ABOX Hero 1 Review 2023

Q: Where can I find the Instructions for the ABOX Hero 1?

The ABOX Hero 1 is shipped with an user manual. Alternatively, you can find the instructions here.

ABOX describes the Hero 1 in the 2021 version as a new, improved massage gun. It is supposed to provide a quiet but at the same time deep massage of muscles and co. To what extent this is true, I will examine in the following test report. I’ll also tell you how well the Hero 1 did in my massage gun test. I bought the ABOX Hero 1 myself and tested it intensively.

Characteristics	ABOX Hero 1
Motor Power	30 W
Speed Levels	30
RPM	1,200 - 3,200
Amplitude	14 mm
Noise (from 40 cm Distance)	49 dB - 55 dB
Material	Plastic
Battery Capacity	2,600 mAh
Battery Life	ca. 3 to 5 hours
Battery changeable
Weight (without Attachment)	1.90 lbs (862 g)
Scope of Delivery	ABOX Hero 1 Ball Attachment Flat Head Attachment Bullet Attachment Fork Attachment D-shaped Attachment Cushion Attachment Carry Bag Charger Manual

Summary

The ABOX Hero 1 is a good massage gun. However, I can recommend it less to beginners.
It has too many power levels, which makes it quite unwieldy.
The volume, on the other hand, is consistently in a reasonable range. The handling is also quite good due to the weight and the rubberized handle.
The rubber handle smells very intense and acrid. On the one hand, this is unpleasant. On the other hand, it cannot be excluded that harmful plasticizers or similar are contained.
For a bit higher price, I would therefore rather buy the Ekrin B37. It performed much better in my test.

Overall

8.5/10

Scope of Delivery and Attachments - 10/10

10/10
Functionality - 8/10

8/10
Usability and Handling - 9/10

9/10
Power Supply - 8/10

8/10
Noise - 9/10

9/10
Material and Quality - 7/10

7/10

View on aboxtek.com

Contents Show

Scope of Delivery and Attachments

ABOX Hero 1 is packed in a black cardboard box upon delivery. On it, there is a picture of the massage gun and some information about the massager.

In turn, the scope of delivery in the box includes the following:

1 x ABOX Hero 1
1 x Ball Attachment
1 x Flat Head Attachment
1 x Bullet Attachment
1 x Fork Attachment
1 x Cushion Attachment
1 x D-shaped Attachment
1 x Carry Bag
1 x Charger
1 x Manual

I can only rate the scope of delivery positively. All important attachments and accessories that are needed are included. The six different attachments in particular are very versatile:

The ball attachment of the ABOX Hero 1 is made of foam. This is typical for this attachment. The ball attachment is used for all muscle groups.

The flat head attachment is also used for almost all muscle groups and can be used universally. I personally like to use it for the chest muscles because of its surface. On the Hero 1, the attachment has small nubs, which is a special feature.

The bullet attachment has quite a small surface with which it rests on the body. Therefore, the attachment is used to massage acupuncture points. The attachment is very popular on the soles of the feet, for example.

The fork attachment, as the name suggests, has a recess in the middle. This makes it suitable for massaging the neck or along the spine. Likewise, it can be used for the calves.

The cushion attachment absorbs the shocks of the massage gun. That is why it is used on bony as well as sensitive areas. This attachment also has small nubs, which is almost no other massage gun.

The D-shaped attachment is something unique about Abox’s massage gun. It is shaped similarly to a wedge and, according to the supplier, is meant to be used on the abdominal muscles. It worked well in my test.

All in all, the attachments make a good impression on me. For the most part, they are made of quite sturdy plastic. Only the ball attachment is made of foam. Thus, the Hero 1 complies with the quasi-standard for attachments.

Functionality

Normally, massage guns have about 3 to 6 different power levels, which are precisely matched to specific applications. The ABOX Hero 1, on the other hand, has a whole of 30 different power levels.

What sounds positive at first can be confusing, especially for beginners, since the right level can only be set with some experience. For experienced and professional users, on the other hand, the numerous power levels offer very good customization options.

The power of the different levels ranges from 1,200 to 3,200 strokes per minute. The exact difference between the individual levels is unfortunately not specified but should be around 68.97 strokes per minute.

Abox recommends using the following power levels for the different applications:

1st to 6th Level: 1,200 – 1,545 rpm – muscle activation
7th to 12th Level: 1,614 – 1,959 rpm – release sore muscles
13 th to 18th Level: 2,028 – 2,372 rpm – fascia massage
19th to 24th Level: 2,441 – 2,786 rpm – deep tissue & muscle tension
25th to 30th Level: 2,855 – 3,200 rpm – trigger point massage

I have used the massage gun according to these recommendations. I have achieved very good results in my regeneration.

