The second day after a hard workout is always the hardest for me, it’s when my muscles feel like they’re seizing, and if you spend your workday behind a desk, it can get even worse, but a great massage gun can make a difference.
The Theragun brand has been the gold standard for a while, and their latest generation of product, the Theragun PRO Deep Tissue Massage Gun, is at the top of everyone’s wish list, but is it worthy of such praise?
Before we can get into the nitty-gritty, let’s take a look at things to consider before selecting a great gun.
What to Consider Before Purchasing a Massage Gun
Massage has been a therapy for sore, aching muscles for a long time.
Massage guns, unlike other massage types like vibrating massagers, use percussive therapy, which can not only provide relief for those hard-worked muscles, but improve athletic performance, increase blood circulation, and treat a variety of medical issues.
It’s great for people from all walks of life, from athletes to couch potatoes, but there are some instances where it’s not an ideal tool.
This includes women who are pregnant and people who suffer from deep vein thrombosis.
People who fall into these categories are better served by going to a masseuse, but it’s always best to consult a doctor.
When purchasing a massage gun, there are a few things to think about before settling on a product.
Speed
Massage guns tend to have various levels of speed that are quantified by either revolutions per minute (RPM) or percussions per minute (PPM).
If you’re purchasing a product from another country, you may also see this referenced as RMP.
Power
A device’s power will determine the force and the reach that the gun’s head will have into your muscles.
Most devices range from 12mm – 16mm amplitude. The larger the amplitude, the deeper into the muscles the gun will go.
Shape and Size
Some places on your body are hard to reach, so finding a gun with a shape that allows you to hit those areas is essential.
It’s also meant to relieve pain, not create pain, so an ergonomic handle that won’t hurt your wrists is a good thing to look for. It’s also a good idea to consider the weight of the device.
Noise Level
Having a loud contraption isn’t exactly beneficial to relaxation, and when you tense and flex your muscles, the gun won’t be able to do its job effectively.
Not to mention, loud noises can be incredibly annoying.
Warranty
Just like any piece of tech, things happen, and devices stop working or get broken. A warranty will protect your investment.
Alright, now that we know what to look for, let’s take a look at how the Theragun PRO stacks up!
Introducing the Theragun PRO Deep Tissue Massage Gun
The Theragun PRO Deep Tissue Massage Gun is the fourth generation version. It’s 55% quieter and has two times the battery life of previous generations.
Dr. Jason Wersland created the percussion therapy device in response to his struggles in finding a solution to pain.
The gun has a commercial-grade motor that allows it to get 60% deeper into the muscles than its competitors, and it comes with a two-year warranty.
It was really developed to give the average person an option to get professional quality relief from various fitness and non-fitness-related discomfort, tension, muscle pain, and more.
Stand Out Features
Using a massage gun is a very personalized experience.
So, I’m going to take you into the finer details of the features that can make or break the effectiveness of your percussion therapy.
QuietForce Technology QX150
A lot of science, research and development went into the brushless motor and torque control, but I won’t bore you with those details.
The important part of the QuietForce tech is that it was designed to balance power with the noise level.
It also prevents stalling, ensuring consistency in force while maintaining its speed, therefore providing a more effective session.
Battery Life
The Theragun PRO Deep Tissue Massage Gun uses 16V lithium-ion batteries, and you receive two of these batteries and a charger with your purchase.
You can have one charging while the other is in use and swap them out, so you’re never without power.
The batteries have a two-and-a-half-hour life, which, depending on how often you’re using it, can take you through a week without having to swap.
I love the batteries because switching them out is super easy, so you don’t have to struggle for ten minutes trying to find special tools or struggling to get it open.
The device also has wireless charging capabilities, although the wireless charger is sold separately with a price tag of $79 at the time of this writing.
Speed
Like many of its competitors, the Theragun PRO Deep Tissue Massage Gun offers built-in speed settings.
The five settings include 1750 PPM, 1900 PPM, 2100 PPM, 2200PPM, and 2400 PPM.
What’s tricky about built-in settings is that your muscles often need a speed somewhere between two settings.
However, what makes the Theragun PRO unique is that in addition to the built-in settings, you can create your own settings and select any speed between 1750 PPM and 2400PPM. This is especially helpful if you’re treating sensitive areas.
Ergonomic Handle with Adjustable Arm
Many people use a massager to help relieve tension headaches and stress that stems from tension in the shoulders and upper back; however, these areas can be hard to reach.
The Theragun PRO Deep Tissue Massage Gun offers an adjustable arm. Its four positions allow you to get those tough spots.
This feature also helps prevent any strain in your wrists, and the triangle-shaped handle gives you several comfortable ways to maneuver the gun.
The gun is also light, weighing in at 2.9 pounds.
Therabody App
The Theragun PRO Deep Tissue Massage Gun has a corresponding app that allows you to change speeds, force, and create your presets from your phone.
The app can connect with Apple Health and Google Fit, and it takes information from these sources and recommends routines that get sent to your PRO.
