15 Workout Recovery Tools and Products Our Editors Love

The Toe Spacer

• Price: $

“Whether we’re relaxing or working out, our feet are our primary points of contact with the ground beneath us. So, having tight feet and ankles from wearing narrow, stiff, or sport-specific shoes can impact the way our knees, hips, and other joints feel and function.

The Toe Spacer is a great way to help loosen up the small muscles in your feet and ankles, and you can wear them while you’re hanging out at home or even while you work out. These have made a huge difference in how my feet feel on a daily basis and have helped my feet get stronger. After years of wearing basketball shoes, my feet don’t feel tired and achy anymore, and I’m able to walk, run, and train better.” — Cat Staskawicz, associate editor, Healthline

TriggerPoint Foam Massage Ball

• Price: $

“I found out about this trigger point massage ball when I went to a restore Pilates class, which consists of a lot of foam rolling and stretching out your muscles and tender tissue. It’s really great for rolling out painful spots that require more pinpointed attention as opposed to a bigger foam roller (i.e., your feet or wrists, or even your calves or in between your shoulder blades).

Like a foam roller, it may feel a little painful in the moment, but after I’ve used it, I feel like I’ve just gotten a massage.” — Melissa Lee, editor I, Healthline

MiHIGH Infrared Sauna Blanket

• Price: $$$$

“Where do I start? This is one of my absolute favorite workout recovery tools and general stress relievers. There’s something so comforting about being wrapped in a warm, heavy blanket that’s emanating heat onto all of your sore spots. Think: heating pad for your entire body.

Whether it’s tired muscles or tension (including ensuing headaches), this blanket is my go-to. It’s a great place to get warm on a cold day or do a body scan meditation while also reaping the benefits of infrared technology. I love that it easily folds up and can be kept out of the way, but takes seconds to set up and get cozy inside.

While it’s definitely on the pricey side, it’s worth it if you’re consistently active, dealing with chronic pain, or (like me) simply melt when you can snuggle up in something warm.” — Crystal Hoshaw, special projects editor, Healthline

Hyperice Hypervolt 2

• Price: $$$

“I have been a longtime user of the Hypervolt massage gun. It continues to be a great recovery (and warmup) product that is able to be on the go with you. Different speeds and tools allow you to get deep into muscle tissue to break up soreness and promote blood flow.” — Nick Trull, senior account manager, Healthline

Sportneer K1 Percussive Massage Gun

• Price: $$

“A cheaper alternative to the Theragun, the Sportneer massage gun has five speeds and comes with six massage heads. I use it after weightlifting and on any tight areas post-workout — it gets those hard-to-reach spots and releases tense muscles!” — Christy Snyder, editor II, Healthline

Liquid I.V. Hydration Multiplier

• Price: $

“It’s like Gatorade on steroids. I used to default to Pedialyte, but Liquid I.V. takes up much less space.” — Sam Lowry, SEO director, Healthline

KTRecovery+ Cold Massage Roller

• Price: $$

” I like this mini massage roller because it’s so easy to use wherever — like in bed or on the couch, where you’ll often find yourself after long runs. This is a big plus because sometimes foam rolling with a tube feels like a workout itself — the last thing you want to do after a 20-mile run! My muscles don’t feel as stiff the next day after using this roller, which helps me maintain my training schedule.

Tip: Wear leggings or sweats when rolling your legs. The roller may pinch your skin.” — Sara Guisti, copy editor II, Healthline

Pedialyte Sport Electrolyte Drink, Fruit Punch

• Price: $, for pack of 4

“My friend gifted me this drink at a marathon finish line. It was a lifesaver after the celebratory beers — it saved me from dehydration headaches and extra aches, and quenched my extreme thirst quicker than water alone or other electrolyte mixes.” — Giusti

Brontosaurus Massage Gun

• Price: $

“This massage gun has several head attachments and a wide range of vibration frequencies. You can start on a lower frequency to help warm up your muscles, preventing soreness. Alternatively, you can use a higher frequency or head attachment to pound out knots and relax muscles. I often use it on my calves, hamstrings, and upper back. The battery will deplete faster with a higher vibration, but it will still last about an hour.” — Ren Dias, editorial coordinator, Healthline

Amazon Basics High-Density Foam Roller

• Price: $

“Spin class and foam rollers go hand in hand. I could never do the former without the latter. This is a nice, cheap, basic option. I primarily use it on my quads and IT band to prevent hip and knee pain.” — Corie Osborn, senior editor, Healthline

Charlotte’s Web Hemp-Infused Balm with CBD

• Price: $

“This balm eases tense muscles and smells great. I love that the company was founded by the trailblazing family of an epileptic child, who couldn’t find a way to legally acquire a CBD tincture, so they made one.” — Osborn

Air Relax Classic AR-2.0 Leg Recovery System

• Price: $$$$

“Air Relax is a better-priced option than other products like Normatec that provides a very similar result for leg compression. For me, it’s even better than the gun because you don’t have to self-apply. I can sit in the leg sleeves for hours as I watch TV or even get work done.

The compression and new blood flow has me feeling like a new human when I zip out of them.” — Trull

FitFormula PostFormula, Strawberry Lemonade

• Price: $$

“When the weather gets nice, and an outdoor run or HIIT workout is in order, I come back to my apartment parched and literally hot. I mix up a scoop of this powder in very cold water and gulp it down. It is extremely refreshing, and I can almost feel my cells waking up again.

This formula has essential amino acids and branch chain amino acids you need for faster recovery, plus coconut water powder that helps to rehydrate the body after tough workouts.” — Mellanie Perez, editor I, Healthline

The Cold Plunge

• Price: $$$$

“I was a long-term user of the cold tub when playing basketball in college and think that the evolution of making this an at-home product is amazing. The power of the cold to promote recovery and refuel the body for intense training or growth is tough to beat.” — Trull

Champion Sports Lacrosse Balls

• Price: $

“If you’re used to rolling on tennis balls for soft tissue massage or trigger point stuff, try upgrading to a lacrosse ball. My physical therapist recommended this when I had neck pain I was working through, and now it’s a regular item in my home gym. They are harder and more dense so they help you get into sore spots much deeper.” — Catherine Connelly, editor II, Healthline