Theragun Mini Review
The Theragun is a well-known massaging device created by Therabody. The original massage gun was created after the founder was in a motorcycle accident and needed something to relieve muscle pain.
Now there are multiple Theragun models, including the Elite, the PRO, the Prime, and the Theragun Mini.
Today, we are reviewing the Theragun Mini, their smallest and most portable massage gun.
Speed/Power of Massage Gun
The Theragun Mini doesn’t have the same power as the larger guns. But it’s still a powerful little gun with the highest speed firing 40 times every second!
The Theragun Mini has three different speed settings:
- 1,750 PPM
- 2,100 PPM
- 2,400 PPM
Each setting is indicated by three LED lights on the device’s body. You press the power button to toggle between these three speeds.
For a small massaging device, it’s quite powerful. With an amplitude of 12 mm—the distance it can penetrate—it’s one of the most powerful in its class.
This allows it to deliver a powerful massage even though it’s much smaller than a standard Theragun.
And while it lacks the number of speed settings and overall power of larger massage guns, its small size makes it incredible portable.
Battery
The Theragun Mini fully charges in about 80 minutes. A wall-socket charger comes with the gun.
Unfortunately, that’s the only way to charge this gun – there’s no USB connection or universal charger – so you’ll need to bring it with you if you are traveling.
However, once it’s charged, the battery life can last up to 150 minutes, depending on the speed setting, the pressure you apply, and how long you use it.
Considering most sessions will range from 5 to 20 minutes, you should be able to use your Theragun Mini for many sessions before it needs to be charged.
An LED indicator next to the power button will show you how much battery life you have left. A green light means it has a high charge. Blue means it’s half-charged, while a flashing red light means you need to charge it again.
Weight and Portability
The Theragun Mini is compact and easy to carry.
It’s 5.9 inches x 5.3 inches x 3 inches and fits easily into many handbags, gym bags, and even into a vehicle’s glove compartment.
It weighs just 1.5 pounds. So when you are carrying it around with you, it won’t weigh you down or feel bulky in your bag.
You’ll get a soft case with your purchase, convenient for travel. But it only fits the Theragun and not the charger, so you need to find a separate place to store it.
Angle of Unit/Handle
The Theragun Mini has a unique triangular shape. It makes it fairly easy to grab and hold, and its size fits nicely into your palm for applying pressure.
It does lack the ergonomic design that Therabody’s bigger massage units have, but it’s not difficult to hold and use, even on its highest setting.
The unusual shape also means that you can angle it in different ways to reach areas that would typically be tough to reach.
Ease of Use
The Theragun Mini is straightforward to use. Long-press the power button to turn it on and off, and quick-press it to cycle between the speed levels.
Its easy-to-grip design means you can reach most places on the body by yourself. It has enough weight to feel robust in your hand and allow you to apply pressure on your muscles.
However, it’s also light enough for you to move it around without your arm tiring too quickly.
It uses QuietForce technology to dampen the sound of the vibrations, so it’s quiet. The Theragun Mini has 61 decibels at the highest speed, which is pretty quiet.
Extras
With the Theragun Mini, you’ll get the device, a charging cable, a standard ball head attachment, and a soft carry case.
You can buy extra attachments if you want to use a different head to get a different feeling during your massage.
The Theragun Mini is compatible with attachments from all 4th generation devices. So if you already have a Pro or Elite and you want a Mini for portability, you can use the same attachments from the full-size devices.
If you don’t already have attachments, you can purchase them separately for about $20 per attachment.
The Theragun Mini comes in four colors—white, black, red, and desert rose.
You can also buy “skins.” These protective silicone covers will stop your Theragun Mini from getting scratched. They come in different colors and patterns.
You also can buy a metal stand for your Theragun Mini. However, this is just a display stand and not a charging stand.
You’ll also get a 1-year warranty on the device, the charger, and the power adaptor. Attachments come with a 30-day warranty.
Hands-on Review
Testing the Theragun Mini, we found it to be very much as advertised. It was quiet, powerful, and compact enough to take on the go.
Holding it in your hand, it’s got some heft but wasn’t heavy enough that it was tiring to hold. It’s easy to turn on and changing the power level requires a simple button push.
We felt like it was pretty powerful using it. As we mentioned earlier, there are more powerful massage guns. But for us it was fine. We could feel the gun getting deep in our muscles. Partly, that could be from the massage head, which is firm with just a bit of give. Other attachments might provide a firmer, more specifically located massage.
It was incredibly quiet. If you wanted to use it near other people, you wouldn’t have to worry about it bothering anyone nearby.
It was easy to charge although the charging unit itself was fairly big. In the age of USB cables that can be plugged into any wall charger, it is a bit frustrating that you’ll need to pack the wall charger and cable if you are traveling.
As far as traveling goes, the Theragun Mini is quite portable. It’s small enough to stash in a suitcase or gym bag. The case stores the gun snugly and provides some protection.
Back to the charger again, the case could use a place to hold the charger. Instead, you need to store it separately. Not a dealbreaker but a bit annoying.
Overall, the Therabody Mini is a nice, portable massage gun.
Price
The Theragun Mini goes for $199 on the Therabody website. If you buy through the company, you also have the option to pay monthly.
In comparison, the Prime is $299, the Elite is $399, and the Pro is $599.
While you can find similar massagers at much lower prices, the Theragun Mini has the backing of a big brand name and a lot of happy customers.
If portability and compactness matter most to you, and if you travel a lot and are looking for a handy, fairly powerful small massager to take with you, you may find the Theragun Mini to be worth its price.
Summary
The Theragun Mini is a handy, compact, and surprisingly powerful massage gun ideal for people who travel a lot or want a quick and easy muscle massage after a workout.
However, elite and seriously recreational athletes may find that the power of the Theragun Mini isn’t enough to penetrate the muscles to promote recovery sufficiently.
