Massage guns are becoming increasingly popular as more and more people look for ways to help support recovery and warm-ups around their exercise routines.
Percussive therapy has been hitting the headlines, and the number of products on the market has exploded in recent years, leaving us with lots of choice when it comes to picking the right device for our needs.
But the increase in choice also means that it can be a bit more tricky to select the right product.
So, in this handy guide, we’ve picked out some of the best massage guns available in the UK at the moment.
We’re going to talk you through the main key things you need to know about percussive therapy devices, explain how they can help you, and also pick out some of our product recommendations.
With the introductions out of the way, let’s begin looking at some of the basic things to know about massage guns and percussive therapy in general.
Jump To Section
Best Massage Guns UK 2023 – Our Top Picks
| Rating | Summary | Website | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Theragun Elite |
|
• Leading Brand • Excellent Design • Five Attachments | Buy Now | |
| Hypervolt 2 |
|
• Trusted Brand • Quiet And Powerful • Five Attachments | Buy Now | |
| Musclegun Carbon |
|
• Lightweight • Long Battery Life • Four Attachments | Buy Now |
What Are Massage Guns?
Massage guns, or percussive therapy devices, are a new category of product designed to help support recovery for both amateur and professional athletes.
Devices usually feature a head with changeable attachments to deliver powerful and quick ‘percussions’ to targeted muscle areas. In short, think of them as a way to bring about some of the benefits of sports massages from the comfort of your own home.
A massage gun’s head can move back and forward very quickly, with some products providing as many as 3000 percussions per minute (PPM) or more.
The exact speed can usually be selected by the user on the device, meaning that you should be able to find the setting that best suits what you’re looking for pretty easily.
The Theragun Elite (Photo: The Sport Review)
Massage guns come in a range of different designs, but generally speaking there will be a head which features the point that moves back and forth, and a handle so that you can grip it strongly and move it around the desired area easily.
Most products contain a rechargeable battery that can provide a good few hours of use, and a carrying case for the gun and the attachments is also usually included.
Here’s What We Looked For…
Here are some of the things we looked for when considering the products to include in this guide:
• High Quality, Sturdy And Durable Design – It’s important to select a product that’s well-built and is likely to last a long time. We looked for massage guns that have been on the market for a while, and which are built to high standards.
• Battery Life – Making sure that your massage gun has a decent battery life is important, especially if you’re going to be travelling or taking the device out and about with you. We selected products that feature good battery life ranges for this guide.
• Noise – Some massage guns are louder than others. Although noise may not be an issue for some people, others would prefer that the product is as quiet as possible, especially if you’re going to be using it regularly in a communal space. We looked for massage guns that have a focus on being in the quieter range when it comes to the noise they make.
• Brand Reputation – We took a look at the brands featured to check out their history and see if they have a good reputation amongst customers. It’s important to know that you’re buying from a trustworthy company and that their products are well-received amongst their customers.
Best Massage Guns UK 2023 – Three Top Picks
So, now that we’ve taken a look at some of the basic things to bear in mind when it comes to picking a massage gun and what they do, it’s time to dive into our pick of some of the leading products on the market in the UK right now.
1) Theragun Elite
Where to buy: www.amazon.co.uk
The Theragun Elite (Photo: Therabody)
The Theragun Elite is our top pick for a premium-quality massage gun right now. Made by Therabody, it comes with five different attachments and has five built-in speeds. There’s also a smartphone app which allows you to customise your use of the product and also add in any specific speed to suit your needs. The Theragun’s trademark triangular handle makes it much easier to hold in different positions, especially those on your back. The Theragun Elite boasts a 120-minute battery life, and the OLED screen makes it easy to adjust settings and get the most out of the device. The main drawback is the premium price tag, but that won’t bother those who are looking for a high-quality, well-built and sturdy product. It’s available to buy from the official website but you can also get it on Amazon, where it has an impressive 4.4 out of 5 star rating. If you’re looking for a quality massage gun from a reputable brand, look no further than the Theragun Elite.
2) Hyperice Hypervolt 2
Where to buy: www.amazon.co.uk
The Hyperice Hypervolt 2 (Photo: Hyperice)
The Hyperice Hypervolt 2 massage gun is a very popular and highly-rated option if you’re looking for a quiet and efficient device made by a reputable brand. Hyperice work with a number of huge names in the sporting world, including the likes of Naomi Osaka and Erling Haaland. The Hypervolt 2 features three different speeds and five interchangeable attachments and has been designed to help relieve muscle stiffness and soreness. It has an improved ergonomic design compared to its predecessor, and uses patented ‘QuietGlide’ technology to help keep the noise down. The Hypervolt 2 boasts a strong three-hour battery life and it also uses a pressure sensor to let you know how to get the best out of the product. It comes with a neat carrying case, plus the five heads and charger. It had an impressive 4.7 out of 5 star rating on Amazon UK at the time of writing.
3) MuscleGun Carbon
Where to buy: www.amazon.co.uk
The MuscleGun Carbon (Photo: MuscleGun)
The MuscleGun Carbon is another example of a premium massage gun that can help you recover from a gym workout or run. Billed as a lightweight option, MuscleGun Carbon delivers up to 3200 strokes per minute to promote recovery and help to alleviate muscle tension. It comes with a handy travel case and inside are four attachment heads that target different muscle groups. It has an impressive battery life of up to five hours and takes just an hour to recharge. MuscleGun claim that this device operates in near silence thanks to its state of the art noise reduction brushless motor technology. While it wasn’t completely silent when we tried it out, this massage gun does make less noise than some other cheaper models. The MuscleGun Carbon, which had a 4.7 out of 5 star rating on Amazon UK at the time of writing, is one of the more expensive massage guns available on the market right now, so that’s the one potential drawback if you’re looking seriously at this particular option.
How To Use A Massage Gun
Most massage guns will come with a detailed guide on how to use the product in the safest and most effective way, so your starting point should always be the material supplied by the manufacturer.
That being said, there is also now plenty of information online about how to use percussive therapy devices, from YouTube tutorials to more in-depth guides and articles.
How you use your massage gun will depend on what you are looking to get out of it. If you are simply using the gun to help warm-up before an exercise session, your use of the device may be quicker than somebody who is looking for it to help with recovery after sport or to ease other aches and pains.
(Photo: Adobe Stock)
Generally speaking, the best way to use a massage gun is to gently grasp the handle and allow the gun to move around the desired area, taking care to focus on the muscles you’re looking to target and avoiding direct contact on your bones and joints.
However, as we mentioned above, it’s always best to refer to the official product information that comes with the product you’ve purchased for more detailed instructions.
Anything Else To Consider?
As we mentioned above, it’s always best to refer to the manufacturer’s instructions when it comes to using your massage gun for the first time. You can also do some further research online to find out how to get the best out of your product.
Massage guns can be incredibly useful devices, but it’s worth remembering that they are probably not going to be able to replace the tailored and personalised approach you’d get from seeing a physiotherapist in person.
It’s also important to remember that although massage guns are designed to help with recovery around sport and exercise, they not medical devices. If you have or suspect a medical problem, you should speak to your doctor.
(Photo: Adobe Stock)
Wrapping Things Up – Our Final Thoughts
So, that brings us to the end of our look at some of the best massage guns on the market in the UK at the moment.
We’ve walked you through all of the main things to bear in mind when it comes to the leading percussive therapy devices on the market, from what to look for to how to go about getting the best out of your device.
We’ve also picked out our selection of the leading products on the market right now based on our own experience of testing them out.
The Theragun Elite currently heads our list, but you’re not likely to go too far wrong by picking any of the products featured on this page.