Constant physical training and working out has tons of widely known benefits on the human mind and body. Exercise helps to control weight, boosts immunity and energy, relieves stress, helps you sleep better, and makes you feel better overall.
I used to be sickly when I was a child and it kept me irritable and depressed. This only stopped when I enrolled in a martial arts class and I started noticing that I was getting stronger and healthier. I haven’t stopped since then!
However, we forget one thing after working out and that’s recovery. We often keep challenging ourselves to be better than yesterday that we end up overexerting our bodies and getting tired and sick. That would definitely screw up all our hard work!
Recovery is just as essential as working out. Getting enough rest, eating right, hydrating, and even massage therapy can help your muscles heal and make you stronger inside and out.
Massage therapy can work wonders on your body during recovery. It can relieve tension deep in your muscles and relieve you of pain and stiffness.
Getting a deep tissue massage can get expensive sometimes but thanks to technology, we can get our hands on portable percussion massagers that we can use in the comforts of our homes.
While many handheld percussion massagers are becoming popular nowadays, Exerscribe’s Vybe Massagers are dominating the market. We’re here to review and give you the lowdown on the Vybe Massagers and see not only if they are worth it but if so, which model is best for what?
But First…
What Is a Percussion Massager?
I know you’ve heard of handheld massagers. They’ve been around for quite a while! But what many are not familiar with are percussion massagers – which is a type of massager that incorporates a whole new level of tissue massaging.
What a percussion massager does is it applies surges of concentrated pressure deep into muscle tissue and can work knots and tension out of them. This quickly improves your range of motion and keeps your blood flowing.
A percussion massager is a great tool when used properly and can hasten recovery while taking away pain and soreness that comes after intense gym workouts like smith machine squat, smith machine deadlift, or doing workout challenges like doing 100 jumping jacks, 100 crunches, or the one punch man workout.
I get thrown around all the time doing martial arts and percussion massagers have been a lifesaver, especially when I’m training for competitions since it takes me a shorter time to recover.
The same is true for when I’m hitting different muscles back to back, say when working arms after chest day, or shoulders after chest day, or when I have to work out 6 days a week to break through a plateau.
The pain becomes minimal after a massage.
VYBE Handheld Percussion Massagers
Now that we know a thing or two about percussion massagers, we’ll move forward and look at one of the top players in the market and that’s Exerscribe, the company behind the VYBE Handheld Percussion Massagers series.
Exerscribe is one of the few brands out there that offers several handheld massagers built for different purposes.
Its VYBE Percussion Massagers are growing in popularity as the days go by thanks to a handful of positive customer reviews and their budget prices.
The VYBE Percussion Massagers lineup consists of three types of handheld massagers built according to price and needs of their potential users without compromising quality.
We’ll be going through all three to see which VYBE Percussion Massager is right for you!
Vybe’s Percussion Massagers Reviews & Comparison
Listed below is each model of Vybe’s percussion massager with in depth reviews and a comparison of each model to help you choose the best one.
VYBE Pro Premium Percussion Massager
The VYBE Pro Premium is the latest and upgraded percussion massager in Exerscribe’s VYBE product lineup currently still sells in the more affordable range for percussion massagers.
While the brand has reduced the number of speed settings available along with the massage heads you can attach to the massager, it doesn’t skimp on design and main quality features you deserve when purchasing a percussion massager.
Features
The VYBE Pro Premium features 4 massage heads: the Large Ball, the Flat Head, the Fork Head, and the Bullet Head. Every purchase of the massager comes with a lightweight carrying case.
It has 5 different speed settings which you can choose from and it can go up to 3200 strokes per minute. The VYBE Pro Premium’s battery life is equally fantastic as the VYBE Pro’s, lasting up to 4 hours per charge.
This massager is guaranteed the quietest out of all three with a noise level that’s as low as 50 decibels. It is also the lightest percussion massager in the VYBE lineup.
Exerscribe boasts of the VYBE Pro Premium’s design being ergonomic and compact at the same time. With its handle tilted at 15 degrees, you can comfortably hold it in place whether you’re giving yourself a massage or someone else.
Any Drawbacks?
There hasn’t been any reported drawbacks when it comes to the VYBE Pro Premium except for customers who are new to percussion massagers being taken by surprise on how much this massager packs a punch!
