The Best Muscle Rollers
A muscle roller can be an easy, even relaxing way to cool down after a workout. These tools let you gently roll out parts of your body that are sore, tight, or otherwise in need of loosening up to get your body to peak performance. But not every muscle roller will do its job as well as the next, which is why we've come up with this list of our personal favorites when it comes to the home gym. Read on and get ready to make your stretching regimen a whole lot easier.
What to Look For
We searched for three qualities when deciding if a muscle roller should make it onto our list: is the roller ergonomic and good for your body, can it be used for a good range of stretches and exercises, and will it withstand long periods of use or heavier body types? Every muscle roller on our list met most or all of these criteria with ease. Yansyi won our top spot thanks to its focus on soothing muscular trigger points as well as its convenient, lightweight build. We also enjoyed the unique Coolife muscle roller design and found it perfect for use on the legs. Keep reading to see which muscle roller will be the best fit for your home gym.
Yansyi Body Massage Muscle Roller
Stretch out the strains
Yansyi has created a multipurpose muscle roller that easily found its way to the top of our list. Its thermoplastic rubber construction makes it lightweight yet firm, allowing you to use this muscle roller on almost any part of your body. It has nine small, independent rollers to make sure your muscles are thoroughly attended to. This muscle roller will suit the purposes of almost anyone looking to stretch or smooth out their body kinks.
Pros
- It’s available in a wide variety of vibrant color options.
- This muscle roller is as useful for physical therapy as it is for relaxing your muscles before and after a workout.
Cons
- It can be uncomfortable if used with too much force, so apply it to your muscles gently.
Idson Athlete Muscle Roller
Take it anywhere
This muscle roller from Idson is as effective at its purpose as it is easy to carry. With strong material and a lightweight build, it’s perfect for taking to the gym or the jogging trail to smooth out your muscles before your exercise routine begins. Its roller is composed of nine individual balls to ensure your tight and sore spots are treated with nuance. This is the roller for anyone who needs a warmup aid to throw into their gym bag at any time.
Pros
- Its force on your body works seamlessly with how much pressure you apply.
- The narrow frame lets you work on smaller, tighter spots that you might otherwise pass over.
Cons
- The individual rollers don’t always move in tandem with one another.
Coolife Cellulite And Fascia Muscle Roller
Running on full
Anyone in need of specialized leg relief will find a lot to love about this muscle roller. Its three large, bumpy rollers are connected by soft foam handles and massage deep into your thighs and calves. Aside from its utility as a physical therapy tool, it can also be used to smooth out cellulite and increase circulation to improve your skin health. This is the ideal muscle roller for relaxing and toning the bottom half of your body.
Pros
- The available colors are fun and unique.
- It doesn’t require very much applied pressure to provide intense relief.
- This is far more affordable than many cellulite treatments.
Cons
- It can leave a somewhat oily residue.
Pro-Tec Athletics RM Extreme Muscle Roller
A mini miracle
We adore this compact muscle roller and its comfortable, easy-to-grip handle. At less than half the size of an average muscle roller, it’s incredibly convenient to pack into a gym bag or even a purse. And its contoured surface ensures it will offer the same relief (or more) that those larger rollers do. Sometimes less means more when it comes to muscle relief, as this miniature muscle roller proves.
Pros
- It’s great for reaching areas further down your body that a standard-sized muscle roller might take more effort for, such as your calves and heel.
- The grip is soft and malleable, letting you control the amount of pressure you use.
Cons
- If your hands are small, the flatness of the handle might cause them to ache after a while.
Deston Manual Wooden Muscle Roller
The natural choice
This wooden muscle roller is great for reaching deep into your nerves and providing intense relief. Each dense roller on this stick is made from smooth, polished wood, which both relaxes your skin and relieves tension from your muscles. Since each roller moves independently, they can provide specific relief to localized pressure points as well. A wooden muscle roller like this one is a reliable tool to have around when your muscles start to ache.
Pros
- The wooden material makes it less environmentally wasteful than the average muscle roller.
- Its relatively large size allows it to tackle bigger muscle groups with ease.
Cons
- It needs to be washed every so often to prevent wood shavings from accruing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What parts of the body can I use a muscle roller on?
Your muscle roller can be used almost anywhere on your body that has muscular strain or tension. Some of the most common areas of application include the thighs, upper back, biceps, and calves.
What’s the best material for a muscle roller to be made of?
Depending on how soft or hard you want your muscle roller to be, anything from wood to synthetic plastic can be appropriate material for a muscle roller. The most important thing is to find one that allows you to control the amount of pressure you apply with it, which is sometimes best achieved with hardened foam.
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