However, I was particularly struck by the deep tissue massage. In addition to the high number of strokes, the high amplitude of 14 mm also helped. The massage head thus covers a distance of 14 mm per stroke and can thus penetrate quite deeply into the tissue.

However, there was one limiting factor, the motor. This only has a power of 30 watts. Accordingly, it quickly gives way if you press too hard with the gun.

I also found the indication of the massage duration on the display of the massage gun very helpful. This allows you to always keep an eye on the duration and not treat certain areas for too long. If a muscle is worked too hard, it could harm rather than help it.

Usability and Handling

The operation of the massage gun is very easy. The Hero 1 is switched on via a small switch on the bottom.

When the massage gun is switched on, the intensity levels are set via a touch on display. You can switch the levels up or down bit by bit. The current level is also shown on display, so you always know the intensity with which you are performing the massage.

The handle of the ABOX Hero 1 is rubberized. Thus, it lies very well in hand and does not slip around even with sweaty hands. The weight of the massage gun also has a positive effect on handling. I was able to determine a weight of 1.90 lbs (862 g) without attachments and 1.96 lbs (889 g) with the ball attachment. This is a very good weight for such a massage gun.

Power Supply

The ABOX Hero 1 in the 2021 version is powered by a 2,600 mAh battery. According to the manufacturer, this should be enough to run the massage gun for up to 10 hours. However, my test could not quite confirm that. Nevertheless, the gun lasted an average of 4 to 5 hours, which I have to emphasize positively.

The current battery status of the Hero 1 is indicated by four lights on the LCD display as follows:

100 % battery charge: all four lamps on
75 % battery charge: three lamps on
50 % battery charge: two lamps on
25 % battery charge: one lamp on
< 25 % battery charge: one lamp flashes

Charging the massage gun is easily done in a few hours using the supplied charging cable. This is plugged into the bottom of the gun and connected to a power outlet.

A green light is illuminated on the handle during the entire charging process. This also lights up when the gun is switched on.

However, I have to rate negatively that the battery is not replaceable. So if it breaks, the entire massage gun has to be replaced.

Noise

I usually measure the volume of massage guns in my test at all levels from a distance of 40 cm. I did the same with the ABOX Hero 1. However, I do not want to list the volume for each level. The differences per level would be too small for that. Besides, that would go beyond the scope of the review.

Instead, you will find the values for the different application areas below:

1st to 6th Level: ~ 49 dB to 50 dB – similar to croaking frogs
7th to 12th Level: ~ 50 dB to 51 dB – similar to birds chirping
13th to 18th Level: ~ 51 dB to 53 dB – similar to a quiet radio
19th to 24th Level: ~ 53 dB to 54 dB – similar to a TV
25th to 30th Level: ~ 54 dB to 55 dB – similar to a conversation

All in all, this makes the Hero 1 a very quiet massage gun. This means that it can be used on the lowest levels as well as on the high levels in quiet places. I was particularly impressed by the volume at 3,200 strokes. Most other massage guns are much louder here.

Material and Quality

I have to make some deductions for the material of the ABOX Hero 1. Although it is lighter, it does not look nearly as sturdy and valuable as metal models.

However, I cannot say anything negative about the workmanship. Here, the Hero 1 does not differ from top models in any way. All transitions are clean, and I could not find any flaws in the workmanship. It is also very thoughtful that there are ventilation slots on the top that prevent the motor from overheating during longer use.

The whole thing looks different when it comes to the smell. The massage gun has a rather unpleasant smell overall. In particular, the rubber on the handle smelled very strong and acrid. I deduct two points for this, as I suspect the smell means that softeners or other questionable substances are used here.

Price Performance

I myself paid a price of 89.99 € for the ABOX Hero 1. That’s how much the massage gun cost during my test. Thus, it is priced in the good midfield. Therefore, I would rate the price-performance ratio as good. After all, you get a good massage gun at a fair price here. However, to be a real value for money, the Hero 1 would either have to cost much less or be made of higher quality material.

Conclusion – ABOX Hero 1 Review

Summary

Basically, the ABOX Hero 1 is a good massage gun. However, I can recommend it less to beginners. The reason for this is quite simply the large number of adjustable power levels. These could confuse beginners. For advanced users, however, the many levels are very helpful.

The price of the pistol is also in a very good range. In addition, the Hero 1 is very quiet in operation, fits well in the hand and is also very light. All of that sounds very positive. So why did I rate the Hero 1 “only” good and not very good?

The main reason is the material used. Since the gun is mostly made of plastic and not metal like high-quality models, it doesn’t look as valuable. In addition, the rubber grip has a very intense and acrid smell. On the one hand, this is unpleasant. On the other hand, it is not possible to rule out the presence of harmful plasticizers or similar substances.

The other advantages and disadvantages are clearly listed here: