One of the biggest problems athletes face regularly is post-workout or post-training muscle soreness. Of course, athletes can consult a massage therapist to help them relieve some of the soreness, but massage therapy is already costly, so relying on it isn’t the most cost-effective solution, if you are living with elderly and they are on wheelchair, it can really help them in recovery process aswell.
Enter the breakthrough technology that is the massage gun. And it’s a recovery device that has been making quite a buzz in the fitness and recovery scene. So, why is a massage gun good? To help answer that question, let’s do a quick overview
What Is A Massage Gun?
If you already know what massage guns and their specs are, you can skip to the review below.
Simply put, a massage gun is a handheld, rechargeable device that offers percussion or vibration therapy. A type of massage, percussive or vibration therapy administers rapid bursts of pressure into the body’s muscle tissue. It aims to alleviate soft tissue pain, heal injury, speed recovery, and enhance athletic performance.
Massage guns don’t wholly eliminate muscle soreness, but they do increase blood flow into muscle fibers, which can reduce inflammation and muscle tension.
What to Look for in a Massage Gun
If you’re now interested in massage guns, you might consider investing in one for yourself. But before you buy one, there are some things that you first have to consider. These are as follows:
Amplitude and Speed
When it comes to massage guns, amplitude refers to the depth at which the massage head travels. In other words, the higher the amplitude, the further the head will travel, and the deeper the gun will hit.
In addition to amplitude, the massage gun’s speed — which is measured in revolutions per minute (RPM) — should also be considered. The RPM range for the majority of massage guns is between 2000 RPM to 3200 RPM.
There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to massage gun speed. That said, you might benefit the most if you choose a massage gun that has a range of speeds to select from.
Noise or Sound Level
You might want to consider a massage gun’s sound level since some devices can be inconveniently noisy, especially when you’re using them in a closed space or if you’re using them on body areas close to the ears.
Battery Life
Battery life is important for wireless devices, and naturally, massage guns are no exception. No one wants to constantly charge a massage gun after every use, so you must check a massage gun’s battery life before buying it.
Some people consider 60 minutes to be good enough battery life, but some massage gun brands do better. So look out for those massage guns with great batteries.
Attachment Heads
Massage guns come with a standard ball or bullet massage head. But some massage guns come with multiple different attachment heads for a more personalized massage experience.
Weight
Some massage guns are heavier than the others, and you might not care about this at first, but this is actually a big deal. This is because you’re going to hold the massage gun as you’re using it for some time, and when you hold it for a while, you’ll start to really feel the weight of the device. This can cause discomfort on your part.
Design
In the context of massage guns, “design” doesn’t just refer to aesthetics — it also includes the practical aspect.
Massage guns have varied designs, so when you’re choosing one, you should make sure that that massage gun meets your needs. Make sure that the design, especially the placement of the handles and power button, is ergonomic for you.
Warranty
Massage guns can be a bit pricey, and so, the last thing you would want is for your massage gun to get damaged not long after you first bought it. That’s why you should first check the warranty that comes with a specific massage gun. Check its warranty coverage period, as well as the ease of warranty claim. Most brands of massage guns offer 1–2 years of warranty.
HYDRAGUN vs. Theragun: Which Should You Choose?
The massage gun is a relatively new device, but because of the benefits it offers, it’s now sought after by athletes and other sports enthusiasts. As of right now, there are two well-known brands of massage guns in the market: Theragun and HYDRAGUN.
Theragun first hit the mass market in 2016 while HYDRAGUN came into the scene in 2020. As such, Theragun now has a couple of models on their product line whereas HYDRAGUN has only one model so far.
Because of this, we have decided to review the Theragun Pro. Each comparison point mentioned below coincides with the considerations mentioned above.
Now, with that out of the way, it’s time to compare HYDRAGUN and Theragun Pro and see which is better between the two of them.
Packaging: Contents Inside the Box
What’s Inside the Box?
Theragun Pro
HYDRAGUN
Protective carrying case
Only fits the massage gun and the two batteries
Fits the massage gun, all six attachment heads, and the charger
Attachment Heads
6 attachment heads + travel pouch
6 attachment heads (4 regular and 2 stainless)
Battery
2 rechargeable lithium-ion batteries with 150 minutes of battery life each
One battery with up to 7 hours of battery life
Warranty
2 years
1.5 years
Return Guarantee
30 days from the date a customer receives the product
30 days from the date a customer receives the product
Both the Theragun Pro and HYDRAGUN boxes carry a protective carrying case, rechargeable batteries, six attachment heads, a charger, and a 30-day return guarantee. The only differences between them in terms of packaging are 1) Theragun comes with an extra battery, 2) HYDRAGUN provides a universal adapter for their 3-pin charger, and 3) Theragun’s warranty lasts for two years while HYDRAGUN lasts 1.5 years.
