12mm.
Amplitude, or stroke length, is the distance the head covers as the massage gun percusses. The full-size Theraguns are known for being 16mm high-amplitude massage guns, and their Theragun Mini comes with a significant 12mm.
Understanding that stall force can somewhat make up for the lack of amplitude, let’s find out if this is the case with the Theragun Relief.
This force is the required amount of pressure needed to stop the motor.
Having a higher stall force is generally sought after by those looking for a remedial-style massage2. However, for soothing massages, minimum pressure is needed as the massage gun should glide over the body lightly.
The Theragun Relief and the Theragun Mini share the same motor, which has a stall force of 20 lbs. Typically, it is easier to stall a massage gun’s motor when used at a slower speed. Conversely, at higher RPMs, the device should need more pressure to stall.
From our testing, the Theragun Relief stalls easily (check out our video to see the test), has the shortest amplitude and has the lowest stall force seen in Theraguns. It can only provide gentle massages.
From experience, it is easier to stall a muscle massager at low speeds than at high RPM, and a mini massage gun with a higher RPM range would be more difficult to stall.
The Ekrin 365 massage gun revs up to 3200 RPM, and its stall force increases from 28 lbs to 40 lbs as the speed increases, therefore, you are in control of the massage intensity.
The Theragun Relief follows the same percussion range and number of speed settings as all the Theraguns. The three speeds available are 1750 RPM, 2100 RPM, and 2400 RPM.
Therabody Theragun small and mini massage guns, all have these three speed settings, while the larger full-size Theraguns, they have the same RPM range (1750 – 2400 RPM) but more speeds (i.e., Theragun Pro has 5 speeds).
It’s not a big issue as three speeds are the standard we have seen on mini massagers.
Surrounding the On/Off button, three tiny LEDs indicate the speed the muscle massager is at. Also, the gentle increase on the noise will give it away.
With the three aspects mentioned above, the Theragun Relief is Therabody’s gentlest massager. It seems they have decided to cover another corner and integrate a different group of users under their umbrella.
To get the best deep tissue massage, high amplitude, and stall force are demanded, so the intensity is added to the massage.
Sports massagers with high percussions per minute (above 3000 RPM) and a medium amplitude can achieve similar results. For example, the Ekrin Kestrel has 13mm and can go up to 3500 RPM.
Therabody Theragun has improved the noise aspect of its percussion massagers over time, and in the small and mini massage gun segment, this is remarkable.
Starting with the harsh noise and 61.5 dB from the Theragun Mini 1st Gen, the sound improved, and the noise dropped slightly on the Mini 2nd Gen.
The Theragun Relief must now be the quietest massage gun in the family for the following reasons.
On our bench test, the noise at the lowest and the highest speed was minimum and under 30 dB (the digital gauge measures from 30 dB). It is really whisper quiet.
By today’s standards, convenience is what we all expect, and Therabody has not included a specific charger like in the old days. This small massage gun comes with a USB-C cable compatible with any device or phone you have at home.
Depending on the type of charger you’re using, it will take at least 90 minutes to fully charge.
Has the battery duration been reduced in this smaller massager?
The user manual says this small massage gun can last 2 hours. This is the absolute maximum expected at a minimum load.
This means that, in reality, when using it at higher speeds and applying some pressure, more power is required, the battery drains quicker, and it will need to be recharged sooner. So even if you get a total of 1.5 hours of relaxing massages, it is still a great deal.
If we compare it to the Ekrin 365 massage gun, the latter has a battery capable of lasting twice as long as the one on the Theragun Relief (4 to 6 hours). That’s very convenient for eager users who need the massager ready at any time and less time plugged into the wall.
The Theragun Relief is Theragun’s most basic percussion massager so far. Thus, it does not have Bluetooth capability for connecting to a smartphone. This is another change from the previous Theragun Mini 2.0, which has this capability included.
This way, Therabody Theragun offers this small massage gun at the lowest price from all their sports massagers.
Well, it all depends. If you have had the chance to see Theragun Relief’s publicity, it is targeting a specific age group: our beloved seniors.
The Theragun Relief Massage Gun is perfect for the elderly as it is basic and simple to operate. It doesn’t have OLED, a sensor pressure, Bluetooth connectivity, or even one button and three LEDs surrounding it; that’s it.
Moreover, it is small and light, which makes it easier for seniors to handle it around. Its amplitude and stall force configuration create a very gentle intensity to reduce any possible harm while focusing on soothing massages.
The Theragun Relief Massage Gun is available directly from Theragun’s official website or through authorised retailers. Look out for seasonal discounts to make the investment even sweeter.
This small massage gun can be bought from the Therabody shop for $149, and is $20 cheaper than its sibling, the Theragun Mini 2.0.
