We’ve all dealt with muscle soreness or tightness, whether your legs feel like Jell-O post-workout or your shoulders tense up after a long day at your desk. The good news? A massage gun can provide you with real relief, ASAP. “Massage guns help speed up recovery, especially after a tough workout,” says Cori Giuliani, an ACE-certified trainer at OrangeTheory Fitness. “They can also be used as a pre-workout warmup to help prepare the muscles for use, such as before a long run.”
One of the most buzzed-about massage guns is the Theragun, which we bet you’ve seen all over Instagram as of late. Originally founded in 2008 by chiropractor Jason Wersland, the percussive therapy brand launched its flagship model in 2016—but last year, it
came out with the professional-grade G3PRO as well as the G3, a more affordable model meant for everyday use.
We tapped two of our editors—Byrdie VP/GM Leah Wyar, who owns the G3PRO, and Sophie Moore, an editor at our sister brand, Brides, who owns the G3—to dish about their experiences. So, is Theragun worth the hype? Read on to find out.
THERAGUN G3 AND G3PRO DEEP TISSUE MASSAGER
STAR RATING: 4/5 (G3), 4/5 (G3PRO)
BEST FOR: Anyone
USES: Alleviating muscle soreness and stiffness
ABOUT THE BRAND: Theragun is a well-known percussive therapy brand founded in 2008 by chiropractor Jason Wersland.
Design: Sleek and versatile
We know—you wouldn’t normally think of a massage gun as sleek, but the design of the Theragun G3 is super streamlined. Featuring an ergonomic handle, it comes in both black and white and includes four antimicrobial attachments: a standard ball (for overall use), a dampener (for tender areas or near bones), a thumb (for lower back and trigger point therapy), and a cone (to pinpoint muscle treatment). (Theragun also sells these attachments separately for $20 a pop.) Also included is a power adapter and a travel carrying case, which Sophie says is “chic and handy for storing.”