It is possible to use the device without the app, however, so while it’s definitely a perk to be able to get recommendations, you’re not chained to your phone if you don’t want to be.
Force and Depth
To get the benefits of deep tissue massage, the gun needs to have a certain amount of depth. They quantify this in amplitudes.
The Theragun PRO Deep Tissue Massage Gun has an amplitude of 16mm and, combined with its speed, offers up to 60 pounds of force.
This gives you the option to get deep into the muscles, which as someone who often finds themselves feeling sore in spots I just can’t get deep enough into, I can really appreciate.
Attachments
When you purchase the Theragun PRO Deep Tissue Massage Gun, you receive six interchangeable heads so that you can tailor the head to the location you’re working.
The heads include a supersoft head and dampener head that are great for sensitive areas, spots where you’re especially sore, or in the regions surrounding bones or joints.
The wedge head is one of my favorites as it works well on the IT bands and shoulder blades, which are two areas that I tend to have the most challenging time stretching.
The thumb head is ideal for the lower back and trigger points, while a cone attachment can offer relief for the hands and feet.
There’s also a pouch to store the heads that comes with your purchase.
What I really love, however, is the material that the heads are made of: non-porous closed-cell foam. What that fancy term means is that the heads are easy to clean.
If you’re using a massage gun as part of your cooldown, being able to clean the heads well after working on sweaty skin is a huge plus.
What Do Customers Think?
All the features in the world don’t matter if the device doesn’t work the way it’s supposed to, so I went on a search for customer reviews of the Theragun PRO Deep Tissue Massage Gun to find some honest, unbiased opinions.
Review #1
User JNBNY gave the PRO a five out of five stars in his review and went as far as saying, “…I purchased it on a desperate whim. After the first use, I was in tears, not from pain for the first time but from relief..”
Review #2
Gina, a muscle and fascia therapist, said she would highly recommend the product and that “…it effectively gets muscles to release, soften and loosen, so I spend less time doing it myself manually, and now have more time to get to the source of the clients problem..”
Review #3
Hugh gave the gun four stars stating that it’s “Better than foam rollers, better than heat pads, better than those stupid massage chairs…” but that “it might just be too powerful for some people’s liking.”
How Does it Compare?
Of course, there are a ton of other options for massage guns on the market.
Three of the most popular are the Tokfit T2, EveryFun M3 Pro, and the HydraGun. Let’s see how they compare, feature to feature.
| Theragun Pro | TOKFIT T2 | EveryFun M3 Pro | HydraGun | |
| Speed Range: | 1750 – 2400 PPM | 1400 – 3200 RPM | Up to 3200 RPM | Up to 3200 RPM |
| Number of Speed Settings: | 5 | 20 | 5 | 6 |
| Amplitude: | 16mm | 12mm | 12mm | 12mm |
| Max Force: | 60 pounds | 40 pounds | 50 pounds | 40 pounds |
| Handle: | Ergonomic, Adjustable, Triangle Shaped | Gun shaped with 99% handle | Gun shaped with 99% handle | Gun shaped with 99% handle |
| Attachable Heads: | 6 | 6 | 5 | 6 |
| Battery Life: | 2.5 hours each (2 batteries included) | 8 hours | 10 hours | 3-6 hours |
| Warranty: | 2 years | 1 year | 15 months | 18 months |
TOKFIT T2
The TOKFIT T2 is known for its long battery life. It uses a 2400 mAH lithium battery that provides up to 8 hours of continued use.
It also has an automatic timer and a touchscreen display. The TOKFIT finds itself in the middle of the road in terms of price and features.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Lightweight
Cons:
- Not offered on Amazon
EveryFun M3 Pro
The EveryFun model is the most cost-effective gun on our list, and similar to the TOKFIT, it boasts a hefty battery life.
The EveryFun M3 Pro is also on the quieter side of our list, stating that the device doesn’t go over 45 decibels.
That level of noise is slightly quieter than the sound of a standard fridge.
It may be a good option for a starter device, although you may find yourself needing something more powerful after a bit of time.
Pros:
- Affordable model
- Long warranty period – 15 months
Cons:
- Only comes in one color
HydraGun
The HydraGun is a durable gun made of aerospace-grade aluminum. What separates it from the pack are the two steel heads that come with your purchase.
These steel heads are excellent for the harder muscle groups that have a wide surface.
It has a UK 3-pin plug but also comes with a universal adapter for US-based customers.
Pros
- One of the quieter massage guns on the market
- Includes a universal adapter for countries outside of the US
Cons
- Not offered on Amazon
Our Take on the Theragun PRO?
Above all else, a deep tissue massage gun should be the answer to sore muscles, stress, tension, blood circulation problems, and increased performance.
However, the device’s optimal force, speed, and usability are so unique to the individual that personalization is key to getting the desired results.
The Theragun PRO offers the most flexibility in treatment options without being limited to specific speed settings.
It goes above and beyond in providing various ways to hold the device, making it easier to get to the areas that typically need the most treatment.
