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Theragun Vs. Hypervolt: Which Pro-Grade Massage Gun Packs the Best Punch?

This is one shootout where everyone easily recovers.

massage gunBen Emminger

By Steve Mazzucchi and Ben Emminger

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Massages are commonplace for professional athletes like runners, cyclists and basketball players, but for the rest of us, they’re still kind of a luxury. The good news is, there are tools you can buy to mimic a massage — and they’re easy to use. Now, you don’t have to book an appointment to get the sweet, relaxing taps similar to a Swedish massage parlor. All you have to do is grab your (charged) massage gun, select your head attachment and paint away your aches and pains.

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While there are plenty of massage guns on the market targeting DOMS and daily muscle aches, two of the most recognizable silhouettes are the Hypervolt 2 Pro from Hyperice and the Theragun Pro from Therabody. Both these devices have brought premium massage therapy to the masses for years, but which machine reigns supreme?

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Both Theragun and Hyperice make some very highly-reviewed massage guns, but which one is better? We reviewed both to see which one works best for what. Learn more at the link in bio. #theragun #hypervolt #hyperice #massagegun #massageguns #theragunpro #hypervolt2pro

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To find out, we turned to these two pro-grade massagers for our daily recovery sessions. Whether coming home from the gym or relaxing our muscles in-between daily tasks and chores, we worked out our knots and soreness, highlighting features and perks to determine which gun should be kept in the holster — and which should be placed back on the shelf.

To learn more about our testing methodology and how we evaluate products, head here.

The Contenders for Best Pro-Grade Massage Gun

Therabody Gen5 Theragun Pro

Pros

  • Ergonomic, triangle handle is easy to maneuver
  • New motor technology significantly cuts down the noise from previous iterations

Cons

  • Comes with just one interchangeable battery
  • Soft-shell case saves space but feels less durable than past models

At first glance, this latest generation Theragun Pro may seem like the same old massage gun, but dig a little deeper and you’ll find that Therabody definitely went gangbusters with the improvements. For one, the new OLED screen at the top of the handle provides a more detailed overview of settings and routines. This all-new interface even supports visually-guided sessions built into the device itself, as well as those offered and controlled through Therabody’s companion app. Additionally, the new EQ-150 motor is far quieter than previous generations, cutting the decibel output by 20%. There’s still a noticeable hum, but nowhere near as ear-rattling as the power-tool like sound of older Theragun Pros.

The newest Theragun Pro also utilizes an interchangeable battery system, similar to the previous generation, but unfortunately, the base package only comes with one Lithium-ion battery capable of 150 minutes. If you like to rotate batteries, you’ll need to make another purchase. Still, however, Therabody did give the power source a bit of an upgrade, swapping to USB-C for quicker, more efficient charging.

Hyperice Hypervolt 2 Pro

Pros

  • Hammer-like profile is nimble, despite its 2.6-pound frame
  • Dial-style controls allow for easy on-the-fly adjustments

Cons

  • Carrying case sold separately
  • Limited time to swap attachments and switch positions during guided recovery sessions

At a surprisingly nimble 2.6 pounds, The Hypervolt 2 Pro is easy to maneuver as you use the 60 pounds of stall force to knock out those pesky DOMS. The dial-style controls allow you to seamlessly transition between the five available speeds, which top out at an impressive 2,700 percussions per minute. Hyperice also boasts a companion app, which you can sync to your device for guided sessions as you let the machine do the work for you. While the Hypervolt 2 Pro only comes with five available attachments — compared to Theragun’s 6 — you do get the ever-popular fork head, which can be great for targeting the spine and shoulder areas.

How to Choose Which Massage Gun is Right for You

When it comes to determining which massage gun to purchase, the two most important specs to consider are stall force and amplitude. Stall force is the amount of pressure needed for the gun to stop applying perpendicular force into the muscle. This stat, indicated in poundage, essentially indicates how hard you can press into a muscle area before the machine bogs down.

Amplitude, on the other hand, measures how much distance the massage gun head can travel back and forth. This shows how deep the massage gun can hit in the muscle bed — a higher amplitude indicates a deeper massage. Both the Theragun Pro and Hypervolt 2 Pro feature premium stall forces of up to 60 pounds. The Theragun option does have a longer amplitude of 16mm (the Hypervolt 2 Pro carries a 14mm stroke length), but both should be able to provide plenty of penetrating relief, regardless.

You also want to consider the battery life of your massage gun, because there’s nothing worse than reaching for your device only to find its charge depleted. Premium models will typically last between 2–4 hours between charges.

