Theragun mini Review

The Theragun mini is advertised as a handy pocket-sized massager. It is supposed to combine the high quality of the Theragun with particularly small dimensions. In the following review, you will find out to what extent this was successful and whether the Theragun mini can also compete with classic massage guns. Among other things, I will discuss the scope of delivery, the usability and handling, the power supply, and the quality of the mini gun.

 

Scope of Delivery and Attachments

Theragun mini is delivered in a very attractive, high-quality packaging. Outside around the actual box is a sleeve that contains all the important information about the massage gun.

In turn, the box contains the following:

This basically includes everything you need to use the massage gun. Nevertheless, we clearly have to deduct a few points in this category. The reason for this is that only one attachment is included.

Although this is a versatile standard ball in medium size, this can massage both larger and somewhat smaller muscle groups. In addition, it is made of very durable PU foam. Thus, it is easy to clean and offers a pleasant feeling on the skin.

However, it is usually useful to have special attachments for smaller muscle groups or even the spine at hand in order to be able to work the muscles optimally. These can be used by the Theragun PRO, Elite, Prime, etc., if available. Alternatively, the attachments can be purchased separately from Theragun. There they cost $20 to $30, depending on the model.

At the time of this review, the following attachments could be purchased separately for the Theragun mini:

In addition, all attachments were available as a duo variant with two ends. These cost $49 and $59 respectively.

 

Functionality

Typically, a massage gun has several power levels. This is also the case with the Theragun mini. It has the following three power levels:

As you can see from the power levels, the lowest level already starts at 1,750 rpm. That is comparatively much. Other massage guns already start at around 1,200 rpm.

Accordingly, the gun is rather unsuitable for a relaxing massage. This is also not the aim of the Theragun mini. Instead, it can simply be taken to the gym and used there to loosen muscles after training, activate muscles before training, or treat pain during training.

For this purpose, not only the power is suitable, but also the stroke length. This is approx. 12 mm for the Theragun mini. The massage head thus covers a distance of 12 mm during a shock. This is perfectly sufficient to massage even the deep tissue.

In my practical test, I naturally tried not only to look at the data but also to use the massage gun on myself. This confirmed the impression that the data provided:

The massage feels very powerful. For my own sensation, it was even a bit too strong on the first level. However, this may also be due to my own preference. In general, stronger strokes should be preferred. However, I very much liked the feel of the attachment. It is not too soft and not too hard. Instead, the muscles are massaged with exactly the right pressure.

 

Usability and Handling

The Theragun mini could score big plus points in handling. There are several reasons for this.

Firstly, the massage gun is very easy to use. It only has one button on the side. This is held briefly to switch on the massager. Then, the intensity level can be switched through by pressing the button again. This is so simple that even children understand it.

Another factor is the size and weight of the Theragun mini. According to my measurements, the dimensions are about 16.5 cm x 13.5 cm x 5.5 cm at the widest points. This is very compact for a massage gun.

The weight is stated by the manufacturer as 1.43 lbs (650 g). I myself even measured 1.43 lbs (649 g) – at least without attachment. With attachment, the mini massage gun weighs about 1.47 lbs (667 g). Even that is still very light.

Due to this combination of small size and low weight, the Theragun mini can be stored and transported in a very space-saving way. It fits into any backpack or sports bag.

On the other hand, this makes it by no means strenuous to use the massage gun. Especially larger models cause problems here due to their high weight. In addition, the special shape of the Theragun mini, which actually can not be called a pistol. Due to the triangle-like shape in combination with the ergonomically inclined surface on the top, the mini fits almost perfectly in hand.

Last but not least, in terms of usability, the exchange of attachments should not be neglected. This works very easily with this massage gun via a plug-in system. The attachment can simply be removed from the stroke. A new attachment is just as easily plugged in.

 

Power Supply

The power supply of the Theragun mini is ensured by an integrated lithium-ion battery. Unfortunately, the manufacturer does not provide any information about the battery capacity. However, the battery is supposed to last for about 150 minutes. This was also confirmed in my test. However, it should be noted that a higher intensity level drains the battery faster since the motor in the gun has to apply more force.

I deduct a few points because the battery life could be a bit longer. In addition, the battery is not replaceable. I find that a shame for a product in this price range. After all, you have to replace the entire device when the battery breaks or loses power.

Charging the battery, on the other hand, is very easy and quick. To do this, simply connect the supplied power adapter to the massage gun and plug it into a power outlet.

The light on the gun shows the current charge level, so you know when the battery is full. There are the following gradations:

 

Noise

As part of my test, I measured the volume of the Theragun mini at all three power levels from a distance of around 40 cm. I obtained the following values:

The Theragun mini is advertised with such a low volume that you can hardly hear it. The reason for this is supposed to be the QuietForce Technology. I cannot agree with this. The massage gun is clearly audible even in the first stage. On the first two levels, however, the noise level is still pleasant and hardly disturbing.

Only in the third stage is the mini very loud – even for a massage gun. Accordingly, I found the use of the highest power to be comparatively acoustically stressful.

 

Material and Quality

When it comes to quality, Theragun can hardly be beaten by any other brand. The Theragun mini is also of correspondingly high quality. The material looked very sturdy and did not show any defects in my model. This applies to both the massager itself and the attachment.

The workmanship is also ~90% perfect. Only at the transitions where the casing is assembled small inaccuracies can be seen upon closer inspection. Therefore, there is a small deduction for me in this category.

Massage guns are often criticized for having a strong smell. This is often the case with cheap models from Asia. However, I could not detect such a smell with the Theragun mini. Only when I smelled directly at the massage gun I could perceive a slight plastic smell. This also applies to the included attachment.

 

Price Performance

Therabody is not only known for its high quality but also for its equally high prices. This is no different with the Theragun mini. I myself paid €197.90 for the small massage gun online. At the time of this test, the price on the manufacturer’s website was $199.00. This makes the mini not only by far one of the most expensive mini massage guns but also rather in the upper price range for a normal massage gun.

When looking at the price-performance ratio alone, I could therefore not recommend the Theragun mini. Instead, this is clearly a model that is one of the best on the market and where quality is more important than price.

 

Conclusion – Theragun mini Review

 

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FAQ & Troubleshooting

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