TaoTronics Portable Percussion Massage Gun
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By Tara Summerville Editor’s Conclusion
The TaoTroncis Portable Deep Tissue Percussion Massage Gun is a fine choice for those that don’t necessarily like aggressive massages that can knock the fillings right out of your teeth!
It may have the word ‘percussion’ in the title, but this massage gun offers more vibration therapy than percussion - which is still a great way to melt stress and soothe tired muscles.
This gun boasts a smaller frame that is lightweight and easy to handle and comes with a ton of helpful attachments that are a cinch to swap in and out when needed.
The most attractive feature of this gun has to be the affordable price point - it costs half as much as many of the higher-end percussive guns out there on the market.
Before you take the plunge on this gun, I wanted to get into some of the details as to why this may or may not be a good massage gun for you.
It may have the word ‘percussion’ in the title, but this massage gun offers more vibration therapy than percussion - which is still a great way to melt stress and soothe tired muscles.
This gun boasts a smaller frame that is lightweight and easy to handle and comes with a ton of helpful attachments that are a cinch to swap in and out when needed.
The most attractive feature of this gun has to be the affordable price point - it costs half as much as many of the higher-end percussive guns out there on the market.
Before you take the plunge on this gun, I wanted to get into some of the details as to why this may or may not be a good massage gun for you.
TaoTronics Portable Percussion Massage Gun Review Facts
Editor's Pros & Cons
Pros
Compact carrying case
The battery lasts up to 10 hours on a single charge
Comes with 6 unique attachments
20 speed settings
Quiet motor
Affordable price point
Cons
Short stroke length
Weak stall force
Not a very powerful motor
Offers more vibration therapy than percussive
Key Features
Key Features
MOTOR
This gun is powered by a 24V high-torque brushless motor that has been updated from previous models to be a little more powerful and quiet. It offers users up to 20-speed settings, and many of the lower settings feel like a kitten pawing at your muscles. It’s not great for those that love a really aggressive massage. Most users dial the speed up to 20, and often still feel like that the highest setting isn’t quite powerful enough.
The good news, however, is that this motor isn’t very loud! When running in the highest setting, it clocks in at around 32 decibels. To put that into perspective, that is about the same noise level as a wall clock ticking or a quiet rural area. This is one the quietest designs out there on the market, making it a great tool to take to the gym without drawing too much attention to yourself.
BATTERY LIFE
One of the best features of the TaoTronics massage gun is that it has a super long battery life. Many similar designs have a battery life that lasts anywhere from 40 minutes to 2 hours. This massage gun runs for 5-10 hours on a single charge!
It runs off of a small 3C-rated 2600mAh battery that charges up quickly with the power cable that is included with the purchase. It also has an auto-sleep mode that puts your device to sleep after 10 minutes of inactivity to help save battery life.
PORTABILITY
I love how small and compact this design is, and how easy it is to toss into a gym bag. It weighs 1.4 pounds, which is on the lighter side, which means that it won’t add too much weight to a fully packed gym bag.
It comes in a hard zippered case that holds not only the massage gun but also all of the attachments as well as the power cord.
STALL FORCE
When you are on the hunt for an aggressive percussive massage, a high stall force is super important to really get into those larger muscle groups. Unfortunately, the TaoTronincs massage gun has a relatively weak stall force. The head of this design is only able to withstand between 18-33 pounds of pressure to the head before it comes to a complete stop. When you press down so hard that it stops, it also shows you an error message on the LCD screen, which leads me to believe that this gun just doesn’t want you to press down super hard.
The low stall force may not be a deal-breaker for those that prefer a more gentle vibration massage, but it’s not great if you are on the hunt for a more punchy percussive massage.
STROKE LENGTH
The overall stroke length is what really knocks this design out of the category of percussive massage and places it into the vibration massage category. Stroke length indicates the overall travel path of the massage head. It measures for the lowest point the head pulls back to the highest point that punches forward. Higher-end percussive designs have a stroke length of about 16 mm, and the TaoTronics clocks in at around 8 mm.
