Our favorite foam rollers for athletic recovery
One of the most satisfying feelings after a hard workout are the subtle aches you get from exercising your muscles and building strength in areas that need work. After a while, those pains turn into longterm soreness that can aggravate you next time you take off on a run or increase resistance on an exercise bike.
Personal trainers and massage therapists swear by foam rollers, which are proven to relieve sore muscles and loosen up any stiffness. The somewhat cost-efficient products work using a technique called self-myofascial relief, which NASM encourages using rollers in order to “deliver improvements in flexibility, muscle recovery, movement efficiency, inhibiting overactive muscles, and pain reduction with just minutes of application.”
Curious as to which foam roller is best suited for your needs? Read on to see what we curated as some of the best currently on the market.
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AmazonBasics High-Density Round Foam Roller
This foam roller from Amazon is manufactured with polyethylene foam. Polyethylene is a popular roller material because it's made of recycled polymers, is resistant to water and corrosive solutions, and it's easy to clean once finished. With seven different lengths ranging from 36-inches long to 12-inches long, finding your perfect size is a breeze.
Shop it: $20, amazon.com
Hyperice Vyper 2.0 High-Intensity Vibrating Fitness Roller
When your standard roller just won’t work, consider this vibrating model from Hyperice Vyper, which has three different speeds to provide optimal relief for stubborn muscles. The price might not fit everyone’s budget, but for serious athletes it might be worth the splurge.
Shop it: $199, amazon.com
Brazyn Collapsible Morph Trek Foam Roller
Perfect for a traveling jock, this foam roller from Brayzn collapses to fit in an everyday bag to massage any aches caused by sore muscles. Eco-conscious athletes will appreciate that not only is it manufactured in the USA, but also made with sustainable goods like bamboo and recyclable foam.
Shop it: $68, amazon.com
TriggerPoint GRID Foam Roller
Ideal for beginner to advanced rollers, TriggerPoint’s sports foam roller has a hard, hollow core that allows for constant, repeated use without wearing down over time. Made with a three-dimensional exterior of varied widths, it’s meant meant to replicate the feeling of a massage therapist’s or athletic trainer’s hands.
Shop it: $35, walmart.com
Tiger Tail Massage Stick
Tiger Tail’s massage stick is not only versatile, but also ergonomically designed. It doesn’t look like your typical foam roller and perhaps thats a major benefit for some who are looking for a more targeted product to relieve back pain and stimulate blood flow. Unlike standard rollers, you can directly apply pressure where necessary without the risk of contouring your body to reach problem areas.
Shop it: $30, amazon.com
RumbleRoller Beastie Bar and Stands
This contraption certainly doesn’t look like a foam roller at first glance, but performs all the same functions as the aforementioned products. It’s totally hands-free thanks to the detachable stands that come with it, which also elevates the Beastie Bar 1/2” above the surface. Treat yourself to a real deep penetrating self-massage.
Shop it: $50, amazon.com
Gaiam Restore Total Body Foam Roller
Gaiam’s super affordable sponge roller can reach those muscles that otherwise wouldn’t be targeted by foam rollers made of softer materials. Not everyone is well-versed on how to properly use these devices, so Gaiam includes a handy 25-minute “How-To” guide with every roller.
Shop it: $35, gaiam.com
