Review Gym Equipment

Theragun vs Hypervolt: Top Brands Compared (2024)

When it comes to achieving great results, being able to recover well is just as important as being able to train at a high level. Because of that, we love to test out all kinds of recovery methods and tools that will help us feel better and fresher for the following day’s training session. With that said, out of all the recovery tools on the market, the competition between Theragun vs. Hypervolt seems to be the most intriguing for consumers.

That’s why, we’ve decided to dedicate an entire article on comparing these two massage guns, so that you can see which one is the best for you.

Which One Should You Use? Both the Theragun and the Hypervolt are good massage guns that will aid you in your recovery. Choosing which one to get depends entirely on how much you’re willing to pay and what kind of features you’re looking for, as both brands offer several models that come at different price points.

WBCM Oleksiy Torokhtiy Theragun vs Hypervolt

What Is a Theragun?

Before making the decision between Hypervolt or Theragun, you first have to learn more about both of these products. And to kick off this informational article, we will start with Theragun, as it’s likely the name you’ve heard more often.

Theragun is a recovery tool made by the company Therabody, and it aims to help you eliminate pain and improve your range of motion. As a whole, Therabody is a brand that has numerous products related to athlete recovery, including Theragun accessories, lotions, and other items that are aimed at helping you recover and perform better.

But first, let’s start off by answering the most vital question, and that is – what’s a Theragun? Well, the Theragun is a handheld therapy device that has the shape of a gun. It has an ergonomic handle and a pointer that vibrates. The pointer is compatible with several different attachments to better reach particular muscles.

In order to use the Theragun, a person only has to turn it on, choose their desired settings, pick one of the foam attachments and then press the device on the skin on top of the muscle that they would like to massage. From there on, you can increase the speed and the pressure or decrease them according to how you’re feeling.

The company claims that the Theragun can massage all muscle areas, including the lower and upper back, traps, glutes, hamstrings, and shoulders.

Who is the Theragun Suitable for?

Most people think that tools like the Theragun are only to be used by professional athletes, who have to handle a lot of physical stress. However, the reality is that most people will benefit from using a recovery massage gun, and there are a few reasons for that. Let’s take a look at them.

WBCM Oleksiy Torokhtiy leg massage

1. Not Only for Professional Athletes

When it was first developed, the whole idea behind the message gun was also to be used as a pain management device. It was first created by chiropractor Dr.Jason Wersland (one of the founders of Theragun), and he created the device after injuring himself in a motorcycle accident. He chose not to use traditional recovery methods and wanted a more holistic way to deal with pain, and that’s how he came up with the idea for the machine gun.

The way that machine guns work is through a method called percussive therapy. Essentially, that’s a form of soft tissue massage that uses vibrations to help relieve muscle pain and aid recovery. It can soothe sore muscles, knots, tension, and aches, as well as other muscular pain that you may be experiencing.

2. Helps Relieve Stress

If you’ve ever used a massage gun, you know how good it feels to get some of the aches you have massaged, especially after a few tough workouts or a long day at work. Because of its soothing effects, a tool like the Theragun can help you feel less stressed and more relaxed. In fact, if it becomes a part of your daily nighttime routine, it can help you fall asleep faster, as it “downregulates” the nervous system.

Having said all that, it’s quite clear that a Theragun can be used by anyone, regardless of whether you’re a professional athlete or not. However, if you’re someone that works out regularly and puts their body under a lot of stress, you will be able to appreciate the benefits of a massage gun even more, making you the ideal buyer for this kind of recovery accessory.

Theragun Pros & Cons

Much like any other device, the Theragun has its pros and cons that you need to consider before deciding to make a purchase. After all, it’s not a cheap item that you can buy every day.

Positives:

  • Developed by chiropractors with recovery in mind
  • It has a 60-day refund policy
  • Triangular handle for variety of grips
  • 4-6 attachments depending on model (except TheraGun Mini)

Could be improved:

  • Not waterproof

Over the years, Therabody has developed several different versions of its most popular tool. Let’s take a look at a quick review of them.

