The 12 Best Massage Tools

The Pado – PureWave – CM7 has a unique dual-function motor that can be switched from a powerful percussive massage to a gentle vibration for facial massages. Its sleek, lightweight design allows you to dangle the PureWave over your shoulder and reach your lower back muscles. It has six attachments, including a small chrome disk for facial massages and a soft mushroom-shaped disc for massaging bony areas. The facial massage is especially soothing, particularly if you apply a moisturizer to your forehead and around your eyes before using it.

The PureWave is cordless and charges in about an hour, and the charge lasts for longer than two hours. We love the PureWave’s ergonomically designed stand that holds the massager and attachments: The head balances in the top of the stand — seemingly defying gravity — and the handle is arched towards you, so it’s ready to be picked up at any time. The PureWave is, however, more expensive than the other handheld massagers we tested. But it’s a quality product that’s definitely better than the rest.

The RESTECK neck and shoulder massager can be placed anywhere along the neck, shoulder or back. Its four, simple control buttons allow you to massage specific muscles at different intensity levels. The RESTECK’s heating element warms up quickly and penetrates deeper than other neck massagers. The direction of its Shiatsu-style kneading nodules can be changed at any time to pinpoint a particularly knotty muscle. The RESTECK can also be used to massage your mid- or lower-back muscles, but it performs best on neck and shoulder muscles.

The RESTECK is not cordless, and its power cord is a bit too short to use without an extension cord. That said, it does come with a car adapter and carrying case for travel.

The Mynt massage pillow is one of the most convenient back massagers on the market today. It’s similar in shape to other lozenge-shaped massage pillows, and it has the same rotating heated nodules as its competitors, but that’s where the similarity ends. What makes the Mynt unique is that it’s made of memory foam and not hard plastic, which makes the pillow pliable on bony areas like the spine or shoulder blades. Its nodules are flattened, so they don’t poke into your back uncomfortably.

The biggest difference between the Mynt and its rival Zyllion is that it’s cordless. It charges in an hour and holds its charge for two, which means you can take it anywhere without needing an electrical outlet. The Mynt is only a few dollars more than other massage pillows, but it’s a far superior product for relieving back pain and other muscle aches.

The NURSAL massage seat cushion has three powerful massage styles that can be programmed to work up and down your entire back or adjusted to massage one particular part. It has four heated nodules in the main section for the upper and lower back and the same nodules for the neck section. The nodules can be programmed to revolve clockwise and counterclockwise or move up and down vertically.

The NURSAL’s “wave” program revolves the nodules in alternating circles, creating a soothing and relaxing wavy sensation. Unlike other chair massagers, the NURSAL’s kneading program is very strong and feels the most like a massage therapist’s hands. The NURSAL’s third massage component is its heated, vibrating seat cushion, which can be adjusted to give a gentle or invigorating massage to your thighs.

The RENPHO electric foot massager was the winner in our real-world testing against six other foot massagers. It has adjustable settings for air compression, Shiatsu-style kneading intensity and heating that allows you to program a soothing foot massage or a vigorous one or something in between. The RENPHO is very user-friendly, thanks to its convenient remote control so you don’t have to bend over to change settings manually. The rollers are situated on the underside of both sides of the foot and heel, which we found to be more effective than other massagers in relieving tired and aching feet.

The RENPHO is attractive enough so you don’t have to hide it from sight when guests drop by, and it’s lightweight so it can be moved from room to room with ease. The RENPHO can accommodate wide feet, but even though it’s rated to fit men’s size 12, it’s still a bit snug for larger feet, even when wearing thin socks.

The Physix Gear Sport spiky balls can be used to massage almost any part of your body, but they’re specifically marketed as a reflexology foot massager. They’re made of tough rubber that can withstand up to 300 pounds of pressure, but their spikes are less pointed and slightly rounded, so they’re not as painful as other massage balls can be. The Physix ball is about 4 inches in diameter — one of the larger massage balls — so you can easily massage your entire foot by rolling it from toes to heel without having to roll it side to side.

The Physix balls come in different colors and firmness; for example, the purple ball is medium-firm and has a bit more give than the pink ball. These are one of the least expensive massage balls, and a downloadable ebook of self-massage techniques is included, making the Physix massage ball a great buy.

