While regular foam rollers are great for self-myofascial release ​1​, vibrating foam rollers are a bit more special. They have numerous benefits because they vibrate, and this offers localized vibration therapy where certain sections of the body are targeted. It’s the same idea as massage guns, but today we’ll focus on foam rollers. This means it can easily be stored in a bag, taken on a plane, and is highly portable. So, whether you’re on-the-go or just want to use it at home, the Wave Solo is a great option. Both rollers are excellent options, but they do have some key differences that could help you make your decision. Vibration settings can be adjusted to your comfort level to help release soreness, reduce tension, and improve movement. Standard movement involves moving parallel to the muscle fibers for maximum effect in relieving tension.

When vibrations are turned on, things get super intense. The Wave Duo roller has 5 speeds, with a range of c. 1400 to 3000 rpm (we measured 1400, 1800, 2400, 2700, and 3000 rpm). We measured about 3000 RPM at the highest gear. One minor issue we have with the Wave Solo is that the flat area is almost 1.5 inches, so the ball won’t roll so easily when it stands on that flat part. But it’s not a major issue, and in fact, it’s the only one we have with this product. When the vibration is cranked up to 5/5 it is sometimes hard to get onto it. Start on the lowest setting and increase to 5/5 once you are in position.

Customer reviews

The Therabody Wave Duo, on the other hand, finds a unique nexus of performance, price, and portability. If you’re looking for a portable device to target trigger points with vibrations, then the Wave Solo is the perfect choice. It’s small, lightweight, and less expensive than the Duo. You can use it for a lot of things that you can do with the Duo, although not everything. Get it right here.

The Theragun Wave Duo belongs to Therabody’s Wave Series family of devices, aimed at aiding post-workout recovery. Plus, its portability and Therabody app compatibility make it a great addition to anyone’s fitness or recovery routine. Let’s explore the specifics below…Despite being the cheapest of the Wave series, it does not feel like a downgrade compared to the other two devices. The benefits of vibration therapy are well-documented and can help you reduce pain, recover faster, and improve your overall performance. Plus, with the right intensity, you can trust that you’re getting the full benefits of this therapy. The Wave Duo connects to Therabody app, via Bluetooth® connectivity, which allows you to take control of your rolling experience. You can use the app to adjust vibration intensity and discover guided Wave Series recovery routines specifically tailored to your needs. There is also the laziness method for using the Wave Roller. You can position your point of pain on the roller and then adjust the vibration and let it do all the work and not ‘roll’ at all. I found that technique especially useful on my ITB where my point of pain was localised at the top of the tendon. The lowest vibration setting is very slight and the highest setting is strong with a significant vibration effect. Overall it’s fairly quiet but by no means silent even on a carpet. If you live in a flat with a hard floor I would imagine your neighbours below might not be too happy.

So, what was our first impression of the Theragun Wave Solo? Well, we have to say we were surprised by just how small it was! It comes in a cute little square box that’s only about 4″ x 4″. Plus, you can customize each routine by adjusting the vibration intensity to your liking and even save it as your favorite. The Wave Roller has more features like the ability to control with an app and to use a wireless charger plus its battery lasts longer and the Wave Roller is also slightly lighter, slightly smaller and thus easier to carry. One great feature of the Wave Duo is that it has USB-C charging, which was not included in the Wave Roller. Regardless of which one you choose, you can expect a high-quality roller that’s built to last and equipped with smart features like Bluetooth connectivity and an excellent companion app. The Wave Series family includes the Theragun Wave Roller, Wave Duo, and the smallest Wave Solo roller.Vibration therapy can speed up muscle recovery ​4​ by breaking up fascia, enhance mobility, increase blood flow and get more oxygen to tissues, and facilitate lymphatic drainage, among other things. Most importantly, this roller can take more pain away when rolling out, especially when used on high speeds. The Wave Roller is great for larger muscle groups or whole-body rolling, although the Duo can also be used for that, albeit to a lesser extent.

Vibration range measured: The Wave Duo has 1400 – 3000rpm, Solo has 1800 – 3200rpm, or vibrations per minute Keeping the Wave Duo clean is a breeze! The rubber is easy to wipe down with a magic sponge or microfibre cloth, so you don’t need to spend a lot of time scrubbing. The app is discussed in a subsequent section and there are graphics in the app which show you how best to roll individual muscle groups. With five vibration settings, the Wave Duo offers the variety you need in your foam-rolling experience. I would say that the Wave Roller is slightly better than a simple foam roller in the sense that it does seem to penetrate more deeply and with less effort. I found that it worked especially well on my hamstrings, ITB and quads but I found it a little uncomfortable on my lats and calves. Indeed it’s best used on larger muscle groups.Realizing the potential benefits of that peanut shape was founder Jason Wersland’s “Aha!” moment after trying the other designs on the market, according to Therabody’s Director of Human Performance, Lissa Bankston. Welcome to MH Certified, where Men’s Health puts its stamp of approval on the best products you need to look, feel, and live better than ever before. How do we know this? We used a laser tachometer to measure the vibrations of all three devices. We measured 3200rpm max. Overall, the Bluetooth connectivity and app is an important feature of this device. It’s amazing how Therabody has reinvented a simple product like a foam roller by adding connectivity and building an app with visual guidance on top of it.