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Just finished a challenging workout? Well, if you want to make sure that you'll be prepared to go to the gym again tomorrow, then you must perform some recovery exercises. The most practical way to perform these activities is by using a foam roller. Taking a few minutes with one of these can significantly help you speed up your muscles’ rehabilitation process. For this reason, you should consider purchasing a foam roller, if you don’t already have one. However, as soon as you start looking through all the available options on the internet, you will quickly see that the market is oversaturated with products. Going through all of them might seem like an impossible task. Plus, not everyone has the time or tolerance to find the absolute perfect product. So, in order to help you, we've searched across numerous models and managed to successfully select some of the premier foam rollers to make your search go a lot more smoothly.
Detailing the Best Foam Roller of 2024
AmazonBasics Roller — Best Overall
Key Features
- Made from high-grade polypropylene
- Comes in four size options
- Has a smooth surface
- It's remarkably simple to clean
Our top choice foam roller is the remodeled and renewed AmazonBasics Round Foam Roller. It's thoughtfully constructed out of molded polypropylene - a remarkably durable material that's very lightweight and relatively easy to clean. The foam roller is available in four different sizes, including 12-inches, 18-inches, 24-inches, and 36-inches. You can select the size that will perfectly match your body and recovery needs. Also, the surface of this foam roller is extremely smooth, which means that you won't have to fret about your foam rolling sessions getting too intense or painful. To top it all off, the AmazonBasics Round Foam Roller also comes at a pretty affordable price, making it the perfect choice for every beginner.
321 Strong Foam Roller — Editor's Choice
Key Features
- Built from 100% EVA foam
- Produced by a reputable brand
- It mimics the hands of a therapist
- A free eBook companion guide
Next up on our list, we have a foam roller that comes from one of the most respected brands - 321 Strong. They are dedicated to providing customer satisfaction and are continuously upgrading their products. The 321 Strong Medium Foam Roller features 3 special massage zones that replicate the thumbs, fingers, and palms of a massage therapist's hands. It's constructed out of 100% EVA foam that can handle tough pressure without any problem. By using this daily, you will be able to increase your blood flow, reduce healing time, and increase mobility.
Furthermore, the entire foam roller measures 12.75-inches in length and 5.25-inches in diameter, which means that everyone can use it, regardless of their weight or age. As a gift, you will also receive a free eBook that comprehensively explains how you can use this foam roller to target specific muscle groups. The 321 Strong Medium Foam Roller is mostly used by joggers, athletes, yoga students, swimmers, and bodybuilders.
TriggerPoint Foam Roller — Amazon's Choice
Key Features
- Features a hollow and rigid core
- Available in eight color designs
- Recommended by therapists, coaches, and trainers
- It comes with a one year warranty
Reliability and effectiveness are the two factors that most users want their roller to have, and the TriggerPoint Recovery Basic Foam Roller fulfills both of those requirements. It features a multi-density surface constructed over a hollow and rigid core. The textured exterior of the foam roller helps improve the bloodstream and successfully heals your muscle tissues. Moreover, thanks to its durable construction, this foam roller will be able to handle up to 500 pounds of weight with ease.
Also, the TriggerPoint Recovery Basic Foam Roller is available in several color combinations, including lime, black, green camo, gray camo, mint, midnight, orange, and pink. Lastly, this foam roller also comes with an exceptional 1-year warranty issued by the manufacturer. Therefore, if you happen to have any additional questions, just reach out to the technical support team - they will gladly help you.
Prosource Fit Foam Roller — Honorable Mention
Key Features
- The high-density foam provides excellent support
- Excellent for back, leg, and chest massage
- It highlights an easy maintenance process
- Perfect for both amateurs and experts
With improved functionality and firm support, the Prosource Fit High-Density Foam Roller will absolutely exceed every part of your assumptions. You can use it to diminish muscle soreness and get your body prepared for optimum performance. Unlike low-density foam rollers, this one is made out of high-density EPP foam that provides stable support and won't lose its shape over time. You will be capable of using it on every segment of your body - back, leg, chest, etcetera. Also, this foam roller is perfectly suitable for all fitness levels - both professionals and total amateurs.
The Prosource Fit High-Density Foam Roller is extremely easy to clean and doesn't require any special maintenance - just wipe it with a microfiber cloth and let it dry for a couple of minutes. Also, thanks to the convenient and light design, you will be capable of taking it with you wherever you go.
