Hydragun Review 2024 - Is It The Quietest Massage Gun On The Market?
We unbox the super sleek, super quiet Hydragun massage gun for a run - see our review
Hydragun Review
Is the Hydragun Massage gun actually the quietest massage gun? In our Hydragun review, we make a side-by-side comparison of a handful of other popular massage guns used by athletes and those serious about recovery.
Massage guns have been around for a long time now, and as the competition gets more fierce with big players like Theragun, Hyperice, Ekrin and Homedics introducing more and more massage gun features, deeper penetration, quieter motors and more AI and app integration its hard for the average punter to keep up.
Do you really need all the bells and whistles that you find in some of the more premium massage guns for sale online in 2024? Probably not, but they can make for a more enjoyable user experience and indeed a more mindful approach to recovery via percussion therapy.
The Hydragun calls itself the quietest massage gun and one would generally think a quiet massage gun would be associated with a soft massage - you’d be mistaken. The Hydragun massage gun cuts the frills and offers an ultra quiet (confirmed) massager with just as much punch and battery life than some of the leading massage gun brands selling to gyms, athletes, average joes and wellness spaces in the US, Australia, UK, NZ and Europe.
With a paralysing choice of massage guns, why should you buy a Hydragun vs Theragun, the giant in recovery tools? Keeping more money in your pocket and still getting all the benefits of massage guns should say enough.
Hydragun Review
Hydragun - whats in the box?
The Hydragun is for people who want a super quiet massage gun that offers high quality attachments but don’t want or require any of the new age high tech additions like app integration or AI pressure delivery that the premium massage guns like Theragun include. Hydragun is much cheaper than the Theragun Pro or Theragun Elite which are some of the most expensive massage guns on the market. The Hydragun is not necessarily a massage gun that you would offer in a gym or wellness space for myofascial release however is it very well suited for a home-user.
What we like
Super quiet
Automatic 15-minute shut off
Stainless massage gun heads
Reasonable price
Super sleek carry case
6 hours battery life
What we don’t like
Lowest setting still strong
Lack of app integration
The Hydragun massage gun definitely doesn't come with the same high-tech inclusions that the Theragun has like Bluetooth connectivity and app integration, but at the end of the day it still delivers solid amplitude, stall force and battery life as well as 6 speeds and 6 massage heads.
The first thing about the Hydragun massage gun that grabs us is the case it comes in - sleek. Any type A personality or OCD athlete or fitness junkie looking for a good massage gun would melt at the crisp cutouts for the Hydragun massage gun and all of its extras. You could say we were sold before we even got to the massage gun specs but I suppose we should at least run through them for a decent Hydragun Review.
Who Are Hydragun?
Hydragun says they are a “performance technology startup that provides emerging product solutions to help individuals reach their physical and mental peak”. Hydragun has been focussing on perfecting their massage gun with only one product on offer, until recently releasing the Thermosleeve - a hot/cold compression sleeve.
Hydragun has an ethos around recovery tools being accessible for all, not just professional athletes. To be honest, there is not a whole lot of business information about Hydragun, but they speak volume in the quality of their massage gun.
As a solid brand with a solid product, Hydragun is backed and used by a number of professional athletes like John Wayne Parr (10 x Muay Thai World Champion), Bronte Campbel (Tokyo 2020 Olympic Gold Medalist) and Lydia Wlliams (Matildas Goalkeeper).
Price
When looking for a good massage gun, naturally you want good value for money. The Hydragun is exactly that. After testing out the Hydragun for 30 days, we can confirm it is indeed the quietest massage gun we have tested and is also one of the best value therapy guns too.
At $299 or $399AUD, the Hydragun is considered a mid-range massage gun. For the price you get a super sleek massage gun design that feels smooth, clean and ergonomic in hand. This feel is thanks to the nano silica gel used in the grip handle and the pleasant experience using the massage gun is exemplified by the super low noise/decibels produced by the Hydragun.
Design
Hydragun is high on design and ergonomics
The Hydragun is a massage gun that's enjoyable to hold and enjoyable to look at, aside from ticking the box for being good at releasing tight muscles, stiffness and releasing knots causing pain and discomfort.
The Hydragun isn’t super light compared to some of the compact massage guns on the market and has some decent weight to it, without making it fatiguing to use. At 1kg/2lbs, the Hydragun is well balanced and easy to handle.
Much of this weight is thanks to the 2,600mAh battery that sits in the stem of the massage gun and gives it its stunning 6 hours of battery life. In a Hydragun vs Theragun scenario, this is where Hydragun wins, with the Theragun Pro only offering up about 150 minutes of use per battery.
Using the control panel on the Hydragun is also a simple design feature. One press to turn it on, subsequent presses of the one central button cycle through the six speeds offered but the Hydragun which are also indicated by a small LED indicator.
Another design feature we thought was an added touch is the ‘stall’ indicator that basically lets you know if you are providing too much torque for the massage gun to handle. This is why stall force is an important performance metric to consider in your massage gun reviews, as this determines how much pressure you can apply to your percussion massage.
Warranty
Hydragun offers slightly above the standard warrant of 12 months and gives an 18 month guarantee stamp on their gun. This is an important aspect to consider when buying a massage gun as you want to know that the product is going to last a long time when you are spending 100’s of dollars on it.
