5 Best Massage Guns New Zealand 2023
The massage gun industry has seen growth to the point that it's almost impossible to decide which massage gun to purchase. There are hundreds if not thousands of massage gun companies across New Zealand and Australia and sifting through the vast amounts of information can make you want to pull your hair out. Even all the big retailers including JB Hi Fi, Rebel, Kmart and Aldi have their own massage guns and these have proven to be a popular choice.
I've written many articles around what to look for in a massage gun and I have described what some of the best options available in the market are. In the past I have had a large focus on the Australian market. Whilst I understand that a lot of the massage guns I've discussed are also available in New Zealand (NZ), I have yet to dive into all of the options available in the NZ market specifically. As with my Australian article, I will be including a few international companies that have fast shipping available in NZ however I'll look to make sure to keep it mainly focussed around New Zealand based companies.
With this article I'll really break down what options are readily available in New Zealand as well as what I believe to be the best massage guns available at the moment. I'll also list out the pros and cons to make things a little easier.
What to look for in a massage gun
It's important to know what to look out for when purchasing a massage gun. The first question you should ask yourself however is what am I using it for? As the price of a massage gun can range anywhere from $90 to over $1000 it's worth making sure you aren't over spending. Do you just need it for basic muscle relief, strenuous physical exercise relief or olympic level recovery?
It's worth noting that the massage gun industry is widely unregulated. That means that it is often times hard to actually validate whether the information presented on the website is real. We have bought massage guns where the claim has been a 12mm amplitude (how far the massage head goes in and out) and in fact it has been 10mm. This makes it all the more relevant to do a little research on the company itself and understand who they are. It's also relevant to look at independent review companies like TrustPilot or Product Review to see whether their claims are backed by customers. Obviously if you're shopping at the big retailers you can generally assume the information is correct.
There are a few noteworthy technical pieces to look at when buying a massage gun. Revolutions per minute (RPM), stall force, whether it has a brushless motor, weight of the product, weight of the attachments and the amplitude. Generally the battery life on most massage guns are pretty good. I'll break down what each of these mean below:
Stall force will tell you the force at which the product stops. This is likely the most important metric in defining the power of the product. If you can push harder without the product stopping then you can deliver more force too the area which you're looking to target.
RPM will tell you how many times the massage head will go in and out per minute. This a relatively important factor in determining power however should not be looked at as a key metric.
Weight of the product whilst self explanatory, is incredibly important. If the product is heavier that means there will be less recoil. If there's less recoil then all of the power will be travelling through the massage head into your muscles. It's important to note this if you're looking for a massage gun that's a little lighter.
Weight of the attachments is also relatively self explanatory. If the massage heads are heavier it gives each impact more power due to the increased volume. This is hugely important and often overlooked.
Brushless motor is simply a motor that use magnets to generate power. They generate less friction, produce less heat and offer a better performance compared to a brushed motor. This will also mean the product is far more quiet and durable.
Amplitude is how far the massage head goes in and out. While on face value this is may seem important, if your stall force is strong and the massage gun + massage heads are of a decent weight the amplitude almost becomes almost irrelevant due to the fact that you can't push the massage gun in more than a few millimetres. Where amplitude is important actually lies in giving the massage gun a little more room to accelerate at each revolution which adds a small impact in the scheme of things.
If you want as much force as possible its worthwhile having a look at the basic formula for force: force = mass of an object x acceleration. Looking at mass we can understand that the weight of the massage guns and massage heads create this. To add additional force to this mass we need to be able make sure the product doesn't stall when pressing into your muscles hence the importance of stall force. Looking at acceleration is important as we need to make sure the product has a relatively strong RPM. The amplitude becomes a factor here in giving the massage head more room to accelerate.
To make this all a little simpler I'll break down the top 7 massage guns available in New Zealand. These are all ranked on value for money and is just my opinion. I have independently verified all of the specs listed so that there is no confusion.