Again, I don’t feel that this necessarily a deal-breaker for some, especially when you are looking for a more gentle machine that doesn’t essentially punch the pain out of your muscles.
ATTACHMENTS
The TaoTronics massage gun really shines in the attachments department. This gun comes with a set of six different massage heads that are super easy to pop on and off as needed. I love that it includes both hard plastic attachments that really dig into large and small muscle groups, as well as soft foam attachments for joints and boney areas.
While many attachments are very similar to other brands, there are two specific attachments that you don’t find in a lot of sets. It comes with dual-head spine attachments that deliver targeted relief down your spine as well as your neck. I personally love this attachment for knocking the kinks out of my neck after a day of computer work, or soothing headaches.
Another important attachment to note is the scraper attachment. I know, the name sounds a little scary, but it’s an amazing detoxifier. The head of this attachment is similar to a putty knife, and it can be used on tight knots in your back or other tight areas to really help to circulate blood flow and wash away lactic acid.
EASE OF USE
There is a very shallow learning curve when it comes to using this design for the first time. It provides a modest charge right out of the box, and there is no need to consult a lengthening instruction manual to get up and running. Simply use the back panel LCD screen to turn it on, and press the up/down buttons to set it at your desired speed.
The attachments also pop on and off easily and don’t need to be screwed tightly into place. This method of attaching heads also reduces the risk of cracking an attachment because you screwed it on a little too tightly.
I find that this gun is a little bit easier to wield than some of the chunkier models out there. It boasts a slightly slender frame and offers a secure rubber grip on the handle. If your hands are hot and sweaty after a long workout, this device is easier to grip than those that have a basic plastic casing.
PERFORMANCE
The shallow stroke length means that this gun isn’t as punchy as some of the other high-end designs out there on the market. If you need something that can really dig deep into tired muscles to provide a deep-tissue massage at home or at the gym, this gun comes up a bit short. However, not everyone enjoys aggressive massages.
This gun is powered by a 24V high-torque brushless motor that has been updated from previous models to be a little more powerful and quiet. It offers users up to 20-speed settings, and many of the lower settings feel like a kitten pawing at your muscles. It’s not great for those that love a really aggressive massage. Most users dial the speed up to 20, and often still feel like that the highest setting isn’t quite powerful enough.
The good news, however, is that this motor isn’t very loud! When running in the highest setting, it clocks in at around 32 decibels. To put that into perspective, that is about the same noise level as a wall clock ticking or a quiet rural area. This is one the quietest designs out there on the market, making it a great tool to take to the gym without drawing too much attention to yourself.
BATTERY LIFE
One of the best features of the TaoTronics massage gun is that it has a super long battery life. Many similar designs have a battery life that lasts anywhere from 40 minutes to 2 hours. This massage gun runs for 5-10 hours on a single charge!
It runs off of a small 3C-rated 2600mAh battery that charges up quickly with the power cable that is included with the purchase. It also has an auto-sleep mode that puts your device to sleep after 10 minutes of inactivity to help save battery life.
PORTABILITY
I love how small and compact this design is, and how easy it is to toss into a gym bag. It weighs 1.4 pounds, which is on the lighter side, which means that it won’t add too much weight to a fully packed gym bag.
It comes in a hard zippered case that holds not only the massage gun but also all of the attachments as well as the power cord.
STALL FORCE
When you are on the hunt for an aggressive percussive massage, a high stall force is super important to really get into those larger muscle groups. Unfortunately, the TaoTronincs massage gun has a relatively weak stall force. The head of this design is only able to withstand between 18-33 pounds of pressure to the head before it comes to a complete stop. When you press down so hard that it stops, it also shows you an error message on the LCD screen, which leads me to believe that this gun just doesn’t want you to press down super hard.
