The Best Foam Rollers
Instead of shelling out hundreds every month for professional massages, more and more people are switching to a significantly more affordable alternative: foam rollers. Foam rollers allow you to give yourself targeted deep-tissue massages from the comfort of your own home. They're also an excellent tool for alleviating muscle soreness and potentially speeding up your body's recovery after intense workouts. To help you find the best foam roller for your needs, we've assembled this list of our favorites.
What To Look For
Foam rollers are an excellent tool for relieving muscle soreness and tightness, but to ensure the greatest likelihood of success, there are a few considerations you need to take into account. Most importantly, you need to learn which types of rollers are best suited to soothe the specific muscle groups that are ailing you. While researching for this piece, we sought foam rollers that exceeded our expectations in terms of durability, muscle targeting, and versatility. Any roller you intend to rely on to relieve muscle pain should pass with flying colors on each of those fronts. With that as our guiding principle, we feel that the roller from Gaiam Essentials is the best on the block. This high-density foam roller has an exceptionally sturdy construction that should let you roll to your heart’s content while withstanding the entirety of your body weight without becoming misshapen. However, if you’re interested in targeting smaller muscle groups with more precision, TriggerPoint’s ball roller is an ideal option. Thanks to its spherical design, this roller allows for highly targeted massages on any of your body’s problem areas. Keep reading to find out what works about the rest of our top picks.
Gaiam Essentials High-Density Foam Roller
Let it slide
Sometimes the simplest option is the best option. This no-nonsense pick from Gaiam Essentials utilizes high-density foam to create an exceptionally firm roller that you can use to massage a wide array of muscle groups. The standout firmness of this roller allows you to put as much weight as you can handle on problem muscle groups without fear of misshaping the roller’s form. What’s more, Gaiam Essentials offers this foam roller in two size options.
Pros:
- Usable on virtually any muscle group
- Great tool for stretching
- High-density construction helps target deep tissues
Cons:
- The smooth exterior makes it more difficult to target small pressure points
ProsourceFit High-Density Foam Roller
Work out the kinks
What we love most about ProsourceFit’s foam roller is the large variety of size options. With a compact option designed to target muscle knots, a large option for working out the entire back, and multiple choices in between, there’s a version of this foam roller to tackle almost every type of muscle ache. Thanks to its highly durable polypropylene foam construction, you can depend on this high-density roller to take a beating without losing its original shape. We also appreciate that this roller is offered in a handful of vibrant color options.
Pros:
- Multiple size options available
- High maximum weight limit of 300 pounds
- Can be used as a pilates tool as well
Cons:
- The large diameter of the roller might make it unwieldy for shorter people
TriggerPoint Multi-Density Foam Massage Roller
Choose your own adventure
It’s hard for a foam roller to entirely emulate the experience of a professional session with a seasoned masseuse. However, TriggerPoint’s unique roller comes surprisingly close. Designed with a textured grid that replicates the feeling of the human hand during a massage, this foam roller can effectively target problem areas on your back, legs, glutes, chest, and more. We’re also big fans of the way TriggerPoint offers access to its helpful online instruction videos to teach new users proper rolling techniques.
Pros:
- Impressive weight limit of 500 pounds
- May help increase circulation
- Should improve range of motion with long-term use
Cons:
- Folks in need of a high-density roller might want to look for something a bit firmer
321 Strong Medium-Density Foam Roller
Targeted texture
If your muscles are too tender for firm high-density foam rollers, this medium-density alternative from 321 Strong should definitely pique your interest. This impressive roller features a highly textured exterior designed to target specific muscle groups without putting too much strain on sore pressure points. Unlike high-density models constructed to withstand as much pressure as possible, 321 Strong’s roller is a decidedly beginner-friendly product that tends to soothe muscle pain without causing discomfort.
Pros:
- Made from durable EVA tread
- The textured exterior is segmented into three unique massage zones, each offering a different type of relief
- Great to use both before and after workouts
Cons:
- Not ideal for deep-tissue massage
TriggerPoint Ball Massage Foam Roller
Roll the pain away
Cylindrical foam rollers are excellent for working out entire muscle groups, but their overlong shape can prevent them from focusing on precisely targeted knots. Thankfully, TriggerPoint’s massage ball can offer a specialized deep-tissue alternative. Its spherical shape allows it to nestle deeply into painful muscle knots more effectively than cylindrical rollers can. What’s more, its compact size makes it a breeze to travel with or take to the gym.
Pros:
- Excellent for targeted deep-tissue massages
- Compact and great for travel
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Not as helpful for stretching and workouts as cylindrical alternatives
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I use a foam roller?
The best time to use a foam roller is any time you feel stiffness, soreness, or pain in your muscles. Rollers can help release tension and strain in your muscles, especially when dealing with sore muscles after an intense workout. However, many people use these products as stretching and exercise aids.
Should I get a spherical or cylindrical roller?
It depends on what type of muscle pain you’ve been experiencing. If you have generalized pain throughout large muscle groups in your back or legs, a large cylindrical roller would be more advantageous for you. However, if you’re experiencing deep-tissue muscle discomfort, a spherical roller’s keener ability to target knots should better suit your needs.
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