Theragun Vs. Hypervolt – Which Massage Gun Is Right For You?
A massage gun has many benefits, especially to runners.
While you obviously don’t use one on the road, it’s a great gadget to aid in muscle recovery. You may not realize how much of a beating your lower body takes on a run, especially if you don’t feel serious pain during recovery.
Percussive massage guns are an easier, cheaper, and more convenient alternative to getting a full-on massage after every run. You can even use them for warming up your muscles, or to stimulate blood flow. They’re very convenient and can be used in the comfort of your own home, or immediately after a workout, wherever you are.
Today we’ll be reviewing and comparing two of the most popular and most effective massage guns on the market – the Theragun PRO vs. Hyperice Hypervolt.
They may seem very similar on the surface, but there are some differences that could change your mind about one or the other. In a nutshell, the Theragun is a more comprehensive and adjustable option, while the Hypervolt is smaller, lighter, and more affordable.
It’s also important to note that the Theragun comes in a variety of models. We’re reviewing the Theragun PRO, but you can also get the G3Pro, the Elite, the Prime, and the Mini, all of which have different features and settings.
Let’s get into our Theragun vs. Hypervolt review.
Speed and Power
Both the Theragun and the Hypervolt have a decent amount of power behind them. The minimum RPM (or PPM – percussions per minute) for an effective massage gun is around 1600, and they both beat that by quite a bit.
Interestingly, the Hypervolt comes out on top in terms of power. It features a high-torque motor that can deliver up to 3200 percussions per minute. The Theragun is still above average, featuring a Japanese-designed motor that vibrates at a maximum of 2400 percussions per minute.
You’ll get a choice of three different speed settings on the Hypervolt – 30Hz (which will give you 1800 RPM), 40Hz (at 2400 RPM), and 53Hz (3180 RPM). Theragun has five adjustable speed settings (1750, 1900, 2100, 2200, and 2400 percussions per minute).
When it comes to pressure, the Hypervolt is less percussive and more vibratory. It doesn’t hit you as hard as the Theragun. It’s a good mix of deep tissue stimulation and a nice surface massage.
The Theragun is more percussive than the Hypervolt. It provides quite a hammering feeling, even at its lower setting. It has a 16mm extension, which is the height it moves up and down when performing percussive massage. A standard massage gun range of movement is 10mm.
Both of them would be more than adequate for massaging various parts of the body at the right speed without causing pain. The Theragun may be a little too vigorous for some if used on the neck or upper shoulders.
Battery Life
The battery life of both these massage guns is impressive. The Theragun gets slightly more time than the Hypervolt, but not by much.
Hypervolt massage guns run off of one rechargeable battery, which can run for up to 3 hours on one charge. The Theragun does come with two batteries, which you can swap out to get close to 3 1/2 hours before you recharge.
Both massage guns’ batteries are rechargeable, and both of them come with a charger. Neither of them has the capability to be plugged into a wall outlet. You can buy extra batteries or replacement batteries if needed.
Ergonomics
Ergonomics is where the Theragun wins for us, hands-down. Its triangular design provides three different handles so you have a choice where you hold it. This can make quite a difference when you need to use it on hard-to-reach areas. You can simply shift your grip to one of the angles that’s more comfortable. The arm is adjustable to four different angles to help you reach everywhere.
The Hypervolt features a simple vertical handle. It’s still comfortable and easy to hold, but might become more difficult when trying to massage areas that you can’t reach easily.
The Theragun may be easier to use on yourself for any muscle ache, whereas the Hypervolt might need someone else to help you out if you need to massage certain areas.
Noise
The Hypervolt is quieter than the Theragun. Although it won’t deafen you, the Theragun’s noise is around 75 decibels, which is enough to be annoying to the human ear if it’s prolonged.
The Hypervolt is about 60 decibels on its highest setting. It uses Quiet Glide technology to reduce noise and make the experience a relaxing one on the ears as well as the body.
Portability and Weight
If you play a lot of sports or run competitively, you may want to carry your massage gun around with you. Both of these massage guns are easily portable.
The Hypervolt is extremely lightweight, at just 2 ½ pounds. This not only makes it easy to use, but it also makes it easy to carry in a gym bag or triathlon bag. It doesn’t come with a case, so you will have to buy one separately or use the box it came in.
The Theragun is not much heavier, at 2.9 pounds. It would be just as easy to transport, and it does come with a handy travel bag. It’s easy to slip into a bag, and you’ll hardly notice it there.
Accessories
Both of these massage guns come with some accessories to diversify your massage game.
The Hyperice Hypervolt, comes with the body and 5 interchangeable attachment heads (Ball, Bullet, Flat, Fork and Cushion), a rechargeable battery, and a charger. You can buy a carrying case separately if you wish to travel with your massage gun.
The Theragun Pro comes with more accessories than the Hypervolt. You will get 6 pro attachments and a pouch to store them in, 2 rechargeable batteries, a charger, and a high-quality travel case.
The Theragun attachments are as follows:
- SuperSoft – More vibration than percussion, for a gentle, surface-level massage (level: 1/10).
- Dampener – Designed specifically to be used on tender areas, or near, around, and on bones and joints (level: 3/10).
- Wedge – The wedge is helpful for shoulder blades or IT bands (level: 5/10).
- Standard Ball – This attachment is meant for general use and can be used in multiple places on the body (level: 5/10).
- Thumb – If you need to work trigger points, the thumb attachment would work best (level: 7/10).
- Cone – The cone is also helpful for deep tissue work on particular trigger points (level: 10/10).
Other Considerations
It can be difficult to figure out how to switch the Hypervolt on at first. There’s a power button underneath the handle, and once you’ve flipped that on, you can push the button on the back of the actual device and it will turn on.
The Theragun PRO has Bluetooth connectivity and can be linked up to a phone so you can make use of the Theragun app. It can recommend customized treatment plans based on your activity. It’s important to note that if you decide to go for a previous model of the Theragun, you may not be able to use the app, as it may not have Bluetooth.
It also allows for wireless charging. The Hypervolt doesn’t feature wireless charging or Bluetooth capabilities.
Price
There’s a noticeable difference in the price tag of these two massage guns. The Theragun Pro is (literally) twice the price of the Hypervolt.
It does offer more accessories, a carry case, and a more ergonomic design. But it’s up to you to decide whether or not that’s worth the price difference.
Summary
Both of these massage guns are high-quality and offer a good massage that will aid in muscle recovery, relieve pain, and stimulate circulation.
If you’re on a budget, you can get a good massage and effective myofascial release from the Hyperice Hypervolt. You’ll get a good array of attachments to help with larger muscle groups and smaller, more fiddly areas.
If you do have the budget for it, the Theragun is a great option for athletes who travel a lot, compete often, and need something easily portable and effective.
They’re both great products and are highly recommended.
