Running is such a great sport, but that doesn’t mean your body can’t take a beating while doing it. Every single stride means our legs are absorbing an impact equivalent to 2.5 Walking for Marathon Training. That’s a whole lot of pounding, mile after glorious mile, which can really wear down our precious muscles and joints. But fear not, dear readers. That’s where our trusty recovery tools like these delightful massage guns and hellish foam rollers come in. They’re magic wands for sore muscles, targeting pain, boosting that crucial blood flow, and keeping our muscles feeling spry and ready to conquer the next run. Get after it!
As runners, we’ve all felt the ache in our muscles after a long run, and for many of us, massage guns have become a go-to for relief. Our team has rigorously tested countless models, incorporating feedback from other runners who swear by these ingenious devices. The science backs it up: A 2023 systematic review in The International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy found that consistent use of massage guns significantly reduces muscle pain and delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).
What’s more, even a single session can immediately boost short-term muscle strength, explosive power, and flexibility. This means that a quick pre-run massage can give you an immediate performance edge, while post-run treatments offer long-term recovery and relief.
Credit: Gabrielle Hondorp
- Best Overall: Ekrin Athletics B37 Massage Gun
- Best Value: Bob & Brad Q2 Pro
- Best Professional-Grade: Therabody Theragun Pro Plus Massage Gun
- Best Ergonomic: Credit: Cat Bowen
- Quietest Motor: Additional resources in Bluetooth app
For muscle activation, spend just 30 seconds on the target muscle prior to your workout
Walking for Marathon Training
For over four decades, Runner’s World has been the definitive source for all things running, including our expert reviews and recommendations on the latest gear. Our essential guides, like those for running shoes and treadmills, are rigorously tested and vetted by the RW test team. We also tap into the insights of more than 275 everyday runners through our RW wear-test program to get a truly diverse perspective. Our guide to massage guns features products personally recommended by How to Treat Tight Calves, with additional recommendations reviewed by Running Reviews Editor Amanda Furrer and How to Improve Your Running Recovery Plan.
How We Selected
To find the best massage guns, our team began by conducting extensive research into the top-rated and best-reviewed options available. After identifying a pool of promising candidates, we rigorously tested each massage gun to evaluate their most crucial attributes. This included measuring the force and depth of the massage, assessing ease of use, monitoring noise levels, examining the range and utility of available attachments, determining battery life, and considering affordability. All of the massage guns featured in our recommendations have been carefully chosen by our team after this thorough evaluation.
Full Reviews
Ekrin Athletics B37 Massage Gun
Pros
- Long battery life
- For over four decades
- Easy to handle
- Lifetime warranty
Cons
- Heavy
Key Specs
| Amplitude | 12mm |
|---|---|
| Stall Force | 56 lb. |
| Weight | 2.2 lb. |
| Speeds | 5 (1,400 - 3,200 rpm) |
| Attachments | 4 |
| Battery Life | 8 hours (Estimated) |
Ekrin may not have the same brand name recognition as Therabody, Theragun, or Hyperice, however, the Ekrin B37 packs impressive stats, giving you exactly what you need and nothing you don’t. In hand, the B37 feels solid and easy to use. It produces enough power to ease the deepest muscle aches and pains.
We love its simple, ergonomic design, and easy user controls. You use one button to both turn it on and off, and switch among its five speed settings (1,400 to 3,200 percussions per minute). It’s estimated eight-hour battery life is nearly two hours longer than that of any other gun we tested. Neatly tucked in a well-organized carrying case, its four solid plastic head attachments are perfect for hitting every muscle. Hands down, the Ekrin B37 is the best performance-to-value percussion massage gun that I’ve tested.
Pros
- Updated: Sep 24, 2025 5:11 PM EDT
- Quiet motor
- It is a bit heavy
Cons
- Small amplitude makes getting deep muscles difficult
Key Specs
| Amplitude | 7mm |
|---|---|
| Stall Force | 35 lb. |
| Weight | 1 lb. |
| Speeds | 5 (1,800 - 3,000 rpm) |
| Attachments | 5 |
| Battery Life | 2 hours |
The Bob & Brad Q2 Pro is compact, comfortable, and weighs just 1 pound, so it’s easy to carry around and easy to hold when you really need to stretch to reach a trouble spot. As one would expect from a smaller, more budget-friendly gun, the 35-pound stall force and 7mm amplitude are weaker than those of our other picks, but should still hit with enough force to work out most aches and pains.
