1. GRID Foam Roller by TriggerPoint
2. OPTP Pro Roller Soft Density Foam Roller
3. YesAll Premium High Density PE Foam Roller
4. Luxfit Premium High Density Foam Roller
5. Restore Muscle Massage Therapy Foam Rollers Gaiam
An active lifestyle also means a lot of body aches. Exercises naturally damage your muscles, giving you a painful feeling after you’ve had a challenging routine. Getting a massage after every difficult gym day is neither practical nor advised, and we find alternatives to ease the pain and allow us to function quite normally even when we have sore muscles. One of the alternatives is to acquire the best foam rollers and roll the pain away. But, how do you decide which is the best one?
This article will help you find the most suitable brand for you among the most popular ones currently available in the market. However, before we get into the list, let us first look at what a foam roller is.
What is a foam roller, and how do you identify which are the best foam rollers to buy among all the fitness brands out there? A foam roller is an insubstantial cylinder tube made of compressed foam. It comes with various uses. It is used to enhance one’s flexibility, lessen muscular swelling, and remove muscle knots. The act of foam rolling is considered alternative medicine and is a kind of self-myofascial release, which is done to improve blood flow, relax muscles and treat skeletal immobility.
Foam rollers came into the spotlight in the 1980s, and the first reported person to utilize it for the purpose of massaging is the physical therapist, Sean Gallagher. It was around the same time when it also becomes popular for use in balancing and strength-building routines. By 2009, foam rolling has become linked to fascia training or activity that puts focus on the improvement of the body’s connective tissues, like tendons and ligaments.
The Makings of a Foam Roller
First, let’s look at how the foam roller looks like and what it is made of, so we can determine what the best foam roller runners for our needs are. This exercise and therapy tool is a cylindrical tube, and its outer layer is made of either PE, EVA, EPP, or other specialized materials. Polyethylene (PE) build ones are considerably the softest. It can either be a one-piece (pure PE) or two-piece (with an inner circle) equipment, with the one-piece considered to be more durable and less likely to lose its shape.
Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) is more shock-absorbent than the former. It is also more lightweight and durable, so it is the type often utilized in gyms or medical facilities. A variant of the EVA is the high-density EVA, and it is considered the firmest type of EVA-made foam roller.
Another type you must ponder on when choosing the best foam rollers is Expanded Polypropylene (EPP) type. It’s crafted from tightly packed polystyrene balls that have a smoother outer circle. It is recommended for use in fitness centers and therapy clinics due to its firmness and longstanding quality.
With all the various types and brands, it’s hard to decide what the best foam roller to buy is. To help you come up with a decision, we have come up with the top 5 best foam roller variants out there.
Top 5 Best Foam Rollers to Choose
5. Restore Muscle Massage Therapy Foam Rollers Gaiam
Features:
- Has 18 or 36-inch variants
- 6-inch in diameter and 0.96 pounds in weight
- Made of polypropylene
This 18-inch or 36-inch product is part of our list of the best foam roller runners to buy. Comes in colorful variants, green, grey, marbled grey, and marbled purple, it’s got a semi-firm consistency that’s perfect to help your runner calves relax and be ready for the next mile stretch. It’s purchase even includes a downloadable instructional video, so you will be well-guided for its utilization, whether in exercise or relaxation.
Pros
Pros
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Affordable
- Aesthetically pleasing
Cons
Cons
- Not very firm
If you’d like a simple device to help you treat your tired muscles and to keep the blood flowing well along your body, this foam equipment by Gaiam can really be your brand of choice. With its downloadable manual, you’ll even be properly guided on how to use the equipment for a great exercise experience.
4. Luxfit Premium High-Density Foam Roller
Features:
- Purchase includes a 3-year limited warranty
- Comes in 3 sizes -12 by 6, 18 by 6, and 36 by 6 inches
- Created with molded polypropylene
Also included in our list of the best foam rollers is one by Luxfit. This 12, 18, or 36 by 6-inch equipment can be awesome for physical or massage therapy or yoga. This lightweight, molded polypropylene foam roller has the shape and the firmness level for extended use. By rolling this across your calves and back, it can help address positioning, balance, posture, coordination, ranging, and strength opportunities in the body.
Pros
Pros
- Very rigid
- Economically priced
- Has a manufacturer warranty
- Lightweight
Cons
Cons
- Only comes in one color
This foam roller by Luxfit has received numerous great reviews about its quality, price, and effectiveness. Of course, you’d want to get value for your money, and this brand can definitely provide you that. With three sizes to choose from, you can massage those muscles for better recovery. You can also utilize it for various workouts to strengthen muscles in your body.
