Best Muscle Roller of 2021
If you want the top-of-the-line muscle roller stick, look no further than the original — The Stick. It comes in many different lengths, and we tested the most portable, the Travel Stick. It includes eight smooth white plastic beads loosely surrounding a semi-rigid plastic spindle. We found this design simple and smooth to use, mostly because the loose design allows for less natural friction. With The Stick, you will have your muscles warmed up for a workout in no time, and the small beads can focus on any specific areas that have more kinks to work out.
The Stick has the unique semi-flexible spindle design that helps it contour around muscles for better coverage, unlike any other we tested. This design, however, means that when you really want to bear down on a persistent knot, it can be hard to achieve the same force that comes easily with some other models. We found this to be an issue when we used The Stick for body parts where we had less leverage, like the neck or back. On top of that, it is more expensive, but we feel that the performance meets the price tag. The Stick is a great choice for any runner or athlete looking for a self-massage tool, especially one that caters to the legs.
If you are looking for a solid muscle roller stick for the lowest possible price, look no further than the Supremus Sports Top Rated Muscle Roller Massage Stick. This affordable roller costs no more than a couple of protein shakes and does an effective job, whether you desire a muscle relaxer or want to apply maximum pressure to break up deep tissues. It features rather large, rounded beads with little grooves that add grip as you roll, but they don't catch skin, hair, or clothes. To top it off, the rigid stainless steel axle allows you to push hard to achieve the deepest possible massage, which is nice if you're trying to relieve knots in pesky tight quads or loosen up a problematic IT band.
However, compared to the higher-priced roller sticks, this one feels slightly cheap, and ours annoyingly squeaked as we used it. The beads are also close together with minimal play between them, creating more built-in friction than you would find with The Stick. Although it isn't the top-performing option, it still serves well for all purposes and comes at an unbeatable price.
The Tiger Tail is our testers' other clear favorite and serves as an excellent alternative to The Stick. This design is unique in our testing because, unlike the others, it doesn't have several independently rotating beads but rather a singular rigid foam roller attached to a stick. The lack of inherent friction in this design gave us the ability to focus on stubborn knots and press hard to reach deep muscle and tissue levels with the highest amount of direct pressure. The roller's foam texture feels great against your skin and doesn't snag on hairs. We found this to be the best roller stick for nailing other areas of the body besides the legs — in particular, we loved it for massaging the forearms or upper arms by pinning one end into our hip and using it one-handed. It comes with a handy pamphlet that gives you lots of guidance for potential positions.
On the downside, this muscle roller stick is one of the most expensive we tested. To be clear, we aren't talking budget-breaking prices here, but simply pointing out that it costs more than the others. Another thing to consider is that it doesn't roll as evenly as the The Stick, which means it takes more effort to get the warm-up action from the natural friction. It's best used on bare skin or workout clothes to avoid the enhanced grip getting caught up on heavy or oversized clothing. If you want a foam roller stick that can rival the amount of pressure from using a foam roller on the ground, then the Tiger Tail is the one for you.
The TheraBand Roller Massager + offers a more rigid alternative to the Tiger Tail or The Stick. Its hard plastic inner tube, large handles, and semi-rigid rubber outer material allowed us to target as much pressure as we could stand. It offers a great balance of comfort and support and was favored by our testers for how easy it was to roll over just about any surface. It also worked well for other parts of the body, including forearms, hips, and glutes. What really set this massage stick apart from others was how the single plastic tube and rod structure worked with the supportive rubber outer. The single moving part offers minimal resistance, while the rubber outer is just supportive enough to be comfortable on bare skin.
One downside to this muscle roller stick is its size. At 22 inches long and 2 inches wide, it is one of the largest rollers we tested. While it is worth noting that one handle is removable, this probably isn't the best massage roller stick for those on the go. It's also among the more expensive rollers we tested. For athletes who want a little bit more versatility and rigidity than The Stick, we think the TheraBand Roller is well worth the price.
