Whether you're a runner, dancer, or just getting through the daily grind, our muscles go through a lot. Foam rollers can alleviate muscle tension by giving yourself a deep-tissue massage, making it a simple way to introduce self-care at home. These rollers have evolved over the years and come in various sizes and textures—some models even vibrate or fold. Finding one that hits the right spot for you can cause its own aches.
We rigorously tested 9 bestselling foam rollers to recommend the best for you. mybest defines the best foam roller as one that provides a high level of comfort and ease of rolling that you can add to your daily routine, no matter what exercise activities you do. We ranked the top-performing models, and we'll help you choose in our buying guide.
Dr. Jeanette De Witt owns and operates The Wellness Track, LLC. She is a Doctor of Physical Therapy specializing in Corrective Exercise, Medical Fitness, and Nutrition Education. She is one of ten clinicians in the USA certified in the Total Motion Release technique for reducing pain, restoring symmetry, and improving alignment. Dr. De Witt is credentialed in Exercise Is Medicine with the American College of Sports Medicine. She received her Personal Training Certification, Fitness Nutrition Specialization, and Corrective Exercise Specialization with the National Academy of Sports Medicine.
In addition to her work at mybest, Yui Maeno is active as a personal trainer and powerlifter. Previously, she worked at a major fitness club and was involved in various health-related activities, such as personal training and teaching classes. Currently, at mybest, she is in charge of fitness products, such as protein powders and exercise balls.
We looked for products that stimulate muscles effectively and comfortably, so you can incorporate one into your daily fitness or self-care routine.
To introduce the best foam rollers, we tested each model for how easy they were to use for an effective result.
All product tests
were conducted in-house at mybest
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.The mybest team independently conducts its own tests to rank products.
We do not guarantee any of the results or features explained in our buying guide. Please reference each product's official description when making your purchase.
Professional massages are great if you have the time and resources to invest in them, but for regular use at home, foam rollers are a smart choice for relieving muscle tension. By applying your body weight and rolling it gently, a foam roller can effectively loosen tight, knotted muscles and improve blood circulation. Be it after work, household chores, or post-workout muscle fatigue, soothing your muscles at home with a foam roller is easy.
Foam rollers come in various levels of firmness. The ideal surface firmness for loosening muscles is the one that feels most comfortable for you. So you can choose any firmness without worrying about whether it will be effective or not. A foam roller that you can use comfortably and safely is the best investment.
Here are the points to keep in mind when choosing the best Foam Rollers.
Choose a foam roller that feels comfortable against your skin. We emphasized comfort in our testing to find foam rollers that provide the best user experience.
If you're looking to make a foam roller a part of your daily routine, opt for foam rollers with a smooth surface. Smooth-textured foam rollers stimulate your muscles gently without causing stinging pain to the skin. Models with sharp protrusions that dig into your skin cause discomfort, which makes extended use difficult. Smooth models allow you to evenly distribute your body weight on them, so you can target the area you want. One of our testers reported that when using a smooth surface roller, they felt "a comfortable stimulation that felt like a massage." Another tester said that sharp-textured models were "painful, and even rolling was difficult."
For maximum comfort, rollers with a soft surface perform best. Our testers rated foam rollers with a soft surface material highly because they felt better to roll on. Since a softer surface can compress against your body, it simulates the feeling of a massage.
When the surface material is soft, it conforms to the body's contours, so you can stimulate the deep points of your muscles. This results in a gentle, relaxing sensation that effectively loosens the muscles. However, when the surface is hard and can't conform to your touch, it causes discomfort when you apply your body weight against it. Our testers reported those models as being painful and not helpful at relieving muscle soreness. One tester stated that hard surface models "felt like I was just rolling on a regular hard object compared to soft foam rollers."
In my experience, even models with smooth surfaces that are hard can cause pain or discomfort since your body is being pressed against a rigid object. Choosing a foam roller that is both smooth and covered with soft material will be the easiest to use.
After thorough testing, we found two great models that are both comfortable to use for targeted stimulation.
This foam roller features a gently ribbed surface with a smooth texture that will provide comfortable stimulation for your daily routine. The textured surface helps target the parts of the muscle you want to stimulate gently while still being effective. It is soft enough to compress under the pressure of your touch, making it great for consistent use.
Offering a higher level of stimulation compared to other smooth foam rollers, this roller will upgrade your routine. At first glance, it appears rigid but is actually covered with a soft material that compresses the contours of your body. The roller's surface has both fine-textured and flat sections, meaning you can stimulate your muscles in two different ways. With a denser surface material than TriggerPoint's roller, it's perfect if you prefer a stronger stimulus when relieving your muscles.
