Disclaimer: This is a collaborative post. I was sent Bob and Brad Q2 Mini Massage Gun to review free of charge, but words and pictures are mine. This post contains affiliate links, see more information here. For 10% off Q2 Mini Massage Gun featured in this review, use the Code BobBrad401 on Amazon.
This isn’t the first time that I’ve been asked to review a massage gun, but the first time I’ve been convinced to try one out. For the last year, I’ve been trying to get to the gym 3-5 days a week, doing a combination of (fairly slow) running, cycling, and yoga, and with DIY on top I often feel like my aching muscles could really do with a treat.
The Bob & Brad Q2 Mini Massage Gun is a smaller sized, lightweight massage gun in with five different intensity settings. It comes in a smart carry case with charger and five varying removable attachments. With a retail price of £79.99 (although currently available with £20 off on Amazon) it isn’t the cheapest massage gun available but you can read my post about why it’s best to avoid cheap electricals on Amazon; on the contrary this brand is so well-rated, with thousands of positive reviews, that I wanted to see what the fuss was about.
What is a massage gun and what does it do?
A massage gun is a device designed to provide targeted deep tissue massage therapy. They are usually handheld, battery-powered tools that use rapid and repetitive pulsating movements to deliver ‘percussive therapy’ to a localised area, penetrating deep into the muscles. They are used to alleviate soreness and aid muscle recovery, provide pain relief from pain caused by muscle knots etc, improve joint mobility and muscle flexibility, and to help unwind, reduce stress and aid relaxation.
Massage guns like the Bob & Brad Q2 Mini Massage gun in this review typically consist of a handle with a motor and soft, rubbery massage head – or a place to add attachments – at the end. This particular massage gun comes with attachments which vary in size and shape, which target different specific muscle groups. The motor inside the gun generates high-frequency vibrations that are transmitted to the attachment, causing it to pulsate or vibrate against the body.
If you’re a fan of a massage chair but don’t have room, it could be a great alternative.
(Yes, it looks and sounds slightly like a sex toy, but I wouldn’t advise putting it anywhere near that region).
Who are Bob & Brad?
Bob Schrupp and Brad Heineck are known as ‘the most famous Physical Therapists on the internet’ – with the appropriate qualifications and 60 years of physical therapy experience between them.
In 2009, they started their YouTube channel, Bob & Brad, and their videos – which cover a wide range of topics related to physical therapy, such as exercises for specific conditions, tips for pain relief, product reviews, and general health advice – are known for their friendly, approachable and humorous style. Their content has gained a significant following, with millions of subscribers and views.
They also have a store on their website and Amazon which sell physical therapy and fitness equipment, including massage guns of which the pocket-sized Q2 mini is the most compact.
Bob and Brad Q2 Mini Massage Gun review
As mentioned, the Bob and Brad Q2 Mini Massage Gun I was sent to review is smaller than you might expect, at 15cm tall and around 13cm to the end of the attachment depending on which one you use, making it compact enough to keep in your gym bag or car for use on the go. It’s made from hard plastic with silicone surrounding the body for easy grip, with a powerful brushless motor running the massager.
How to use the Bob & Brad Q2 Mini Massage Gun
Firstly, you need to charge the massage gun up for 3 hours. It charges via a USB-C charging cable which you’ll probably have knocking about, but in case you are running low there is one supplied in the pack although you’ll need your own plug. It will then run for 3.5 hours when fully charged. There’s also a battery on the back below the on/off button which flashes red if the battery is 20% or less and needs to be recharged.
The gun comes with five attachments; the standard foam ball head which is designed for large muscle groups like your quads, an air cushioned rubber head for sensitive areas, the U-shaped hard plastic head for shoulders, spine, neck etc, a flat plastic head for use all over and a thinner bullet head for joints and small muscle areas. The book of instructions which comes with the massage gun tells you which attachments to use, where, and for how long for common complaints
The attachments pull off and pop on easily, so choose your attachment before you get started.
To the back there is an on/off button and 5 LEDs which indicate which vibration frequency the massage gun is on. Hold in the on/off button for a few seconds to turn it on, then cycle through the intensities with each press. To turn off the massager, hold in the on/off button again. It will turn itself off after ten minutes of use.
You can use the massage gun on yourself, or on someone else.
What is it like to use?
Despite being light enough to carry about with you, the Bob and Brad Q2 Mini Massage Gun is actually surprisingly heavy and solid for its size, weighing 435g. When you first pick it up it you will notice that it is well built, and it fits in your hand in an ergonomic way. You can tell that it isn’t a cheap knock off like many massage guns on Amazon appear to be.
It’s also much more powerful than you might expect; even the lowest setting (1800 percussions per minute) packs a punch, although it goes all the way up to 3000. To start with, I couldn’t stand it on its highest setting but now I love it and would go for it every time.
Although it’s great for knotty backs and shoulders, I mainly use it on my calves and hip flexors after a run and it feels blinking fantastic. It helps to get rid of the tightness I get which is self inflicted, probably, from not doing a proper warm down.
The attachments are easy to get on and off, and it lasts for ages on a charge (I’ve not actually had to recharge it yet and I’ve used it loads!). There really isn’t anything complicated to it – anyone can use it – and you can use it all over the body. My favourite attachment to use is the foam ball, and the only attachment I haven’t used is the bullet which is too hard and the pressure too concentrated for me but that’s just personal preference and it’s great that there’s a choice of attachments.
The case it comes with is good quality and the attachments fit in easily.
I can definitely see why it’s a favourite at Amazon and would recommend to anyone who does find themselves with muscle aches, or who works out regularly.
How much and where to buy
The Bob & Brad Q2 Mini Massage Gun has a retail price of £79.99 (although currently available with £20 off) and is available from Amazon. For 10% off Q2 Mini Massage Gun featured in this review, use the Code BobBrad401 on Amazon.