By the way, Therabody has recently launched Theragun Mini 3.0, and you can get it for $210.
Theragun offers a one-year warranty on all its percussion massagers, with the exception of the Theragun Pro, which has a two-year warranty.
There are competitors that offer more than Theragun Relief does. In our opinion, the best Theragun Relief alternative is the Ekrin 365 massage gun.
The Ekrin 365 is a massage gun for seniors and beginners. It is still quite versatile. It is a lightweight muscle massager with a long handle that easily helps you reach your sore middle back.
It has more stall force than the Theragun Relief, which is progressive as the speed level increases. That means you can press harder to treat more muscular body parts or with more padding without stalling the motor.
The speed range is broader, from 2000 RPM to 3200 RPM to add intensity to the percussive therapy.
With a 12mm amplitude, the Ekrin 365 massage gun is less vibrational and more suited to percussive therapy3.
It is also simple to operate. The base of the handle has an On/Off switch, and on top, there is a one-button operation for choosing between five speed levels. Around the top of this muscle massager, a sensor ring lights up as the user applies more pressure.
But that’s not all, my friends. The ergonomics are excellent, as it has a 15° degree tilted rubberized handle that reduces wrist stress compared to T-shaped handles.
The Ekrin 365’s battery provides double the running time of the Theragun Relief, and the cherry on top is that Ekrin Athletics offers a lifetime warranty on all its devices!
The Bob and Brad Massage Gun brand has hit the mark with this massage gun, offering exceptional quality inclusions.
Its handle is a bit longer than the one in Theraguns; for some people, this may make a difference in ergonomics. Particularly for people with small hands, the length might make it a little awkward to hold comfortably for any period of time.
The smooth finish of the handle gives the device a premium feel. The top of the grip features an anti-slip texture for better control even when you’re a sweaty mess.
The Bob and Brad D5 Pro is whisper quiet at 42 dB to 51 dB. Because of its longer 12.8mm amplitude, it is louder than a muscle massager with 10mm or less.
It also features four pre-set massage modes, each providing a different RPM cycle. The selected mode is displayed on the LCD panel located at the top of the device.
It is a quality device that delivers effective percussive therapy. We love its quiet massage and premium feel. The ergonomics are good for most, with the D-shape frame and the anti-slip oval handle making massaging hard-to-reach muscles a cinch.
Combined with the large ball massage gun attachment, we felt the amplitude was sufficient for everyday users but lacked the punch we hoped for (as seen on 16 mm muscle massagers).
| Ekrin 365 Buy here | D5 Pro Buy here | Theragun Relief Buy here |
|---|---|---|
 |  | |
| 20% off | $30 off MGAD5PRO code | 10% off $149.99 |
| • 12mm, 28 – 40 lbs • 4 speeds • 2000-3200 RPM • 4_attachments • Weight: 1.7 lbs | • 12.8mm – 55 lbs • 5 speeds • 1500-2500 RPM • 5_attachments • Weight: 2.18 lbs | • 10mm, 20lbs, • 3 speeds • 1750-2400 RPM • 3_attachments • Weight: 1.37 lbs |
| • For lymphatic drainage. • For the elder. • For women and people with small hands. | • A stronger alternative. • Air cushion head. • Good variety of attachments. • For someone more muscular. | • For seniors. • For gentle massages. |
If you’re looking for a reliable, effective, and ergonomic small massage gun, the Theragun Relief is a standout option. It delivers relaxation massages in a compact and user-friendly design.
It is destined to the senior community or for someone looking for an entry-level muscle massager.
Nevertheless, we have highlighted the Ekrin 365 massage gun as a more versatile device that offers gentle and more intense massages.
While the Theragun Relief excels in simplicity, ergonomics and low noise, it’s important to note:
What about the 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.
| Ekrin Kestrel | Theragun Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Amplitude | 13 mm | 16 mm |
| Stall Force | ~56 lbs | ~60 lbs |
| RPM Range | 1800-3500 RPM | 1750 – 2400 RPM |
| Speeds | 6 | 5, unlimited with Therabody app |
| Massage gun Attachments | 6 (well-varied set) | 6 (all soft) |
| Battery Capacity | 2500 mAh | 2500 mAh |
| Charging Type | USB-C | USB-C |
| Price | $262.49 20% OFF Buy at ekrin.com | $599 Buy at Therabody.com |
Performance
Performance
Everything Else
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 – it’s the first sports massager we’ve seen that can hit deep and rev so fast.
And don’t forget about one crucial 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.
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 lineup, and they more than delivered. Superb!
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>March 7, 2025:</strong> Small content corrections and in internal linking. <em>(Author: Mario)</em>
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Mario
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