Here at What Gadget, we get asked to review all sorts of tech and when Bob & Brad came calling with their latest massage gun I must admit I was on the fence until I checked out the brand then this felt like a complete no-brainer I had to try it!
Now you will know this is not the first massage gun we have reviewed as last year we reviewed the Lifenaxx Mini Massage Gun LX-025. So let’s check if the Q2 mini from Bob & Brad is any better.
Bob & Brad Q2 Mini on the left vs Lifenaxx Mini Massage Gun LX-025.
Who are Bob & Brad?
The guys behind this little massage gun are the most well-known physical therapists on the web with a youtube channel ranking of over 4.3milon followers who provide their followers with top tips on how to relieve pain and stress in the body.
Bob Schrupp– Heads a rehabilitation agency providing physical therapy, Occupational therapy and speech-language services in Minnesota, USA.
Brad Heineck– Is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and specialises in back and neck pain as well as sports medicine. He is best known for his ability to customize therapy equipment to suit his patient’s needs.
Why use a Massage gun?
Massage guns were originally designed to help athletes from injury and but in recent years they have become more mainstream. Now people look at massage guns to help recover from a wide range of injuries and the gun provides high-velocity massage which provides healthy blood flow in a problem area.
It’s not just viewed for relieving tension, stress, anxiety and soreness found in your muscles. This is why handheld massage guns have become a popular tool after the end of a long day or after a long workout or some competitive sport.
When is the perfect time for use?
The jury is out on when you should the massage gun some users will say before exercise to stimulate blood flow and loosen while others will say after exercise in order to prevent muscle soreness and the gun can mimic stretching the muscles which provides healthy blood flow meaning the user is less fatigued after a long exercise session or after some competitive sport.
The massage gun can also be used every day if you are in a stressful job and need to release the tension it can be like having an at-home massage session every day and that just sounds like bliss. If you have a long-term injury doing short bursts of up to 10 minutes at a time can provide full benefits such as improved recovery and stress relief. Its benefits like these make having a massage gun a really important purchase.
Q2 Mini Massage Gun – First Impressions
The Q2 mini model is a pocket-sized mini massage gun that is ideal to help most people with aches and pains. You will notice this massage gun is slightly more expensive compared to the Lifenaxx model we have reviewed coming in at £80.
The Q2 mini massage gun was created to aid and accelerate recovery from a number of different injuries and as I have been suffering with my neck after a car accident last year I was hopeful this massage gun could aid with the pain I have been getting on a regular basis.
The Q2 is ideal for those who want to use the massage gun on the move either at home, work or even on the train. This device can be taken anywhere with you making it very accessible at any time of the day. The gun is handheld and affordable and so easy to use.
Q2 Mini Massage Gun – Specifications/Design
The Bob & Brad Q2 comes with a nice mix of functionality and ease of use. The massage gun is very much like the Lifenaxx model in many ways as fundamentally they all do the same thing and come with five attachments for a different style of massage. What makes the Q2 mini model stand out are the powerful pressure systems and five-speed modes and the quietness in operation and the overall size of the gun.
The size of the gun is very much a handheld device 5.7” x 3.4” x 1.8” (LxWxH) and comes with a briefcase-like carry bag that you can keep the gun when not in use it is also useful to keep all the attachments in the one place
In terms of speed and power the Q2 massage gun comes with 2000-3000 RPM and up to 32 Ibs of force this is a lot more compared to other options on the market and it’s very impressive considering the size of the gun. The main pressure speeds are 1800, 2100, 2400, 2700, and 3000. The higher the pressure the more intense massage ranging from very gentle to moderate and deep tissue massage. On the gun, there are 5 LEDs which when lit indicate the pressure speed.
In terms of speed, the Q2 Mini provides a max speed of 3000rpm and provides a vibration amplitude of 7mm which helps relax tight muscles and relieve those hard-to-reach muscle groups.
In terms of design, the Q2 mini is made of good quality thermoplastic which feels good in the hand the device has rounded shapes and good weight distribution at only 430g. It makes it easy to use in tricky spots on the body. There is a slight downfall for the gun being so lightweight and small and that is the massage depth is 7mm instead of larger guns at 12-14mm.
