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10 best massage guns for every budget
If your muscles regularly ache after a workout, a personal massage gun could be the answer.
By Louise Baty | Last updated Apr 17, 2024
With spas and treatment rooms only just opening back up again after being closed for months due to Covid-19, you may have been missing your regular sports massages. Massage therapy can work wonders on muscle aches and pains, whether you’re a professional athlete or an occasional exerciser. The good news is that you don’t have to see a professional masseuse to get results.
In recent times, a fair few Mumsnetters have been asking for advice on how to ease muscle pain after exercise and there seems to be one overriding answer: personal massage guns. As one satisfied Mumsnetter, ShirleyPhallus, reports: “I have a massage gun and it’s absolutely amazing. Gets rid of the DOMS pretty much right away.”
Another Mumsnetter, Tellto, advises: “Massage gun off Amazon. Best 70 quid ever.”Massage guns have surged in popularity in recent years and you may find that one of these clever handheld tools is exactly what your tired muscles have been crying out for - whether it’s your calves, quads, glutes or any other muscle group.
Also known as percussive massagers, massage guns may look a bit menacing, but they have only good intentions. By providing short bursts of pressure into your muscle tissue, they increase blood flow to the targeted area, helping to ease all sorts of aches and pains.
Percussion therapy not only provides pain relief but can also help to hydrate tissue, improve posture, enhance sleep quality and also help you warm up faster before exercise.
Cordless and rechargeable, the best massage guns offer a choice of different attachment heads in different shapes and sizes. Whether you want to work on your shoulders, glutes, quads, spine or Achilles tendon, you should be covered.
One thing to note is that while these clever devices do vibrate, they can cause nasty injuries if applied to the wrong body parts. So if you’re looking for, ahem, another type of vibrating handheld gadget, check out our guide to the best sex toys for women instead.
And now, without further diversion, here’s our round-up of the best 10 massage guns for 2021.
1. Best overall massage gun: RenPho R3 Massage Gun
Price: £84.99 | Buy now from Amazon
“RenPho are popular on here.” RagzReturnsRebooted
This excellent massage gun, which retails at under £100, gets glowing reviews across the boards and Mumsnetters consistently rate RenPho as a health and fitness equipment brand. In fact, you’ll also find a RenPho product at the top of our best bathroom scales round-up.
This massage gun has five quality head attachments - ball, bullet, fork, air cushion and flat - which should cover all your recovery needs. Choose between five speeds - the brushless motor can switch between 1800 to 3200rpm/minute while remaining surprisingly quiet.
The RenPho R3 is lightweight and easy to handle in comparison to other massage guns of similar size, and you’ll get a stylish grey carry case for trips to the gym. Fully charged, the battery lasts an impressive six hours but, if you need to give it a boost when you’re out and about, there’s a useful USB charging cable too.
Pros
Great all-rounder
Portable and easy to charge on the go
Cons
The handle tends to vibrate at full power
Specs
Battery life: 6 hours
Weight: 680g
Speed settings: Five speed levels
Attachments: Five head attachments
2. Best budget massage gun: RenPho Deep Tissue Massager
Price: £31.44 | Buy now from Amazon
“I have a cheap one from Amazon (RenPho Hand Held Deep Tissue Massager) and I used it to massage my calves and feet. In doing so I got rid of the plantar fasciitis I'd had for nearly a year. I can't recommend enough.” Franticbutterfly
Yes, it’s another RenPho! A brilliant budget option, the RenPho Deep Tissue Massager looks less weapon-like than some gun massagers but still uses percussive therapy. It’s especially useful for targeting painful, stiff shoulders as happy Mumsnetter LilyRose88 reports: “Have a look on Amazon - search for RenPho Massager. I paid around £35 for mine. It’s a bit heavy but I can manage to hold it for quite a while and it works wonders on my shoulders.”
Offering three speeds, there are four power modes up to 3600 pulses per minute. The five different head attachments should suit all your needs although it’s worth noting that they’re made from hard plastic rather than the more forgiving rubber heads you’d find on more expensive models. Cordless and rechargeable, the fully charged battery lasts 140 minutes.
Pros
Value for money
Easy to use
Cons
Hard plastic attachments rather than rubber
Specs
Battery life: 2 hours 20 minutes
Weight: 800g
Speed settings: Three speed levels
Attachments: Five head attachments
3. Best massage gun for noise reduction: Fylina Massage Gun
Price: £69.99 | Buy now from Amazon
Emitting less than 50 decibels when in use thanks to Noise Reduction Technology, this deceptively quiet massage gun is surprisingly powerful. Capable of producing 1800 to 3300 strokes per minute to reach tissue as deep as 10mm, the Fylina Massage Gun also has six differently shaped heads for you to choose from, depending on your requirements.
You can use the LCD liquid crystal touch screen to choose from 20 intensity modes and the rechargeable battery lasts an impressively lengthy eight hours, giving you a lot of massage time per charge.