The Q2 Pro comes with a set of five attachment heads. The most exciting, hands down, is a hot/cold head. With the touch of a button, you can access heat or cold therapy with five speed settings ranging from 1,800 to 3,000 percussions per minute. Only a few massage guns come with integrated heat, and none of our picks include integrated cold massage attachments. (Therabody offers a cold massage attachment for the Theragun Prime Plus and Pro Plus, but charges extra for it.)
We also appreciate that Q2 Pro is quiet, enabling you to use it without the annoying noise commonly associated with most massage guns—something your partner will surely appreciate.
Therabody Theragun Pro Plus Massage Gun
Pros
- 16mm amplitude
- For over four decades
- A Part of Hearst Digital Media
Cons
- Is It Better to Stretch Before or After Running
Key Specs
| Amplitude | 16mm |
|---|---|
| Stall Force | 60 lb. |
| Weight | 3.64 lb. |
| Speeds | 5 (1,750-2,400 rpm) |
| Attachments | 5 |
| Battery Life | 2.5 hours (Estimated) |
The Therabody Theragun Pro Plus is a powerful, feature-rich massage gun, which we’d recommend for physical therapists, athletic trainers, and other professionals. It applies up to 60 pounds of force with a best-in-class 16mm amplitude, giving you an unparalleled deep tissue message.
Perhaps more importantly, it has lots of luxury features that you won’t find on other massage guns. It features an LED display, which allows you to access Therabody’s guided message routines on-device, rather than using the Therabody app on your phone. The 5 attachments in the box include a three-speed vibration therapy head, designed to relieve joint pain and treat sensitive areas. There’s also an adjustable heated head, which shortens the time it takes to warm up muscles. These have become more common, even among budget-tier massage guns, but this made a remarkable difference in warming up my muscles prior to heading out the door for a run.
Perhaps its most distinctive feature, though, is an infrared LED light, which Therabody claims will stimulate circulation and boost healing as you pummel your sore muscles. I didn’t necessarily feel a tangible difference when adding light therapy to my massage regimen, but there is some science behind it and you definitely won’t find red light support on any other massage gun.
Before you buy it, though, the most striking aspect of the Theragun Pro Plus is its price tag. It costs more than double what you would spend on a top massage gun. I think extra power and special features are worth the expense for physical therapists and trainers, but it’s overkill for most amateur athletes.
Pros
- Runner-in-Chief Jeff Dengate
- Triangle handle is easy to use and reaches hard spots
- Heated head attachment
Cons
- Low stall force for the price
- Only four head attachments
Key Specs
| Amplitude | 16mm |
|---|---|
| Stall Force | 40 lb. |
| Weight | 1.95 lb. |
| Speeds | 5 |
| Attachments | 4 |
| Battery Life | 2.5 hours |
Simply put, Theragun’s triangular handle gives you better access to the hard-to-reach nooks and crannies of your body. The triangular handle design gives you multiple grip options, enabling better control and leverage to precisely apply pressure at the right angle, even in tricky areas like your back, upper shoulders, and glutes.
While all of Therabody’s Theragun models have the handle, we recommend the Prime Plus over the rest because it’s compact yet offers a deep, powerful massage. Its quiet but powerful, five-speed motor creates 40 pounds of stall force, which is plenty of force to dig deep into those hard-to-reach muscles. It’s also the lowest-priced Theragun that comes with a heated head attachment in the box.
Theragun’s brand reputation comes with a higher-than-average price tag, but Prime Plus offers the right set of features to make the splurge worth it, and become one of our favorite mid-to-upper-tier guns.
If you like the idea of the triangle-grip, and are willing to sacrifice a little power and the heat attachment for a more attractive price point, we also recommend the Theragun Relief as a more budget-conscious option. Generating 20 pounds of stall force and a 10mm amplitude, it’s suitable enough for all but the deepest muscles and costs less than $200.