When it comes to the carrying case, Theragun’s can only fit the massage gun and the two batteries. The attachment heads come in a separate travel pouch. Meanwhile, the HYDRAGUN carrying case fits the massage gun, all six attachment heads, and the charger. This is an advantage for HYDRAGUN because the device and all the other necessary components are all in one place. It’s also slim enough that it won’t take too much space in backpacks or lockers. In other words, the HYDRAGUN carrying case provides convenience to the buyer.
In terms of battery, it’s great that Theragun readily offers an extra battery in case the other one gets drained or damaged, but the two batteries only provide 150 minutes of use each. All in all, that’s 300 minutes or 5 hours of use. Meanwhile, HYDRAGUN’s battery can last up to 7 hours, depending on usage.
And finally, we have the warranty, which is Theragun’s edge. Most brands only offer one year of warranty, but Theragun exceeds expectations by offering two. HYDRAGUN, on the other hand, offers an 18-month or 1.5-year warranty.
Packaging Winner: Since packaging deals with numerous specs, it’d be better to see which brand wins the individual specs so that we can determine the overall winner for packaging.
Protective Carrying Case Winner: HYDRAGUN.
Attachment Heads Winner: Tie
Battery Winner: HYDRAGUN
Warranty Winner: Theragun Pro
Return Guarantee Winner: Tie
As you can see, the overall winner for packaging is HYDRAGUN. Theragun’s two-year warranty is undeniably great, but the convenience of HYDRAGUN’s case and their long battery life is unmatched.
Weight and Design
The Theragun Pro is a bit heavier than the HYDRAGUN. The first time you hold both products, the weight difference may not seem like much. But when you hold Theragun Pro for a while to massage your muscles, that’s when you’ll notice the weight.
As for the design, Theragun Pro has a more striking look. Its triangular handle can catch anyone’s eyes when you take out this massage gun everywhere. Aside from that, the adjustable head angles and ergonomic handle help to focus on whichever part of the body you are targeting.
On the other hand, HYDRAGUN’s design is simple: it is designed like a gun. Its handle is at a 99-degree angle and is covered in silicon, making the grip easy for you — even when your hands are sweaty.
However, both massage guns share a similar problem: sometimes, it can be a bit difficult to turn both devices on. For Theragun Pro, pressing too long can sometimes activate the higher setting while for HYDRAGUN, you’re sometimes required to give a harder push to turn on the device.
Weight and Gun Design Winner: Let’s call it a tie. It depends on which look you prefer: Theragun Pro’s distinctive design or HYDRAGUN’s simple appearance.
Noise Level
Theragun Pro’s noise level is 75dB, and the massage gun is said to come with “QuietForce Technology.” Meanwhile, HYDRAGUN’s noise level is 30–50dB, and the brand claims that their massage gun is the quietest there is.
When we tried both massage guns, we discovered that the HYDRAGUN at the highest setting is still quieter than the Theragun.
This may not seem like an important factor at first, but when you massage your muscles after working out in the gym — or inside your house — it’s unpleasant and distracting to use a massage gun that emits a very loud noise.
For that reason, we appreciate how quiet the HYDRAGUN is: we can watch TV while using the massage gun, and when we’re in the gym, we don’t attract glares from people.
Noise Level Winner: HYDRAGUN.
Speed and Amplitude
Theragun Pro has five built-in speeds (1750, 1900, 2100, 2200, and 2400ppms), and it also has an app-controlled customizable speed range (any speed between 1750–2400ppms). Its amplitude is 16mm.
Meanwhile, HYDRAGUN offers six speed settings. The wide range also allows the user to customize according to their needs. However, Theragun’s amplitude is greater than HYDRAGUN’s, which means that Theragun Pro allows for a deeper massage.
For us, we like to vary our massages. Sometimes, we like deep massages, but other times, we want light massages, especially when we’re warming up before a workout. That’s why we appreciate the range of HYDRAGUN’s speed settings.
Speed and Amplitude Winner: For us personally, the winner is HYDRAGUN for its variety of speed settings. But if you want deep massages every time, then you might want to consider Theragun Pro.
Price
Theragun Pro costs 699 AUD while HYDRAGUN costs 399 AUD. From this, you can see that Theragun is on the higher end of the price range. According to Forbes, this price is likely attributed to Theragun Pro’s amplitude and head density. As mentioned earlier, Theragun Pro’s amplitude is 16mm, which means it offers deep massages every time.
However, if you don’t want a deep massage every time, paying 699 AUD for a massage gun seems a bit too much.
Price Winner: HYDRAGUN.
Conclusion
Without a doubt, the Theragun Pro is a quality massage gun that has a fine ergonomic design and powerful massage heads. It also has greater amplitude, so it can offer deeper massages for you. So, if you want deep massages and don’t mind the price cost, then the Theragun Pro is for you.
However, the HYDRAGN offers better battery life, a quieter motor, more speed options, and better portability. In other words, this massage gun is best for people who want to vary their massage experience now and then. With HYDRAGUN, they can go for a light massage or a deep massage, depending on what they want at the moment.
For this reason, we believe that you might get the best value for your money when you buy the HYDRAGUN.
After reading this post, which massage gun have you decided to get? Let us know!
