Nothing gets you out of a workout rhythm quite like feeling like crap. That’s why having the best recovery products on hand is so crucial for achieving whatever fitness goals you’ve got. Whether you’re training for a half marathon, are weight-lifting and trying to achieve a new PR weight, or want to go harder and faster on your favorite cycling bike, recovery essentials can get you there.
Shape editors, to nobody’s surprise, work out a lot so we know exactly what products are needed to feel better after a tough workout so that you’re ready for the next one. This year, we’ve evaluated dozens of recovery essentials, from bath soaks and soothing tapes to massage guns and wearables. For the Shape 2025 Fitness Awards, we only wanted to include what we know are the elite products out there actually worth their cost.
We tested each product extensively, then connected with fitness and wellness experts to ensure our picks met their professional standards. With that, check out the best recovery products of this year, according to Shape editors and professionals.
Compression levels: 7 | Time modes: 15, 30, 45, 60 minutes
Lactic acid build-up is not fun, especially when you’re training for something like a marathon and have to put in work pretty much every day of the week. These compression boots help blood circulate and lower lactate levels (translation: make you feel less sore). Our editors have used these after lifting sessions, long runs, and before races to ensure their legs stayed in tip-top shape. And they worked like a charm. While the price tag is hefty, it’s well worth the investment to get to the start line healthy — and these will ensure you do just that.
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Battery life: Up to 5 days | Waterproof: Yes
We love the level of detail in the Whoop 4.0 and think it could be a great asset to athletes amping up their training. The Whoop 4.0 tracks a bunch of health data, daily workouts, and sleep habits. It also analyzes weekly and monthly trends and makes personalized recommendations for training and rest. The simple band is comfortable and tracks without a screen (no more staring at your wrist during workouts). Whoop 4.0 is compatible with iOS and Android smartphones and can link with Apple Health.
“Any technology, like watches, can help keep people on track with sticking to these habits more so than if they were not using them,” says Doug Berninger, MEd, CSCS, USAW-2, Pn1 at Mass General Brigham. “A nice benefit is the ability to detect and display metrics like oxygen saturation and heart rate variability; although, the literature still varies on the accuracy of these metrics. The main thing is that people now have access to see these metrics and — by being provided with these on a daily basis — this will push them into action to try to improve their trendlines.”
The downsides are that a subscription is required at $30 per month for a year or $239 paid upfront for the year, and there can also be quite a learning curve for using the app. Overall, we found it can be truly helpful for those who are serious about their sport training.
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Ergonomic shape
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App connectivity
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Very strong force
Attachments: 4 | Built-In Speeds: 5 | No-stall force: 30 lbs.
Whatever massage gun you have, just know this one is better (unless, of course, you have this one… then it’s equally as amazing). While there are budget counterparts out there, our team of testers agrees that Theragun Prime is hands-down the best Theragun massager around. The force it exerts alone is impressive, but all the extra add-ons this comes with — like the different head attachments and app connectivity — prove it’s as versatile as it is powerful.
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Lasts up to a week
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Waterproof
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Flexible for exercising
Quantity: 20 pre-cut strips | Design features: Cooling, flexible tape
Imaging combining the pain-relieving capabilities of an ice pack with KT Tape – oh wait, you don’t have to imagine that. The gorgeous combo is a reality, and it’s as fantastic as you can imagine. KT Tape is known for its pain-relieving capabilities thanks to the tape’s gentle lifting of the skin (it increases blood flow to the area and helps with soreness — bodies are nuts). You get that and the soothing sensations of ice with this baby. It’s stupendous. Use it on your knees, IT band, shins, shoulders, wherever. Just don’t slap it on your mouth. This is not mouth tape. We repeat this is not mouth tape.
Mark Murphy PT, DPT, SCS, CSCS at Mass General Brigham cautions against people with pain using this as their only pain reliever. “Pain is multifactorial,” he says. “The mode of action in potentially being assistive in pain relief is more likely related to influencing neuromuscular feedback than changing the tissue locally. Like with any intervention KT tape should not be the sole intervention and use of any intervention to address muscular pain should be determined by a trained medical professional.”
Sizes: 5-11 | Colors: 1 | Stack height: 15 mm
It’s rare to find a good pair of recovery shoes that you can comfortably wear outside of the house, which is why our team loves these sandals so much. They have a whopping 15mm stack height of pure impact-absorbing foam that takes all of the pressure off your feet during long days of walking or after a big-time race. In fact, the patented footbed is proven to reduce stress for knees, ankles, and other joints.
Our testers loved how these sandals combined fashion with some truly extraordinary pain-relief designs. They’re good for wearing on vacation at the beach or around the neighborhood on errands. We just recommend sizing up because they’re a bit snug when you snag your typical size.
