Hyperice is arguably the world’s top manufacturer of percussive massage devices.
Sure, you can find massage guns for less than $100. But if you try one of these products alongside a Theragun or Hyperice Hypervolt, there really is no comparison. (Not to mention the fact that the off-brand products are made with a motor that is doomed to fail right after the warranty ends.)
Now in its 2nd generation, the Hyperice’s Hypervolt massage gun lineup has been improved and updated. However, the 1st generation Hypervolt Plus still rates well enough to be worthy of consideration.
Here, we will take a deep dive into the top 4 Hypervolt percussive massage devices — the Hypervolt 2, Hypervolt Plus, Hypervolt 2 Pro, and Hypervolt Go.
~~~ Check Price: Hypervolt 2 ~~~
~~~ Check Price: Hypervolt Plus ~~~
~~~ Check Price: Hypervolt 2 Pro ~~~
~~~ Check Price: Hypervolt Go ~~~
Quick Buying Guide
If you simply want the best, Hypervolt 2 Pro is an easy decision. It has the best blend of power and battery life while also having a quiet motor.
If portability and/or price are your concern, Hypervolt Go is available for less than half the price of Hypervolt 2 Pro and is the smallest and lightest massage gun in the Hypervolt lineup. However, it lacks the full complement of attachments that the other guns have (only 2 attachments on Hypervolt Go, but 5 attachments on every other model). The amplitude and power are also lacking.
Deciding between Hypervolt 2 and Hypervolt Plus is tougher. The prices are roughly the same. You can choose the newer gun (Hypervolt 2) which is lighter, quieter, and with better battery life and a few extra features. Or you can choose the older gun (Hypervolt Plus) which is more cumbersome (heavier, louder, and shorter battery life) but has a stronger motor.
Force & Amplitude
Hypervolt Plus and Hypervolt 2 Pro both pack the strongest motors, with 90 watts of power. However, the stall force on Hypervolt Plus has actually been measured to be higher than that of Hypervolt 2 Pro.
Hypervolt 2 occupies the middle range, with 60 watts of power.
Hypervolt Go has the weakest motor, with 40 watts of power.
The strong motors on Hypervolt Plus and Hypervolt 2 Pro provide 14 mm amplitude, which is the length of each percussion. In other words, how far the “arm” of the device extends. So, the higher this number, the deeper the massage gun can extend into deep muscle tissues.
Hypervolt 2 has 12 mm of amplitude, while Hypervolt Go has only 10.
In using these devices, you can really feel the difference in power.
Hypervolt Go is the clear outlier, with a weaker motor and less amplitude. It feels more like a handheld massager than an actual percussive therapy device that would be used by a chiropractor or physical therapist.
Hypervolt 2 brings the power that you need. In testing it, I never found a time when I wanted any additional speed or power. But everyone is different, and there are some trainers and athletes that swear by the higher-powered guns.
In testing Hypervolt Plus and Hypervolt 2 Pro, the power is massive. The top two speed settings (Hypervolt 2 Pro has 5 in total) are not for the faint of heart. As a cramp-prone runner, I am always looking for ways to provide a deeper-tissue massage. But I couldn’t withstand the highest settings for many areas. If you want the best, either of these models will do.
Software & Speed
There isn’t a tremendous difference when it comes to software on these devices. All are compatible with the Hyperice app.
Hypervolt Go is limited by the smaller size and less feature-rich design.
Hypervolt Plus is limited just because it is the 1st generation, rather than the Hypervolt 2 and Hypervolt 2 Pro which are newer products.
Hypervolt 2 Pro has all the features of the other guns and also gives you 5 speeds with a dial control, versus the other models which have 3 speeds with button control. The dial control is excellent because it allows you to adjust through all 5 speed options quicker than you can adjust through only 3 speeds on the other models using a push button.
The new generation devices have a pressure sensor which is easy to see and respond to. For some users this matters, for others it will make no difference.
Overall, the Hypervolt app isn’t that great. Competitors like Theragun have more impressive offerings. But most of us don’t have much use for a massage gun app, anyway. It is kind of interesting to play around with, especially looking at the suggested routines, but I didn’t find myself needing the app for any day-to-day uses.