In terms of the battery, it’s integrated, has a capacity of 2500mAh and offers up to 4 hours of use on a single charge. When it’s time to charge the gun there is a USB-C connector, unfortunately, it does not support fast charging so will need 3 ½ hours to recharge fully.
Overall, the Q2 mini is a tiny space-saving design which is pocket-sized making it easy to carry on your person at any time of the day paired with maintaining high levels of force and speed it’s quite a unique design.
Q2 Mini Massage Gun- Massage Gun attachments
The Q2 Mini offers 5 useful attachments all designed to target certain muscle groups and injuries. You will find some of the attachments harder than others and changing them is easy to do and allows the user to modify the gun to suit their needs.
The Ball Head– Offers medium to moderate pressure ideal for hamstrings & quadriceps.
The air-cushion head– This is the softest attachment due to the air in the middle. This attachment is ideal for sensitive muscle groups and perfect for reducing stress.
The Bullet head – This provides the highest intensity and is used to target joints and is useful for a deep tissue impact and reliving knots in the upper back.
The plastic flat head – Ideal for moderate intensity attachment anywhere on the body such as the pectoralis major muscles.
The Fork Head– This odd-looking attachment is perfect for the achilles tendon and the spine. This attachment offers medium intensity and the design wraps around the tendon instead of direct impact.
When testing all of the attachments we found it works very well help helped me with my neck being my main problem area.
Q2 Mini Massage Gun- Performance
I have been using this massage gun for a couple of weeks now and I have found it to be a very useful device. I have a very stressful day job and find myself with muscles being very tight around my shoulders and neck area.
I found using the Q2 Mini fantastic as I could use this gun in the office or at home and with the carry case I could transport this massage gun with ease. I was also impressed with how silent it is when in operation especially when using this in the office it did not distract anyone.
I found doing a short session of around 5-10 minutes a day really made a difference and immediately not only did my neck and shoulder area feel less tension I also felt the stress of a hard day fly right out of me.
I personally stayed with the bullet head attachment but found having all the other attachments on hand really helpful as now am approaching 40 I am starting to find I don’t have a left & right leg anymore I know have a good and bad leg. This gun helps solve all the muscle problems I have had in that area as well and switching attachments was very easy to do.
Verdict
Bob & Brad’s Q2 Mini comes in at £80 and can be bought in either a blue or black colour. I found the price compared to that of the Lifenaxx model coming in at under £60 to be excellent value for money.
The reason for that statement is you are getting a much better product in terms of the speed functions and level of force compared to others on the market. I was also impressed with the carry case that allowed me to keep the gun in the case when not in use and also carry all the attachments when required.
Room for improvement?
Yes, the key area that lets the gun down is the battery life at only 4 hours of use it could be improved. I would have also liked to have had a fast charge option instead of having to wait a full 3 ½ hours for it to fully charge.
I would have liked maybe an app or user guide in terms of showing me a number of massage techniques so I knew I was helping my body when using the device.
Would I buy the Q2 mini?
The Q2 Mini is an excellent option for those who are looking for a lightweight, simple to use and very quiet massage gun. This massage gun ticks a lot of boxes yes the battery life is a slight issue but a deal breaker I think not.
The gun offers 5 pressure levels providing everything from a gentle massage to a deep tissue treatment. I found after using this gun on my problem areas every day for up to 10 minutes at a time I really noticed a reduction in the tension I have built up in my neck and shoulders. This gun is perfect for anyone who suffers regularly from muscle aches and pains and is also great to prevent injury if you play competitive sports on a regular.
If you add time in your day for some regular massage therapy not only will it help with muscle pain but you will see a reduction in stress even after just a few uses. Make this part of your daily routine and you will really feel the benefit and it will justify that slightly higher price point compared to some of its rivals.
Looking for tutorials on how to use each attachment Bob & Brad have you covered on their youtube channel.
Product Rating:
Design: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Attachments: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Performance: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Battery Life: 3.0 out of 5.0 stars
Value for Money: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0
Overall Rating: 4.6 out of 5.0 stars – 4.6 Stars
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