After testing and reviewing feedback from testers, we narrowed down the precise diameter you should look for: 3.94 in., or 10cm (to be exact). Rollers of this size are the easiest to roll with smoothly without the body rubbing against the ground. Testers used each roller while placed under the arm, back, or thigh. Many reported similarly that it was easy to put their weight on and roll during exercise with models at least 3.94 in. in diameter.
For rollers that fall under this size, your legs or arms may lose contact with the roller and rub against the ground. We noticed testers struggled to roll and even lost their balance a couple of times with smaller diameter rollers. They require more technique to manage your body weight effectively, so if you're getting started with one, go for a 3.94-inch diameter or bigger.
Foam rollers with vibration technology allow for more efficient muscle stimulation. When pressed against the body, the vibrations transmit to the muscles and target deeper areas like the thigh muscles effectively. If you are engaged in training routines involving your legs, this feature can enhance your muscle recovery.
Feedback from our testers said that compared to standard foam rollers, ones equipped with vibration functionality were better suited for relieving muscle tension in the thighs. They reported, "When applied to my thighs, I could feel the vibrations stimulating deep into the muscles, which helped them relax," and "The way the vibrations could target directly into my muscles was pleasantly surprising." After testing, we think vibrating foam rollers can be a powerful tool for loosening up the areas that need extra help.
When I use a foam roller with a vibration on my underarms or back, I set it to the lowest setting or don't turn it on. A strong vibration near the upper body can cause discomfort as it can radiate all the way to the head, causing you to feel unwell.
Two products we tested had vibration functionality that we think could help you upgrade your routine.
Hyperice's foam roller allows for three different levels of vibration. Its unique curved design towards the center of the model ensures effective rolling by securely stabilizing your body. The non-slip surface adds an additional support for keeping the body in contact with the roller. Even at the lowest vibration level, it delivers a strong vibration. If you partake in activities such as cycling or running that require your lower body muscles, this roller is a great choice.
Different foam rollers have different weight capacities. Since not all foam rollers are designed equally, it's important to confirm that the model you select works for you by checking the weight capacity. Foam rollers are designed to hold your body weight, but low-durability models pose a risk of deforming or breaking. Buying the right model will prevent potential injury and let you exercise with peace of mind.
When you have places to be or just want to bring your foam roller to the gym, foldable models are convenient. They fold to a compact size that is easy to fit into most bags. They also make at-home storage easy, so you don't have to sacrifice space to introduce a new activity into your daily routine.
After using a foldable model myself, I found you can use your full body weight against it without it collapsing. You don't have to worry about sacrificing stability for portability with this feature.
We do not guarantee any of the results or features explained in our buying guide. Please reference each product's official description when making your purchase.
Products | Image | mybest Score | Click to purchase | Key features | Main Score | Details | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Stimulation | Ease of rolling | Length | Diameter | Shape of surface texture | Surface material | Weight | Vibration feature | Load capacity | Protrusion height | Foldable | Squeezable | Gentle texture | ||||||
1 | TriggerPoint GRID 1.0 Foam Roller | ![]() | 4.66 | mybest's Top Choice: Effortless Rolling With a Massage-Like Feel | 4.76 | 4.57 | 13 in. | 5.5 in. | Multi-density foam surface | EVA foam | 1.43 lb. | 500 lb. | 0.35 in. | |||||
2 | 321 STRONG Foam Roller | ![]() | 4.37 | Comfortable Soft Surface With Non-Slip Material | 4.38 | 4.37 | 12.75 in. | 5.25 in. | Triple grid 3D massage zones | EVA foam | 0.63 lb. | unknown | 0.28 in. | |||||
2 | Hyperice Vyper3 | ![]() | 4.37 | Deep Vibrations to Upgrade Your Routine | 4.29 | 4.46 | 12.99 in. | 5.31 in. | Contour-designed | Polypropylene | 2.75 lb. | unknown | N/A | |||||
4 | Brazyn Morph Foam Roller | ![]() | 4.31 | Collapsable Design And Rolls Smoothly | 4.24 | 4.38 | 14.5 in. | 5.5 in. | unknown | unknown | 1.6 lb. | 350 lb. | unknown | |||||
5 | Amazon Basics High-Density Round Foam Roller | ![]() | 4.16 | High Durability, but Not For Targeted Relief | 4.05 | 4.27 | 24 in. | 6 in. | High-density foam | Polypropylene | 0.56 lb. | unknown | N/A | |||||
6 | Therabody Wave Roller | ![]() | 3.91 | Good Choice For Thighs, but Has Slippery Surface | 3.69 | 4.16 | 12 in. | 5.1 in. | Innovative wave texture | Hypo-allergenic EVA high-density foam | 3.3 lb. | unknown | unknown | |||||
7 | Gaiam Restore Compact Textured Foam Roller | ![]() | 3.89 | Not Much Sensation, and Prone to Sliding | 3.92 | 3.85 | 12 in. | 4 in. | Lightly textured surface | unknown | 0.26 lb. | unknown | 0.04 in. | |||||
8 | Rumble Roller Original Compact Roller | ![]() | 3.81 | Textured for Strong Stimulation Seekers | 3.56 | 4.12 | 12.99 in. | 4.92 in. | Multitextured | EVA foam | 0.88 lb. | unknown | 0.46 in. | |||||
9 | GoFit Deep Tissue Massage Roller | ![]() | 3.76 | Lightweight, but Not Practical for Daily Use | 3.59 | 3.97 | 13.14 in. | 5.3 in. | Egg-crate pattern | unknown | 0.43 lb. | unknown | 0.2 in. |
Diameter | 5.5 in. |
---|---|
Squeezable | |
Gentle texture |
What we didn't:
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.
