The Best Deep Tissue Massagers

If you're feeling particularly anxious or stressed out, there are some tried-and-true ways to cope. You can drink wine. You can call a friend. You can go for a nice, leisurely walk through your neighborhood. But while all of these things are helpful, when you're really feeling stressed out (both in body and mind), almost nothing does the trick better than a deep-tissue massage. Of course, it's not always easy to get to a spa or massage therapist when you need to, which is why investing in your very own deep tissue massager is such a game-changer. Relax, de-stress, and eliminate your bodily aches and pains with any of the massagers on this list. Believe us – your body will thank you.

ABOX Massage Gun

Gets All the Kinks Out

Once you go ABOX, you'll never go back.
Best Overall

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Say goodbye to stressed-out muscles when you use the ABOX Massage Gun, which works to quickly activate muscle groups and soft tissues in mere seconds. By doing this, it helps relieve pain and gives you an overall feeling of innate calm and peace. With a powerful 30W brushless motor, 30 adjustable speeds, and eight massage heads, it’s easy to get the exact massage experience that your body is craving. This lightweight-yet-sturdy massager is also equipped with a high-definition LCD touchscreen so that you can easily make adjustments as needed.

Pros:

  • Deeply relieves bodily soreness through deep, powerful massage techniques
  • Has a high-quality, non-slip handle, so you don’t have to worry about it slipping if you’re sweaty
  • Comes with eight massage heads with 30 levels of intensity
  • Has a 30W brushless motor and super-quiet noise-reduction technology (so it’s not as loud as other models)
  • Hi-definition LCD touchscreen
  • Lightweight, portable, and comes with a carrying case

Cons:

  • One of the most expensive deep tissue massagers available. Keep in mind, though, that you get what you pay for

The Original Body Roller

Roll the Day Away

This foam roller is everyone's favorite for a reason: it's just plain old effective at reducing pain and soreness.
Best Foam Roller

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The gold standard when it comes to foam rollers (and alleviating muscle tension), the Original Body Roller replicates the fingers, thumbs, and palms of your hand in order to remove painful trigger points and really stretch out your muscle tissue. Whether you use it before or after you exercise, this cult-favorite foam roller can help increase your range of motion, aid in circulation, enhance recovery from injuries, and just improve your workouts, period. Not too shabby, right?

Pros:

  • The 3D texture has triple massage zones
  • Helps to reduce stiffness and pain and release knots, along with aiding in circulation
  • Doesn’t slip against the floor
  • Awesome addition to any stretching routine
  • You can pick from one of several colors

Cons:

  • If you’re particularly sensitive, then you might find this massager to be a little too intense

Master of Muscle Massage Ball

Get on the Ball (With Pain Relief)

If you struggle with foot pain, you need this massage ball in your life.
Best Ball

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Struggling with foot pain? Here comes the Master of Muscle Massage Ball to the rescue. This high-density, spiky little ball may look like a child’s plaything or a dog’s toy, but looks can be mighty deceiving. Made of solid rubber and able to withstand any body’s weight, this massage ball is actually the perfect tool for eradicating pain and soreness in your feet. The outer layer gives you a stimulating massage, increasing circulation throughout the entire body and effectively rolling away muscle knots and any tightness so that you can work out better and smarter in the long run.

Pros:

  • A fantastic tool to roll away knots and muscle pain in your feet
  • The spiked design and durable, firm rubber helps this ball to withstand any body’s weight
  • Gives you a nice, stimulating massage that helps to increase circulation throughout the body without being too intense
  • Helps relieve pain from plantar fasciitis
  • Easily take it with you anywhere

Cons:

  • If you’re barefoot, the spikes might be a little uncomfortable

Papillon Back Massager

A Pain in the Neck

This Papillon massager is a dream come true for those who have neck or back pain.
Best for Neck and Back Pain

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With the Papillon Back Massager, back and neck pain and soreness will be a thing of the past. This professional-grade shiatsu massager has three adjustable speeds and a bi-directional massage function, so you can really target your muscle aches and manipulate your body’s soft tissue. Everybody ranging from people with chronic pain to hardcore athletes and occasional gym-goers will appreciate having this massager on hand when neck and back pain (or even just slight soreness) sets in.

Pros:

  • Recreates a professional-level shiatsu massage
  • Automatically changes direction every minute, which helps to reach all the nooks and crannies of your neck and back, resulting in full-body stimulation
  • Designed to help alleviate neck and back pain, but you can use it on the calves, waist, shoulders, or feet, too
  • Has three adjustable speeds
  • Optional hot-compress function

Cons:

  • You can’t put your whole body weight on this tool

Renpho Hand-Held Massager

Oh-So-Easy to Use

It doesn't get much more convenient than this Renpho massager, which fits nicely in your hand.
Best Hand-Held

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Look no further than the Renpho Massager if you’d prefer to have a handheld deep-tissue massager. With an extremely powerful motor and intense percussive technology, this massager is every bit as effective at eliminating muscle pain and tightness as other, non-handheld models. It also encourages blood flow, and it may even help reduce your stress levels and improve your sleep habits if you use it regularly.

Pros:

  • Super-portable, cordless, handheld design
  • Employs percussive technology, which is great for relaxing the whole body
  • Awesomely powerful motor at up to 3,600 pulses per minute
  • Automatically shuts off to prevent over-heating
  • Built-in rechargeable battery lasts for a full 140 minutes

Cons:

  • If you struggle with chronic muscle soreness, this might not be the best massager for you because that’s not what it’s designed for

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I should get a deep tissue massager?

There are several key benefits of a deep tissue massage. Aside from eliminating pain and tension, a deep tissue massager can help you relax and even promote healthier sleep patterns. And, if you exercise regularly, using a deep tissue massager can soothe your stressed-out muscles and reduce muscular tension, which can lead to better, more fluid workouts.

What are some must-have features to look for in a deep tissue massager?

The best deep tissue massagers have multiple vibration and speed levels (along with attachments) so that you can fully customize your massage experience. It’s also best to pick a massager that’s fairly portable and lightweight so that you can bring it with you on the go.