While massage is a really nice way to relax between workouts, it’s kind of a hassle to get to a massage therapist for every sports-related injury.
A foam roller is a great tool for self-myofascial release, which is a fancy way of saying self-massage that stretches the fascia —“the inner layer of connective tissue that surrounds and supports all of the body structures” (Wiki). Not only can this help you recover faster from your workouts, it can also alleviate soreness after long days at the office.
For those looking to buy a foam roller, there are many to choose from and you want one that can help you with your recovery and is durable enough to withstand the test of time. Here are the best foam rollers for stretch and recovery in the in the market today — plus a few other useful foam roller reviews.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| TriggerPoint GRID Foam Roller | Best Overall |  |
| Yes4All Premium Medium Density Round PE Foam Roller | Budget Pick |  |
| The Ultimate Back Roller : Acumobility | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. TriggerPoint GRID Foam Roller
Pros:
- Excellent choice for foam rolling
- Includes free instructional videos on its website
- Has skid-resistant line on the bottom for non-slip purposes
2. AmazonBasics High-Density Exercise
Pros:
- Good for any physical activity
- Economical
It’s not surprising that this AmazonBasics Foam Roller has thousands of glowing product reviews on both Amazon and on affiliate sites like BodyBuilding as it’s a great product at a great price.
AmazonBasics Foam Roller was created to help users restore and massage their muscles after exercise, but according to reviewers, it serves a variety of different functions. While some say that it’s good at keeping them toned, other reviewers say that it helps relieve back pain and gives them a good massage too. A few reviewers have even reported that using it has actually helped them to get rid of pain as well as the need for painkillers.
This 4-inch high-density roller is a great, inexpensive choice for working out or just playing around with. It’s easy to clean and maintain as the body is designed to absorb shock and protect your floor.
3. Original Tiger Tail Massage Stick
Pros:
- Compact and lightweight
- Easy to use
- Can be used for travel and exercise
- Very easy to apply pressure
- Supports up to 300 pounds
The Original Tiger Tail Massage Stick is a portable foam roll that looks like a sleeping stick. You can use it for preventive injury, rehabilitation, and to improve your mobility.
It measures 86" x 2". One end is where you put your pressure. It comes with a removable cover belt and a free instructional e-book with 32 exercises. The belt is designed to hold the foam in place.
The product has been undergoing testing since 2009. It’s added in cushioning that absorbs the stress and pressure during any movements, so you can feel comfortable and exercise without pain.
4. OPTP PRO-Roller Soft Density Foam Roller
Pros:
- It is quite heavy-duty, so you have to worry about it breaking if you don’t treat it properly
- The length of the foam is perfect for people taller than 6 ft
- The roller is pretty lightweight, and it’s really easy to utilize it one-handed
- Perfect length for use after a long run, before massage
- GREAT for legs and glutes
- The quality is just remarkable. It will outlast any foam roller you’ve ever owned
Cons:
- Still not the most durable roller out there
- It is quite small in the hands
Just like the OPTP Pro-Roller, this one is also a versatile massager. Despite the fact that it is on the budget end of the range, it comes jam packed with features. This product is meant to eliminate the stress and pain that you deal with in your muscles.
So, in the first place, it has a cushion layer made of foam. The whole cushion layer is covered with a vinyl covering that is extremely easy to clean. Also, just like the OPTP Roller, this one is of an average length. Even so, it is ideal for a lot of muscle groups.
5. Yes4All Premium Medium Density Round PE Foam Roller
Pros:
- Stylish color.
- Very affordable.
- Looks to be a high-quality unit.
- Customer feedback is very positive.
Cons:
- It seems to be smaller than most other foam rollers.
The Yes4All Premium Medium Density Round PE Foam Roller for Physical Therapy is a high-quality product. It’s a higher-density version of the classic foam roller.
The extra density makes this size of the product perfect for relieving tension and stress and even reducing the amount of pain in weak or tired muscles.
This round foam roller is 26 inches long with a 4-inch diameter. It’s just the right size to be used by just one person. The smaller size makes it a lot more lightweight and easier to find space for in your home.
6. LuxFit Foam Roller
Pros:
- Extra firm foam for effective self-myofascial release
- Three year guarantee shows this premium foam roller’s durability
7. OPTP AXIS Foam Roller
Pros:
- Great for beginners as it is relatively inexpensive
- Firm
- It doesn’t absorb water that will damage the core
- It is a little lighter than it’s carbon counterpart
Cons:
- It is relatively short at 7 feet
- The hard plastic may end up giving you bruises
Rolling has a wide variety of applications in a person’s life. It can be used as a warm-up, workout, and a recovery modality. It also helps to improve your range of motion by breaking up trigger points, getting rid of knots, improving circulation.
When it comes to foam rollers, it’s important to point out that there are many different types, ranging from the basic to the premium. If you’re looking for the best foam roller for a beginner, the OptiFoam roller is a great choice.
This is an excellent entry-level foam roller that is relatively inexpensive. It’s available in different firmness. The firm foam is great to use for a general massage and the soft is better for sensitive areas. The roller measures 6 feet and weighs only 5 lbs. The textured surface makes it easy to grip since you will be moving over your body and the black color looks professional and matches with any fitness room decor.