Length | 13 in. |
---|---|
Surface material | EVA foam |
Weight | 1.43 lb. |
Protrusion height | 0.35 in. |
Diameter | 5.25 in. |
---|---|
Squeezable | |
Gentle texture |
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."
Length | 12.75 in. |
---|---|
Surface material | EVA foam |
Weight | 0.63 lb. |
Protrusion height | 0.28 in. |
Diameter | 5.31 in. |
---|---|
Squeezable | |
Gentle texture |
What we loved:
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.
Length | 12.99 in. |
---|---|
Surface material | Polypropylene |
Weight | 2.75 lb. |
Protrusion height | N/A |
Diameter | 5.5 in. |
---|---|
Squeezable | |
Gentle texture |
What we didn't:
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.
Length | 14.5 in. |
---|---|
Surface material | unknown |
Weight | 1.6 lb. |
Protrusion height | unknown |
Diameter | 6 in. |
---|---|
Squeezable | |
Gentle texture |
What we didn't:
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"
Length | 24 in. |
---|---|
Surface material | Polypropylene |
Weight | 0.56 lb. |
Protrusion height | N/A |
Diameter | 5.1 in. |
---|---|
Squeezable | |
Gentle texture |
What we didn't:
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.
Length | 12 in. |
---|---|
Surface material | Hypo-allergenic EVA high-density foam |
Weight | 3.3 lb. |
Protrusion height | unknown |
Diameter | 4 in. |
---|---|
Squeezable | |
Gentle texture |
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.
Length | 12 in. |
---|---|
Surface material | unknown |
Weight | 0.26 lb. |
Protrusion height | 0.04 in. |
Diameter | 4.92 in. |
---|---|
Squeezable | |
Gentle texture |
What we didn't:
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.
Length | 12.99 in. |
---|---|
Surface material | EVA foam |
Weight | 0.88 lb. |
Protrusion height | 0.46 in. |
Diameter | 5.3 in. |
---|---|
Squeezable | |
Gentle texture |
What we loved:
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.
Length | 13.14 in. |
---|---|
Surface material | unknown |
Weight | 0.43 lb. |
Protrusion height | 0.2 in. |
Here at mybest, we define the best foam roller as one that provides a high level of comfort and ease of rolling that you can add to your daily routine, no matter what exercise activities you do.
We tested 9 top-selling products from Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and other sites with the following in mind.
Products we tested
We looked for products that stimulate muscles effectively and comfortably, so you can incorporate one into your daily fitness or self-care routine.
Testers used each foam roller on a yoga mat and evaluated how well it stimulated different muscles without causing discomfort.
To introduce the best foam rollers, we tested each model for how easy they were to use for an effective result.
Testers used each foam roller on a yoga mat and gave a rating for how ease it was to roll on.
Using a foam roller on your back allows you to stretch often-neglected back muscles, which is great if you're concerned about posture.
How To Use
1. Place the foam roller horizontally, aligning it with the center of your spine.
2. Lift your buttocks and apply your body weight to the foam roller.
3. Roll up and down from your shoulder blades to your lower back.
Foam rollers can be a great way to address soulder stiffness built up at work by applying it to the underarm area for muscle care.
How To Use
1. Place the foam roller at an angle and position it under your underarm area while lying face down.
2. With your arms extended while touching the foam roller, roll your body to the side.
3. Keep your chest up and move gently up and down between your underarm and chest.
If you are engaged in jobs that require standing or sports acitivites, using a foam roller on your thighs is recommended for alleviating tightness in that area and muscle fatigue.
How To Use
1. Position the foam roller on the outer side of your thigh and adopt a sideways posture with your elbow resting on the floor.
2. Extend the leg that is not in contact with the foam roller forward to maintain balance.
3. Roll the foam roller up and down from your knee to your buttocks.
No. 1: TriggerPoint|GRID 1.0 Foam Roller
No. 2: 321 STRONG|Foam Roller
No. 2: Hyperice| Vyper3
No. 4: Brazyn Morph|Foam Roller
No. 5: Amazon Basics|High-Density Round Foam Roller
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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