Noise: 40 dB | Stall Force: 30 lbs | Weight: 2.3 lbs | Customizability: 6 head attachments, 6 speeds | Battery Life: 6 hours | Our Overall Rating: 4.5/5 Slightly bigger, yet still very compact ones. We call them small massage guns instead of mini. Example devices Hypervolt Go 2, Renpho R3, or Taotronics PCA004. You get three different attachments (the first gen only offers one) – a standard ball, a dampener for bony areas and a thumb to target trigger points – for a more personalised massaging experience and it connects to the Therabody App via Bluetooth so you can access an extensive library of wellness routines.

Apart from what we just explained above, sometimes the cherry on the top doesn’t do any harm at all. So here are a few cherries you might want to consider when making a choice:

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Rpms are impressive as well, running at 2000-3200rpm with 3 gears to separate the intensity. This is standard percussions range for most guns in this category, but it feels slightly more stable. We’ve verified the percussion range using our laser tachometer device. Mini massage guns are especially useful for people who have weaker hands, or who have chronic arthritis pain, and can't hold heavier devices comfortably for an extended period. We like that the Theragun Mini has a sleek, ergonomic grip that helps reduce the strain on your hands. Therabody claims that this second-generation Mini is 20% smaller and 30% lighter than its predecessor, making it even more portable and perfect for travel.

Priyankaa has an MA in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University and over five years’ experience in health and fitness journalism. Priyankaa has written for Stylist’s Strong Women Training Club, where she regularly wrote about diversity in the fitness industry, nutrition tips, training advice and her experience completing various fitness challenges. She has also written for a variety of publications including Business Insider, Glamour, Bustle, Metro, HuffPost UK, gal-dem and more. This is the measure of how much faster the device can hit. However, these aren’t really the magic numbers. The sleek, sturdy device has four interchangeable heads (a bullet, a fork, a flat head and a soft head) and five oomph-inducing speed settings for more targeted recovery. The brand boldly claims it reaches 60% deeper into muscles than standard massage guns to banish deep-set aches and pains. Sure enough, it worked wonders on our tester’s sore, knotted muscles. They even felt a difference after just one use. Verywell Fit / Jhett Thompson Guide to Choosing the Best Massage Gun What to look for in a massage gunAs long as you can tolerate the noise, the Vybe V2 Percussion Massager is a good option if you only plan to use it occasionally or want to try out a massage gun before investing in a high end model. Number of attachments: One or two attachments on any device just isn’t enough for us. Get a device that has at least 4 attachments. This gives you more options to massage different parts of the body. The Renpho R3 is the other massage gun we’ve reviewed in-depth. It can’t equal the Theragun Elite for brute power (hence its four-star score), but as the second-cheapest massage gun on our list it offers amazing value for money. With massage guns, big is often better. At least if you really want to get results. But small is just as good if not better. They will not give you intensive percussion therapy, but they will offer you just about enough to keep you going. They will work to:

Additionally, it comes with two rechargeable batteries, so you can charge one while the other is in use. Gua sha: This traditional Chinese healing technique uses a tool to apply pressure to acupressure points and scrape your skin. Tools come in different shapes to target specific areas of the body. They’re small enough to toss in your bag to use on the go. Professional sessions are available, often from acupuncturists. It comes with 4 attachments and a very informative instructional manual on how to use the heads. You’ll also be pleased to learn that it comes in a nicely done travel case. Quite obviously, when you shop for a mini massage gun the size and weight are two very important factors. You should know that although most massage gun brands tend to call small massage guns as ‘mini’, there are two main types as far as size is concerned. The full-sized massage guns will still give you all of these, or perhaps even better, but the important thing here is the portability the little percussive devices offer you instead.Move slowly up and down the length of the muscle for around 30 seconds – if you find a particularly sore spot (or ‘trigger point’), spend a little more time on it, but there's no need to apply more pressure. Try not to wince. So even if you’re not the sporty type, a massage gun can do wonders for your physical and mental health, and even help you wind down for a good night’s sleep. It's the definition of simple. Just point the gun at your fleshy target – around an inch away from your skin over whichever muscle you’re trying to loosen or warm up – and hit the trigger for instant relief.

Despite the power, it weighs in at a svelte 2.1lbs, so you won’t feel the weight in your bag when you bring it to the gym. Plus, it’s quiet enough to use in the weight room, so you can use it for short massages between sets. Its automatic shutoff feature limits sessions to 10 minutes, which should be plenty for pre-and post-workout massages. Specs

The Theragun Elite is a favorite among chiropractors, athletes, and casual exercisers, as it features a powerful motor and five attachable heads for targeted muscle relief.