The clamshell structure of the MZDXJ Trigger Point Muscle Roller offers an alternative to the classic massage stick that works well on smaller and hard-to-reach parts of the body such as the forearms and neck. Especially after workouts involving lifting and hanging, we found the MZDXJ to relieve tendon pain in the elbows and forearms. The handles make it easy to adjust pressure, and the four knobbed beads are great for targeting specific areas. Climbers and those seeking to relieve tension in small muscles, tendons, and ligaments; look no further.
Unfortunately, this massage roller is not as effective for large muscle groups. We found it to work well when positioned laterally on the leg to roll the IT band and smaller muscles of the lower leg, but positioning it with the knobs in front and back was awkward. On the lower leg, the front knobs rolled over our shin bones (not ideal), and on the upper leg, we found that it was hard to sustain the amount of pressure needed to relieve deeper tissues in the quads or hamstrings.
Among massage rollers with beads, the Kamileo Muscle Roller stands out for its particularly rigid structure. This roller is the stiffest we tested, with ten cog-shaped plastic beads resting on a stainless steel axle. The beads roll smoothly without any pinching or snagging, and the knobs are great for quickly warming up large muscle groups. It's also quite affordable, and it comes with a handy instruction pamphlet of exercises.
The large, textured beads and metal axle make it difficult to target specific areas, though. The ease with which the beads roll over the axle means they slip and slide while you're trying to bear down on a knot, especially compared to models that feature a single moving cylinder. The Kamileo is also somewhat painful to use for sustained sessions. We recommend a barrier of clothing while using this roller since we found it abrasive on bare skin.
The IDSON Massage Roller Stick for Athletes is another top contender for the most affordable. It features large round beads with deeper grooves cut into them than the Supremus Sports roller stick for added grip. Its stainless-steel axle design allows you to apply as much pressure as you desire.
Compared to the competition, however, we didn't find this one to be enjoyable to use. There is a ton of friction, so it doesn't roll smoothly. Meanwhile, the grooves catch hair a bit too easily and make it difficult to use over clothes. There is little reason to consider this one over the better performing options.
If you're a fan of Triggerpoint Performance's Grid Foam Roller, you'll be familiar with the design features of the STK Handheld Foam Roller, which is essentially a scaled-down version of the Grid Foam Roller. If you're looking for a massage stick that works well for warming up large muscle groups, this muscle roller stick is a great option. The Handheld Foam Roller is less cold and abrasive on bare skin than hard plastic beaded models, and its wide radius and large knobs are efficient for superficial massaging. Unlike other models we tested, the handles also feature rubber knobs that work well for breaking up knots and for targeting pressure.
Compared to other massage sticks in our lineup, though, this one is far less versatile. While we liked it for rolling large muscle groups before workouts, we found that the downsides of this roller's large knobby structure tend to outweigh benefits. The ridges are spaced such that the stick has a "lurching" feel to it: Each knob grips clothing or skin before the next one grabs, which makes it difficult to target pressure using the roller. It's also the most expensive massage stick we tested, and for relieving sore IT bands, arms, and deep tissue, we found it to be a bit overbuilt.
The Physix Gear Sport Muscle Roller Leg Massager is another massaging stick that is very affordable. It features grooved beads like the IDSON, but they are much smaller by comparison. The smaller beads allowed us to focus pressure even more precisely, and the stainless-steel axle greatly aids this ability.
Once again, however, the grooved beads proved to be problematic. They grip the surface they are rolling over far too aggressively. Whether that surface is skin, hair, or clothes, the beads are prone to pulling, pinching, and snagging. The beads also have perhaps the most friction of any that we tested, meaning you can only roll this one slowly at best.
The Gaiam Restore Massage Stick is perhaps the most unique roller stick we tested, and it's certainly the most eye-catching. Instead of a long row of rounded beads, it has three balls on a spindle covered in sharp rubber spikes. Rolling these spiky balls over yourself is certainly very stimulating and is sure to get the blood flowing. It also seems to be so effective at breaking up superficial tissues that countless online reviewers report problems with bruising.
We found this device to be too painful to enjoy, and despite being ultra-runners ourselves with what we thought were pretty high pain tolerances, we couldn't hang with this masochistic device. Using it on bare skin caused pain initially and left red marks and burning sensations that lasted up to an hour after use. There was no way we could push hard enough with this thing to reach deep tissues, and we couldn't target pressure on sore spots either. Overall, we find this device to be pretty ineffective as a self-massage tool, but we can assure you that it enhances blood flow, and we're positive some unique folks will actually love using this medieval torture device.