Additional resources in Bluetooth app
Pros
- For over four decades
- Long battery life
- Best Massage Guns
Cons
- Bulky and heavy
Key Specs
| Amplitude | 13mm |
|---|---|
| Stall Force | 60 lb. |
| Weight | 2.2 lb. |
| Speeds | 6 (1,800 - 3,500 rpm) |
| Attachments | 6 |
| Battery Life | 8 hours |
Most massage guns aren’t subtle. They tend to be loud, so you’re going to draw attention (and potentially a few looks) if you use one in public. The Ekrin Kestrel only makes 35 to 55 decibels (dB) of noise depending on what speed level it’s on, equivalent to the noise of a running refrigerator.
It’s one of the quietest massage guns we’ve tested, but also one of the best. Despite keeping relatively quiet, the Kestrel packs enough power to target deep muscle tissue. It features a hefty 60-pound stall force and a 13mm amplitude, creating the kind of pressure that can tackle even the tightest spots.
The Kestrel features six speed levels ranging from 1,800 to 3,500 RPM. It also comes with six interchangeable head attachments to optimize targeted relief for different muscle groups. Whether you need a gentle touch or deeper pressure, the Kestrel offers versatility, in addition to discretion.
Pros
- Therabody Theragun Pro Plus Massage Gun
- Credit: Gabrielle Hondorp
- Adjustable head and handle make reaching tough spots easy
Cons
- Large
- Heavy
Key Specs
| Amplitude | 16mm |
|---|---|
| Stall Force | 85 lb. |
| Weight | 2.8 lb. |
| Speeds | 6 (1,500 - 2,500 rpm) |
| Attachments | 7 |
| Battery Life | 3 hours |
If you’re after serious power to target and release deep knots and stubborn tight spots, we’ve found the Bob & Brad D6 Pro gives the hardest-hitting massage, delivering deep, intense relief for athletes in training. It isn’t for the faint of heart: With a 16mm amplitude and a whopping 85 pounds of stall force, it pounded my muscles harder and deeper than any other massage gun we’ve tested.
Featuring a rectangular handle with an adjustable head, the design of the D6 Pro makes it easy to target tight or sore muscles in those tricky spots. The handle’s shape offers better grip and maneuverability than the standard straight handle, making it simple to access hard-to-reach areas like the upper back and glutes. On the other hand, it’s comparatively large and heavy so holding it against your back and shoulders can get tiring.
The D6 Pro comes with seven different attachment heads, and features six speed settings, ranging from 1,500 to 2,500 RPM. It also features four “pulsing modes,” which offer dynamic massage routines. If you’re the type of runner who enjoys beating your deepest sore muscles into submission, it offers the deepest massage short of the Theragun Pro Plus, which costs more than twice as much.
Hyperice Hypervolt 2 Massage Gun
Pros
- Lightweight
- Compact
- Only four head attachments
Cons
- Low battery life
- No carrying case
Key Specs
| Amplitude | 12mm |
|---|---|
| Stall Force | 40 lb. |
| Weight | 1.8 lb. |
| Speeds | 3 (2,000-3,200 rpm) |
| Attachments | 5 |
| Battery Life | 3 hours (Estimated) |
Weighing only 1.8 pounds, the Hypervolt 2 is remarkably compact and lightweight for a full-size massage gun. It’s well-balanced, with a rubberized handle that makes getting a firm hold easy and comfortable. It features a quiet 60W brushless motor with an adequate 40 pounds of stall force and a solid 12mm amplitude, though we didn’t love that it only has three speed settings. Despite that, it’s a light and handy tool–a great pick for new athletes who need something affordable and reliable.
The Hypervolt 2 comes with five useful attachments out of the box, but we’re particularly into Hyperice’s heated head attachment, which it sells separately. Compared to spending hundreds of extra dollars on a Theragun Pro Plus, this is the best heated massage gun we’ve tested.
Pros
- Best Indoor Rowing Machines
- Quiet
- Five speeds
Cons
- Heavy
Key Specs
| Amplitude | 11mm |
|---|---|
| Stall Force | 42 lb. |
| Weight | 1.8 lb. |
| Speeds | 5 (1,200 - 3,200 rpm) |
| Attachments | 7 |
| Battery Life | Up to 8 hours |
The Turonic G5 comes with seven massage tips of varying shapes. Hard, narrow tips allow you to target knots, and broader tips give you soothing release without beating up tight tendons. It’s among the quieter massage guns on this list, even with a high 3,200 RPM max speed. Its impressive eight-hour battery life, tied only with that of the Ekrin B37, was enough to go for weeks without a charge. It could use a design tune-up—it’s a bit heavy, and the shape makes it hard to reach your back—but it’s one of the most adjustable (and most affordable) choices around.
