If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best vibrating foam roller for self massage, then I’d recommend the VIBRA by Epitome Fitness as the best one.
Foam rollers have been used by athletes for quite some time now, but it’s only been recent that powerful little motors have been paired with this useful workout tool.
Do you already own a foam roller but want to gain the extra massage benefits and deep muscle relief that comes with the addition of soothing vibrations?
I had to find out for myself if all the hype is true. As it turns out, my new vibrating foam roller is twice as effective as my regular foam roller.
After learning that using the best vibrating foam roller can reward me with a killer massage while providing me with up to a 40% increase in my range of motion, I knew I would never again be willing to face another workout without my new gadget.
Here are the top vibrating foam rollers we’ll be reviewing:
- NextRoller 3-Speed Vibrating Foam Roller
- Epitomie Fitness VIBRA Vibrating Foam Roller
- FITINDEX Electric Foam Roller
- LifePro’s Surger 4-Speed Vibrating Foam Roller
- Vulken 4-Speed High-Intensity Vibrating Foam Roller
The Wonderful World of Vibrating Foam Rollers
To be honest, the major increase in range of motion is enough of a motivating factor to include a foam roller into all of my workouts.
Preventing joint and muscle injury is important and using a vibrating foam roller can aid in just that.
However, in the event that you suffer a minor injury during a workout, using one of the best vibrating foam rollers you can find can bring some much-needed relief.
The Science Behind the Magic
A thin, yet strong and fibrous tissue separates and encloses our muscle tissue. This is referred to as myofascial tissue.
Self-myofascial release, or SMR, is a technique that is often recommended to physical therapy patients to increase the patient’s range of motion at a more accelerated rate.
The recent increase of popularity that foam rollers have seen has prompted the dawn of research regarding the effectiveness of SMR on workouts.
These studies suggest that foam rolling isn’t a bad plan at all, as it can enhance the range of motion in the joints, delay muscle soreness, and enhance post-exercise muscle performance.
Your Muscles Will Thank You
Foam rollers help relieve muscular pain throughout a large portion of the body. Foam rollers, in general, are pretty great when it comes to stretching out certain areas of the body.
However, vibrating foam rollers can provide an even greater degree of relief to your upper and lower back, IT band, hamstrings, quads, calves and knees.
Additional Benefits
People often make the common assumption that foam rollers are good for one thing: stretching out those tight and aching muscles.
I was once a part of the naïve majority until I discovered what an incredible tool vibrating foam rollers can be to both athletes and workout newbies.
Vibrating foam rollers can be used before and after workouts to assist in a few different areas.
Most of the population is aware of the muscular relief that can be found when using this simple device. Perhaps nobody understands the true power of this tool as an athlete does.
Athletes often use vibrating foam rollers before working out to ensure that they have the greatest range of mobility and flexibility.
After they’re done sweating it out they pick up their trusty tool once more.
Not only will this bring relief to their sore muscles, but it can accelerate the rate of muscle recovery and help prevent too much lactic acid from building up.
Top Features in the Best Vibrating Foam Roller
Now that you’re 100% sold on the idea of investing in one of the best vibrating foam rollers on the market, you should know a few top features you want to look for.
First and foremost, don’t assume that the most powerful battery means the most powerful vibrating foam roller.
Unfortunately, when pairing a powerful battery with a more compact device, it can often quickly drain its charge.
Instead of searching for a product with a lot of juice, consider searching for one with high ranging vibrational frequencies (Hz).
The higher the vibration frequency is, the deeper you’ll feel the effects loosening up your trigger points.
You don’t need to worry about finding a portable model as nearly all vibrating foam rollers are lightweight and fairly compact.
Some even come with a carrying case or attached carrying handle nowadays.
The nature of a vibrating roller requires it to be rechargeable. If you come across a model that doesn’t have either a hidden charging chord or an included charging cable, then be prepared to fork out some extra money for this necessary item.
The best vibrating foam rollers will have various options of vibrational frequency for you to choose between. Most feature a three- or four-speed vibrator.
The very best feature a four- or five-speed vibrator with a pulsating function.
If vibrational level indicators are important to you, there is certainly a wide range of models that possess such a feature.
Aside from options in vibration levels, the grid pattern is the most important thing to examine before making a purchase.
Some foam rollers have nubs and ridges; others have a honeycomb grid that feels like fingertips.
Nubs and ridges are excellent for really getting deep into stressed trigger points, while the honeycomb grid provides a more authentic and therapeutic massage.
Best Vibrating Foam Roller Review
You know what to look for, so you know the drill. I researched the best vibrating foam rollers on the market so that you can save your valuable time.
Scan through the lists of pros and cons to see if you can find the perfect vibrating foam roller to add to your life.
NextRoller 3-Speed Vibrating Foam Roller
The NextRoller 3-Speed Vibrating Foam Roller has various vibrational frequencies that work to target three different areas – acute pain, chronic pain and muscle stimulation.
While the materials used to make this product are quite firm, they allow for customer’s with a higher body weight to use the roller with ease.
Despite the downsides of this particular foam roller, it is still one of the leading products in its category.
In fact, it’s such a great product that players scattered throughout the NBA, NFL and MLB make a habit of regularly using their NextRoller when training.
The widespread popularity of the NextRoller has even led to it being featured on networks like ABC, NBC, CBS and FOX.
Pros
- Choose from low-, medium- or high-intensity vibrations.
- Can support up to 280 pounds.
- Comes with a one year warranty.
- Removable carry handle hides the charging chord.
