Facebook Twitter Instagram
    FeedTheHabit.com
    • Home
    • Gear Reviews
      • Mountain Biking
      • Road Biking
      • Bike Commuting
      • Trail Running
      • Skiing
      • Outdoors
      • Water Sports
      • Vehicles
    • News
    • Trip Reports
    • Videos
    FeedTheHabit.com
    Sportneer K1 Massage Gun Review - Calf Massage
    Gear Reviews

    Sportneer K1 Massage Gun Review

    Jason MitchellBy Jason MitchellMarch 6, 2023No Comments7 Mins Read

    When it comes to recovery and muscle tightness, rollers and massage guns are my go-to. The Sportneer K1 Massage Gun joins a plethora of massage guns available on Amazon. Knowing that, how does an inexpensive, compact massage gun stand up to daily use?

    Sportneer K1 Massage Gun Features:

    • Includes 6 massage heads
    • 5 intensity levels
    • LED status with battery indicator
    • Uses 48Wh LG battery cells
    • Up to 6 hours of use on a single charge
    • Massage amplitude: 11mm
    • Stall force: 35 lbs
    • Weight: 1.76 lbs
    • Sound: 30-45dB while in use
    • Includes carrying case and additional rubber o-rings
    • MSRP: $99.99
    Sportneer K1 Massage Gun Review - Case and Heads
    Travel case and heads all tucked neatly away.

    Compact and powerful massage gun

    It’s funny to think that massage guns haven’t been around that long. I distinctly remember one of the first times going to the chiropractor (Utah Spine & Sport) and they used “the percussor” ahead of an adjustment. They could really dig into tight muscles and loosen up tight muscles. Within a few years, massage guns were everywhere — led by Theragun and Hyperice. Their high-priced models may have the attention of high-rollers, but what about the rest of us, who need sore muscle relief and improved recovery, but don’t want to spend $300 on a massage gun? Enter the Sportneer K1 massage gun, priced at less than $100 on Amazon.

    I’ve long been a fan of percussion massage guns, but let’s see what some of the experts have to say. According to UCLA Health, “Percussive massage helps distribute the thickened fascia fluid to relieve the pressure and tightness you feel. Repeated pressure at high speed thins the fluids, making the fascia more pliable so that your muscle can move more easily and efficiently.” With that, I strongly believe every athlete should have a massage gun and the Sportneer K1 is a great unit to have.

    Sportneer K1 Massage Gun Review - Power and Intensity Indicator
    The rubbery power and intensity indicator.

    Out of the box, the K1 has everything you’ll need — six massage heads, carrying case and up to 6 hours of use on a single charge. Compared to my other massage gun, the K1 feels much more compact and natural in my hands. Turning it on is straightforward, just hold down the power button until it turns on, then a single push to adjust intensity. As with other units, it starts with the lowest frequency (1200 rpm), then increases to level five (3200 rpm). In practice, I would prefer it to start at level 5, then go down from there. I find that I use most often. It’s not as bad as our other massage gun, which has 20 intensity settings that you have to scroll though, but it still feels like needless clicks if the majority of people use it at the highest setting.

    Having said that I prefer level 5 most of the time, I have come to appreciate the lower RPM settings for muscle soft tissue injuries. I have recently pulled my calf muscle and level 2 is just right for that kind of injury.

    Sportneer K1 Massage Gun Review - Low Intensity
    Low intensity is good for a strained calf muscle.

    Let’s talk a little about the six massage heads. Each one has an intended purpose, but I mainly used the chrome ball head for maximum intensity and ease-of-use on top of clothing. The foam ball was likely the second most popular — mostly with my teenage daughters, who are always sore from dance and gymnastics. As I said, I have found the chrome ball head to be my go-to for lower-back, hip, quads, glutes, calves and feet. It’s also great for upper-back, neck and shoulders. Again, I also love how smooth it floats over clothing because I’m not always wearing athletic clothes when a massage is needed. It even works great over jeans.

    Sportneer K1 Massage Gun Review - Thigh Massage
    Turn up the intensity for normal muscle tightness and back/glutes.

    The only downside of the chrome head is it can tend to wander, due to the lack of friction. A steady hand is required to ensure it doesn’t veer off course and hit a bone. Here are the heads and their intended uses:

    1. Ball head: For large muscle groups (quads, glutes, etc.) and extreme muscle and joint soreness.
    2. Fork head: Mainly used for spine, neck, calves and shoulder for sensitive muscles or bony areas. This is really intended to be used with intensity levels 1 and 2.
    3. Cone head: Mainly used for joints, deep tissue and small muscle areas (wrist, feet, etc.). Intended for intensity levels 1 and 2.
    4. Flat head: Ideal for general use and all muscles.
    5. Chrome flat head: For general muscle use at amplified intensities. It cleans easily and works over cloths and with oils.
    6. Chrome ball head: Again, for general muscle use at amplified intensities without that hard edge. It cleans easily and works over cloths and with oils.