8. Therapeutic Grade Premium EVA Foam Roller
Pros:
- Premium quality foam roller for a less expensive price
- Comes in 7 different sizes to fit you or your client
- Comes with an instructional guide for how to use it
- The 6-inch length is only 2.5lbs, and is easy for even children to use
- You can customize it with your own markers
- The 6-inch length remains a nice middle size
- The 48-inch length weighs 1 pound, and is the perfect shape
- The comfortable foam allows you to work deep into your muscles
- Each roller is made of quality high density foam
- They’re easy to clean with dishwasher or soap and water
12 Inches.
9. Hyperice Vyper 2.0 High-Intensity Vibrating Fitness Roller
Pros:
- Multiple settings
- Excellent vibration
(Black)
The Hyperice Vyper is a high-intensity vibrating roller massager that works with a speed roller, electrodes, and deep muscle stimulation. The roller is about 3 inches in diameter but feels more compact because of its angular shape. It’s excellent at isolating and targeting a knot.
When you use this foam roller you get a ton of different settings. And each of these settings offers a different experience. There is a nice rumbling vibration that goes through the roller; it’s not too low… it’s not too high… it’s just right.
10. The Ultimate Back Roller : Acumobility
Pros:
- This foam roller provides both rebound and compression, two important concepts for deep muscle therapy.
- When you suffer from chronic back pain, it’s important to find a foam roller that gives you a massive deep tissue massage that will help break up the painful fascia and scar tissue in your back.
- A 6-inch foam roller provides a potent, focused pressure upon the upper back muscles. Speaking from experience, this myofascial release roller is a great tool for stretching, loosening, and releasing stiff and painful muscles.
- It’s also really useful for after workouts to infuse blood into your muscles to help them repair themselves quicker.
- You can soften the surface by simply rubbing it against the floor or use it alongside a tennis ball to help your body get the blood flow it needs to repair damaged muscles.
- It’s ergonomically designed to easily roll over your back and be used from the floor. The Acumobility foam roller is more stable than some of the other rollers on the market. This one actually stays in place while in use.
- The Acumobility myofascial release roller is a multipurpose tool because you can also use it as a yoga wheel and a massager.
Balance, Stability, Rehab, Muscle Prehab, warm-up, cool down.
11. Gaiam Restore Muscle Massage Therapy Foam Rollers
Pros:
- Lightweight design for easy transportation
- Available in multiple sizes
- Offers intense massage and at the same time lessens the pain
- You can use it in combination with other massage products
- Suited for long term therapy
The Gaiam Restore Massage Therapy Foam Rollers are designed for giving deep tissue massage to soothe and ease your aching muscles and joints. It is a good product for anyone who is suffering from muscle pain or stiffness and is planning to purchase the best foam roller for massages.
This foam roller is currently available in two sizes, 18 inches and 36 inches. The smaller sized roller has recommended max users up to 250lbs. On the other hand, the larger sized roller can make up to 300lbs.
These massage therapy rollers are made from a high density foam which helps with the stability and support. It is non-slip which helps you stay in control while you are doing your exercises.
12. 321 STRONG Foam Roller
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What type of foam roller is best?
There are many types of foam rollers that you can purchase. They all have their pros and cons and your choice would be dependent on your specific needs.
Foam rollers are the same length but most come in different widths with some being wider than others.
It’s important to use the right size as these are meant to replicate human anatomy and if they are too wide you’ll be wasting the rollers potential, not to mention using a lot of unnecessary space.
Here’s a list of the main types of foam rollers:
What is the best foam roller for beginners?
The foam roller is used to reduce recovery time for muscle spasm and pain. It is made up of a cylindrical rod which tapers towards each end.
The main features are:
DXN Active Roller as the most comfortable foam roller.
Searching in the best foam roller product is essential as it is necessary to treat yourself of muscle pain and spasm. People who have a pale of muscle pain and contractions require frequent sessions of rolling to relieve pain and regain energy.
The foam roller is one of the best methods to treat yourself if you want to eliminate up to 70% of pain you may experience. It is also an effective way to help increase mobility of your muscles.
Usually, the knee or the hamstrings is what tends to be painful during muscle spasm. This usually happens in individuals who have a work out program that is hard and strenuous.
What length foam roller is best?
So you know that foam rolling is a MUST for any fitness enthusiast but what length foam roller should you have? From our research, it looked like the longer foam rollers are more suited for even distribution of weight. So a person who is heavier would benefit best from the longer rollers.
The length of the foam roller needs to be at least three inches longer than your height. If you’re a person who is 5 ft. tall and your height is 2 inches, you should consider getting a 7” or 8” foam roller. Some foam rollers also have added length to them that allows for greater length.
A lot of foam rollers come apart in halves which allows you to play with the length to see what is most comfortable. You can also try rolling on a bed or mat to simulate the length of the foam roller.
What is the best foam roller for back pain?
First off, foam rolling for back pain is incredibly effective, but there is absolutely no substitution for a rehabilitation professional. You can still use the roller with the assistance of a professional, but I cannot recommend foam rolling as a replacement for your weekly customized treatment.
However, if you’re a self-proclaimed fitness enthusiast and you want to do everything on your own foam rolling is an incredibly useful tool to own.
Conclusion
Our selection of the Top 12 foam rollers will provide you with the option to choose the right one for your body.
Next, we identify the top 10 best foam rollers which are rated for their performance and usability for the best massaging experience. These are all available for a fair price as well. Therefore, this guide is an efficient way to get the right foam roller for you.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| TriggerPoint GRID Foam Roller | Best Overall | |
| Yes4All Premium Medium Density Round PE Foam Roller | Budget Pick | |
| The Ultimate Back Roller : Acumobility | Upgrade Pick | |