Theragun elite
Maximum percussions per minute: 2400
Speed settings: Five
Weight: 2.2lbs
With its closed, triangular grip, malleable attachments and LED display, the Theragun elite is the perfect massage gun for keeping on top of your own aches and pains. With five speed settings and a brilliant app, available on both Android and IOS devices, we also found it was our favourite for treating acute injuries.
It feels like a power tool – and we mean that as a compliment, because it wears its power well. Even at the very top speed, the device never feels like it’s out of control, or is going to hurt you. That’s in large part because of the triangular grip, which feels sturdy even for smaller hands, and because of the way the attachment heads “lock” securely onto the device.
Despite being just a fraction cheaper, we preferred the five attachments that came with the Theragun elite to the attachments that came with the Hypervolt plus. Made of closed-cell foam, they felt softer and less aggressive, particularly when massaging an injured area.
They also felt a little bit more expensive because of that pliant give. We also tested two extra attachments that you can buy separately: a super soft attachment for injury, and a dual head attachment for the spine. Both were excellent, but you don’t need to splash out unless you have a specific need.
The Theragun was the noisier of the two guns we tested at low speeds, although at its maximum speed (which is quite a lot lower than the Hypervolt plus) it was much quieter. At the lower ranges, it purrs – having tested an earlier generation of Theragun before, we were amazed at the difference.
We loved the heads-up-display, which tells you how much battery you have left, what speed you’re on, and whether your Bluetooth is connected. The app was really easy to use, and impressive tech: it changes the speed of the gun for you as you work through a programme, and gives you feedback about whether you’re applying enough pressure or not. All that means that you feel like you can properly harness the raw power of the device without fear of hurting yourself.
In a couple of areas, that would matter if you were a professional or treating other people, the device trails just slightly behind the Hypervolt: it doesn’t reach the same level of percussions per minute, its doesn’t have the same instant pressure feedback as the Hypervolt’s LED, and it doesn’t have the same battery life (two hours versus 2.5) or the same detachable-style battery. But it is much easier to use on yourself: it’s lighter, and the triangular handle means it’s easy to reach lower down your own back, even if you have shorter arms. The high quality case that the gun came with really impressed us: at this price point, we felt like some kind of case is a must.