Pros
Long battery life
Excellent value
Cons
May be too heavy for some users
Specs
Battery life: 8 hours
Weight: 1.8kg
Speed settings: 20 speed levels
Attachments: Six head attachments
4. Best massage gun for battery life: Ekupuz Massage Gun
Price: £39.99 | Buy now from Amazon
Adept at deep tissue massages, the Ekupuz Massage Gun is powered by a 2500mAh rechargeable lithium battery, which lasts for eight hours once fully charged. With 20 speed adjustments and six massage heads, this is an incredibly versatile massage gun at a bargain price.
It has a high powered brushless motor - offering between 2200 to 3200 percussions per minute - and you can adjust to various frequencies and vibration strengths by using the LED indicator touch screen. The only criticism from independent reviewers is that the larger ball head attachment can take a long time to massage bigger surface areas such as backs.
Pros
Long battery life
Value for money
Cons
Not as effective on larger surface areas
Specs
Battery life: 8 hours
Weight: 1.7kg
Speed settings: 20 speed levels
Attachments: six head attachments
5. Best hardwearing massage gun: Wattne Muscle Massage Gun Deep Tissue Percussion Massager
Price: £85.99 | Buy now from Amazon
The cordless deep-massage gun from Wattne comes with six customisable massaging applicators so you can tailor it to your needs and target specific areas of the body. The smooth silicone handle is easy to hold and, if you’re on the clumsy side, you’ll enjoy the tough anti-drop shell, which makes it more likely to handle the occasional mishap.
Despite the powerful 1200 to 3300 percussions per minute offered by the powerful motor, the working noise of the Wattne Muscle Massage Gun won’t go above 50 decibels. It also comes with a portable carry case so you can sling it in with your sports kit or into your overnight bag.
Pros
Ergonomic design
Easy to handle
Cons
Heavier than some massage guns
Specs
Battery life: Up to four hours
Weight: 1.45kg
Speed settings: 20 speed levels
Attachments: Six head attachments
6. Best professional massage gun: Theragun Prime
Price: £275 | Buy now from Boots
“We have the Theragun. It is an absolute godsend. Would really recommend it.” Navteexo
“It's heavenly in these hellish times!” 2KeyorNot2Key
Theragun massage guns are the real deal and you can expect to pay a fair whack for one of these. That said, independent reviewers report that they’re worth their weight in gold. Mumsnetters love them too, waxing lyrically about them on our forums: “We’ve got a Theragun. I think it cost a fortune but it does the job!” says Lou573 and Neron (a professional therapist) admits: “I have several.”
Theragun claim that their unique Percussive Therapy is able to reach tissue at 16mm depth - deeper than most other massage guns. The Theragun Prime certainly looks the part with its ergonomic handle, four foam-ended attachments, LED display, QuietForce brushless motor, five speeds and a travel pouch. There’s even a Therabody app and bluetooth connectivity so you can customise your massage. The battery life is relatively short at two hours though.
Pros
Unique ergonomic design
Hi-tech bluetooth connectivity and app (Apple and IoS compatible)
Cons
Expensive
Specs
Battery life: Two hours
Weight: 997g
Speed settings: Five speed levels
Attachments: Four head attachments
7. Best lightweight massage gun: OPOVE Massage Gun
Price: £119.99 | Buy now from Amazon
The OPOVE Massage Gun has six different head attachments to handle different massage requirements. There are only three speed options - less than other massage guns - but it’s powerful, offering up to 3200 percussions per minute. Fully charged, it lasts up to three hours - not as long as some massage guns but enough time for around a week’s worth of deep tissue massage, according to the manufacturer.
Portable and relatively lightweight at only 998 grams, the OPOVE Massage Gun has its own travel case so you can take it with you to use after workouts. That said, reviewers say that it can be a bit bulky to use one handed - for shoulder massages, for instance - so you might need to rope in a willing helper.
Pros
Lightweight and portable
Six attachments heads
Cons
Can be bulky to hold in one hand for shoulder massages
Specs
Battery life: Up to three hours
Weight: 998g
Speed settings: Three speed levels
Attachments: Six head attachments
8. Best massage gun for deep tissue massage: Pulseroll Massage Gun
Price: £177.41 | Buy now from Amazon
This red and black massage gun looks the business and would certainly pep up your sports kit. It comes in its own red and black carry case too, although this looks more like a power tool kit than a sports recovery device. With four speed levels and six massage heads, however, this massage gun offers plenty of choice.
The battery life is relatively long, with a full charge lasting around three hours. Ideal for deep tissue massage, it can reach muscle as deep as 12mm. Reviewers say that despite offering a lot of power, the Pulseroll Massage Gun is surprisingly quiet, emitting only a gentle hum when at work.
