You’ve probably seen massage guns blow up on social media thanks to mesmerizing slow-motion videos, or you have friends who swear by them as an effective way to relieve post-workout muscle pain. But don’t dismiss them as just another fitness trend that will soon fizzle out—massage guns are an actual physical therapist-recommended tool that can actually help with recovery and injury prevention.

To make the most of your investment, look for a gun that’s easy to use and can offer a variety of different head attachments. Ideally, it should also have a range of power settings, from very low to very high. Additionally, a massage gun that connects to an app, which can save presets and recommend routines for specific injuries or body parts, is a plus.

Achedaway’s Pro, for example, is more powerful than Hypervolt’s top-of-the-line model and offers 16 millimeters of amplitude and 80 pounds of stall force (while the latter only lists 12mm of depth and an optimistically high 50-lb stall force). The Theragun Prime is another option that works with the company’s app, but is pricier at $399.

A great choice for travel is the Ekrin Athletics B37S, a mini massage gun that can easily slip into a gym bag and has a battery life of up to six hours—which is impressive for this category. The B37S is also lightweight, compact, and comfortable to hold. It has a sleek, minimalist design that looks and feels like a premium product and comes with five speeds. It also has LED lights that indicate the speed level and battery status, making it easy to operate in shared spaces. best massage gun