Hypervolt Plus reaches 3,200 percussions per minute, whereas the 2nd generation products don’t have such high speed. This number signifies the number of “punches” the device gives in a minute, and the difference between 3,000 ppm and 3,200 ppm isn’t very significant. If anything, having the device set to a lower speed might make you feel the punches more, rather than just an ultra-fast vibration.
Hypervolt Go doesn’t have a visible speed indicator, which seems like a strange design. But overall, the most noteworthy difference during testing was just the dial control on Hypervolt 2 Pro, versus the push button for the others. This made the device a lot more user-friendly.
Battery
Hypervolt 2 and Hypervolt 2 Pro are both rated for 3 hours of use, whereas Hypervolt Plus and Hypervolt Go are rated for only 2.5 hours of use.
This number will be influenced by the speed and pressure you choose. All of these guns should be good for 2+ hours of battery life. So I wouldn’t make any purchase decisions based on this factor.
One curious design feature is that the battery on the Hypervolt 2 doesn’t detach. For most users, who only have one total battery for their Hypervolt, this won’t make much of a difference. The battery lasts more than 2 hours, so as long as you charge it frequently you should never be caught with a dead device. For personal trainers and anyone using the Hypervolt on multiple clients, it is inconvenient not to be able to have multiple batteries and use them in rotation.
Attachments
All of the full-sized Hypervolts include 5 attachments (flat, bullet, fork, ball, and cushion). Whether you get the 1st generation or 2nd generation, these attachments are virtually the same.
The only noteworthy difference here is that Hypervolt Go has only 2 attachments (flat & bullet). This can be a big drawback depending on how you plan to use the device. Many users love the fork attachment, so you lose access to one of the most-loved features of the Hypervolt by not having this attachment. Thankfully you can purchase additional attachments for a reasonable price.
Size & Noise
The Hypervolt Go is the winner for portability, as you would expect. At ~1.5 pounds, it is the lightest device on the list. It is also the smallest.
In testing the Hypervolt Go, it still isn’t as “portable” as you would like. The weight isn’t much different than the full-sized Hypervolt 2. And the handle is just as bulky as the full-sized guns. So in many ways it doesn’t feel like a truly portable device.
None of the devices are too bulky or heavy, with each model weighing between 1.5 and 3 pounds. So you should still be able to throw a Hypervolt in a gym bag or backpack if need be.
Hypervolt Plus (a little under 3 lbs.) and Hypervolt 2 Pro (~2.6 lbs.) are the heaviest models on the list and are similar in size to one another. Hypervolt 2 is still a full-size percussive massage gun, but it is noticeably lighter than the Plus or 2 Pro.
Some people may prefer the Hypervolt Plus and Hypervolt 2 Pro, which are built solidly and feel “professional grade” with the heavier weight. But I would rather choose the Hypervolt 2 which is still sturdy but doesn’t weigh so much that it aggravates your hand or wrist.
Overall, I didn’t love the handle shape and design on any Hypervolt. In testing, the Theragun series feels more ergonomic to me.
If you plan to have a trainer, friend, or family member administer the massage, these guns can all be used comfortably. But if you want to self-administer (which most of us do), Hypervolt can cause some stress to muscles and ligaments in your hand, wrist, and forearm. This feels counter-productive when the whole point of the massage gun is to try to relieve stress.
Final Thoughts
Hypervolt Go is the cheapest option but feels closer to a regular massager rather than a percussive therapy device. I don’t think it makes sense to purchase when you can find the Hypervolt 2 or Hypervolt Plus available for ~$100 more.
Hypervolt 2 Pro is the “latest and greatest,” and packs the most features, but it really doesn’t provide much upgrade over the older Hypervolt Plus.
If you can find a good deal on a Hypervolt Plus, it probably makes sense to save $100+ by choosing the 1st generation Hypervolt Plus rather than the newer Hypervolt 2 Pro. Similarly, the Hypervolt Plus provides more value than the newer Hypervolt 2, even though the prices are similar.
Sometimes the release of a newer generation of products results in nice discounts on the previous generation. I think that is the case for Hypervolt, since you can now get the top-of-the-line Hypervolt Plus for less expense than the newer Hypervolt 2 Pro or even the base model Hypervolt 2.
~~~ Check Price: Hypervolt 2 ~~~
~~~ Check Price: Hypervolt Plus ~~~