Lastly, you want to look for a massage gun that offers a bit of variety in the attachments department. Larger heads, like a flat or rounded ball, can cover wider surface areas like the thighs or lower back, while more precise heads like a bullet or thumb attachment can fine-tune your recovery as you target smaller muscle groups. We recommend searching for a massage gun with 3–5 available heads, as this should be enough to sculpt a well-rounded recovery routine. Both the Gen4 Theragun Pro and Hypervolt 2 Pro offer six and five heads, respectively, giving plenty of power to the user through multiple modalities.

massage gun Ben Emminger
massage gun Ben Emminger

Test 1: Ergonomics and Accessories

At first unboxing, we took notice of the feel of each massage gun, as well as the available heads. It’s worth noting that since both these models are the premium-grade offerings from Therabody and Hyperice, they’re significantly heavier than slimmer models due to the smaller motors and less features. Despite this weight increase, both the Theragun Pro and Hypervolt 2 Pro felt exceptional in the hands, and the nimbleness of each profile didn’t hinder our ability to reach a wide range of muscle groups without strain. The triangle-shaped silhouette of the Theragun Pro, however, did make it easier to hit far-off knots like at the back of the hamstring. Combine this with the adjustable head and no muscle strain ever stood a chance. The Hypervolt 2 Pro’s silicone handle was comfortable enough, but one point of grip cannot c0mpare to the multiple offered via Therabody.

Next, both massage guns offer a separate carrying case for the available attachments, allowing for simple storage capabilities. The heads were fairly similar, albeit with their brand-specific varieties. Clear standouts were the aforementioned fork attachment from Hyperice and the wedge head from Therabody. Both attachments were great at their specific fields, with the fork easily targeting the spinal area, while the wedge made any lower body aches fade away routinely.

massage gun
Both the Hypervolt 2 Pro and Gen5 Theragun Pro feature interchangeable batteries, but only come with a single unit at initial purchase.
Ben Emminger

Test 2: Charging and Battery Life

In testing, we found both the Theragun Pro and Hypervolt 2 Pro to be well powered for multiple sessions between charges. With that being said, though, the Hyperice offering does provide the larger power source with up to three hours of battery life as opposed to the 150-minute lifespan of Therabody’s model. That can equate to one 30-minute recovery session more before needing to hop on the charger for some replenishment. A minor win, but a win nonetheless for the Hyperice brand.

In terms of charging efficiency, we liked the updated USB-C system of the fifth generation Theragun Pro, which cut the charging time down from the older port. This made having to charge the device more often a more digestible endeavor.

Additionally, both the Hypervolt 2 Pro and Theragun Pro feature interchangeable battery packs, but the original packages only include one battery. You’re plenty capable of doubling the power stores of each profile, but doing so will require an extra purchase.

massage gun Ben Emminger
massage gun Ben Emminger

Test 3: Performance and Ease of Use

Okay, now to get into the meat of this head-to-head. After multiple rounds of recovery sessions and utilizing all available attachments, both the Theragun Pro and Hypervolt 2 Pro clearly showed why they’re some of the most popular massage guns on the market. We were easily able to hit any pained areas with little discomfort, although we did prefer the Theragun’s more ergonomic feel, as well as its adjustable head angle. We also tested both devices at their maximum speeds, and while Hypervolt holds the faster ppm at 2,700 — Theragun maxes at 2,400 — when you get to those sorts of numbers, it can be difficult to differentiate between the two.

Both devices connected easily to their companion apps, too, but for our tastes, we preferred the library of available sessions through Therabody rather than Hyperice. For one, we felt Therabody offered more sessions ranging in intensity and timeframe. Additionally, the task of swapping attachments or changing target areas was more efficiently baked into the Therabody interface, whereas with the Hypervolt, we often found ourselves pausing routines in order to find the right attachment, connect it properly and locate the targeted muscle without falling behind in the instruction. The more visual OLED screen of the Theragun Pro also lent itself to more approachable use, showing exactly where to use the device for relief in reference to our frames.

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Best Pro-Grade Massage Gun: Therabody Gen5 Theragun Pro

The latest Theragun Pro iteration shares a lot with its predecessor, but the key upgrades are what separated this massage gun from the competition. The more readable OLED display made following along with sessions more approachable, and it’s hard to ignore the improved quietness that allows for undistracted sessions. While the battery life isn’t quite as expansive as the Hypervolt 2 Pro, we feel it makes up for the smaller capacity with quicker USB-C charging capabilities. Plus, the sleek companion app and included soft-shell case are nice accessories to this impressive profile. If you want a powerful, sleek massage gun to take your recovery to the next level, we highly recommend this latest profile from Therabody.

Get the Therabody Gen5 Theragun Pro Here

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Best Pro-Grade Massage Gun for At-Home Use: Hyperice Hypervolt 2 Pro

While we think the Gen5 Theragun Pro is the best overall pro-grade massage gun, we still think there’s plenty to reap from this well-built profile from Hyperice. The battery life is great, and we really enjoy the intuitive turn-style controls that easily move through the massage gun’s speed range. Plus, the durable makeup of this profile is something to behold as well. Due to the lack of a handy carrying case, though, we think this is a great option for at-home use, whereas the Theragun is a little more travel ready. Keep the Hypervolt 2 Pro stored easily on a shelf or end table in your abode or training center and we’re certain those post-workout cooldowns will be plenty worthwhile — all for a more affordable price, too.

Get the Hyperice Hypervolt 2 Pro Here

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