The Hydragun, much like many other massage gun brands, offer a 30 day money back guarantee, which gives you the opportunity to try it out and return it if it is not what you had anticipated.
Hydragun Attachments
The Hydragun’s six massage head attachments
The Hydragun includes six massage gun attachements that are easily interchangeable and can be clicked in and out secured by an O-ring seal. The Hydragun presents itself like many other massage guns with its sleek design and multiple massage heads. The six massage heads just seem a little higher quality than the majority of the other massage guns we have reviewed and listed.
The six massage gun heads are made up of four plastic heads and two steel heads. The steel heads are a very simple addition to the Hydragun massage gun head attachments that show the research and development and progressive improvement that Hydragun offer in their massage gun design.
Why steel? The steel massage gun heads essentially give the exact same percussive therapy effect and penetration as the other four plastic heads, but are designed specifically for gliding over various clothing and fitness apparel that may be worn while using the massage gun. One thing we have experienced is the massage gun getting caught up in excess clothing and stopping the flow of using the massage gun along a muscle edge - the steel head solves this.
As is quite standard across most massage guns for sale, the heads are comprised of a Ball head, for larger muscle groups (glutes, quads, calves), the Fork, for use along the spine, calves, shoulders and forearms and slightly deeper penetration, the Bullet, for use on more delicate areas like the feet, chest and hands and the Flat Head, designed for use around tender, sore or painful muscles.
Hydragun Noise
The Hydraguns finest feature - silence. As the quietest massage gun on the market, the Hydragun is almost 100 x quieter than some of the leading brands producing only 30-50dB which is less than the average electric toothbrush. When you get to test out the Hydragun on the lowest setting you will understand how surprisingly quiet it actually is. We would buy the Hydragun on this feature alone.
This low noise is thanks to the brushless motor inside the Hydragun. Without getting too technical, it means that the Hydragun operates with less unnecessary vibration, less noise, more efficiency and higher battery life.
Hydragun vs Theragun
The Hydragun is a much more simple massage gun than the Theragun massage gun models. The Hydragun massage gun is for people who are doing quite a bit of physical activity during the week and training 3-4 times per week and require regular use of the massage gun for recovery. The main differences between the Hydragun and Theragun can be summarised in the comparison table above.
You will notice that the Hydragun is priced at $399 which is almost half the price of the Theragun Elite model, leaving you more in your pocket for the same massage gun benefits. The Hydragun also outperforms the Theragun on a few key performance metrics like battery life, speed or rpm and includes a whole 6 months greater warranty than the Theragun including a 30 day money back policy to try it out for yourself for a month. The Hydragun also operates at a much lower decibels level than the Theragun, with many Theragun reviews stating how obnoxiously loud the massage gun can get.
Where Theragun outperforms Hydragun is in stall force and amplitude. With this higher noise level, the Theragun also allows you to press a little harder than the Hydragun (not by much) before it stalls, giving you a harder or deeper massage potential which is compounded by a larger amplitude too. The amplitude is the depth at which the massage gun allows the massage gun head to penetrate into the tissue. Hydragun makes up for this lower amplitude with a far greater rpm than the Theragun, meaning you get more hits or ‘massages’ from the gun for the same amount of time used.
Hydragun FAQ’s
What does a massage gun do?
Massage guns, through percussion therapy, simulate the effects of a remedial or sports massage by targeting muscle soreness associated with DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness) from exercise. They can also be used proactively before a workout to increase blood flow to specific muscle groups, similar to a warm-up routine, which helps prepare muscles for movement and potentially enhances performance. This pre-workout use of massage guns is beneficial for priming muscles and improving overall flexibility and range of motion, contributing to better workout outcomes and reduced injury risk.
Are massage guns worth the money?
At the moment, you can buy a massage gun for as little as $90 and even less for a portable massage gun you can fit in a backpack for travel. Other massage guns can be as much as $1500 and include some more quality construction, design and features.
It all depends what your budget is for a massage gun but they are definitely worth the money. Instead of spending upwards of $100 per massage for a remedial style massage, having a massage gun that you can recharge and use daily gives you far more value for money.
Is a massage gun safe to use during pregnancy?
When used on a safe and low setting, a massage gun can provide relief for common aches associated with pregnancy, such as sore calves and feet. However, it's essential to prioritize safety and consult with your doctor before using any massage gun during pregnancy. Medical guidance ensures that the device is used appropriately, considering individual health conditions and pregnancy stages. This precaution helps to mitigate any potential risks and ensures the massage gun is used effectively as part of a comprehensive prenatal care plan.
Conclusion on Hydragun Massage Gun
It is refreshing to see some simple things added to a product that is highly saturated. Non-grab massage attachments with the stainless cap for sliding over clothing is a clever touch and a definite selling point for the Hydragun. The low noise is another tick in the box for a competitive advantage to choosing the Hydragun over some of the other bulkier and noisier massage guns available for the same price point.
If you can live without the AI, smart tech inclusions and app integrations offered by the bigger player in the massage gun market like Theragun and Hyperice, the Hydragun is a very good bare bones simple massage gun. You will only find the Hydragun online as they are not sold in any physical stores - buy it here.
