The best workout recovery devices to keep you in the game longer and without injury

Out of everything I tested, I was probably most excited to use Therabody's RecoveryAir JetBoots. Being a Muay Thai athlete, my legs are always in need of some extra TLC, so I was instantly intrigued by them.

Yes, they look a little bit silly, and basically turn both of your legs into those inflatable tube men that you see outside of used car dealerships. But, that doesn't matter, because these things work. Not only that, but they're extremely convenient — the JetBoots are totally wireless, which is a game-changer compared to other RecoveryAir models and competitors like the Hyperice Normatec 3 Legs. All that's required of you is zipping yourself in, and using the onboard controls to pick pressure settings and time intervals (you can also connect them to the Therabody app via Bluetooth for more specific routines, which I think is the best way to use them). The first time I tried them, I immediately felt a difference. I wasn't used to compression therapy, so it was a little jarring when they inflated for the first time and started constricting around my legs — think of it like someone taking your blood pressure — but as soon as they released, I already felt reinvigorated.

The only cons with the boots are their size and their tendency to get sweaty during use. But they come with a pretty nice storage bag and are easy enough to wipe down for a quick touch-up, so I wouldn't consider them to be dealbreakers.

I noticed a massive positive change in my ability to recover in between workouts that involved my legs, and I use my JetBoots after just about every session now. I don't see myself stopping anytime soon.

Foam rollers are a classic recovery tool — they're compact, and offer a huge return for a small investment. Basically, it's a rolling pin for your body, and you use it in conjunction with your own weight to iron out tense muscles and knots. What makes the TriggerPoint Grid Vibe Plus special is that it uses vibration to enhance the foam rolling experience.

It's simple, but the addition of vibration to the normal foam rolling process is a bonus that I never knew I needed, especially when rolling out my back. The Grid Vibe Plus offers four different vibration settings, and is completely cordless during use, so you won't be giving up any precious real estate. Unfortunately, the battery life isn't long — around two hours — but it charges back up quickly enough to not be a huge bother (if you're taking it on the go, this may be a bigger issue).

I also really like the TriggerPoint's multi-density surface, which allowed me to get more accurate with the muscles I was targeting, and reached deeper tissue than the usual, flat-surface rollers I was accustomed to. It's a little pricey for what you get, but these go on sale on Amazon all the time, so keep an eye out.

Read the full review of the PowerDot 2.0

I first reviewed the PowerDot 2.0 back in 2021, and my opinion of them hasn't changed since. The only thing that has changed is how I use them. Where I first started using the TENS device as a post-workout recovery tool, I now use them for active recovery, meaning I use them during my workouts.

Before we get to why, let's quickly go over what a TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) device is. TENS devices employ an electrical current through their targeted muscle group, consequently forcing contractions and promoting increased blood flow to soothe inflammation. If you're currently freaked out by the idea of allowing yourself to be electrocuted, I promise you it isn't as scary as it sounds. The PowerDot 2.0 is a very accessible version of a TENS device, and is totally safe and easy to use. All you do is attach the included electrode pads to the target area (the companion app will help you with placement), connect them to the Therabody app via Bluetooth, and choose a recovery routine from there. You can always change the intensity of each session on the fly — I recommend starting at a mild setting to get yourself used to it, and then moving up from there at whatever pace is comfortable for you.

So, do they work? In short, yes. I find them to work much better during my workouts than after, helping me train longer at maximum effort than I do without them. Their portability comes in handy here — they've never gotten in my way while I'm at the gym, and it's nice to be able to nurse my muscles while they're being used instead of after. I've noticed much less soreness after gym sessions since I started working them into my routine.

The only things I don't love about the PowerDot 2.0 are that they don't always reliably connect to the companion app, which is a major annoyance, and that the electrode pads don't last all that long. The latter isn't a huge downside, but just know that you'll have to spend money to replace them every once in a while.

