If you are one of those people who now exercise at home more than ever, you probably think that you already have all the training equipment you need.
You got yourself some dumbbells, a yoga mat, resistance bands, and all the other essentials… or so you thought.
One device you might have overlooked is the massage gun, a percussive therapy device that enhances recovery after intense workouts.
Massage guns like Theragun have been gaining traction on social media for a while, but they aren't just expensive toys that make fascinating slow-motion videos.
If you have a quality one, it can be a therapeutic device that helps prevent muscle pain and improves blood flow to your muscles.
If you want to get your hands on a massage gun, there is good news.
Theragun (which has recently been renamed Therabody) is one of the most popular massage gun brands out there, loved for its stylishly designed products.
Therabody's new line includes four massage guns: Theragun Mini ($ 199; amazon.com), Theragun Prime ($ 299; amazon.com), Theragun Elite ($ 399; amazon.com) and Theragun Pro ($ 599; amazon. .com).
We tested and compared the Theragun Mini, Theragun Elite and the Theragun Pro, to study their performance and comfort.
We not only wanted to notice the differences between the devices, such as speed and power, but also to look at other factors such as ease of use and noise.
Each device has its own peculiarities and benefits, so to help you find the best one, we have put together this guide.
Theragun Mini
We believe that the Theragun Mini is the most exciting and innovative massage device Therabody has released so far.
Its $ 199 price tag is the lowest of all, making it a good first device.
The Theragun Mini solves many of the accessibility issues that seem to come with massage guns.
The narrative is usually that they are bulky and noisy and cost much more than what you would ideally like to spend.
That changes with the Mini's small size and low price.
Although it doesn't pack as powerful a punch as the Elite or Pro, the Theragun Mini has top speeds of 2,400 percussions per minute, which is consistent with the more expensive models.
However, it doesn't provide as much depth or power with its 12mm width.
(how far the massager head moves up and down) and 20 pounds of pressing force, which is how much you can push before stopping.
(The commercial-grade Pro, for comparison, has a 16mm amplitude and 60 pounds of pressing force.) Despite this, the Mini provided us with enough percussion power for a relaxing massage.
Like many, we've been exercising more due to stay-at-home orders, so having a massage gun on hand was a real boon for sore muscles.
The Mini was powerful enough to ease the stiffness in our legs after a hard workout, as well as quiet enough that we could watch Netflix while we were doing it.
Another advantage of the Mini's small size is its mobility.
You can go almost anywhere and comfortably apply enough pressure for a deep massage.
The only place where it was difficult to apply adequate pressure was the center of the back.
The triangular design of the other Theraguns helps reach your back without twisting your arms, but since the Mini is so light, the odd arm angles required to hit those more difficult areas didn't tire our wrists or arms as much as other models.
What we found most impressive was this little one's battery life.
On Therabody's site, the Mini is said to have up to 150 minutes of massage time.
When we ran our own test, we put all the Theraguns up to a setting of 2,100 percussions per minute and let them run.
They all lasted longer than expected, but the Mini did it for five and a half hours.
He finally died after 345 minutes.
The Theragun Mini is small but powerful, and we really love it.
With three speed settings (1,750 PPM, 2,100 PPM and 2,400 PPM), it has enough power to massage quite deep into the muscles, and its low cost, ease of use and lack of extras make it one of the most accessible massage devices. From the market.
Theragun Prime
We didn't test the Theragun Prime, but its specs place it as the most basic of the three triangular-shaped Theraguns.
With a 16mm width and 30lbs of pressing force, it's more powerful than the Mini and provides enough percussion power for everyday training.
But if you have persistent problems that need more intensive work, you will want to go for the Elite or the Pro.
The Prime has all the basic features of the more expensive devices, but at a more reasonable price of $ 299.
It weighs the same as the Elite, so based on our experience with that model (see below), the Prime should be easy enough to move to hit all parts of its body without straining your arm, hand, or wrist.
The battery has a listed runtime of 120 minutes, but based on our tests with the other models, we wouldn't be surprised if it lasts even longer than that.
The Prime comes with four attachments: the shock, standard ball, thumb, and cone.
This device is also the first of the line to be equipped with Bluetooth capability.
You can pair with Therabody's Prime, Elite or Pro Companion App, which guides you through certain workouts and even lets you control your speed right from your phone.
It has five built-in speeds of 1,750 PPM, 1,900 PPM, 2,100 PPM, 2,200 PPM, and 2,400 PPM that you can switch by hand if you don't want to use your phone.
If you just want the essentials of a massage gun without a lot of extra features, the Theragun Prime is a great option with its ergonomic shape and strong motor.
If you are looking for more comfort or even more power, check out the Elite andPro.
Theragun Elite
Theragun Elite is the next iteration of Therabody's most popular massage gun, the Theragun G3 (which will now be discontinued).
