After about the third use, I figured out you can “stuff” a sock over your toes to force them down, giving you a harder massage. The foot massager I wish had an air compression between med and high. High feels like my feel are in a vice (too painful) and medium is not quite enough. I use it in the evening before bed to relax my whole lower leg. Battery pack keeps a charge for several days after 40+ min of use each night. Lou Mudge is a health writer based in Bath, United Kingdom for Future PLC.
It offers an excellent five hours of battery life and the six massage heads cover all bases for a versatile massaging session. For a mini massage gun that’s lightweight and compact enough to take anywhere, look to this surprisingly powerful model that can reach a high speed. It’s small enough to attend to all leg muscles, making it our top pick for runners. Coming in just behind its older brother, the MuscleGun Carbon, it was hard to find fault with this pocket-friendly massager. Not only does it pack a lot of power for such a small machine, but it’s also relatively quiet, comfortable to hold and is able to glide seamlessly over sore muscles without dragging. Weighing in at just over 500g, it’s also a good option for keeping in your gym bag.
(The device has no battery-life indicator.) The button is a bit stiff and makes an audible click when pressed. The handle—one of the slimmest among the models in our test group—is rounded at the bottom, a design that we found comfortable to grip. This massage gun’s specs do not list a stall force, but the device does have a pressure sensor (represented by a display of five LED lights). We noticed that when we applied increasing pressure, the motor surged a bit.
Stall force refers to the amount of pressure the motor can supply before it cuts out – here it’s a claimed 25lbs. While these numbers won’t be enough for heavily-muscled athletes – think boxers, bodybuilders and sprinters – those of a more toned, or whippet-like physiques will find it just fine. The Renpho R3 Mini Massage Gun has met most of my recovery needs handsomely. It’s ergonomically shaped, the renpho massage kit is comprehensive and it lets you tailor pressure very accurately. With Bluetooth connectivity and the brand’s unique Rhythm Therapy technology, it promises to offer a more relaxing, personalized, therapeutic experience while giving yourself a, well, selfie. You can use the Lyric app and handy touchscreen display to access guided massages and place it on the included charging dock between sessions.
The lightweight massager runs quietly and has four attachable heads, which focus on everyday use, the spinal region, muscle knots, and bony areas. She often recommends the Renpho R3 to people who want a gentle but effective massage gun for a reasonable price. If you simply need something basic and lightweight, it’ll get the job done. Weighing only 1.5 lb (.68 kg), the Renpho R3 is a good option if you’re looking for a full-size massage gun that’s still lightweight and easy to carry with you.
Consider customization as you think about which muscles you typically need to target and what type of massage therapy you enjoy using on those muscles. Some massage guns come with a handful of head attachments, some offer an adjustable head angle on the device itself, some provide both of these features, and some neglect both. Dr. Wu says that pinpoint, flat, and curved attachments help target a variety of different muscles and tensions. “If you’re really tight and tender, then starting with a flat head attachment would be best to warm up the tissues without discomfort,” she says.
However, athletes and others who are physically active all day would benefit the most from this full-featured massage gun. The Theragun Mini second generation maintains the same solid ergonomic handle that the original Mini has to make up its compact shape. The Mini’s power button also controls the speed and uses lights to indicate the speed level. Another plus is that it’s Bluetooth enabled, so you can connect it to the Therabody app.
I’ll be the first to say I don’t think those features really matter. Sure, they’re a nice touch and grounds for bragging rights with your gearhead friends—but they don’t improve the functionality of a massage gun by much. The carrying case is nice and protective, with dedicated spaces for all of the attachments, as well as the charging cable. It has a hard protective shell, so you can place the whole thing in a checked suitcase without worry.
We’d especially recommend this gun if you are a casual athlete or someone who works out a lot and needs some muscle release. For safety, it includes an auto-shutoff feature when not in use. Plus, we found it easy to use, set up, and to attach the different attachments it came with.