1. TheraGun Pro

TheraGun Pro

The TheraGun Pro is the newest and most expensive version of Therabody’s massage gun. It’s the fourth generation, and it promises to put professional-grade treatment in the hands of everybody. It has enhanced ergonomics that enable you to easily reach any muscle on your body while also reducing the strain on your arms. You get six attachments that you can choose from, and all of them are easily cleaned and offer different kinds of pressure.

The TheraGun Pro gives hours of total battery life, along with two external batteries. With its OLED screen, you can easily customize the speed and the force meter, as the tool has to give built-in speeds. Additionally, the gun comes with an app that allows you to control the device through Bluetooth. All in all, the Pro version of TheraGun is aimed at those who will use it on a daily basis and who need the premium experience that it offers.

2. TheraGun Elite

TheraGun Elite

The TheraGun Elite is another terrific recovery device that gives you access to all the gun’s most popular functions. Similarly to the Pro, it has an ergonomic handle that allows you to hold it in different positions, which makes it easier for you to reach any place on your body while reducing the strain on your wrists and arms. It has five attachments that you can choose from and a battery life of 120 minutes (enough for a long recovery session).

Again, similarly to the Pro version, you can adjust the settings of the tool using its OLED display or the Therabody app on your phone. If we have to summarize the TheraGun Elite, we would probably say that it has all the key functions of the Pro for a lesser price.

3. TheraGun Prime

TheraGun Prime

TheraGun Prime is an essential tool that you can purchase if you want to experience the benefits of a deep muscle massage. It has TheraGun’s signature ergonomic handle, five built-in speeds that are shown to you with the help of LED indicators, and a connection to the Therabody app that enables you to change the settings of the gun to your liking. When you purchase TheraGun Prime, you receive four changeable attachments, a power adapter, and a protective case for when you’re traveling.

The TheraGun Prime is the perfect tool for those that need only the most basic functions of a recovery gun.

4. TheraGun Mini

TheraGun Mini

The TheraGun Mini is the cheapest option for a recovery gun that Therabody offers. It gives you the most basic features in a compact yet powerful tool. It’s super small and has three calibrated speeds that will aid your muscle recovery. This gun has an ergonomic grip and comes in with only a power adapter and a carrying box. The Mini version is perfect for those that are often on the go and need a recovery tool at all times.

massage gun

What Is a Hypervolt?

To continue the Hypervolt vs Theragun debate, we have to go ahead now and introduce the second recovery massage gun that we will be reviewing in this article, and that’s the Hypervolt.

Hypervolt is a percussion machine gun made by Hyperice. It’s essentially a handheld device that you can use to relieve tension, soreness, and muscle pains. Much like the TheraGun, it’s usually used by people who are either training regularly or by those that do physical labor and therefore put their bodies under a lot of stress on a daily basis.

Similarly to the TheraGun, the Hypervolt is a massage gun that uses a tip that pulses against the body at different speeds and pressures to particular massage muscles. Along with that, it stimulates blood flow to the muscles and thus ensures faster recovery. The Hypervolt offers several different speeds and pressures, and it also comes with a variety of attachments meant to help different massage parts of the body.

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Who is the Hypervolt Suitable For?

As a recovery massage gun, the Hypervolt, much like the TheraGun, is suitable for anyone that wants to relieve stress, get rid of muscle pain and soreness, and improve their range of motion. Typically, the Hypervolt is a preferred tool for those that want to:

  • get a recovery massage after every workout
  • want to be able to recover in the comfort of their homes
  • can’t afford or don’t want to go to regular massages
  • experience muscle soreness, fatigue, or tightness
  • want to optimize their recovery

We can easily claim that the Hypervolt is an excellent tool for all those that want to get rid of muscle soreness, feel more relaxed, and improve their recovery.

Hypervolt Pros & Cons

No tool can be perfect, and much like TheraGun, the Hypervolt also has its more positive and negative sides that you need to know about before making a purchase.

