Honorable Mentions
Photograph: Amazon
PowerDot 2.0 Duo for $349: The PowerDot 2.0 Muscle Stimulator uses neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) to ease muscle pain, spasms, and even period cramps. You simply attach a reusable pad (or pads) to the sore muscle, and the device connects magnetically to the pad. The accompanying app gives you the power to control the intensity or select a specific session tailored to your needs. The key is to start low and gradually increase the intensity based on your tolerance. During my first two days of severe period cramps, I found that the PowerDot provided temporary relief. If you’re looking to treat multiple or larger areas (like your abdomen), I would recommend the Duo version. My beef with this device is that it tends to disconnect mid-session.
TheraFace SleepMask for $99: I’ve tested a couple of sleep masks, and the TheraFace SleepMask is one of my favorites. It vibrates with three patterns designed to nudge your brain into deeper rest. The contoured padding feels plush, and the adjustable strap keeps the mask in place and doesn’t tug at my hair, even when I shift around at night. I struggle with staying asleep, but when I wake up in the middle of the night, I just tap the button to start a session, and it usually puts me back to sleep. That said, the vibrations are almost too subtle, you barely feel them. You will notice the mask is pretty audible and not as soothing as a white noise machine, so if you’re a light sleeper, this might be a dealbreaker.
TheraFace Pro for $299: The TheraFace Pro includes six detachable magnetic heads for cleansing, microcurrent, percussive massage, and LED light therapy—blue light for acne, red light, and infrared for anti-aging. One WIRED writer tried the fancy facial device and said her skin was softer and brighter, but she noted that no studies prove that microcurrent is an effective facial treatment. You don’t need to spend $400 on a skin-care gadget, but if you can afford it and like to pamper yourself—and you won’t use it for a week and then forget about it in a drawer—it’s nice to have a bunch of tools in one.
Theragun Pro 5th Gen for $399: Therabody still sells a few older generations as well as refurbished models directly. Those are all likely still great. You may find even older models for sale on Amazon. While we haven’t tried them all, we think it comes down to price. Anything older than 2019 or 2020 releases might not be worth it unless the price is shockingly low. This Pro came out in 2022, so it’s still a solid device for athletes. If you can find it on sale and don’t need all the latest updates, you should be happy with this one over the Pro Plus.
Theragun Prime 4th Gen for $299: We did not test the Prime, but based on its specs, it’s right in the middle of Theragun’s pack. This probably isn’t the best fit for a professional athlete who constantly working their body to the max, but for everyday aches and pains, it’s more than sufficient.