Percussion massage technology has become an essential recovery tool for professional athletes and fitness enthusiasts alike, and newer devices make vast improvements in power, battery life, and affordability. Given renewed focus on daily health and wellness, 2022 may be the year Brits permanently add this essential new recovery tech to their daily lives.
But thanks to growing demand for percussion therapeutics, the UK market (in particular Amazon) has been flooded with cheap, unreliable, and unsafe knockoff products. That’s where we come in…
Our testing process is simple: We check massage gun features, percussion quality, and overall usability from reputable brands, and then rank devices in a list based on qualifications including availability in the UK market. Read on to find the best percussion massage guns for your money.
Ekko One Pro: Editor’s pick for all around best massage gun – SALE £79.99 at Amazon.co.uk
Where to buy the Ekko One Pro percussion massage gun in the UK
The best massage gun including post-workout, therapeutic massage, and all around recovery use comes from a brand new to the UK. But don’t let that scare you off, as the Ekko One massage gun is easily one of the best we have ever tested. The top value with local inventory can be found at UK electronics retailer Mifo linked below.
BEST VALUE
So what makes the Ekko One massage gun the best all around percussion therapy device?
- The best massage gun for daily use, period. The Ekko One ships with a bevy of features that improve recovery immensely, beginning with its easy to grip form factor. Incredibly sleek, the massage gun is simple to grip and has a large, intuitive display indicating speed and battery level. Tappable buttons speed up or slow down pulsing at 7 speed levels that max out at 3,200 RPM, more than enough power for even the toughest athlete.
- Absurd battery life with rapid charging. The Ekko One itself will run for nearly 6 hours, a feat we tested over several days. Not only that, but the included rapid charging cable can provide an hour of use with just 10 minutes of charge time. We were able to recharge the device fully in just under 30 minutes. That’s stunning, and makes us wonder why massage guns from more expensive brands have just a third of the battery life and take over 90 minutes to recharge.
- Whisper-quiet motor that won’t disturb others or interrupt relaxation. The Ekko One is the only massage gun we tested that will not disturb others around you with audible motor noise. This makes the Ekko One perfect for use at the gym or whilst a partner is sleeping.
- Robust accessory pack for a customized massage experience. The Ekko One includes 4 unique interchangeable massage heads designed for different types of therapeutic massage and recovery. Including these essential elements rather than selling them separately is a big win for Ekko customers. In addition, Ekko have included a carrying case for storage or travel.
- UK-based warehouse and customer support. We have been continuously disappointed with electronics brands in the past, even from tech giants like Sony. Part of that disappointment comes with poor or absent customer service and shipping. We tested Ekko on several occasions with questions and every time received proper replies within an hour. That demonstrates commitment to the UK market and contributes greatly to our award of Editor’s Pick.
Theragun Elite: Solid percussion massager with room for improvement – £375.00 at Amazon.co.uk
Where to buy the Theragun Prime in the UK
If you aren’t price sensitive, Theragun may be the brand for you. This percussion massager ships with fewer features than the Ekko One, but features a unique grip design some may find more appealing.
BEST VALUE
Why Theragun makes the list of percussion massage gun winners
- Excellent marks for massage quality, with some drawbacks. The Theragun Prime offers a complete sports massage experience with a time tested product that simply works. And while Theragun was first on the scene with a truly professional-grade percussion therapy device, an aging feature set and a high price point cost them our top spot. For example, battery life is advertised at 2 hours, of which we were able to achieve no better than 108 minutes of total use. That’s well under the Ekko One use time of 6 hours.
- Connectivity options to a larger ecosystem. Theragun provides a smartphone app that allows connectivity and recovery massage journaling, features that may be of interest to professional athletes that keep strict control over routine. In practice, the app is useful at tracking specific activities, but we found it unnecessary and stopped using the app after just a few days.
- Quiet operation, but not truly silent. When the Theragun Prime was first released to market, the motor was one of the quietest available. Since that time new technology has led to quieter operation in newer competitor products. That said, the Theragun Prime delivers a mostly quiet experience that should not bother others around you. It may not be appropriate if you tend to use recovery devices when other are sleeping near by.