Positives:

  • It was created through innovative sports medicine research
  • Used by various world-class athletes
  • Bluetooth´s connectivity and app synchronization
  • 5 attachments for main models and 2 for Hypervolt Go

Could be improved:

  • Carrying cases are sold separately

Now, Hyperice has come up with several models of the Hypervolt massage gun, and all of them come at different price points and have their own specific purpose. Let’s take a look.

1. Hypervolt 2 Pro

Hypervolt 2 Pro

The Hypervolt 2 Pro is the most expensive, premium percussion massage gun that Hyperrice offers. It has five different speeds that you can use according to your needs, a patented pressure sensor technology that shows how much pressure is being applied, and a battery that lasts up to three hours.

As the most premium model, it comes with a power adapter and five different head attachments that are suitable for various muscle groups. Along with that, you can control the settings with the help of the Hyperice app that connects your mobile device to the gun via Bluetooth.

2. Hypervolt 2

Hypervolt 2

The Hypervolt 2 is the upgraded version of the original percussion massage gun. It has all the most vital functions, along with some serious upgrades. It comes with an ergonomic design of the handle and reduces weight to make it more comfortable for you to use. Hypervolt 2 has three different speeds for you to choose from and a battery life that matches the Pro version.

Similarly to the premium model, it can be connected with the Hyperice app and adjusted from there. It’s also useful for all your muscle groups thanks to its five-head attachments.

3. Hypervolt Plus

Hypervolt Plus

The Hypervolt Plus is the stronger brother of the Hypervolt 2 model. It has a brushless 90 W motor (30% more powerful than the original Hypervolt) and is considered to be the strongest percussion massage gun in the world (on par with the Pro version). It’s super sleek, comes with a battery that lasts 2-3 hours, and a patented Quiet Glide technology. Similarly to all the other models we discussed, it has five different head attachments, and it can be fully controlled through the Hyperice app.

4. Hypervolt Go 2

Hypervolt Go 2

The Hypervolt Go 2 is the basic tool that everyone needs to have in their home for recovery. It’s lightweight, easily portable, and with 3 hours of battery relief per charge. It has three different speeds of percussion and two head attachments for your bigger and smaller muscle groups.

Theragun vs Hypervolt

When we compare those two devices, we’re also essentially comparing the two companies that make them. And the Therabody vs Hyperice debate is a difficult one. However, we will try to nail the key differences not only between the different models, such as hypervolt 2 pro vs theragun pro or theragun elite vs hypervolt plus, but also the different ways in which these tool recovery tools work.

A chiropractor created TheraGun after a dangerous accident left him with serious injuries that led him on a journey to explore holistic muscle recovery. Since then, the brand has grown and is now the most recognizable name on the market for recovery tools. On the other hand, Hyperice was named one of the most innovative companies in the world, and it collaborates with world-class athletes to create its products.

Now that we have the basics covered, let’s compare the two tools in several key areas.

1. Price

When we talk about the price, you can be confident that you will have to pay a couple of hundred more for Theragun Pro vs Hypervolt Plus or Pro 2. Therabody has managed to establish itself as a premium brand in the massage gun market, so they’re able to charge more for its products. However, interestingly enough, when we take a look at the brands’ budget options – hypervolt go vs theragun, we can see that they come at a similar price point.

2. Features

If you compare hypervolt 2 pro vs theragun elite, you will surely notice some differences for the Hyperice model. But if you take a look at both brands’ premium models – the TheraGun Pro and the Hypervolt 2 Pro, you will quickly notice that they offer pretty similar features.

They include a connected app, Bluetooth connectivity, routines that you can follow, and several head attachments for targeting different muscle groups. With that said, when testing both of these recovery tools, we managed to find some significant differences in design.

WBCM Oleksiy Torokhtiy massagegun

When you look at the TheraGun Pro, you will see it has a luxurious feel and design – it comes with a sleek carry case and an ergonomic handle. An OLED display shows you all the needed data on the force, speed, battery life, and Bluetooth connectivity. On the other hand, the Hypervolt 2 Pro looks like a small hair dryer and lacks the ergonomic handle that makes the TheraGun so easy to use.