The low stall force may not be a deal-breaker for those that prefer a more gentle vibration massage, but it’s not great if you are on the hunt for a more punchy percussive massage.
STROKE LENGTH
The overall stroke length is what really knocks this design out of the category of percussive massage and places it into the vibration massage category. Stroke length indicates the overall travel path of the massage head. It measures for the lowest point the head pulls back to the highest point that punches forward. Higher-end percussive designs have a stroke length of about 16 mm, and the TaoTronics clocks in at around 8 mm.
Again, I don’t feel that this necessarily a deal-breaker for some, especially when you are looking for a more gentle machine that doesn’t essentially punch the pain out of your muscles.
ATTACHMENTS
The TaoTronics massage gun really shines in the attachments department. This gun comes with a set of six different massage heads that are super easy to pop on and off as needed. I love that it includes both hard plastic attachments that really dig into large and small muscle groups, as well as soft foam attachments for joints and boney areas.
While many attachments are very similar to other brands, there are two specific attachments that you don’t find in a lot of sets. It comes with dual-head spine attachments that deliver targeted relief down your spine as well as your neck. I personally love this attachment for knocking the kinks out of my neck after a day of computer work, or soothing headaches.
Another important attachment to note is the scraper attachment. I know, the name sounds a little scary, but it’s an amazing detoxifier. The head of this attachment is similar to a putty knife, and it can be used on tight knots in your back or other tight areas to really help to circulate blood flow and wash away lactic acid.
EASE OF USE
There is a very shallow learning curve when it comes to using this design for the first time. It provides a modest charge right out of the box, and there is no need to consult a lengthening instruction manual to get up and running. Simply use the back panel LCD screen to turn it on, and press the up/down buttons to set it at your desired speed.
The attachments also pop on and off easily and don’t need to be screwed tightly into place. This method of attaching heads also reduces the risk of cracking an attachment because you screwed it on a little too tightly.
I find that this gun is a little bit easier to wield than some of the chunkier models out there. It boasts a slightly slender frame and offers a secure rubber grip on the handle. If your hands are hot and sweaty after a long workout, this device is easier to grip than those that have a basic plastic casing.
PERFORMANCE
The shallow stroke length means that this gun isn’t as punchy as some of the other high-end designs out there on the market. If you need something that can really dig deep into tired muscles to provide a deep-tissue massage at home or at the gym, this gun comes up a bit short. However, not everyone enjoys aggressive massages.
Comparison to Previous Versions
Comparison to Previous Versions
There isn’t a whole lot of changes between the newest model and previous iterations. From what I have gathered, many of the changes made are simple aesthetic changes to the overall design of the gun and have no bearing on actual performance.
However, they did make slight changes to the power of the motor. This design costs a little bit more than previous models, and I feel that the extra cost is well worth it for a device that is slightly powerful as well as quieter as well.
We've also reviewed the Addsfit Massage Gun – Mini Pro, so make sure you check it out as well.
However, they did make slight changes to the power of the motor. This design costs a little bit more than previous models, and I feel that the extra cost is well worth it for a device that is slightly powerful as well as quieter as well.
We've also reviewed the Addsfit Massage Gun – Mini Pro, so make sure you check it out as well.
Verdict
Verdict
For casual joggers, or for those that are just stiff after sitting behind a desk all day, this modest gun will get the job done. However, if you are training for a marathon, or hit the weight room hard on a regular basis, this may not be the best option.
What it lacks in power it makes up for in portability, ease of use, and helpful attachments that can be used just about anywhere on your body. Vibration therapy may not be able to dig as deep into your muscles as percussion therapy, but it still helps to increase blood flow, soothe tired muscles, and melt away stress without draining your bank account!
What it lacks in power it makes up for in portability, ease of use, and helpful attachments that can be used just about anywhere on your body. Vibration therapy may not be able to dig as deep into your muscles as percussion therapy, but it still helps to increase blood flow, soothe tired muscles, and melt away stress without draining your bank account!
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