- A price many simply can’t pay. Theragun rarely offers sale pricing, and that hurts now more than ever. Yes, the product is supremely reliable and from a brand that was one of the first in the space. But with newer devices pushing the boundary of performance and features, we wish the Prime came at a more affordable level.
Hyperice Hypervolt 2: A massage gun with celebrity status you’ll pay for – £299.00 at Amazon.co.uk
Where to buy the Hypervolt 2 massage gun in the UK
Hyperice have delved into the warmup and recovery percussion category by focusing on celebrity athletes. And while the Hypervolt is an excellent product, it suffers from a hamstrung motor, weighty heft, mediocre battery life, and an astronomical price point, costing Hyperice a higher position in our list.
BEST VALUE
Why Hyperice makes the list of top massage gun picks
- Great warmup or recovery experience that comes at a cost. While Hyperice have engineered a product that is indeed a worthy contender, it does come at a cost. Most of this can be attributed to celebrity-backed campaigns with the likes of Naomi Osaka. We appreciate the need for marketing, but the idea of paying such a high price is a bit much. That’s truly our top concern, as these days asking £349 for anything is particularly painful.
- Full-featured, but gets in the way of its own power. Of note are the options to connect with Bluetooth for activity tracking, and 5 interchangeable massage head attachments. And though a 3,200 RPM motor places the Hypervolt at the top of the pack for power, it is limited by only three speed settings and short battery life.
- Built for gym use, but may not work for you on the road. The Hypervolt is rated for airline-approved travel, but the product weight may make that idea less appealing. Coming in at nearly 1.5 kilos, the Hypervolt is a massage gun that carries real heft. We often found our arms getting tired after ten minutes of holding the Hypervolt during post workout recovery sessions.
RENPHO Pro Massage Gun: Unique concept with challenges for some users – £119.99 at Amazon.co.uk
Where to buy the RENPHO Pro massage gun in the UK
RENPHO are new to the percussion massage game and have made an impact over the last year with several prominent new product releases. The RENPHO Pro is the best of the bunch, and stacks up well against products costing 2-3 times as much.
BEST VALUE
Why RENPHO scores high marks
- Unique titanium alloy massage heads feel good to most. RENPHO have hung their hat on the idea that metal alloy offers a superior massage experience. The included screw in massage heads are made of a light but strong metal that feels cool to the touch. It moves smoothly along the skin and penetrates deeply to be sure, however can be harsh when in contact or near bone.
- Long battery life inbuilt. The RENPHO Pro offers enough battery life for several hours of consecutive use, more than enough for most users. The inbuilt battery is high quality and should be good for years of use before replacement is required.
- Loud when in use. This massage gun is noticeably louder than competitors, and may not be suitable for use in certain situations.
- Cheap casing may not last. While other products in our top list are built with rugged, high impact plastics, RENPHO have opted to use noticeably cheaper materials that just don’t feel as if they will stand up to the test of time.
Runners-up: Best Percussion Massage Gun
There are many, many massage guns in the UK market. And while we attempt to test as many as possible for our readers, some units simply don’t make the cut. Here’s a quick peek at percussion massagers that didn’t make the list.
Musclegun Carbon – £199.99 at Amazon.co.uk
Musclegun is a fitness company known for decent quality and value, but the Carbon is a halfhearted attempt that misses on many areas of functionality and a bland design aesthetic. Musclegun could get there some day with future generations, and we will keep our eyes open, but the Carbon massager just isn’t fit in its current form.
Theragun PRO – £469.00 at Amazon.co.uk
Theragun did earn a spot in our top list with the Prime, and we were excited to learn the PRO – a higher cost option – would be coming to the UK. Unfortunately the PRO is not worth the enormous cost, with unimpressive battery life and similar features to cheaper models from the same brand. We do fully endorse the idea of creating something for professional athletes, but not when the device itself brings little added value.
Flexypro Alpha – £159.00 at Amazon.co.uk
Flexypro have been developing recovery massage products for several years, and the second generation of Alpha represents the flagship in their series. But a high price and relatively few unique features left us wanting more. Much more to be exact. It would also be nice to have an UK-based office for faster, cheaper shipping and better customer support.