Additionally, you get a digital speed dial for switching settings instead of an OLED display. All of that makes the Hypervolt 2 Pro less luxurious and not as popular as TheraGun’s premium massage gun.

3. Available Models

Both brands have models that come at different price points. They have premium models that offer multiple attachments, five settings, and connected apps. And when it comes to user experience, it’s quite difficult to find any major alarming differences. Each company also offers a more basic version of their top model, and you can see them when you compare the TheraGun prime vs HyperVolt. Both offer the basic functionalities that you need, but are nowhere near as versatile as the Pro models.

Additionally, you also have a mini version of each of the premium guns, and they come at a similar price. In this case, however, the Hypervolt Go has two head attachments, while the TheraGun Mini has only one. On the other hand, the TheraGun Mini has its featured carry-on case, while with the Hypervolt, you will have to purchase one separately. Still, the Hypervolt Go offers access to the Hyperice app and Bluetooth connectivity, which is missing from the more basic TheraGun Mini.

Overall, we can easily say that both brands offer various kinds of models, from the premium version of their massage guns to the more casual, basic ones to the scaled-down models that are the cheapest and also the most portable. It’s easy to see that both companies are targeting all possible customers and thus offering different functionality at various price points.

WBCM Oleksiy Torokhtiy back massage

FAQ

Is Theragun more powerful than Hypervolt?

Both brands offer more and less powerful models. And so, it’s impossible to compare them as a whole. Some models of the TheraGun are more powerful than some of the Hypervolts and vice versa. If we take a look at their premium model, we can see that they’re equally powerful and share a ton of other similarities too.

Is Hypervolt or Theragun quieter?

Both of these tools utilize specific technologies that are made to keep them quieter when in use, and so it’s difficult to determine which one makes less noise. But according to customer reviews, Hypervolts models tend to be quieter overall, and if that’s something you’re looking for, they’re perhaps the safer option.

Conclusion

Both the TheraGun and the Hypervolt are great recovery tools that will help you get rid of muscle soreness, pain, and tightness. Along with that, they’re terrific for getting a massage at home and relaxing after a long day of putting stress on your body and muscles. Both TheraGun and the Hypervolt have several different models that come at various price points, and you can choose which one to get depending on what features you’re looking for and how much you’re willing to spend.

For people that train every day and plan to use the tool frequently, the more premium models are the way to go. However, if you’re planning to use the massage gun only a few times a week, then you can save a few hundred bucks and go for a less expensive model. With that said, what do you guys think – have you used a massage gun, and if yes, which one do you think is better? Let us know in the comments below.

Also read:

References:

  1. The importance of rest and recovery for athletes // Michigan State University: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/the_importance_of_rest_and_recovery_for_athletes
  2. 12 Massage Gun Benefits, A Few Drawbacks and Things to Keep in Mind // Massage Gun Advice: https://massagegunadvice.com/massage-gun-benefits/
  3. What Is a Chiropractor? // WebMD: https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-is-chiropractor

Why Trust Us?

With over 20 years in Olympic Weightlifting, our team does its best to provide the audience with ultimate support and meet the needs and requirements of advanced athletes and professional lifters, as well as people who strive to open new opportunities and develop their physical capabilities with us.

All products we select are primarily approved and tested by the Olympic Weightlifting Champion Oleksii Torokhtiy. Under his guidance, we provide honest and reasonable assessments of the products we review by checking their characteristics, packaging, design, comfort and durability features, and general product rating. We select products from only high-quality and trusted sports brands, thus vouching for their quality.

The product testing process is described in more detail here

Ihor Shymechko

Author: Ihor Shymechko
Pro Olympic Weightlifter, Coach

Experience: 26 years
Best Results: Snatch – 208 kg,
C&J – 240 kg

Ihor has been a professional weightlifter since 1996, boasting over two decades of competition experience. His notable achievements include clinching the European Championship in 2009 and securing a silver medal in the 105kg division at the Senior World Championships in 2011. Ihor represented his country in the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Summer Olympics. After retiring from competitive weightlifting, he transitioned to coaching, leveraging his vast experience to guide athletes who now compete on both national and international stages.

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