- Nubs can reach and target pressure points.
Cons
- Hard like plastic, rather than soft like foam.
- Vibration is so powerful it can make the floor and walls shake.
- Textured nubs make it difficult to roll.
- Short and extra thick, rather than long and moderately thick.
- No charging display.
- Full charge lasts only two hours.
- Loudly crinkles when rolling back with force.
Epitomie Fitness VIBRA Vibrating Foam Roller
If ever there were a product worthy of competing alongside the NextRoller, the VIBRA Vibrating Foam Roller by Epitomie Fitness would make for a close contender.
Making quite the name for itself and skyrocketing in popularity, the VIBRA has also been featured on a number of networks.
This foam roller has been given higher praise than nearly every competing product, with overwhelmingly positive reviews.
Its honeycomb grid is backed by one of the most powerful batteries to be featured in a vibrating roller.
Oh, how I wish I had this gadget in my arsenal back when I was looking for sweet relief after grueling leg days.
Pros
- Comes with a carrying case.
- Has an impressive four vibrational intensities and a pulsating setting to choose from.
- The motor reaches up to 3600 RPM.
- Comes pre-charged.
- Includes a USB cable for charging.
- Holds over a four-hour charge.
- Comes with a lifetime guarantee.
- Honeycomb grid mimics actual fingertips.
- Includes a “Full Body Foam Rolling” training series.
Cons
- The gridding is too smooth to be of adequate benefit for some.
- Too short to roll out both legs at once.
FITINDEX Electric Foam Roller
The FITINDEX Electric Foam Roller was specially designed to target deep tissue trigger points that are often irritated when playing sports.
Like many other vibrating foam rollers on the market, this model features a standard four-speed vibration lineup.
It’s important to note that since this model was designed to target deep tissue trigger points, it can be rather uncomfortable for some people to get used to.
However, FITINDEX acknowledges that their electric foam roller may not be a good fit for everyone and prides themselves on their customer service.
While competitors can make it nearly impossible to return an item, FITINDEX makes the process easy.
Pros
- Delivers a high-intensity therapeutic vibration that works to relieve deep muscle tension.
- Ultra lightweight.
- Comes with a carrying case.
- The company has a 100% customer service guarantee.
- Moderately priced.
- Covered by a one-year warranty.
- Features a vibration speed indicator light.
Cons
- Vibrations are not very intense.
- Has issues with the charging port
- Faulty products are sent out on occasion.
LifePro’s Surger 4-Speed Vibrating Foam Roller
While the overwhelming majority of customers love the Surger 4-Speed Vibrating Foam Roller from LifePro, some have experienced the frustration that goes along with receiving a faulty product.
These faulty products almost always work fine for about a month and a half before the motor starts to go.
However, these instances are rare and often unavoidable when pairing such a powerful battery with such a compact machine.
LifePro stands behind their product and receives returns so rarely that they are one of the easiest companies to deal with when such a thing happens.
LifePro is known for going above and beyond in customer service and appreciates their customers so much that they extend a lifetime warranty on all Surgers.
Pros
- Features a timer with three different auto-off settings.
- Includes access to an online community that includes advice from coaches, instructional videos and online workouts.
- Has the most powerful battery to be placed in a foam roller.
- Comes with a carrying bag.
- Backed by a “100% no-questions-asked lifetime warranty”.
Cons
- Full battery charge lasts just over two hours.
- Vibrations are so loud the neighbors could complain.
- Some faulty products stop working after a few weeks.
Vulken 4-Speed High-Intensity Vibrating Foam Roller
While the Vulken 4-Speed High-Intensity Foam Roller is marketed as a four-speed foam roller, it’s really just a slick marketing scheme.
In reality, Vulken’s vibrating roller features a low, medium, and high vibration with an automatic pulsing feature built in to all three.
The low vibrations are customer’s number one complaint.
While Vulken is only about half the price of high-end vibrating foam rollers, it packs a punch that’s closer to competing products that come at about half the cost.
However, most who have purchased this particular product are happy with it and unhappy customers have turned into lifelong customers thanks to the company’s superior customer service.
If this were a competition for the leading company in customer service, Vulken would likely take home the gold.
Pros
- Features an air-injected plastic shell.
- Comes with a one-year warranty.
- Includes a zipper carrying tote.
- Features a vibration intensity indicator.
- The longest vibrating foam roller in the lineup.
- Company provides exceptional customer service.
Cons
- Holds charge for just over two hours.
- Vibrations are weak.
- Power button can get stuck.
- Powering off is inconvenient.
Feel the VIBRA-tions
The VIBRA by Epitome Fitness is a foam roller that I’ve had suggested to me by multiple people, so I may have gone into this a little biased.
In my defense, you would have to be pretty dead set on a competing product to dismiss its impressive list of features.
Despite having one of the most intense vibrational frequencies amongst foam rollers, the VIBRA has quite the impressive battery life.
Not to mention, the VIBRA comes pre-charged so that you can get to using it right away.
Since I was searching for a more authentic and therapeutic massage, I just knew that the VIBRA was the best vibrating foam roller for me.
Ultimately, the downfalls failed in comparison to all of the wonderful benefits that this device presented.
In addition to all of the benefits that you can gain when using a vibrating foam roller before and after your workouts, it just feels amazing.
While your muscles, joints and connective tissues are getting some critical TLC, you can kick back and enjoy a soothing massage.
That’s a killer double feature and a sure-fire way to keep me motivated and using the best vibrating foam roller that I could get my hands on.
