For some time, it appeared like restoration units — foam rollers, vibrating massagers, compression gear, and the like — have been rising in measurement with every iteration. Compression socks are good, however how about compression boots? Why have a foam curler in your calves if you will get one which additionally accommodates your again? 

Now that many people have amassed complete storage closets’ price, restoration instruments appear to be trending in the wrong way, with smaller sizes which might be extra conducive for storing, touring, and dealing with normally. The puzzle for his or her designers is learn how to pack simply as highly effective of a punch in a extra compact product.

The second technology Theragun Mini by Therabody is one such machine that provides customers an alternative choice to the larger and pricier Theragun Professional and Theragun Elite, each of which — just like the Mini — are handheld percussive therapeutic massage units meant to boost restoration, efficiency, sleep, mobility, and stress. 

Having added it to my restoration arsenal for a few weeks of every day use, right here’s what I found and finally thought in regards to the Theragun Mini:

The setup and studying processes are negligible

When you bemoan devices with difficult setup processes and steep studying curves, you’ll love how intuitive the Theragun Mini is. To start out utilizing it, all it’s a must to do is take away it from the field, cost it utilizing the included cable, after which maintain down the one button on the machine to show it on.

The Theragun Mini is severely compact.

Credit score: Becky Wade Firth / Mashable

Credit score: Becky Wade Firth / Mashable

As soon as it’s on, you’re speculated to “float” the Theragun Mini throughout whichever physique elements you wish to goal. I particularly love the way in which it feels on my chronically tight calves, which I often hit for a couple of minutes whereas lounging earlier than mattress.

When you get a really feel for the machine, you may toggle between three vibration speeds (1750 pulses per minute or PPM, 2100 PPM, and 2400 PPM) by tapping the facility button; the present velocity is proven on the LED velocity indicator proper subsequent to it. To show it off, merely maintain down the facility button once more. That’s all there’s to it.

It’s compact and ergonomic

Most handheld massagers have a deal with, which could be good for leverage however difficult to stuff right into a backpack or carry-on. Because it’s meant for journey, I respect that the Theragun Mini is handle-less. It seems to be like a tiny bike seat with rounded edges and a nozzle on the finish and packs up properly into the triangular mushy case that’s included. It’s additionally surprisingly ergonomic, with a clean grip and form that makes it simple to hit particular areas with varied levels of strain.

Weighing one pound and measuring 5.55 x 4.92 x 1.93 inches, the Theragun Mini is on the smaller aspect of even journey massagers. The Theragun Mini 2.0 is 20 p.c smaller and 30 p.c lighter than the earlier technology, and considerably smaller than a competitor, the Hyperice Hypervolt Go 2, which weighs 1.5 kilos and measures 6.7 x 7.3 x 2 inches. Such variations won’t sound like a lot, however for those who’re making an attempt to journey mild, each little little bit of saved house and weight issues.

It contains three attachments

Therabody was very easy with the Mini’s attachments.
Credit score: Becky Wade Firth / Mashable

Possibly it’s simply me, however I virtually by no means hassle to swap out the heads on my restoration instruments. The one which comes connected is normally essentially the most impartial, universally pleasing of the combo, so I usually roll with it and go away the others within the field. That was the case with the Theragun Mini; it contains three attachments (commonplace ball, dampener, and thumb), however I used to be joyful sufficient with the usual ball that I stored it on aside from fast trials of the opposite two. All three labored effectively, and I really discover that it’s not the top of the massager that issues as a lot because the strain I put into it.

The battery life is okay

The Theragun Mini has a battery lifetime of two hours and could be recharged with the included USB-A to USB-C charging cable. That restrict is fairly typical of handheld massagers and, generally, needs to be lengthy sufficient to get by way of a median journey with out dying. Maybe a bigger physique might accommodate a bigger battery, however being that the Theragun Mini is marketed as a journey machine, the tradeoff most likely wasn’t price it. 

You’ll be able to join it to the Therabody app — however will you actually?

Lately, there’s an app for nearly every part. So I used to be unsurprised to be taught {that a} Therabody app exists and that the Theragun Mini, like all the firm’s units, connects to it through Bluetooth. Realizing I’d possible by no means use it, I nonetheless wished to obtain the app to see if it added something to my therapeutic massage expertise. 

Quick reply: for me, no. The app is cluttered and overwhelming and filled with written directions for no matter Therabody machine you’ve paired to it. The journey tab, for instance, gives a four-minute complete physique routine with each 30 seconds targeted on a distinct physique half. Past not desirous to mess with an app (nor squint on the tiny font) whereas self-massaging, I do know that restoration is far more private and nuanced than the app makes it out to be. I’d moderately hearken to my physique and determine for myself the place I ought to hit, after I ought to add strain, and after I ought to transfer on to the subsequent space.

The app is perhaps helpful for individuals new to restoration, however I discovered it pointless.
Credit score: Screenshot: Therabody

Maybe somebody who’s model new to train or in search of steering on their restoration routine would profit from the Therabody app. However truthfully, I believe it’s unlikely. 

Is the Theragun Mini price it?

The Theragun Mini has quite a bit going for it: It’s simple to arrange and use. It has a pleasant measurement and form for dealing with and taking up the go. Most significantly, it doles out an efficient therapeutic massage nearly anyplace I wish to use it. Along with my calves, which obtained essentially the most consideration throughout my take a look at interval, I used it on my quads, hamstrings, hip flexors, and glutes, and all the time felt somewhat looser and hotter after just some minutes of use. 

The downsides of the Theragun Mini are minimal. The battery life is unremarkable. The additional attachments weren’t tremendous helpful (to me). I’d possible by no means use an app together with this or every other restoration machine. And lastly, the worth of $199 is steep relative to your run-of-the-mill therapeutic massage gun, particularly for those who’re in search of a backup machine that you just’ll completely use for journey.

Taking all of that into consideration, I conclude that the Theragun Mini is one in all my favourite handheld massagers — journey or in any other case — and one which I’d suggest to different lively people.