Released in 2019, the RENPHO – RF-ALM070 has received rave reviews from athletes, weightlifters, seniors with edema and high-heel wearers as the most effective in giving a strong, air-compression massage. Other leg massagers can be a challenge to put on, because they’re all one piece that gets twisted and bunched. The RENPHO is different; it has separate wraps for thighs and calves, which make getting into and out of it a cinch.

The RENPHO’s remote has six massage modes that can be programmed for different parts of your leg at varying intensity levels. For example, you could begin with a full leg massage, and then switch it over to just program your calves and feet. Each wrap inflates and deflates separately, which actually feels like hands kneading. The intensity levels can be too intense, and the RENPHO’s loud buzz can be annoying, but overall, it’s still the best leg massager we tested.

If you’re looking for a less-pricey alternative to the Theragun, the Exerscribe – VYBE has the same technology and costs two-thirds less. The VYBE is our all-around favorite massage tool because you can use it on virtually every muscle in your body. Its versatility is in large part due to its adjustable head that easily snaps up into a 45-degree or 90-degree angle, which allows you to maneuver the gun to hard-to-reach muscle groups, like mid-back, and hold it for longer periods without fatiguing your hand.

The VYBE comes with three attachments — large and small foam balls and a pointed tip — a sturdy yet lightweight carrying case and, best of all, two rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (shipped fully charged) and their charging dock, so the VYBE is always ready when you want a massage. The only drawback is the VYBE’s beehive-buzzing noise, which isn’t conducive to a relaxing massage. That aside, the VYBE is ideal for pre- and post-workout warm-ups and for massaging out stubborn muscle knots in a few minutes.

The SPRI – High Density Roller is made of expanded polypropylene — a long-lasting, high-density foam — which strikes the right balance between being too firm and being too soft. At 6 inches in diameter and 18 inches in length, the SPRI lifts your body at a comfortable height and is long enough to cover any area that needs rolling. Although the SPRI doesn’t have specific grids for targeting particular muscles, its smooth surface lets you roll with ease. At about $20, the SPRI is also one of the most affordable foam rollers.

One of the best massage tools for either self-massage or massaging someone else is the Body Back massage ball roller. It’s similar to other ball rollers, but we love that the Body Back can be chilled in the freezer for an hour before massage, and the smooth, cold ball rolled over aching joints. Cold application may not seem to be beneficial, but for anyone who’s had a sports injury, you know it’s preferred over warm application for healing.

Other ball rollers have a rigid casing, which can scrape skin if too much pressure is applied. But the Body Back ball roller has a flexible, rounded-edge casing that’s smooth against skin. The Body Back can also be used with massage oils and washes clean easily. It’s only 2.5 inches in diameter so it fits into the palm of your hand, and if you’re giving someone a back or shoulder massage, your hand won’t fatigue. The Body Back ball rollers are reasonably priced and available in three colors in single and double packs.

The Lunix – LX3 cordless hand massager is on the pricey side, but if you have arthritis or carpal tunnel syndrome, it could help relieve your chronic pain. It’s an air-compression device (like the leg massager we recommend) that squeezes and releases at six different intensity levels with heating. The heat function does take 10 minutes to heat, so it’s best to start it up before beginning your massage.

The Lunix is well-made, easy to use, and because it charges with a USB cable, it’s portable for travel and work. A nice bonus is the free finger massager that’s included. One drawback is that the Lunix may not fit your hand size, and the manufacturer recommends contacting them before purchasing it.

There are plenty of expensive electric scalp massagers out there, all promising to relieve stress and promote hair growth. But sometimes simple is best, and the USAGA 20-finger head massager couldn’t be simpler and more effective — and at less than $10, it’s also a great bargain.

The USAGA is made of 20 lightweight metal prongs — 10 short and 10 long — attached to a handle that resembles a whisk. The varying lengths allow for a wider area of massage in different hair lengths. Rotating the USAGA in a circular motion will simulate fingers gently scratching your scalp. Yes, your hair may look like a proverbial rat’s nest afterwards, but you’ll feel a pleasant tingling sensation.