Why You Should Trust Us
Tackling this review for us is Andy Wellman, a dedicated trail, mountain, and ultra-runner who has been our point man for all things trail running since 2013. He has competed in trail races around the world, from the famous Transvulcania Ultra on the Canary Islands to the nine-day long Mustang Trail Race in the Himalayas of Nepal. He's landed on the podium, or even won, trail and mountain races of every distance between 10k and 50 miles. Racing and training for years has, of course, led to many common running injuries, including shin splints, bunions, a torn meniscus, IT band syndrome, and a whole stack of wipeout-related contusions. Daily self-massage is critical to keep overuse injuries at bay as well as rehabbing from the inevitable injuries that do crop up, and for years Andy has followed a routine of roller stick for the calves and shins, golf ball for the feet, and the foam roller/lacrosse ball combo for the upper legs and back. Andy is also an avid climber, backcountry skier, and yoga practitioner and lives in the mountains of Ouray, Colorado.
Adding to our lineup is Hannah Marshall, an avid trail runner, climber, and backcountry skier based in Bozeman, Montana. When she's not testing products for OutdoorGearLab, Hannah works as an avalanche educator and mountain guide. Cross-training through trail running, weight lifting, and stability workouts are all regular parts of her injury-prevention and mountain fitness routine, and with those come lots of recovery work. Similar to Andy, Hannah typically uses a combination of stretching, foam rolling, lacrosse ball, and massage rolling stick to help with warming up and recovering from workouts and injuries. She, too, was delighted to find while working on this review that some massage sticks in our lineup competed with the lacrosse ball and foam roller, especially for glutes and IT band relief, which are her most common problem spots.
Testing took place over a period of weeks in the spring and was conducted at all times of the day, both pre- and post-runs. We used these roller sticks first thing upon waking to loosen up the body, before running to help warm up muscles and connective tissues, immediately after runs to aid with recovery and flushing out accumulated waste products, and later in the evenings to relieve sore and tight muscles. Other athletes, including professional runners, climbers, and yogis, were recruited to aid in testing and offer their opinions. We also conducted side-by-side tests, comparing each product one after the other, and graded them on four critical metrics of performance: texture on the skin, friction over clothing, the ability to apply targeted pressure, and rolling smoothness. Rest assured that the opinions and recommendations offered in this review are qualified advice from trusted experts.
Analysis and Test Results
We intensively tested each product and graded them based upon four critical metrics for their performance. The performance in each is discussed below.
Texture on Skin
During our test period, we found ourselves most frequently using the roller sticks on bare skin. If you are rolling out pre- or post-workout, you're most likely wearing shorts and a light shirt, so this makes sense. Furthermore, while it is possible to use these sticks over clothing, it feels sub-optimal to us, so we generally preferred bare skin anyway.
The best roller sticks create almost no friction with your skin and roll comfortably and smoothly without catching or yanking on hairs, bunching up and pulling on the skin, pinching, or creating other painful sensations. Smooth beads were the best for this function, while deeply grooved beads tended to be far less comfortable.
Massage roller sticks are designed for and work best on the legs, where you can use both hands and your arms to apply maximum pressure. They are especially useful for the calves and shins, which nothing else can target as effectively. While they can also work well on the glutes, hamstrings, and quads, you can often generate more pressure on these areas using a ground-based foam roller. Two-handed use on the neck works, and roller sticks can be used one-handed by tucking one handle into a hip for rolling out forearms and biceps/triceps. Depending on how flexible your arms and shoulders are, they can even be used on the back. Generally speaking, however, a curved point massager will work better for your upper body needs.
Without a doubt, the product that rolls over the skin the easiest is The Stick. It features small, smooth beads that roll with very little friction and aren't prone to pinching together. Testers also loved the foam-covered roller of the Tiger Tail, which doesn't pinch because there are no separate beads. The Theraband Roller Massager +, which features a single rubber-covered roller, was similarly comfortable to use on bare skin. While it features large, knobby beads, the Ameri Fitness also rolled comfortably and smoothly over the skin.
