The best massage guns for post-run recovery

With its neat carry case, the HoMedics Pro Physio certainly looks the part. And while the box may be a bit too bulky to take with you to the track, this massage gun was unmatched when it came to recovery sessions in situ.

Our expert loved the innovative features, especially the ability to heat up the massage head to 47C for a hot pre-workout primer that encourages blood flow to the muscles. Alternatively, you can also freeze another of the interchangeable massage heads (there are six to choose from) for a powerful post-run cool down.

It was able to glide over their skin without snagging or causing any (additional) discomfort, and was surprisingly quiet in use — ideal for giving your muscles some much-needed TLC in front of the telly.

This versatile (and excellent value) massage gun gives the user plenty of control, with five speed settings and five massage heads to choose from. It can massage quickly and pretty fiercely, but our tester's experience was pain-free.

Its manual is helpful and it comes with a USB charging cable for on-the-go refuelling. The chunky handle shakes heavily at full power, but that was our tester's only niggle, and lowering the speed is a doddle should your arm start to ache.

If you’re heading to the gym or marathoning abroad, this compact massager from physio experts Bob and Brad should be on your radar. The size of a small water bottle, it’s ultra lightweight and comes with a durable travel case to store the device and all its accessories. In the box, you’ll find a whopping five different attachments (we loved ‘the fork’ for relaxing your spine or working on your Achilles) and there are five speeds to play around with. According to our expert, it was easy to distinguish between each setting and even the lowest speed packed sufficient power.

Unlike many cheaper models, which tend to catch on your skin and can cause some discomfort, the Q2 made for an extremely smooth massaging experience, with no juddering or jolting reported. It was quiet enough that we could watch telly as we tackled our knots and we appreciated the handy user manual that's jam-packed with clear diagrams showing which attachment to use, where and how long for, depending on your need.

With USB-C charging and a 10-minute auto-off mode to save battery, it has all the bells and whistles you’d expect from larger, pricier designs. The short handle made it awkward to hold at times, but that's a minor niggle. For less than £60, it’s hard to find a product that will compete with this one.

This is a serious bit of kit for runners who take their recovery just as seriously. It’s designed for all-over DIY coverage with an easily graspable triangular handle and an arm that can be adjusted to four different angles. Six massage heads are provided, which some may find excessive but pro athletes will love — our expert was a big fan of the super-soft attachment for soothing those sensitive spots and the thumb for mimicking the human touch.

But what really sets the PRO 5th Gen apart? Well, this recently revamped model boasts a high-res OLD screen, with four visually guided routines that can be swapped in and out via the user-friendly Therabody app (connecting via Bluetooth is a breeze, FYI). There are loads more tutorials to choose from on there – including run warm-up, sleep and tech neck – and it will even suggest massages based on your recent activities on Strava or Apple Health. Simply start a session and it will tell you which attachment to use, where to pummel, which motions to follow and for how long. Clever, huh?

It’s probably overkill for the average gym goer but for serious athletes, this is the crème de la crème. The controls are intuitive, it packs plenty of power and there are five speed settings for versatility, whether you’re priming your muscles pre-run or cooling down after hitting the trails.

Give your muscles some instant relief after an intense interval session with this compact device, which is small enough to slip into your pocket or hook onto your kit bag (it comes with a neat little travel case and hook for easy transportation).

It’s surprisingly powerful for its size and comes with three different heads (a ball, a dampener and the good old thumb) for targeting different muscle groups. There’s just one button to switch it on and off and cycle through the speeds, making it simple to use, and it’s supremely quiet (it scored top marks in our noise tests), so you can enjoy a discreet deep-tissue massage on the go.

New to percussive therapy and not sure where to begin? No problem. You can link the Mini with the extensive Therabody app for a variety of tutorials and guided routines to get the most out of your massager.

Reaching awkward areas like the lower back is tricky, and you can only fit one attachment inside the travel case, so choose wisely before you leave the house. Minor cons aside, this pocket-friendly pal is significantly cheaper than the other Therabody options in our round-up.

The MuscleGun Carbon won our tester over with its smart design and slick look that screams ‘I mean business’. It glides over skin while delivering a powerful yet relaxing massage, and its lengthy, slightly curved handle helps you reach all muscles.

It comes with four massage heads and a bomb-proof carry case that neatly fits everything inside. The app is fairly basic but it offers some useful tips for beginners, as does the user guide. It’s quite bulky and weighty, and it vibrates a lot at max speed, but it’s a brilliant all-rounder at a reasonable price.

This beast of a massage gun claims to penetrate 60% deeper into muscle than rival models, so if it’s hardcore you’re after, look no further. It’s pricey but super powerful, and we highly rate its clever triangular handle that improves both reach and control.

It comes with five massage heads and you can customise the five speed settings in the app. Speaking of which, the app is excellent, offering warm-up and cool-down massage routines and alerting you if you’re using too much force. It will get you fighting fit in no time.

For under £50, this simple Boots design offers a decent four interchangeable attachments and three speed settings. It can be customised to suit your needs, whether you’ve been on a long run or sitting at your desk for eight hours straight.

Our tester said it lacked the oomph needed to relieve brutal DOMS but found it ideal for less intense recovery sessions. It proved easy to control (there’s just one responsive button so you don’t have to fumble around trying to figure out what to press), it moved smoothly over skin and the quiet motor meant no turning the TV up mid-massage.

The short handle felt slightly awkward to grip and made reaching those tight spots on our back difficult, but this is a common issue with smaller massage guns. It felt a little heavy after prolonged use and the design isn’t the most premium, but when you consider the price, it's hard to complain.

Coming in pink, mint green and black, this sleek massage gun not only looks the part, but it also proved highly effective during our tests. There are four speed settings, as well as four interchangeable heads for targeted recovery. Our panel confirmed they all did a stellar job when it came to massaging tight muscles and releasing knots post-run.

No larger than an iPhone, this travel-friendly device is a good option for putting in your bag and gunning on the go. It’s also incredibly lightweight and comes with a storage pouch, which adds to its portability credentials.

Though small in size, it's certainly not lacking in power, with our panel labelling it a ‘joy to use’ due to its powerful yet quiet vibrations. As one of the more affordable options on our list, you can’t go wrong with the Lola.

Also available in baby blue and black.

If you’re after something gentler than the more intimidating massage guns available, you’ll like this model’s variable speed dial for improved intensity control. Its extra-long handle helps you reach all muscles, even if you struggle with mobility, but this does make it more of a faff to store.

It comes with five massage heads and is the only machine to feature an effective – if ever so slightly creepy – four-finger attachment that simulates a human hand. Fitness fanatics may find it lacklustre, but it performs well for its price.

When a brand boasts the likes of Lebron James, Naomi Osaka and Tiger Woods on its books, it’s safe to assume it knows what it’s doing. Nevertheless, we thought we’d better check for ourselves.

The swanky Hypervolt Go2’s compact design makes it easy to slip into a gym bag and take to the track or gym. But don’t let its modest proportions fool you — this massage gun boasts ample power and is able to move smoothly over skin while soothing muscles after arduous runs. It also looks as good as it feels.