We would like to fully disclose that we do sell our own massage gun. I wrote this article as I believe we are the best informed to write it. We sample products from almost every New Zealand and Australian massage gun retailer and have extensive knowledge in a niche market. Each retailer has done an awesome job of finding a unique product offering that makes them stand out in their own way. If you would like to disregard the review of our own massage gun, then hopefully you can use this article to make an informed decision to purchase from one of the other offerings in the market.
1. mussage 1.0 massage gun
The mussage 1.0 massage gun really is the best value for money massage gun available in New Zealand. It’s perfect for anyone who’s new to exercise and recovery and even better for those who are at an advanced level of training training. It sells for $199 and has everything you could ever want out of a massage gun such as a quiet output, 20 speed levels, LED screen, 6 attachments and up to 6 working hours of battery. If you’re new to buying a massage gun, this is the one to start with. It also comes with a 1 year warranty and 30 day money back guarantee so if you don’t like it, you can return free of charge which is great for those customers who might otherwise purchase from a retail outlet. It also has free express shipping to New Zealand from Australia.
Pros
- High torque brushless motor
- 6 hours of battery
- 20 speed settings
- LED screen
- Carry case included
- Only $199 NZD
Cons
- No 360 degree handle
2. Massage Gunz NZ | Pro Series Massage Gun
Massage Gunz NZ is one of New Zealand's biggest massage gun retailers. They have sold hundreds of massage guns to customers across the country and are very reputable. The massage gun has 11 speed settings and two speed modes which is more than enough to find the right level of power. It has up to 8 hours of battery life and a 12mm amplitude. It is priced at $279 and this is relatively good value for money. It's the perfect massage gun for those who take their training and recovery seriously.
Pros
- 6 attachments
- Brushless motor
- Up to 8 hours of battery life depending on usage velocity
- 1 year warranty
- 11 speed levels
- Comes with a carry case
- LED screen
Cons
- No 360 degree handle
- No mobile integration
3. MuscleGun | massage gun
The MuscleGun massage gun is built on the same model as Hydragun who also sell in Australia and New Zealand. This is great as you're essentially getting the same product with a local distribution and a cheaper price. It features a good amplitude of 12mm, up to 8 hours of battery life and even comes with stainless steel attachments. Whilst it is less expensive than the Hydragun, it does still sit towards the higher end of the market at $327. It's a great option for those who take their training and exercise very seriously.
Pros
- 4 standard + 2 steel attachments
- Brushless motor
- Up to 8 hours of battery life depending on usage velocity
- 2 year warranty
- 6 speed levels
- Comes with a carry case
Cons
- No LED screen
- No 360 degree handle
- No mobile integration
- Priced at $327 NZD
4. Therabody | Theragun Pro
When it comes to massage guns the absolute gold standard is the Theragun Pro by Therabody. They have dominated the massage gun market for years and inspired most companies to release their own massage gun. The Theragun Pro is hands down the best massage gun available on the market. Featuring a 360 degree handle, 5 hours of battery life and a rotating arm, the Theragun Pro sets the standard. It comes with a 2 year warranty delivered from a brand you can trust. The only downside is the price point but we still think it’s good value for money if you’re wanting to push the limits or experience the best that the industry has to offer.
Pros
- Reaches deeper than other massage guns
- 360 degree handle
- Best quality brand on the market
- 6 attachments
- 2 rechargeable batteries
- Smart App integration
- Carry case included
Cons
- Priced at $1099 NZD
5. Kmart | massage gun
The Kmart massage gun, without a doubt is one of the best value massage guns available on the market today boasting 4 massage heads a decent battery and quality assurance checks by Kmart themselves. There is a lot to like at this price point such as the battery life and ease of access to any Kmart retailer in NZ. It would've been nice if it came in a box however you need to accept at this price point that you get what you pay for.
Pros
- 4 Massage gun heads
- Decent battery with 3 hours of run time
- Backed by one of New Zealand's biggest retailers
- Durability and QA tests carried out
Cons
- Only 5 speed settings
- Didn't quite feel as powerful as some of the others available
- No LCD screen.
- Carry case was simply a box making it hard to transport