3. YesAll Premium High-Density PE Foam Roller
Features:
- Has a 1-year manufacturer guarantee
- Has 12, 18, 24 & 36-inch PE form variants
- Inclusive of an exercise guide
This is one of the best foam roller for runners and gym enthusiasts are recommended to buy. This polyethylene-made roller comes in blue, purple, and black colors and 12, 18, 24 & 36-inch sizes, so you’ve got a wide selection to pick from. It’s lightweight, yet it can support 250 pounds of weight, so you can effectively utilize it for self-myofascial activities or workout routines without worrying about it not being able to take the intensity. Its purchase comes with an exercise guide, so you can use it well for your fitness regimen.
Pros
Pros
- Made of non-toxic materials
- Lightweight
- Economically priced
- Has a warranty
- Sturdy
Cons
Cons
- May not be as long-standing as expected
If you’d like a colorful foam roller to massage your back (or face) and help you during stretching and flexibility routines, take one of the YesAll best foam roller for runners and fitness enthusiasts, and you’ll definitely enjoy comfort at an affordable price.
2. OPTP Pro-Roller Soft Density Foam Roller
Features:
- Has 36 by 6, 18 by 6, and 36 by 3-inch variants
- Constructed with heat-molded EVA material
- Has a soft density
If you’re looking for an excellent foam roller, then OPTP’s product is one of the best foam roller to buy for the year. It’s made to last and perform with its Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA) material that is guaranteed for use of chiropractors, physical therapists, fitness instructors, and other health professionals. With its being constructed through cross-linked, closed-cell, heat-molded technology, it’s very easy to sanitize and very comfortable to use. With the 36 by 6-inch variant, you can focus on your larger muscle sections; with the 18 by 6, you can work on the smaller ones, and with the 36 by 3, you can develop your stability and balance. Of course, you’d enjoy looking at this intricately designed equipment as well.
Pros
Pros
- Has several variants to target different exercise goals
- Constructed with sturdy and quality materials
- Aesthetically pleasing
- Sturdy and long-lasting
Cons
Cons
- Not very economical
If you are all for quality and you’re okay with paying a few more bucks, then get this OPTP product as we guarantee that it’s one of the best foam roller for runners, yoga enthusiasts, and fitness-fond individuals. If you’re in the medical field, you can also utilize this foam equipment for numerous patients as it is sturdy and easy to clean. Choose from its blue marble or pink variants, and you’ll definitely enjoy your new experience.
1. GRID Foam Roller by TriggerPoint
Features:
- Comes in colors black, camo, orange, pink, and lime
- Has a 500-pound limit for its 13 by 5.5-inch variant
- Comes with a 1-year manufacturer’s warranty and an instructional video
Topping out list of the best foam roller runners, fitness buffs, and medical practitioners prefer is this grid foam roller by TriggerPoint. Comes in colors black, camo, orange, pink, and lime, it’s got the ideal density for various activities without the big price tag. It’s got a whopping 500-pound limit, so you can definitely utilize this awesome roller for a long time. It’s made with quality, high-density EVA, and it’s probably the reason why it is a trusted brand among those in the medical and sports science fields. You know that it’s carefully crafted as its patented design is the first kind to have a multi-density outer ring that can really ease muscle rigidity and pain.
Pros
Pros
- Has a multi-density design and is multifunctional
- Mid-range priced
- Comes in various colors
- Trusted by experts in the field
Cons
Cons
- Has a few size varieties
If you’d like a device that has a warranty, has a multi-density design, has an interactive manual for guidance, and comes in various colors, this product by TriggerPoint is our recommendation. It’s complete yet you don’t have to spend a lot to reap of its awesome benefits. We don’t even have to stress the benefits of foam rolling at this point, but we must say that this product will definitely be durable because it’s made of quality components that are made to last.
Final Thoughts
Foam rolling has so many benefits, and you don’t have to spend a lot of money just to get therapy services as you can do them at home or the gym. With the list of foam rollers above, you wouldn’t even have to think about how many choices you have, as we have laid them out for you.
Self-myofascial therapy can really aid in catalyzing muscle healing, in improving blood flow to prevent or get rid of muscle cramps, in improving your posture, and in easing you of muscular pain. This is aside from the fact that you can easily use this equipment to improve your fitness regimen, enhance your coordination and balance, and strengthen your skeletal muscles for more intense workouts.
The best foam roller to buy is undoubtedly the one that suits your specialized needs. For varying needs, there’s a hardcore extra rigid roller to loosen your tight muscles whilst keeping its rigid shape over time.
There’s also a trigger-point massaging roller type that has a specialized rough and smooth surface to cater to both muscle-loosening and nodule-reaching needs. Whether you decide to go for an EVA, PE, or EPP foam roller, we have laid down the most outstanding brands for you. At this point, you just have to choose from the 5, and you’ve got better days ahead.