The Original Body Foam Roller — Also Consider
Key Features
- Perfect for numerous muscle groups
- This foam roller has a 5-inch diameter
- Can be used before and after workout
- Features a spiky texture
Whether you're a professional bodybuilder or recreational jogger, the Original Body Foam Roller can help reduce soreness and correct muscle irregularities for a more beneficial daily function. You will be able to use this foam roller ahead of your workout, as well as after it. It is perfect for your hamstrings (relieve the damage caused by sitting), quads (enhance your pre-run stretching), glutes (improve your glutes for better athletic performance), calves (perfect relaxation after a long run), upper back (get rid of stress from the upper back), and triceps (expel lactic acidosis after a tough workout).
The Original Body Foam Roller is available in two size options - a portable 13-inch model or a full-body 17-inch model - get the one that fulfills your individual needs. The diameter of this foam roller is five inches, and the cover has a spiky texture for a better massaging experience. If you want to learn more about this particular foam roller, then be sure to see the product page.
Best Foam Rollers Buying Guide
Foam rollers come in many different styles and sizes, so selecting the appropriate one for your needs can be quite a hard task, especially if you're a total newbie. In our buyer's guide, we will be discussing some of the vital factors you should give thought to, the average cost of each model, and the most common questions people have regarding foam rollers.
What Are the Most Important Factors You Should Pay Attention to When Purchasing a Foam Roller?
Density
The density of the foam roller is arguably one of the most important things you will need to take into account. Usually, foam rollers can be split into 3 different density groups - soft, medium, or firm.
Soft-density foam rollers - If you're someone that's starting out or has pretty sensitive muscles, then we strongly suggest that you stick with soft-density foam rollers. Thanks to their additional cushioning, these foam rollers will be able to deliver a nice and gentle massage.
Standard-density foam rollers - Next up, we have the standard-density foam rollers. These kinds of foam rollers have moderate firmness. Their generic quality makes them perfect for both self-massage and exercise.
Firm-density foam rollers - Are you looking for a more extreme massage? Then you should certainly stick with a firm-density foam roller. They will be able to break up even the most constricted fascia (the connected web surrounding the muscles) and help in relieving the pain. These types of foam rollers are primarily suitable for people that have tight muscles.
Make sure to pick a foam roller density that will match your body and experience. Using a foam roller that's too soft can provide unequal pressure, while a roller that's too hard can lead to pain and discomfort.
Length
Foam rollers are obtainable in different sizes. Let's have a long look at the most common ones on the market:
Full-size foam rollers - The full-sized model is undoubtedly the most popular choice available. It typically measures around 36-inches in length and can be used for a variety of uses, including massage (preferably bigger muscle groups - shoulder, lower back, legs, etc.), basic exercise, and physical therapy.
Short foam rollers - If you're on the hunt for a more portable foam roller, then you should certainly get a shorter model. Typically, most of the short foam rollers measure around 12 to 24 inches in length and are ideal for targeting more precise areas like arms, glutes, and calves.
Diameter
Most foam rollers have a diameter of five or six inches, which is a convenient height to lay under your body and then roll under control. However, there are also a couple of foam rollers that have a four-inch diameter. These rollers are usually intended for physiotherapy patients, older people, or users with a decreased sense of balance.
Surface texture
The last thing that you should put into consideration is the texture of the surface. The smooth models provide even pressure across the whole length of the roller and are ideal for people that are just getting into rolling. On the contrary, the textured models mimic the hands of a therapist to offer a precisely targeted massage.
How Much Do Foam Rollers Cost?
The price range of the foam rollers can vary depending on a couple of factors, including the density of the model, the dimensions (length and diameter), the texture of the surface, and the brand of the roller. If you're searching for rollers that have a smooth texture and a standard density, you should be able to find a roller anywhere from $9 to $30. However, if you're interested in getting a textured roller that has a firm density and full-sized length, then be prepared to spend from as little as $25 and all up to $60 for some of the most efficient ones available.
How Did We Select The Best Foam Rollers?
We've searched through hundreds of products on Amazon and managed to pull out the best foam rollers that you can find. Here are the principal factors that helped us during the whole review process:
Quality of the material - We only picked out foam rollers that are made out of first-tier material that can successfully withstand the constant pressure of your body without any difficulties.
Overall efficiency - All of the products mentioned on our list will offer you great results in a fast period of time.
History of the manufacturer - We made sure that the brands included on our list had thousands of happy customers and countless years of existence.