VYBE Pro Percussion Massager
Selling at a very affordable price, the VYBE Pro can be a great option for those looking for a massager that’s as powerful but quieter than its brother, the VYBE Percussion Massager. It’s a bit more expensive but it’s worth every cent with enhanced features and lower noise levels.
Features
The Pro version comes with five different massage heads and a carrying case. Each head can be removed and easily cleaned with soap and water.
Like the VYBE Percussion Massager, the heads suit different muscle groups. The Large Ball Head and Wedge Head work great with large muscles such as your quads and glutes.
For joints, deep tissue, and other small muscles, the Bullet Head can be the perfect attachment that can stimulate increased blood circulation to these areas.
The Fork Head is designed to target sensitive areas, like the spine or neck, and bony regions, while the Flat Head can be used for most muscle groups to release any built-up tension and relieve any pain or soreness.
The VYBE Pro comes with 9 speed settings that range from 1800 to 3400 strokes per minute and an improved battery life to last up to 3 hours of use.
With this much vibration, you get a deep tissue massage that can relieve muscle aches within 5 to 10 minutes!
Exerscribe has also made sure to hear out customer feedback from the first version of their VYBE products and has worked hard on reducing the VYBE Pro’s to only 60 decibels a minute which is definitely more silent than its competitors.
Lastly, the VYBE Pro sports a different look than the VYBE Percussion Massager but it’s built to be lighter and more portable than the latter, making it a handy self-recovery tool that doesn’t take up all that space in your bag.
Any Drawbacks?
Some seem to miss the adjustable arm feature that’s clearly absent in the VYBE Pro and some have found it challenging to penetrate difficult to reach muscle areas.
A few customers have run across some slight difficulty in charging their massagers but Exerscribe is quick to provide support and remedies for their customers to get the full benefit of using the VYBE Pro.
VYBE Percussion Massager
The first in Exerscribe’s VYBE product range, it also goes by the name of VYBE Handheld Deep Muscle Massager. It’s cheapest of the three Vybe models but depending on your needs it could be all you need.
Features
The VYBE Percussion Massager delivers power and precision together with a number of high quality features.
The massager features three massage heads built for different uses which you can choose from while massaging.
With this three-massage head feature, you get to achieve the pressure level that’s right for you and it makes it way easier to target those hard to reach spots.
It comes with a Standard Ball which targets small muscle groups, a Large Ball for, of course, your large muscles, and lastly, the Cone head intended for deep tissue and loosening knots.
The VYBE Percussion Massager is installed with six speed settings and pressure options ranging from 500 to up to 2400 strokes per minute. It’s easy to adjust it with a twist on the dial knob found on the side of the massager.
The massager is designed to give you a full range of motion due to its adjustable massage arm that rotates up to 90 degrees helping you maximize the percussion massage by stretching enough to hit those hard-to-reach muscles.
Its grip is designed to accommodate both left and right-hand users, a feature many other massagers tend to exclude.
Being a lefty myself, I’ve always felt awkward when holding a lot of equipment hard to hold because they’re mostly made for righties. Well this time, lefties can know full well that they will not have any problem.
The massager does away with holding down the power button and replacing it with an easy push button control to turn on the trigger release system. This frees up your fingers and hand while you’re getting a massage effectively reducing body tension.
It comes with two battery packs and can last you an hour of use. Last but not the least, it’s light and compact, making it a cinch to pack and carry with you wherever you go whether you’re traveling or just going to the gym.
Any Drawbacks?
While the guys back at Exerscribe do put it out there that the VYBE Percussion Massager isn’t the most silent massager available in the market today, customers can’t seem to keep from pointing out this drawback.
Despite the noise, those who purchased the VYBE Percussion Massager praise its power and quality as a self-recovery massager.
The Benefits of Using Vybe’s Percussion Massagers
Here are a few of the many benefits that you will get by owning a Vybe percussion massager.
Cost and Time Efficiency
You have to admit, a massage sometimes can be the answer when we start feeling fatigued, especially after continuous hardcore workouts.
Regular deep tissue massages can solve a lot of problems that deal with stiffness and muscle tension can give you the best recovery results after punishing bicep and triceps, or chest and leg workouts… and allow for more muscle growth.
But this can be expensive once you start adding each massage session and you might rethink getting massages altogether.
