One of the hottest trends in fitness right now is percussion massager guns. From track athletes to MMA fighters, to Joe Rogan, and yes of course – the dreaded Instagram influencers. With benefits including reduced inflammation, reduction of scar tissue, shortening recovery times and so much more, this tool has made such a difference to my recovery times after Muay Thai and BJJ training.
There’s an overwhelming amount of handheld percussion massage guns online, so I’ve put together this guide so you can make an informed purchase and get back to training as soon as possible.
I have included my top three choices, a guide to finding the right massage gun for you, and a few new massager guns that are breaking the mold in really interesting ways.
- Professional Deep Tissue Massager Gun – from TaoTronics
- REATHLETE DEEP4S – Zeos
- Deep Tissue Percussion Massager Gun – from Chirogun
- Handheld Percussion and Vibration Massager – from Mighty Bliss
- Pulse FX – from LifePro
- Deep Tissue Pulse Massage Gun – from Apollo Kinetics
- Alluren Massage Gun – from Reserve Q
Professional Deep Tissue Massager Gun – from TaoTronics
Guru’s Choice: Best Overall
The gun comes with 6 exchangeable massager heads (reviewers don’t seem to have found a use for all of these, but most regularly use at least four of them), and comes with 10 different speed settings. This combination will give you every option you’re looking for, and a little bit extra.
Now, let’s talk about one of the real highlights of TaoTronic, its 10 HOUR (yes, that’s right, 10 hours) battery life. Nothing less on this list even comes close to that. 10 hours of battery life means around a week without having to charge the massager gun, or worrying about when you’re going to charge it.
The massager gun has an LED control screen that allows you to easily adjust your machine’s settings mid-massage. Its handle has a non-slip rubber grip, so you can use it even after (or sometimes during, if you’re really struggling, no judgement here) a sweaty training session.
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What I Love
- 10 hour battery life
- Comes with 10 speed settings
- Comes with 6 massager heads
- Comes with a travel case
The machine is powered by a 24V brushless motor – which is near silent. You won’t believe how quiet this thing is, even on its hardest setting you can only hear the sound of it hitting your skin. Which means you can get away with using this in the gym or at work without getting any weird looks.
This massager makes an excellent travelling companion with its sleek travel case. It also comes with a built-in feature that stops the machine before it overheats – the machine will auto-shutdown after 15 minutes of continuous use. This machine is designed for longevity.
Reviewers claim once you try this percussion massager you will never go back to anything else.
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REATHLETE DEEP4S – Zeos
Guru’s Choice: Best Luxe Option
This is the massage gun that my physio friends will adore. This is a powerful machine that can reach up to 3200 percussions per minute (this is one of the fastest machines on this list). The long battery life means that it can be used on clients all day without fear of it running out mid-session.
What I Love
- 8 Hour battery life
- Comes with 4 speed settings
- Comes with 5 massager heads
- Ergonomic handle
The triangle handle of this massage gun can absorb a lot of the vibrations from those 3200 percussions, meaning that it can be used for a long period of time without the user suffering any wrist damage. This is also a very quiet machine, so it won’t give them a headache having to listen to this all day.
With a respectable selection of 5 exchangeable massager heads, many physios will find this a great all-purpose tool to add to their collection. This massager gun has enough options to give you flexibility, but not so many that you feel overwhelmed, or find yourself carrying around thousands of little pieces to make the machine work.
Deep Tissue Percussion Massager Gun – from Chirogun
Guru’s Choice: Most Customizable
With 15 massager head options, and 30 speed options that’s… I can’t even do the math to work out how many combinations that is, but it’s a lot.
I’ll admit I don’t know if I would personally be able to find a use for each of those massager gun heads, but having that much control over the speed of the gun would make me very happy. The massager gun even comes with a case to store all the extra attachments and massage balls.
What I Love
- Comes with 15 massager heads (and two free massage balls)
- Comes with 30 speed settings
- Comes with a carrying case
- 6 hour battery life
I have noticed some talk online about how the batteries on this machine don’t last for very long, but this doesn’t appear to be affecting everyone. So, I would recommend exploring that more if you’re interested in purchasing this massager gun.
How to Choose the Best Percussion Massager Gun For You
With their seemingly endless list of benefits, it’s so tempting to jump in and buy the first percussion massager you see. However, if your machine isn’t customisable enough, portable enough, or strong enough then you’ll be wasting your money.
Originally developed to help with soft tissue injuries, in the last decade percussion massager guns have become the must-have recovery tool for most sports. No longer do you have to sacrifice hours to the torture device that is the foam roller! A percussion massager gun will give you better results in minutes.
Originally developed to help with soft tissue injuries, in the last decade percussion massager guns have become the must-have recovery tool for most sports. No longer do you have to sacrifice hours to the torture device that is the foam roller! A percussion massager gun will give you better results in minutes.
Studies over the last few years have proven that not only can percussion massager guns break down scar tissue, reduce inflammation, and prevent delayed onset muscle soreness, but they can produce a whole host of benefits outside the gym.