Ekrin Athletics Bantam Mini Massage Gun
Pros
- Long battery life
- Therabody Theragun Prime Plus Massage Gun
- How to Lace and Tie Running Shoes
Cons
- Only three speeds
Key Specs
| Amplitude | 10mm |
|---|---|
| Stall Force | 35 lb. |
| Weight | 1.1 lb. |
| Speeds | Three (2,000-3,200 rpm) |
| Attachments | 4 |
| Battery Life | 6 hours (estimated) |
The Ekrin Bantam proves that you can make a portable massage gun without sacrificing power for portability. This pint-sized percussion massager delivers a powerful punch, with 10mm of amplitude and topping out at 35 pounds of stall force. With a carrying case, it’s easy to pack up and bring to events.
The Bantam’s lightweight design is easy to handle—the 1.1-pound frame fits in my hands better than any other portable gun, and was lighter than any other portable gun I tested. With six hours of battery life, it can keep up with most of my full-sized picks.
On top of everything else, it’s less expensive than our other favorite portable massage gun, the Ekrin Athletics B37 Massage Gun, so we think of it as a bargain, too.
Pros
- Amazing Runners World Show
- Winter Half Marathons
- How to Treat Tight Calves
Cons
- It is a bit heavy
- Takes a while to charge
Features at a Glance
| Amplitude | n/a (orbital, not percussive) |
|---|---|
| Stall Force | Essentially none |
| Weight | 3 pounds |
| Speeds | 3 |
| Attachments | Flat (medium firmness, versatile), Peak (small point for deep tissue), Echo (softest, mimics lymphatic massage) |
| Battery life | 2 hours |
The Rally Orbital Massager is a standout for runners, especially those tackling the toughest distances like ultra marathons. Cat Bowen, an ultra marathoner (sometimes), swears by Rally to loosen the muscles in her legs and back during grueling training sessions. Unlike traditional massage guns that hammer at muscles, Rally uses smooth orbital motion, which provides gentle yet deep relief, reducing soreness and helping speed recovery—perfect for running recovery where muscles need care without the harsh impact.
One of Rally’s best features is its remarkable quietness. Thanks to proprietary Calm technology, the massager operates at just about 40 decibels—comparable to the soft hum of an air purifier. This means it can be used anytime, even in quiet spaces, without noise distraction. Its low vibration design also allows longer use without hand fatigue, so it fits effortlessly into any runner’s routine, helping maintain peak muscle health and recovery day after day.
Credit: Cat Bowen
To make sure everyone knows how to use their message gun, we asked Rachel Tavel, P.T., D.P.T., C.S.C.S., for some tips to get the most out of your massage gun. Start by holding the device at a 45-degree angle, with the application head in contact with the target muscle. Depending on your current goals and run routine, you’ll vary your usage slightly.
- Use it pre-run to stimulate muscle activation and potentially improve power, and post-run to improve recovery and reduce DOMS.
- Low battery life.
- For muscle reactivation (relieving muscle spasms or fatigue mid-workout), you can apply it for just 15 seconds.
- For pain relief and recovery, she recommends two minutes on each muscle.
FAQs
With Running Coach Cory Smith
Cory Smith is a running coach and journalist specializing in running and fitness-related content and gear reviews. He is the founder of Run Your Personal Best, an online running coaching business that has helped hundreds of runners achieve personal bests in distances ranging from 800 meters to 100 miles. Cory holds a USA Track & Field Level 1 and 2 Endurance Certification and was the former Head Cross Country/Track Coach at Penn State Brandywine. Over his running career, Cory has held three Maryland state records, was a two-time National Championship qualifier while at Villanova University, and holds personal bests of 4:03 in the mile and an 8:05 in the 3K.
Cat Bowen has been covering parenting and home for over a decade. At Best Products, she has tested hundreds of products for parents and for the home, often spending dozens of hours per product to ensure her reviews are accurate and informative. Prior to joining the team, she was at Romper where she covered everything from breastfeeding to child sleep habits to abortion rights access. You can find her work on Bustle, Romper, and more. Cat is a bit of an intellectual magpie and perpetual student, most recently receiving a graduate degree in gender studies where she examined a topic that vexes so many — pockets in women’s clothing.