Having a good handheld percussion massager can give you the same precision and relief as a hands-on massage from a therapist, sometimes it’s even better!
Percussion massagers like Vybe and Theragun can soften muscle tissue and you can alleviate extremely sore muscles. And just like the Vybe, you can use Theragun before or after workout depending on what works best for you.
For instance, I personally use them differently during my single-set training routine.
When I’m hitting 1 set to failure 3 times a week, I use these gizmos only after my workout.
But if I am doing 1 set to failure every day, I do massage before and after my workout sessions for the best muscle relaxation and recovery.
A number of professionals use percussion massagers on themselves and recommend them to their patients to minimize pain and discomfort brought about by sore and tense muscles from working out.
With a Vybe percussion massager at your disposal, you don’t need to go out of your way to visit a massage salon or spa, you can do it yourself, and you can bring it with you wherever you go while in recovery.
Deep Muscle Stimulation
Working hard at the gym and giving it your all can add to the wear and tear your body can take each day. Working too hard can lead you to overexert muscles and joints and they need adequate time and pressure to recover so you can always be in your A-game.
Percussion massagers send vibrational pulses of pressure as they hammer down on the surface of your body, making sure to hit deep into your muscle tissue. This is akin to the rhythmic tapping massage therapists usually do but feels and does the work way better.
A massage that penetrates deep into your muscles is the best kind of therapy for recovery after a hard day’s work at the gym because it increases the blood flow to targeted areas and aids to promote muscle healing.
There are multiple benefits from getting deep muscle stimulation through percussion massagers and that includes improvement of muscle responsiveness and release of lactic acid aside from accelerated muscle recovery, muscle growth, and better blood circulation.
Improved Performance and Enhanced Recovery
Athletes and martial artists can achieve significantly improved performance with moderate and proper application of percussion massage therapy to aid their recovery.
Research has shown that massage can have positive effects on sports performance and can deliver benefits such as reduced shoulder and lower back pain, improved neck and shoulder extension, enhanced mood, and decreased levels of cortisol.
The consistent use of percussion massagers resulted in an increase in some aspect of physical performance, particularly in athletes and martial artists, as shown in a study done back in 2018.
Science has backed the percussion massagers up and I think it’s safe to say they’d be a good investment especially for those who don’t have the time and money for regular massage sessions.
Who Should You Use VYBE Percussion Massagers?
One thing people should know before they go out and buy any of the VYBE massagers is that percussion massagers are certainly not for everyone! It ultimately depends on your lifestyle, your level of fitness, and your physical condition.
Ultimately, handheld percussion massagers are more suited as recovery tools for hardcore athletes and outdoor enthusiasts, or people who have experience with deep tissue massages and can tolerate the power and pressure they can bring. For those that are in need of home muscle stimulation, and relief, and who are not athletes a Medmassager is the better option.
My Final Thoughts on Vybe Percussion Massagers
The VYBE Percussion Massager product line is definitely one of the best massagers available in the market today and each of these massagers could be the perfect recovery tool that can help you improve both your health and your performance.
Hands down, all three percussion massagers are powerful, and 1 out of 3 can get a bit noisy than you’d like it to be, but all of them can deliver quality muscle, joint, and overall body relief for people who are regularly active.
As long as you do good research and reflect on what you really want out of a percussion massager, you’re sure to get a good vibe for the right VYBE!
Related Readings:
- Best Arm Bikes
- Should You Do Cardio After a Leg Workout?
- MMA Heavy Bag Gloves for Training
- Motivational Water Bottles
- Reverse Curls vs. Hammer Curls vs. Regular Curls: All You Need to Know
- Donkey Calf Raise Alternative Exercises
Ben Mayz
Hi there! I'm Ben, main author and chief editor at Fitlifefanatics.com. I have been obsessed with Strength Training and Fitness for 18 years now.
My passion for living a happy fit lifestyle is what made me realize that fitness is what I wanted for my future.
I went on to earn my Masters in Sports Training & Biomechanics.
My passion for Strength training & fitness and my love of helping others is what made me start Fitlifefanatics.
Here, myself, and a team of specialist aim to provide the most accurate, and actionable information possible in hopes to help foster the fitness community forward.
You can learn more about Fitlifefanatics on our About Page
