The Theragun PRO: Gen 5: a compact handheld massage gun with adjustable attachments for elastos and abelian muscles
All this makes the Theragun Mini a great entry-level portable massage gun option, as well as a thoughtful choice for those who are new to percussive therapy or who take a more casual approach to using massage guns.
At $199, the Theragun Mini doesn’t come cheap. But it is the cheapest model available from Therabody, a brand known for its super high-end devices — and considering the price, you may be surprised by how many features are packed into this compact massage gun.
For the average user, the Theragun Elite—which is $200 cheaper—will more than get the job done; the biggest differences are in battery life (120 minutes for the Elite versus 150 minutes for the PRO) and motor power (40 pounds of stall force, or how much pressure it takes to stop the motor, versus 60 pounds).
With so many smaller massage guns available, I struggle with some of the sizes. The Theragun PRO: Gen 5 weighs 2.9 pounds and measures 10 inches by 7.1 inches by 3 inches. It is small enough to fit in my tote bag and comes with a soft storage case to hold the included six attachments.
I was struggling to hold 3 pounds in one hand, especially when I reached around to my shoulders and back. But the adjustable attachment arm does try to troubleshoot for that, with a button on the multi-grip handle that lets you move the arm between four positions, giving you about 90 degrees of flexibility.
A ski trip evaluation of Gravity Relax, the Lifepro Fusion FX and Urikar Pro 2 heated massage guns and a comparison with Theragun and Hyperice
The Lifepro Fusion FX heated massage gun has a range of 131 degrees Fahrenheit and is available in three models, while the $169.99 Urikar Pro 2 heated massage gun has a range of 1200 to 3600 RPM and a 15mm amplitude. Both are more powerful (and more expensive) but don’t get as hot as the Gravity Relax.
I took the Gravity Relax with me on my first ski trip of the year after testing it out after running the New York City marathon. Here is what I thought.
Theragun and Hyperice are the two most well-known percussion gun brands. Plus, the Gravity Relax offers a wider range of RPM than both (the Theragun Pro, $599, has a range of 1750 to 2400 RPM, while the Hyperice Hypervolt 2 Pro, $399, has a range of 1700 to 2700 RPM), and does so at a more affordable price. TheGravity Relax is less powerful compared to the other guns due to their 16mm and 14mm amplitudes.
Honestly, I did not see a need for this many levels — but I liked how easy it was to change the intensity (with a single hand!) when moving from the large muscles of my quads, which I really enjoy pummeling at the highest intensities, to my more sensitive calves. In the end, I didn’t find much of a difference between, say, levels 15 and 16 or 29 and 30; I would increase/decrease by about 5 at a time for a noticeable effect.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/05/cnn-underscored/reviews/gravity-relax-massage-gun?iid=CNNUnderscoredHPcontainer
Review of Theragun Mini: An Ultra-Relativistic Mobile Massage Gun with Screens in Its Comparaison with Therabody
I have an entire drawer full of chargers for all kinds of tech, from massage guns to fitness trackers to vibrating foam rollers, and I wish companies would agree on one universal charger. It doesn’t help that the Gravity Relax requires two chargers: a 17V power adapter for the gun itself, and a Type-C charger for the heated attachment. The Type-C charger and the gun have enough juice for 5 hours of use, but I always have to keep at least two different types of batteries on hand.
The bigger the massage gun, the bigger the motor. Which, in turn, gives the device more power when it comes to providing percussive therapy to maximize recovery, reduce pain and soreness, and improve flexibility and mobility. Technology has made it possible to give the same benefits in a smaller, lighter package.
For a “miniature” device, the Theragun Mini packs a lot of power. The QX35 motor does the same revolutions per minute as the Theragun PRO, but it has a 12 millimeter amplitude, which means that it will not penetrate your muscles quite as deeply. I definitely didn’t feel like I was sacrificing my power by skipping out on the PRO when I used the Mini on my sore calves. I also felt that the Mini was even quieter than the PRO, which is a nice touch for a device you’re meant to travel with.
New massage guns like the Theragun PRO,Gravity Relax Deep Tissue Massager, andLyric Massager have screens in them, which are built right into them. This not only displays the settings of the device, but also shows off preset routines that can help you figure out how best to use it. I was surprised Therabody did not include a screen because of the large surface space on either side of the Mini. The device syncs with the Therabody app for guided routines, which is enabled on the device. Even without the screen, I liked being able to keep this one in my car for post-run recovery sessions.
Source: https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/theragun-mini?iid=CNNUnderscoredHPcontainer
The Hypervolt Go 2 / Theragun Mini: A Dual-Speed Comparaton of the Mini and R1 Minis, and its Comparative Battery Life
The Hypervolt Go 2 is a direct competitor of the Theragun Mini. It’s also priced at $199 and has three speed settings (with a range of 2200 to 3200 rpm), but is slightly larger (and a half pound heavier), doesn’t come with any Bluetooth capabilities, and has a battery life of three hours compared to 150 minutes for the Mini. Meanwhile, the R1 is only $129 and comes with four speed settings (1800 to 3200 rpm, which is a wider range) but no Bluetooth, plus a battery life of seven hours—which significantly outperforms the other two.