    In-hand, the matte plastic texture offers just enough friction to easily manipulate. I can rotate and move the K1 massage gun into just the right positions without losing grip. The diameter of the handle is just right for larger and smaller hands. In addition, the motor area is also easy to handle in the case of added pressure by using two hands, for particularly stubborn muscles.

    In use, the K1 is as quiet as I would expect and don’t find it to be particularly loud. I can use it at night, while my wife is sleeping and she doesn’t know the wiser. The compact design is also easy to toss into a bag, for travel. If you want to be more official while traveling, the carrying case offers a nice touch, but I’d be fine just with the chrome ball head on any trips.

    Sportneer K1 Massage Gun Review
    Good size and feels comfortable in-hand.

    After over three months of use, I still find the power and battery life to be just as it was on day one. I will say, however, that the motor has developed a subtle rattle that wasn’t there at the beginning. Our other massage gun has the same issue, but slightly worse. It doesn’t seem to affect performance, but does increase the sound of the unit while in use by just a touch.

    The rubber power button and intensity indicator area is functional, and does add extra grip in-hand. However, my wife has expressed that she doesn’t like the power button and I’ve wondered about its longevity with fingernails digging into the rubber over the course of time. The battery indicator is only accurate when viewed directly. At an angle, the indicator can still appear green, even when it’s yellow or red. Another rubber cover is placed over the lower screws, holding the motor housing together. At first, I thought they were additional buttons for  an unknown purpose, but peeling it back just reveals screws. If the intent of that rubber cover was to aid in dual-handed use, its placement is not all that functional.

    The Good

    • Compact design
    • Powerful massage intensity
    • 5 intensities is just right — no need for 10-20 useless intensities
    • Matte finish feels great in-hand
    • A variety of heads to suit your needs
    • Chrome-tipped heads are my favorites and they work great over clothing

    The Bad

    • Small rattle developed after a few weeks of use (but it hasn’t affected performance)
    • Longevity of the rubberized power button (time will tell)
    • Battery indicator isn’t clear and varies based on the viewing angle

    The Bottom Line: Sportneer K1 Massage Gun

    Every athlete should have a massage gun. Using them regularly eases muscle pain and aids in recovery and flexibility. The Sportneer K1 Massage Gun has been a hit with our active family and I’ve found it to deliver a quality overall massage with the chrome ball head.

    Buy Now: Available from Amazon.com

    ShareTweet
    Sportneer
    Previous ArticleReview: Giro Latch Mountain Bike Shoes
    Next Article Santini Gravel Bib Tights Review
    Jason Mitchell
    • Website
    • Twitter

    A native of the Pacific Northwest, Jason quickly developed a love for the outdoors and a thing for mountains. That infatuation continues as he founded this site in 1999 -- sharing his love of road biking, mountain biking, trail running and skiing. That passion is channeled into every article or gear review he writes. Utah's Wasatch Mountains are his playground.

    You Might Also Like

    Black Diamond StormLine Stretch Rain Shell Review

    March 29, 2023

    Pearl Izumi PRO Barrier Jacket Review

    March 27, 2023

    Velocio Concept Merino Long Sleeve Jersey Review

    March 22, 2023

    Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

    Most Popular

    Wahoo ELEMNT Rival Multisport GPS Watch Review

    March 9, 2022
    8.9

    Zipp 303 S Carbon Wheelset Review

    November 4, 2021
    9.2

    SRAM Rival XPLR eTap AXS Groupset Review

    August 12, 2022
    8.5

    Canyon Lux Trail CF 7 Review

    November 28, 2022

    Montec Fawk Ski Jacket and Bib Review

    February 28, 2022

    SRAM Rival/GX AXS Mullet Gravel Kit Review

    September 17, 2021
    9.1

    Bontrager Aeolus Pro 37 TLR Wheelset Review

    June 18, 2020
    9.4

    Roval CL 50 Disc Wheelset Review

    September 13, 2019
    9.1

    Bontrager Aeolus Pro 51 TLR Wheelset Review

    September 9, 2021

    After Spinal Injury, Tara Llanes Has Long Road to Recovery

    February 21, 2008
    Follow Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    Advertisement
    Our Latest Posts
    • Black Diamond StormLine Stretch Rain Shell Review
    • Pearl Izumi PRO Barrier Jacket Review
    • Fresh Goods: Redshift Arclight PRO Clipless and Flat Pedals
    • Velocio Concept Merino Long Sleeve Jersey Review
    • Arc’teryx Rush SK 16 Backpack Review
    • Giro Montaro MIPS II Helmet Review
    • Outdoor Vitals Vario Jacket Review
    • Santini Gravel Bib Tights Review
    • Sportneer K1 Massage Gun Review
    • Review: Giro Latch Mountain Bike Shoes
    About Us
    About Us

    Since 1999, we have delivered in-depth gear reviews, articles and content. We feature a small staff of savvy, experienced writers who love to review outdoor gear.

    External links to Amazon, REI, Backcountry and other retailers include affiliate codes that give us a small commission on each sale.

    To contact us or learn more, go to our About Us page.

    © FeedTheHabit.com 1999 - 2023. All rights reserved.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.