9 Best Foam Rollers [Tested and Reviewed]

• User-friendly design for everyday use
• Made from highly durable material
• Textured surface helps target muscles

What we didn't:

• Nothing in particular

Our testers chose Triggerpoint's Grid 1.0 Foam Roller as the top roller for both stimulation and ease of rolling. It is made from a highly durable material and features a distinctive textured design that simulates the feel of a massage. Testers positively rated its easiness to roll with, saying, "It didn't get stuck even when I rolled quickly," and "This model feels stable with just the right smoothness to make rolling feel effortless." The soft material and unique texture make it a solid choice for stimulating muscles. "The ribbed texture of the surface effectively targeted my muscles and felt great," according to one tester's feedback. If you're looking to incorporate an easy-to-use model that is suitable for relieving muscles daily, TriggerPoint's roller will hit the spot.

• Size was just right
• Slip-resistant
• Rolls comfortably even when using full weight
• Soft surface material

• Angular protrusions on the surface may cause overstimulation for some users

321 STRONG's Foam Roller is designed with two different surface textures to enhance the experience of stimulating your muscles. The wider protrusions simulate the feeling of palms, and the narrow ones feel like fingertips against the body. The combination of textures helps you achieve a massage-like sensation while rolling. Some testers did report that the narrow protrusions cause a strong pressure when you place your weight against them, so it may not be the best option if you prefer a gentler sensation. Overall, this model was easy to use due to its smooth, non-slip material, which provides stability assistance. One tester said, " I enjoyed the firmness of this model. I could use my full weight against it and still feel comfortable."

What we loved:

• Concave center made for a secure fit
• Smooth texture allowed for effortless movement
• Vibration felt good when used on the thigh area

• Vibration felt uncomfortable when used on the upper body area

If you're looking to upgrade your muscle care routine, Hyperice's Vyper3 foam roller features vibration technology to target the deep areas of your muscles. It has three levels of vibration adjustment and will last you up to 2 hours on a single charge. Testers found this model to be easy to use with the concave center design that allows your body to fit snugly against it. The surface is smooth without any bumpy textures, so it rolls seamlessly over both floors and mats. Testers positively rated the roller for the vibrations' ability to stimulate deeply into the muscles of their thighs. However, a couple of our testers noted that when using the vibrations on the underarms or back, it caused some discomfort as the vibrations radiated up into the head. This piece of equipment can be a great companion to work into your routine when used properly.

• Highly portable with a collapsable design
• Securely fits the body
• Rolls easily
• Smooth texture, like being massaged by the palm

What we didn't:

• Not enough stimulation in the thigh area

The foldable design of Brazyn Morph's Foam Roller makes it a great option if you go to the gym or travel frequently. With the pull of a lever, the roller collapses into a flat shape that is easy to fit in a bag. Despite its ability to change forms, testers rated it positively for its ease of rolling, with most saying it felt stable. The smooth texture prevents clothes from snagging on it, and the shape fits securely to the body. The soft surface compresses against your body, and according to some testers, "It felt like being massaged with the palm of a hand while rolling with it." However, we discovered through feedback that this model isn't the best for denser muscle areas like the thighs. It was hard to stimulate that area with this model, so we recommend this one for use in areas like the underarms and back.

• Absence of protrusions made it easy to roll
• Larger size made it easy to put full weight on

What we didn't:

• Elongated design made it hard to massage contoured areas like underarms
• Rigid material made it unpleasant to use

Amazon Basics' High-Density Round Foam Roller is molded with polypropylene to maintain surface firmness. It's firm design and generous diameter make it stable and easy to roll with, so it scored well with testers. However, its elongated design posed a challenge when trying to use it on contoured areas of the body like the underarms. We think it's more suitable for areas such as the back or thighs. The rigidity of this roller made it lose points with testers in regard to comfort and stimulation. It doesn't offer a massage-like sensation like some other rollers, with one tester saying, "It felt like I was just pressing against a rigid object at times"

• Smooth texture for easy rolling
• Vibration felt good around the thigh area

What we didn't:

• No protrusions might make it hard to maneuver for first-time users
• Vibration felt unpleasant in back and underarm areas

If you're looking for a vibrating model, Therabody's Wave Roller may be a good fit for you. It has 5 adjustable vibration settings and is able to connect to a smartphone via Bluetooth to enable remote control. It has a flat surface that makes rolling easy. However, some testers reported slipping while using it. After testing, we think this model may not be the best if you're just starting out with a foam roller, but if you're experienced, it should be comfortable to use in your routine. The Wave Roller delivers strong stimulation to the muscles it's applied to through vibrations, which testers rated positively for use on the thighs. This product is worth considering if you engage in intense leg workouts or sports.

• Compact and portable

• Slim size makes it easy to lose balance
• Lack of adequate core made it unstable
• Lacks texture for stimulation

Gaiam's Restore Compact Textured Foam Roller has a lightweight design, making it convenient if you're constantly on the go. The slim size of the roller made it challenging for our testers to roll smoothly. They felt unstable on the roller as the slimness put them close to the ground. Some testers pointed out that because of its lightweight, the edges of it lifted up while rolling. This model also doesn't provide much stimulation due to its size and mild texture. It is soft enough to compress under body weight but lacks the ability to effectively target the muscles.

• Dirt-resistant
• Easy to clean

What we didn't:

• Bumpy surface made it challenging to roll
• Sharp-textured protrusions made it painful to use

Rumble Roller's Original Compact Roller stands out for its unique pattern of bumps. The robust protrusions allow you to stimulate your muscles deeply, which is desirable if you participate in intense workouts. However, many of our testers said that making contact with the protrusions was painful, and the bumpy texture made rolling feel awkward. If you are looking for a roller to use daily and incorporate into exercises, other rollers are better suited. We do think this foam roller can be a great tool for intense muscle recovery for those who need it.

What we loved:

• Made from high-density foam

• Too light to easily maneuver
• Protrusions tended to snag and cause discomfort
• Rigid material felt unpleasant

GoFit's Deep Tissue Massage Roller features evenly spaced, round protrusions made from high-density bubble foam. We found the bubble-shaped protrusions caused this model some problems in our tests. They tended to snag on the ground, making rolling in a straight line challenging. The slippery surface of the material and its lightweight construction also made maneuvering difficult because of decreased stability. Most of our testers expressed discomfort after minimal rolling on this model, making it impractical for daily use. The rigidity of its design prevents it from compressing against your body, so that is important to consider if you're seeking a model that feels comfortable for you.