The fourth generation brings a ton of improvements, such as more speed settings, a more powerful motor, and a much longer battery life.
Therabody claims that the Elite is 75% quieter than the previous generation, and while we couldn't prove that firsthand, we can confirm that it is surprisingly quiet.
We had to turn the TV up a couple of times while we were using it, but the Elite wasn't unpleasantly loud even when we were massaging our necks (although we still wouldn't recommend any nightly massage sessions if you have roommates nearby trying to sleep).
So how is the Elite that costs $ 100 more than the Prime better?
The main improvements are increased pressure force, which means you can dig into those sore muscles;
a force gauge displayed on a new OLED screen, helping you gauge how much you are pressing;
an additional accessory (the wedge);
wireless charging capabilities;
and the ability to store preset routines locally on the device.
Neither of these is a huge extra but, combined, they make the Elite a much more complete product, with better performance and comfort than the Prime.
When we tested the Elite, we really enjoyed its triangular shape.
Since it's heavier than the Mini, at 2.2 pounds, the ergonomic grip was necessary to make it easier to target hard-to-reach areas like the back.
We used the Elite in conjunction with the app, which made the massage experience feel like a real workout.
In the app you can select routines for specific body parts like forearms or lower back to help you target your aches and pains.
You can also choose a massage routine that helps with relief from specific activities like running, tennis, or even traveling on an airplane (although we won't be doing that anytime soon).
Once you select your routine, the app tells you which tip to use, where to hold the device, and how to move it for the best results.
You even have a timer that counts down and lets you know when to change areas (from the left side of your back to the right, for example).
The Elite's battery, like the others we tested, exceeded expectations.
It's listed as having a run time of up to 120 minutes, but ours lasted 197 minutes.
That's more than enough time for multiple recovery sessions before a load.
Unfortunately, after we finished our testing of the Elite, we tried to update it and it turned off and wouldn't turn back on, although with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a one-year warranty, swapping it out for another won't be a problem.
The Theragun Elite lives up to its name as a premium percussive device in design, performance, and price.
At $ 399 it is expensive but the Elite can help you in your muscle recovery easily and effectively.
Theragun Pro
If you need the best of the best, or are looking to add a massage gun to your personal trainer arsenal, there is no question that the Theragun Pro is the answer.
The Pro adds an adjustable arm and interchangeable batteries and packs a much stronger punch than all the other Theraguns in the lineup.
Plus, it comes with a two-year warranty, compared to the one-year warranty that comes standard with the other devices at launch.
The Theragun Pro has a width of 16mm with 60lbs of pressing force.
That means you can apply massive amounts of pressure to penetrate deep into their tissues for ultimate recovery.
We tried to push it against our muscles to make it stop and it took a couple of tries.
You can basically push as hard as you want with the Pro without worrying about it stalling.
The biggest improvement compared to the rest of the lineup is definitely the Pro's adjustable arm. It has four positions that allow you to really hit all the different parts of your body while maintaining a comfortable grip.
We swapped positions with the click of a button to better target our back, or just make it more comfortable to hold while hitting other areas like calves or forearms.
We can only imagine how useful it would be for a professional physical therapist.
Another great feature of the Pro is its interchangeable batteries.
They pop in and out easily for a quick change if one dies, and each lasts 150 minutes, giving a combined run time of up to 300 minutes.
When we ran our battery test, it fell right on the mark, with a battery lasting 145 minutes.
The Pro was the loudest of all the Theraguns we tested, but it was by no means headache-inducing.
The higher speed applied to the neck can result in a bit of rattling, but still the Pro sounds surprisingly smooth for how powerful it is.
We think its build helps with this, as the Pro has a matte cover in contrast to the glossy, hard plastic on the Elite.
The Theragun Pro has all the features you would want from a high-end massage gun.
Its price is steep, $ 599, but it is an investment that any athlete or health or fitness professional could make.
The final result
The new line of fourth generation Theraguns from Therabody is a nice next step in the field of percussion therapy.
Our favorite is the Theragun Mini, which is the most accessible massage gun Therabody has ever made.
Provides a solid massage experience in a small device that won't break the bank at $ 199.
The Theragun Prime and Elite are just steps away from the Mini, with the Prime giving you just the essentials and the Elite offering more performance and comfort.
At $ 299 and $ 399, they're pricey, but with the companion app, they provide an easy-to-implement recovery routine that can help you feel better after any workout.
The Theragun Pro is truly a top of the line massage gun, perfect for any athlete in need of the best recovery or for a physical therapist working in this field.
The two-year warranty gives a little more peace of mind for your $ 599 investment.
It has key features that set it apart from the other Theraguns, including a ridiculous 60-pound force and adjustable arm.
Note: The above prices reflect the price at the time of publication of the article.