This is another device that I was jazzed to test out for the same reason that I wanted to try the RecoveryAir JetBoots. The Hyperice X provides targeted hot-and-cold therapy for your knees, a part of my body that is constantly needing special care because of my chosen sport.

This thing is extremely cool, and is a great replacement for the age-old ice-pack-and-hot-compress combo. The high-tech knee sleeve straps on like a brace, and allows for a surprising amount of movement during wear — it's a little heavy, though, so I tend not to move around much once I strap myself in. Once on and connected to the Hyperice app, you can start your therapy session, choosing either hot, cold, or intervals of both. I prefer the interval setting, and I found it to be pretty amazing just how quickly it could swap between each temperature extreme. The battery life is really short (about an hour or so), but the cordless design during use was a worthwhile tradeoff. As a person who's been experiencing knee problems for years, the Hyperice X is astounding. It relieved just about every ache and pain in my knees each time I used it, and had me feeling at my very best the next time I hit the Muay Thai mats.

What's also kind of astounding, though, is the price. The Hyperice X will set you back $399, which is a lot to ask for a recovery device that can only serve a single part of your body. That isn't going to be worth it for everyone, but if you have some money to spare and you experience noticeable knee issues like me, I think it's worth the investment, as painful as it may be for the wallet.

If you've ever looked into massage guns, you've probably seen a Theragun. They're one of the more popular massage gun brands around, and in my opinion, it's for good reason. That's because the Theragun Pro is fantastic. (Note: The specific model I tested was the Theragun Pro 4th Generation, but Therabody has recently released a quieter 5th Generation version. The brand also offers more budget-friendly models like the Theragun Elite, Prime, and Mini.)

The Theragun uses percussive massage technology to release stress and tension in your muscles, allowing you to recover with much less discomfort. It's like having your own personal masseuse, but you can control everything yourself.

Right off the bat, the Theragun Pro felt like a premium device in my hands. It's durable, and has a great weight to it that feels high-quality. It's very user-friendly, too — just turn it on, pick your speed and intensity settings, and start pounding out your tired muscles. You can also control it through the Therabody app, which includes even more specific recovery routines to choose from. Two features that I really think set the Theragun apart from its competitors are its multi-grip and rotating arm that allow you to massage hard-to-reach places without the help of another person, although I still did have some trouble getting to certain areas of my back on my own. The swappable head attachments are a nice extra, too, and add another layer of customization to the experience. (I still prefer the standard ball attachment over the others, though.)

Therabody claims that the Theragun Pro's battery lasts around 300 minutes, but unfortunately mine never lasted that long before needing a charge. Luckily, the device comes with two chargeable batteries, so you can always swap in the fresh one without missing a beat. The whole suite comes in a really nice hard case, too.

The Hyperice Venom Go may be the device that changed my recovery process the most during the testing phase for this roundup. (That will probably vary from person to person — this is just the one that fit into my daily life the best.)

Sort of like the Powerdot, the Venom Go attaches to your target muscle group via an adhesive pad, but instead of using TENS therapy, this little powerhouse uses heated, vibrational massage to release stress and tension. It performs extremely well, and was a game-changer when it came to spot treatments for my back. The fact that I can slap this thing on my rhomboid whenever it flares up as I work at my desk is a convenience I can't see myself living without anymore. It's also small enough that I can chuck it in a tote bag and take it anywhere with me, which serves as a great insurance policy. (It's TSA-approved, too).

Each session can be controlled by buttons located on the device itself, but using the Hyperice app is much easier, and lets you choose from nine different combinations of heat and vibration. I was also really impressed with the adhesive pads — after using the Powerdot's, I had low expectations, but the Venom Go pads netted me around 20 uses per pad, and the device comes with three of them (you can buy more for $29 when you need a refill).

The Venom Go is near-perfect, but leaves something to be desired when it comes to its tragically short battery life of just one hour. If I could, I'd wear it all day.