Welcome to the WH Lab, where we put fit kit through rigorous tests to find out which pieces deserve a place in your workout arsenal
Percussive therapy: nope, nothing to do with tambourines, but it does involve rapid and repetitive pressure. It’s a kind of massage that’s become synonymous with the device used to initiate it. We’re talking, of course, about the mighty massage gun – a wellness weapon that, in recent years, has taken the athletic world by storm, with everyone from dancers to boxers pummelling their muscles in pursuit of peak performance. And with benefits reading like a wellness wish list, a purchase could be a ticket to a new PB. Ready to level up your recovery routine?
01 Theragun Mini (2nd gen), £174, therabody.com Score
If you’re new to this percussive therapy malarky and you’d appreciate some guidance, our winning massager is a trusty pick. It pairs with the Therabody app, which is packed with follow-along tutorials, to show you how to get the most out of your session. It has one control button to turn it on and off and cycle through the speeds, making it a doddle to use and it’s small enough to carry on the go (it also comes with a handy travel case you can hook on to your bag).
The WH Lab verdict: Yes, it’s teeny, but this sleek device certainly isn’t short on power. It glides smoothly over skin and comes with three tips for soothing different areas. There’s only room for one head in the case, but that was our only gripe.
Key specifications
Weight: 450g
Amplitude: 12mm
Speed settings: 3
Battery life: 2 hours
02 MuscleGun Carbon Go, £169.99, muscleguns.co.uk Score
‘Small but mighty’ is a fitting way to describe our runner-up. Sure, it’s the size of a standard mobile phone, but it has everything its chunkier counterparts offer, and more. It packs a formidable punch (it’s more powerful than the Theragun mini), you get four interchangeable massage heads to target different areas and our expert raved about how well it glided over their muscles. The handy travel case means it can be your new gym buddy, too.
The WH Lab verdict: The short handle makes it a bit awkward to reach the lower back, and it wasn’t the quietest device we tested, but these are small flaws for an otherwise exceptional product.
Key specifications
Weight: 510g
Amplitude: 8mm
Speed settings: 3
Battery life: 3 hours
03 Hypervolt Go 2, £199, hyperice.com Score
Yet more proof that good things come in small packages. This pocket-sized gadget will slip easily into your gym bag, but don’t let its modest proportions fool you – it’s more than powerful enough to pummel your waning muscles back to their prime