Pros
Powerful yet quiet
Long lasting battery life
Cons
Chunky to hold
Specs
Battery life: Three hours
Weight: 1.1kg
Speed settings: Four speed levels
Attachments: Six massage heads
9. Best travel massage gun: Recovapro Lite
Price: £159 | Buy now from Amazon
Available in a variety of swish shades including silver, pure white, black and blue, this sleek handheld sports recovery device slips easily into your gym bag or overnight bag making it the ideal travel massage gun.
Weighing only 700 grams, the Recovapro Lite has five speed choices with 1500 percussions per minute at the lower end - ideal for sensitive areas. It’s comfortable to hold - even one-handed - during your massage session and it offers oodles of features including five speed settings, four interchangeable heads - fork, flat, bullet and round ball - to target different areas, along with a carry case and a snazzy, easy-to-use charging mat. The battery lasts for three hours too.
Pros
Stylish and lightweight
Uses unique charging mat rather than cables
Cons
May not be powerful enough for some users
Specs
Battery life: Three hours
Weight: 700g
Speed settings: Five speeds
Attachments: Four head attachments
10. Best gentle massage gun: WAHL Deep Tissue Cordless Massager
Price: £79.99 | Buy now from Amazon
This cordless massage gun is unusually shaped with an ergonomic rubber handle for easy handling when you’re aiming for hard-to-reach areas. It offers some great features for the price, including five different head attachments, which you can easily swap depending on requirements. There are also two variable speed settings - ‘intense’ or ‘gentle’ - which may hit the spot if you want your muscles soothed rather than pounded.
The WAHL Massage Gun is a great value for money massage gun for occasional use or if you’re a novice at sports massage and want to be eased in gently. The only downside is that it doesn’t have a carry case so could be a faff to carry around or store.
Pros
Unique shape
Gentler than some massage guns
Cons
No carry case
Specs
Battery life: 200 minutes on high power, 400 minutes on low power
Weight: 1.1kg
Speed settings: Two speed settings
Attachments: Five head attachments
Is it worth buying a massage gun?
It’s common to suffer from sore muscles after exercise, especially if you’ve recently started a new routine or increased the intensity of your work. This pain is known as delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) and it usually starts a day or two after exercising. Massage guns have been found to reduce the pain of DOMS so if you suffer with it but can’t factor in regular sports massages between workouts, you may benefit from using a massage gun at home instead.
Does a massage gun really work?
Massage guns work by producing a percussive force which breaks up muscle tightness and knots, and reduces aches and pains. You may think that there’s no way that a handheld gadget could come close to a sports massage. But a study by the Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research found that percussive therapy can actually be as effective as an actual massage when it comes to treating DOMS.
How do you use a massage gun?
They may look intimidating but the beauty of a massage gun is that it’s pretty straightforward to handle. You can use a massage gun whenever you want to ease muscle tension but it’s designed to be used before each workout to warm up your muscles by heightening blood flow or afterwards to aid your recovery.
Ensuring your massage gun is charged up, choose the speed and head attachment most suited to the area of your body you’re targeting. Then turn it on and hold it an inch or so from your skin allowing it to ‘float’ and pulsate over your intended target.
It’s important to know the risks of using a massage gun. Used incorrectly, a massage gun could cause muscle damage, ruptured blood vessels or nerve sensitivity. Take care around bony, sensitive areas and avoid massaging nerves and blood vessels, especially in the neck. Always should start on a slow setting and never over massage one part of the body. If you’re pregnant or have deep vein thrombosis (DVT), always consult a doctor before using a massage gun.
How do I choose a massage gun?
People looking to purchase a massage gun may wish to consider:
Speed and power - most massage guns offer a choice of power and speed settings
Weight - some massage guns are well over 1kg while others are lighter and more portable
Battery life - a couple of massage guns on our list have batteries which will keep going for eight hours; other massage guns will need charging more frequently
Choice of head attachments: most massage guns offer a variety of head attachments in order to suit different muscle groups
Size - Massage guns can range in size from around 700g to almost 2kg; about how you’ll use your massage gun and how easy it will be for you to hold it one-handed if required
Carry case - If you want to take your massage gun to the gym, a carry case would be helpful; some massage guns come with their own protective case
What's the best massage gun on the market?
The best massage gun on the market is the RenPho R3 Massage Gun which offers lots of great features for under £100 including five head attachments and speeds, a long-lasting battery and handy carry case, and a USB charging cable so you can take it with you wherever you’re working out.
How we chose our recommendations
Our suggestions for massage guns came from recommendations on the Mumsnet forums and from consumer reviews on the web. We consulted NHS advice on pain after exercising as well as checking independent review sites for opinions about products to ensure we were bringing you an honest summary of massage guns for 2021.
Why you should trust us
Mumsnet has been helping make parents’ lives easier since 2000 and, in those years, we’ve seen, tried and reviewed thousands of products.
We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust and we spend hours scouring the Mumsnet forums and online bestseller lists to find products that real parents rate.
Transparency is really important to us and that's why we're always upfront about where we find our recommendations. We write about products that we feel offer the best value to most parents – the ones that our users would recommend to their own friends and family.
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