Size: 10 oz. | Key ingredients: Magnesium zechstein flakes, French green clay, apple cider vinegar
There’s nothing better than a hot bath following a tough workout or day grinding at the office. This nutrient-dense soak uses the powder of magnesium Zechstein flakes to relax achy muscles while other star ingredients like French green clay and apple cider vinegar soothe and soften skin. This is the kind of luxe experience you wouldn’t think is possible at home, but the soak truly transports you to a different place mentally and physically.
Our team has used this bath-time essential after marathons, long runs, HIIT workouts, and tough days on their feet. After 15-20 minutes of soaking, they all felt reinvigorated and in better spirits. It might seem like a simple recovery method, but giving yourself the time to relax with the help of this serotonin builder is truly a game-changer in mental and physical wellness.
What to Know
- Soreness vs. Pain: These items on the list are by no means the answer to your pain. If you’re experiencing constant pain and discomfort, contact a medical professional as soon as possible. Consider these recovery solutions a part of your fitness practice to be implemented when you’re sore versus in pain.
- Cost: Recovery gear, like all things, varies in cost. If you have a tighter budget and want to give relief to your muscles, a foam roller is a simple and cost-friendly solution we love.
- Hyperice vs. Theragun: We don’t pick favorites here. We love Therabody and Hyperice equally as if they’re our two children. If you’re considering whether to buy a product from Hyperice or Theragun, we recommend checking out our review of at-home massagers. We stand by our inclusion of Hyperice Normatec Elite boots for compressive recovery and Theragun Prime for more of a massage-like option.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How does sleep impact recovery?
“I think sleep is really the most important aspect of recovery,” says Caroline Beckwith, Fitness Director, 14th Street Y in NYC. “When you are tired, mistakes often happen at the gym that lead to injuries. Sleeping releases growth hormones that help muscles repair after the stress of a hard workout.”
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Why do we need sleep for recovery?
“When we sleep, our bodies have the opportunity to heal,” says Linda LoRe, RRCA Coach, and NASM-certified personal trainer in NYC. “I would argue that a good night’s sleep is just as important to any training plan as a track workout, lift, long run, or really anything. I suggest a minimum of 7-9 hours a night during heavy training builds.”
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Do bath soaks actually help with recovery and sore muscles?
“Short answer yes. Warm water helps relax the muscles and can relieve soreness,” Beckwith says. “I think there is a middle ground between Jessica Biel’s pre-met gala Epson salt soak and what is actually needed to feel revived. You do not need 20 bags of Epson salt to get the benefits of a warm bath for post-workout recovery!”
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Are massage guns best for cardio lovers or weight lifters?
Massage guns can alleviate muscle tension or soreness regardless of the exercise that caused it. The repeated motion loosens muscles in overworked muscles whether they’re from running or lifting heavy weights.
Why Trust Shape
In our third year doing the Fitness Awards, we emphasized six major categories, which we call The Build Up, The Mindset, The Long Run, The Steps, and The Session. Each of these categories focuses on different areas of fitness, including equipment, clothing, accessories and wearables, recovery, platforms, and shoes. We tested every item selected in these lists extensively in different scenarios including outdoor workouts, at-home workouts, marathon build-ups, gym sessions, and even while sleeping. To learn more about our testing procedures in our New York Lab and the real world, you can view our Commerce Guidelines and Mission here. We received 100+ submissions and considered each of these products, as well as analyzed the 500+ products we tested throughout the year for our reviewed articles. We then narrowed these down to 30 award winners.
Summer Cartwright is a marathon runner, certified cycling instructor, and the senior commerce editor at Shape. She has raced in the New York City Marathon, Chicago Marathon, Columbus Marathon, Houston Half Marathon, Brooklyn Half Marathon, New York Mini 10k, and dozens of other events. She has expertise in running shoes, performance gear, and recovery equipment. She, along with dozens of other testers and fitness experts, personally tested every single item included in the Fitness Awards to ensure they lived up to Shape’s rigorous standards. Previously, she’s worked with brands including Cosmopolitan, InStyle, Real Simple, Well + Good, and Best Products. She’s from Columbus, Ohio, and has three pets: two cats named Polly and Peaky and a dog named Rhubarb.
For the 2025 Fitness Awards, we consulted with the following experts:
- Dani Coleman, Head Trainer & Director of Training at P.Volve.
- Linda LoRe, NASM-certified personal trainer, RRCA coach.
- Alex Cooley, a leading NYC fitness instructor who specializes in sculpt, barre, yoga, and breathwork.
- Caroline Beckwith, Fitness Director, 14th Street Y
- Doug Berninger, MEd, CSCS, USAW-2, Pn1 at Mass General Brigham
- Mark Murphy P.T, DPT, SCS, CSCS at Mass General Brigham
Read the full article here