As a generally athletic person, I stay consistently active either practicing yoga, running, hiking, or even scuba diving when I can. Because I use different muscles for these activities, I often feel sore or tight, especially after my longer runs. My go-to recovery instrument has always been a foam roller that I'd use on my hamstrings and glutes — and it's been something I always found to work incredibly well.
But after testing out a variety of massage guns at a few marathon conventions in the past, I became curious as to what it would be like to routinely use one for recovery. To satisfy that curiosity, I jumped at an opportunity to test the Drum, a handheld percussive massager. Not only did it allow me to quickly rehab any muscle soreness I had after working out or running but it also let me transition away from exclusively using my foam roller for self-myofascial relief.
The Drum entirely changed the way I rest, recover, and rehab, and if you're looking to feel better faster after working out, this is exactly what you need. Here's why.
The basics
All massage guns are designed to provide a percussive treatment focused on combating Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness, a primary cause of discomfort and injury during and after exercise. Percussive treatment is a type of massage that delivers rapid bursts of pressure into the body's muscle tissue as the massage gun's head oscillates back and forth.
This allows the device to provide direct relief by improving circulation, creating an increased range of motion, and allowing for relief of sore muscles as well as lactic acid release.
Not only does the Drum succeed in doing all of this, but it does so while staying ultra-quiet. Thanks to a brushless motor, it truly lets you wind down with just your thoughts or easily hear music on your headphones or through a speaker after working out.
Specs
Drum
The Drum comes standard with six interchangeable heads that all fit into an included carrying case. The pneumatic head is an air-filled attachment used for softer tissue and sensitive areas, the ball head is a soft, rounded attachment recommended for the back of the neck and feet, and the flat head is a circular shape used for denser areas like the back, thigh or chest.
The others included are a bullet head that's narrow and used for deep muscle tissue like the quads and glutes, while the spinal head is shaped like a fork and used for difficult-to-reach spots like the back of the neck and back.
Included in the kit is a rechargeable lithium battery that provides three hours of usage and recharges with the provided 24-volt adapter. Depending on the degree of recovery needed, there are four different speed levels: 1300, 1800, 2500, and 3300 percussions per minute. A special feature of the Drum is that it was created with an adaptive pressure system that adapts as you apply pressure to create an optimal force between the massage gun and your body.
Setting up the Drum
Getting the Drum set up was an easy process and the gun even came with a 50% charged inside the carry case, making it ready for use immediately. The instruction manual contained a few short pages of information that included how to use the Drum and a diagram illustrating each of its features.
Right after unboxing it, I was able to choose one of the heads, attach it to the massage gun, and turn on the power switch on the bottom of the arm. To adjust the speeds, there's an additional button on the back of the head.
What it's like to use
After long runs, I normally feel tight in my hamstrings, glutes, and hip flexors and my go-to form of self-myofascial release is foam rolling, a method of literally rolling tender areas of muscle tissue with a soft cylindrical bar.
Lately, I've been doing more vinyasa yoga and I find that my calves and hamstrings still ache in the morning, even after rolling. I found that on days when I used the Drum with the bullet head attached on those areas, it eased the aches almost immediately.
I also sit at a desk for several hours every day and find that my neck and shoulders will be tight most days of the week from the constant seated posture. After using the Drum with the spinal head attachment for two weeks, I've experienced less tightness and soreness in those areas. The quietness of the instrument also allows me to read or look through emails while holding the massager in my hand. I have slim and short arms, so the Drum having a noticeably longer grip than the guns from either Hypervolt or Theragun makes reaching areas like my neck and back far easier.
Its hardcover carrying case has a sturdy handle, so I always felt comfortable storing it in my closet knowing that it can withstand jostles or even a light fall and it won't break the Drum gun inside. It is slightly heavy, so traveling with the case inside a carry on or checked luggage would be okay as long as you don't overpack it and weigh down your luggage.
Should you buy it?
Drum
With the current state of the pandemic, having a personal percussion massager is a safe alternative to going into a physical or massage therapist's office and having close contact with others. The Drum allows you to have self-myofascial release on a variety of your muscles through its six, diverse head attachments.
What are your alternatives?
There are plenty of massage guns both more expensive and at the same price point. Here a few options:
Theragun PRO ($599): Therabody's fourth-generation flagship massage gun, the Theragun PRO, is one of the finest percussive massagers on the market — but also comes with the kind of price tag you'd expect for such a premium product. The PRO features a variety of customizable speed settings, a companion app that allows for deeper fine-tuning, and up to 60 pounds of no stall force, as well as a varied selection of included massage heads. It's a professional-grade massage gun that's not just reserved for a physical therapist's office.
Theragun Mini ($199): Though the general consensus may be that Theragun only makes premium massage guns, that's not entirely the case. Released in 2020, the Theragun Mini represented the brand's first foray into entry-level territory and became the first Theragun massage gun to feature a different style and design to its predecessors. Shaped more like a spade (like the card suit), the Mini is a small, handheld massager that's great for those on-the-go or anyone in the market for their first massage gun. The fact it's just $199 means its suitable for a wider range of users (and budgets). This is one of our favorite massage guns we've ever tested.
Hypervolt ($299): For $100 more than the Drum Gun, Hypervolt Theragun offers three speed settings, from 30Hz, 40Hz, and 53Hz. The Bluetooth connectivity allows you to tap into a 3-level patented pressure sensor. If you need to travel with the massager, the 3-pound Theragun is also TSA-approved.
TimTam Power Massager ($199.99): If you don't need as much diversity in the head attachments, then the TimTam is the same price point as the Drum gun and comes with one head attachment. It has a 90-degree massage angle and also comes with a carrying case. Unlike the Drum gun, you have to buy additional attachments separately and it only delivers a maximum of 2,000 percussions per minute.
The bottom line
The Drum does a great job of loosening my muscles before I work out and then easing muscle pain or soreness after. The price point of $199 is a great deal for anyone who works out constantly and needs a reliable source of relieving pain through percussion massage.
For me, it was worth the investment to be able to travel with the Drum gun and have multiple head attachment options to use on my various muscle groups. Although the carry case is fairly heavy when you have all of the attachments inside, it fits comfortably in my carry on and kept the Drum gun well protected.
After using the Drum gun for several weeks, there was no sign of wear and tear on the device or chafing on the grip. The power switch and the button that regulates the speed settings are easy to use and showed no sign of wear. The quality of the massage gun is high and appears that it will remain in good condition after several months of regular use.
Pros: The Drum gun can get up to 3,300 percussions per minute; four speed settings; six head attachments; comes with a hardcover carry case
Cons: The carry case fully loaded with all of the attachments can be slightly heavy