BOB AND BRAD Q2 Mini Massage Gun, Pocket-Sized, Small, Travel Essential

Why it's worth it

This one weighs less than a pound and still puts out 35 pounds of stall force, which is more than plenty of full-size budget guns manage. It fits in a jacket pocket, charges over USB-C, and comes with a case.

The first thing you notice is how little it weighs. Under a pound is light enough that your arm doesn't give out before your muscle does, which is the real reason most massage guns stop getting used. Owners keep this one in a golf bag, a desk drawer, a carry-on. It's the gun that's actually with you when your calf seizes up in a hotel room.

The power-to-size ratio is the whole story here. The brushless motor is rated at 35 pounds of stall force and 3000 RPM, and owners who also own full-size guns repeatedly say this one holds its own on calves, forearms and traps. It's not going to bore through a thick glute. For daily maintenance and desk-shoulder tension, it doesn't need to.

From our review of 12 percussion massage guns, by Eleanor Vance, Health & Beauty Editor

What we like

• +The first thing you notice is how little it weighs
• +The power-to-size ratio is the whole story here
• +Small details land well
• +It's also FSA and HSA eligible, which matters more than it sounds

What to know

• –Mini guns trade stroke depth for size, and this one is no exception
• –The grip is small for large hands, and the power button is dark-on-dark and hard to find by feel