Friction Over Clothing
Whether you are rolling out in cold weather when wearing shorts or a t-shirt isn't an option, have to access parts of your body that are going to be covered in clothes no matter what, or simply want a little relief after you've already put your pajamas on at night, how much friction your roller stick creates with your clothing is important. For comparison's sake, we tested each stick on the same clothing, but we noticed that baggier, thicker clothing is harder to use in conjunction with a roller than thinner, tighter clothing.
The most egregious offenders were difficult to use at all over the top of clothing because they would grip and pull on the cloth, causing it to bunch up and interfere with a smooth roll. On the other hand, some devices that we couldn't enjoy on bare skin actually felt significantly better with clothes as a buffer, such as the Gaiam Restore Stick. We also found that the large knobs on the Kamileo Muscle Roller were more comfortable over clothing.
Once again, the smooth, texture-less beads found on The Stick meant that it rolled over clothing better than any other. The MZDXJ roller also worked surprisingly well over clothing, likely because the clamshell shape and large handles make it easy to control and adjust. The Supremus Sports, our top budget option, has large smooth beads and also rolled over clothes relatively well.
Targeted Pressure
If all you want to do is quickly warm up cool muscles or flush out some of the accumulated toxins after a workout, then a light, smooth-rolling session to increase blood flow is the ticket. However, if you want to work out persistent knots or loosen up overly tight tissue, you will need to go deeper and slower. For this, you need to apply targeted pressure on just the spot you want, which is easier to do with some roller sticks than others.
How much pain you induce with your muscle roller stick is completely up to you. However, different levels of pressure work best for different purposes. Light and gentle pressure is optimal for increasing blood flow without damaging tissues, and this is what you should aim for when warming up or using the stick for recovery. If you are trying to relieve pain or loosen up overly sore muscles, be aware that pain and soreness indicate muscle damage, so rolling with medium pressure should work best without setting you back. For breaking up knots or scar tissue, you may need to press as hard as you can handle, but by doing so, you are likely creating tissue damage, so you may end up with soreness afterward, and a period of recovery could be needed before you notice significant improvements.
For applying targeted pressure, smooth beads work better than textured ones, and it really helps to have a rigid spindle that doesn't bend when you push down as hard as you desire. Every tester agreed that both the Tiger Tail and the Theraband Roller Massager + were equally matched as being the best for pressing hard to work out deep tissue tightness, and most said they would make one or the other their top choice for this exact reason. Depending on where you're massaging, we found that it can even perform as well as a traditional foam roller. The economical Supremus Sports is another good choice for applying pressure to the legs, but it didn't work as well for us on other parts of the body. For those seeking to get precision similar to a lacrosse or golf ball, the rounded handles of the STK Handheld Foam Roller do the trick.
Rolling Smoothness
For optimal usage, it's nice to be able to roll your stick smoothly and quickly back and forth. Unfortunately, many of the products are designed so that there is a fair amount of built-in friction, which requires more energy to use and may prohibit you from rolling as quickly as you want. It seems to us that the plastic bead/stainless steel spindle combination creates more friction than plastic on plastic. Of course, the looser the beads fit on the spindle, the less friction. Tightly fitted beads, in contrast, create more friction.
Once again, the smoothest rolling product by far is The Stick. This makes it especially effective for warming up and recovering from runs or workouts because it enables rapid action that greatly increases blood flow. In close contention with The Stick is the Theraband roller, whose plastic on plastic tube-style construction rolls effortlessly over any surface and has the added benefit of easily targeting pressure. The Kamileo Muscle Roller also rolls very smoothly. The crowd favorite Tiger Tail isn't quite as frictionless, but our testers found themselves willing to overlook this deficiency due to its benefits for targeted pressure.
Conclusion
Muscle roller sticks are a fantastic tool for self-massage and should be an important part of almost every runner's daily routine for self-maintenance and injury prevention. Their use isn't limited to runners, and nearly any athlete or person who works out can find a role for them in relieving pain and soreness, loosening tight muscles, and speeding up recovery. We hope this review has provided information and recommendations that serve you well in choosing the perfect stick for your needs.
— Andy Wellman and Hannah Marshall