The best massage guns (and why these 6 made our list)

Renpho, a smaller brand known for its foot and eye massagers, is naturally dabbling in percussive therapy as well. The R3 has amassed nearly 10,000 five-star Amazon reviews, falling nicely into our list as the perfect fit for muscles and budgets that need something light.

Retailing for $99, you could buy six R3s for the price of one Theragun. Still, there's decent power packed into this creaky plastic body, including a motor that can reach the same speed as the Theragun. The R3's mild punches are about half the poundage of the Theragun Pro, and don't go as deep as other massagers. But for newbies who don't even want that intensity, it's acceptable.

Theragun has secured its spot as the Apple of massage guns over the past few years. Its product line has greatly expanded to meet multiple price ranges, but the Theragun Pro is still the market hardass.

The fourth gen Pro packs the same 60 pounds of force into each 16 mm punch as its predecessors, now with five speed options instead of two. The percussions are so forceful and deep that Theragun suggests sessions of just a few minutes, depending on pain levels and the attachment. Six total choices (a supersoft head, dampener, ball, wedge, thumb, and cone) delivering customizable impact for different muscle groups or parts of the body. The donut shape and adjustable angles make it easier to reach places that typically require someone else's help. 

Frequent travelers, athletes, dedicated gym goers who won't skip a workout even on vacation, or people who are just sore after a five-hour flight could quickly tell you how clutch it'd be to have a masseuse on call on the road.

The latest version of the Theragun Mini is still referred to as just the "Mini," no "2" added. You can tell them apart by the successor's more slender build — it's 20% smaller and 30% lighter, adding just over a pound to your luggage. Despite its compact size, the Mini dishes out considerable power with decent customization options. Its 20-pound force and three interchangeable tips beat that of the Hypervolt Go 2, which is a few ounces heavier than the Mini.

And in this corner, we have the first player to give the Theragun any real competition. Hyperice took the original Hypervolt and sprinkled in 30% more power without any real spike in noise level — as well as a drop in total weight. The Quiet Glide technology provides more of a consistent, well-rounded massage experience than the Theragun's blunt, loud approach.

The Hypervolt 2 is equipped with pressure sensor lights on the back that offer feedback about how much pressure you're putting on and how hard to push to achieve the same results next time. It's a thoughtful feature that pairs well with the Hyperice app, which syncs with the gun to guide you though custom recovery plans.

Wanting your massage gun experience to be peaceful — as a massage should be — can be a lot to ask for when considering devices with big, obnoxious motors. If you can give up some of that power in lieu of the state of your ear drums, the Hydragun is all but confirmed the quietest massage gun on the market right now. It can be as quiet as 30 decibels (think a rustle of leaves) and maxes out at 50 on the highest speeds.

The Hydragun can compete speed wise, but would get the ol' KO from a Theragun or Hypervolt. It administers half the force of those similarly-priced competitors, and the other 30-pounder on this list is half the price. However, it's a well-built machine that would provide a smooth, impactful massage for someone sensitive to high force.

Exerscribe's Vybe Pro takes on a chrome gun shape like the Hypervolt. The Vybe Pro has six more speed settings (nine total) with the fastest crossing the finish line at 3,400 pulses per minute. Those nine percussion settings can be tailored to different parts of the body through five massage heads, including a fork shape for the spine that many massage guns don't include. Be sure to screw 'em in tight, though.

In the massage gun market, a lower price typically means less force. The Vybe Pro's 33 pounds of force isn't too wimpy for its price and build, and could be more than enough for someone who's not a heavy lifter.