Massage Gun Reviews

Since Christmas is coming up I want to buy my boyfriend one of those crazy massage guns. Were both climbers and he has a real issues massaging out his forearms and groin area. There are several massage guns currently for sale but I can't figure out which one to get. Anyone have any suggestions on which one to get??

• I cut off a knob from my theracane and epoxied it to a filed down jigsaw blade and put it on a 3 dollar jigsaw from a garage sale. You can buy a massage tip for a regular jigsaw (around 40 on amazon) but much easier and cheaper to make if you're crafty. 

My friend has a Tim-Tam and it’s nice for the price. I made my own for much less and I like it better. It’s cordless and variable speed. I used this jigsaw and this adapter with a 3/4” rubber tip over it (like for a chair leg).

Cant speak to the other “massage guns” out there but I did just buy the Thera Gun and can say its pretty awesome. It works on the principle of vivration therapy which stimilulates blood flow thereby encouraging recovery. For your forarms The Thera Gun doesnt seem to get as deep as the Arm Aid which at 70-90$ is $500 less. If your boyfriends doesnt already have an arm aid I would reccomend he try that first for his forarms. It is much lighter, silent, and doesnt rely on batteries. Not sure the arm aid will work on his goin however Im not sure you would want the Theragun punching you in the groin either.  Hope that helps! 

Sam Cieply wrote: My friend has a Tim-Tam and it’s nice for the price. I made my own for much less and I like it better. It’s cordless and variable speed. I used this jigsaw and this adapter with a 3/4” rubber tip over it (like for a chair leg).

That jigsaw setup is terrifying but also perhaps brilliant.

I work at a gym and we have had a few of the message guns. The Theragun is the loudest and most aggressive. We have the Hypervolt now and that one is more user friendly and quieter.

Also, you can get a black and decker oscillating sander for around $30 and it works just as good. All you are doing with the message guns is breaking up muscle tissue, why pay $600 for that when $30 will do the same. The B&B oscillating sander is must less terrifying than the homemade jigsaws too, less chance of impalement.

Just want to bump and see if anyone else has experience with the massage guns. I'm looking at getting the hypervolt as well.  I currently foam roll and lacrose ball roll my legs but they're still stiff, and I've been developing plantar faciitis. Going to my Physical Therapist feels great but is pretty costly.  

Does anyone that has a gun or the jigsaw setup think they are better than a foam roller?

thanks!

I haven't had extensive experience with them, but I've tried both the Hypervolt and the Addaday BioZoom.  Personally I liked the Addaday slightly better and it is a fraction of the cost of the Hypervolt.

Andy Thorsell wrote: I haven't had extensive experience with them, but I've tried both the Hypervolt and the Addaday BioZoom.  Personally I liked the Addaday slightly better and it is a fraction of the cost of the Hypervolt.

Thanks Andy, what did you like better about the Addaday? And what about the noise on these, can you use them and still listen to the TV?

Hypervolt is really quiet, definitely an improvement over my DIY jigsaw design in that regard.

sandrock wrote: Just want to bump and see if anyone else has experience with the massage guns. I'm looking at getting the hypervolt as well.  I currently foam roll and lacrose ball roll my legs but they're still stiff, and I've been developing plantar faciitis. Going to my Physical Therapist feels great but is pretty costly.  

Does anyone that has a gun or the jigsaw setup think they are better than a foam roller?

thanks!

Yes, I have a Theragun and I think it's better than all my other PT toys by a large margin. It's essentially fixed a shoulder that I've struggled with for a year with the usual Therabands, lacrosse balls etc..

I recently used it on my legs during a ski vacation and it felt great.

Get one with a good return policy and try it. 

jdejace wrote:

Yes, I have a Theragun and I think it's better than all my other PT toys by a large margin. It's essentially fixed a shoulder that I've struggled with for a year with the usual Therabands, lacrosse balls etc..

I recently used it on my legs during a ski vacation and it felt great.

Get one with a good return policy and try it. 

I also have a Theragun (Liv model - cheapest one) and I friggin' love it. I use it in the mornings and after gym sessions for like 5-10 minutes and it greatly accelerates my recovery. And like jdejace I also use/used many other massage tools and the percussion massager works better, faster, and with way less effort. My only complaint with the model I have is that it's single speed and a little loud. The Hypervolt is definitely superior on those fronts but if you don't want to spend the $$$ the Theragun is still great.

sandrock wrote:

Thanks Andy, what did you like better about the Addaday? And what about the noise on these, can you use them and still listen to the TV?

More options on the Addaday, 5 speeds vs 3 on the Hypervolt and I liked the heads better (think the Addaday had more heads too, can’t quite remember though).  Both were pretty quiet, I wasn’t testing them side by side so I couldn’t make a distinction on which is quieter, you would be able to listen to the TV while using both.

Thanks everyone, seems like the Hypervolt or the Theragun Pro are the best. The interwebs says the Theragun Pro is stronger, feels more like a deep tissue massage, but very loud and distrupting to anyone else in the house. The Hypervolt is not as powerful, but quiet and you can use while having a conversation. I might order both and just return the one I don't like, not sure yet.

To add another opinion... I have the Ached Away massage gun and have found it to be awesome. Surprisingly quiet, plenty of power, great battery life, and it comes with several different attachment heads. I haven't used the other products available and got the Ached Away based on reviews and I have been super happy. I really like that it has 5 different levels, it makes for easy progressions in intensity. Realistically, these things probably provide just temporary and superficial relief but I love it and it makes me happy and I would buy another one if mine disappeared.

Kevin Green wrote: I work at a gym and we have had a few of the message guns. The Theragun is the loudest and most aggressive. We have the Hypervolt now and that one is more user friendly and quieter.

Also, you can get a black and decker oscillating sander for around $30 and it works just as good. All you are doing with the message guns is breaking up muscle tissue, why pay $600 for that when $30 will do the same. The B&B oscillating sander is must less terrifying than the homemade jigsaws too, less chance of impalement.

The sander sounds like an interesting approach.  Do you put anything on the attachment point or is it just bare? These things just move side to side.  Don't the massage guns rotate side to side but also front to back?  Just curious - never used one but I have always thought I'd be nice.  

Conor Pesci wrote:

The sander sounds like an interesting approach.  Do you put anything on the attachment point or is it just bare? These things just move side to side.  Don't the massage guns rotate side to side but also front to back?  Just curious - never used one but I have always thought I'd be nice.  

The pad where you stick the sandpaper is a stiffer foam, so no need to worry about that. If you go this route, make sure to get the one that oscillates in a circle, not just back and forth. The back and forth ones have a different way of attaching the sandpaper (clips vs spray adhesive) and I imagine it wouldnt work as well. 

The expensive message guns are just little jig saws. the go up and down so you don't need much pressure. the orbital sanders go in an orbit (aptly named), not up and down, so you will have to apply a bit more pressure. Still breaks up the muscle tissue though. 

I’m a rock climber for over 10 years and I've owned several massage guns and the bob and brad is the best (and a fraction of the cost). I've had the theragun, hypervolt, kraft, etc. I’m often straining muscles it odd way and this really helps on the spot. Plus it works great for that forearm burn between climbs. I use it pretty much everyday.

Tried a cheap and effective massage gun (under $100), powerful enough and quiet!

Costco model (the one I tried):   costco.com/sharper-image-po…

Maybe the non-Costco model: bedbathandbeyond.com/store/…;mcid=OS_googlepla

I've been using the knock off brand Dark Iron from Amazon for $75 for a few months my hammies after running (apparent I have other hobbies besides climbing), and seems worth the price