Best Foam Rollers 2024

Foam rollers were originally designed for pro athletes and sports therapists, but they have become mainstream in recent years due to the incredible effects they can have on your muscles. Foam rolling is a form of self-myofascial release (SMR), a massage technique that relieves tightness, alleviates pain and increases circulation.

The best thing about foam rollers is that they can be used by anyone, whether you're looking to enhance your workouts or are just need need of some quality me-time. There are a range of rollers out there in all different shapes and sizes, but there’s no need to feel overwhelmed! Whether you’re a beginner, pro athlete, or recovering from an injury, here are the Best Foam Rollers to help you revolutionize self-care.

What Will This Guide Cover?

In this handy guide, we'll cover the following areas:

• Best Roller for Beginners
• Best Half Roller
• Best Textured Roller
• Best Twin Roller
• Best Vibrating Roller

How To Use a Foam Roller

Foam rollers can work wonders to release knots and trigger points. If you want to know how to effectively use a roller, we've got you covered. Follow the instructions below and adjust the intensity depending on what your body needs. Remember, it's best to start gentle if you're new to foam rolling.

1. Place the roller on the ground, ideally on an exercise mat.
2. Next, work out which areas of your body are painful or uncomfortable.
3. Slowly lower the affected area onto the roller until you feel some discomfort (this pressure can help relieve pain too).
4. Gently roll back and forth over the tool to stimulate the fascia and muscle.
5. Hold position for up to 30 seconds on areas that require some extra TLC.

Our Top 5 Foam Rollers

Best Roller for Beginners

Our winner: Sissel Soft Blue Pilates Foam Roller

Why We Love It...

✔ Soft design suits novices or users with poor balance control
✔ Textured surface encourages blood flow to the area
✔ Immediately responds to pressure for great feedback

Ideal For...

✔ Hamstrings
✔ Shin splints
✔ Calves

Our Verdict: Using a foam roller can be uncomfortable, so it's best to start soft. Low-density rollers are perfect for beginners and users starting out in rehab. This Sissel Pilates Roller is great for providing support in Pilates too!

Best Textured Roller

Our winner: Fitness-Mad Tread Massage Foam Roller

Why We Love It...

✔ Textured design for deep tissue massage
✔ Durable EVA foam for frequent use
✔ Lightweight for easy portability

Ideal For...

✔ Calves
✔ Quadriceps
✔ Glutes

Our Verdict: Textured foam rollers really dig into the muscles to provide an effective massage. This Fitness-Mad Tread Roller is 32cm long, perfect for focusing on one leg at a time. This tool is ideal for common calf pain in athletes like runners and cyclists.

Best Twin Roller

Our winner: Fitness-Mad 60cm Twin Vari-Massage Foam Roller

Why We Love It...

✔ Range of textures enables intensity adjustment
✔ ABS and EVA construction won't lose shape
✔ Can be disassembled for use as two single rollers

Ideal For...

✔ Upper back
✔ Lower back
✔ Glutes

Our Verdict: If you're looking to get rid of nagging back pain for good, this Fitness-Mad Twin Roller offers the perfect solution. Its twin design targets the back muscles whilst avoiding the spine. The roller is 60cm long for use lengthways in supine exercises.

Best Vibrating Roller

Our winner: Pulseroll 4 Speed Vibrating Massage Foam Roller

Why We Love It...

✔ Increases blood circulation around the muscles
✔ Features four power settings for different intensities
✔ Only weighs 1kg and comes with carry bag

Ideal For...

✔ Glutes
✔ Lower back
✔ Quadriceps

Our Verdict: The Pulseroll 4 Speed Vibrating Massage Foam Roller is scientifically proven to soothe muscular tension. The roller flushes the body of lactic acid, allowing you to sit back, relax, or prepare your muscles for for exercise.

Ready To Roll?

Using a foam roller can have incredible effects on your body, providing a deep tissue massage that helps to stretch muscles, eliminate pesky knots, and alleviate discomfort. Try using a roller during your warm-up or cool-down in your next workout, or treat yourself by rolling out sore muscles after a long day.

Interested in foam rolling, or looking for more superb massage tools? Let us know in the comments below or get in touch via Facebook and Twitter. You can also check out our Massage Therapy category for more!

Tags: Back Pain, Exercise, Fitness, Massage, Physiotherapy, Sports Equipment