One study found that regular use of a percussion massager gun can result in lower blood pressure, improved digestion and even better sleep (and who doesn’t want that).
You will want to make sure that the machine you buy has features that will work for you. If you want to use it on multiple areas of your body being able to change the speed and strength of the massager is crucial.
You will also want to look for well built, well-reviewed machines that you know are going to last you a long time, as even though these machines are cheaper than getting regular massages, they are still an investment.
3 Important Factors to Consider When Choosing a Percussion Massager Gun
No matter the reason that’s got you interested in percussion massager guns, it is essential to consider these three factors when shopping for your new massager gun.
- Not all muscles are made equal. It’s important that you look for a massage gun that offers you multiple speeds, pattern settings, and exchangeable heads. Trust me, you don’t want to use exactly the same thing on the back of your neck as you do on your calf. You should be looking for a massager gun that comes with at least 3 speed settings, and if possible 4-6 massager head options.
- Battery life can make all the difference when it comes to massager guns. Not being able to finish a full treatment without stopping to charge can seriously increase your chance of suffering from bad DOMS. I recommend looking for a machine with at least 6 hours of battery life.
- Finally, make sure your massager provides enough Percussions Per Minute (PPM) for your needs. If you have tight muscles you may need high PPM to find relief and you’re investing in a piece of kit like a massager gun, you want to make sure it’s strong enough for you. If you’re looking to treat injuries look for machines with above 1500PPM, athletes may want to look for something more powerful with at least 2400PPM.
Check out this post from actor James McAvoy showing his massage gun his action:
Here Are Some Other Hand-Held Percussion Massagers Worth Considering:
Handheld Percussion and Vibration Massager – from Mighty Bliss
This massager is a completely different shape from everything else on this list, so you may be wondering why I’ve picked it. I love this massager for two main reasons.
Firstly, this massager offers both percussion and vibration settings, meaning that it provides both the deep massage from the percussion and the softer, inflammation relieving vibrations.
Secondly, I love the longer handle on this massager as it helps reach awkward areas of the back without straining any tender muscles. This massager also comes with a lifetime warranty (which is never a bad thing).
What I Love
- Has both vibration and percussion options
- Long handle helps to reach difficult areas
- Vibration options can be used on the face and neck
What’s Meh
- The percussion settings on this model are not as intense as the others on this list
- The shape is a lot more irritating on the wrist
However, the longer, more unusual shape of this handle is a lot more uncomfortable to use. There is very little wrist support, and it does not absorb vibrations very well. Users have found that after using this for a short while they started to develop aches in their wrists. This was only an issue in percussion mode when using the lighter vibrations they did not have any wrist issues.
Pulse FX – from LifePro
The Pulse FX from LifePro is a percussion massager gun for athletes, both professionals and amateurs. Believe me when I say that using this machine is an intense experience. It works wonders on tight and hard muscles.
However, I believe that this gun may be too strong for those looking to relieve injury-related pain. This is a massage gun I would use on my legs after a fight, but not one I’d use on a pulled back muscle.
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What I Love
- One of the strongest massage guns on the market
- Ergonomic shape
- Comes with 5 massager heads
What’s Meh
- Only 3 speed settings
- Most expensive massager gun on this list
- May be too strong for the average user
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Deep Tissue Pulse Massage Gun – from Apollo Kinetics
This is the massager gun that I want to travel with. Although I do want a TaoTronics machine for when I’m at home, I’d also like the Apollo machine to travel with. It’s perfect for those pre and post-match treatments and comes with a case so you can easily change heads in the changing room.
Yes, you may find yourself being limited by the three settings on longer trips, but its portability really makes up for any of its flaws.
What I Love
- Super lightweight
- Comes with a carrying case
- Comes with 4 massager heads
What’s Meh
- Only comes with 3 speed settings
Alluren Massage Gun – from Reserve Q
It comes with four useful massager heads, you will find a use for all of them, unlike some of the guns that come with dozens of different shaped heads. This is a well-designed machine that has been made with the user in mind.
The motor inside the machine is similar to the other ‘silent’ models, users claim this machine is one of the quietest they’ve used, even at the highest setting. It’s perfect for those emergency midday muscle aches at the office.
What I Love
- Unbelievable price
- Comes with 4 massager heads
What’s Meh
- Shorter battery life than everything else on this list
- Fewer speed settings than everything else on this list
If you’re someone who’s really interested in percussion massagers but isn’t fully ready to commit to the higher priced guns, this is a great starting gun. It has thousands of five-star reviews online.
You really can’t argue with how much value for money you get with this massager gun.
Closing Thoughts
There are so many options available to fighters now when it comes to recovery. I believe that by introducing a good massager gun into your recovery routine that you will see a difference, not just in how you feel after a fight, but how you feel during training the next day, and even years down the road.
I hope you found my guide to handheld percussion massager guns useful. I too was really overwhelmed by the number of choices available online. My top tip is to get an idea of what exactly it is you want from your massager gun before you start shopping. You won’t regret picking up a percussion massager, I’ve saved myself so many hours of foam rolling every week, and I couldn’t be happier.