Power Plate Pulse
For 20+ years, Power Plate has been a leader in engineering vibration machines designed to help improve our body's performance. The Power Plate Pulse massager was designed using the brand's decades of experience, insight and expertise from using the force of vibration to enhance health and fitness. From the moment you hold the Power Plate Pulse in your hands, you will appreciate its top notch materials, superior tooling and precise engineering.
The Power Plate Pulse gun comes in two colors, matte red and matte black. The black model was my personal preference, and it was the model that I used for this review. However, aside from style, they are otherwise the same model.
On April 28, 2021, Power Plate announced worldwide film star Mark Wahlberg has officially joined the company as both an investor and brand ambassador. Well known for his intense and dedicated fitness routine, Wahlberg has also been a steadfast Power Plate user for 15 years, with vibration training playing a central role in his ongoing personal training and wellness- focused lifestyle.
"The fact that Power Plate has been relatively unknown for so long surprised me,” said Wahlberg. “I've been a satisfied customer for over a decade, so I decided to get involved in spreading awareness about their game-changing products." Wahlberg will also serve as an active consultant for ongoing strategy, product and programming development.
Let's breakdown the Power Plate Pulse to explore what is has to offer and to see if it will fit your needs.
Continue reading below for my full review of the Power Plate Pulse massager. Don’t have time to read it all? Click here to skip to the bottom and check out my review summary.
Is the Power Plate Pulse Strong enough?
First off, the Power Plate lives up to its name, and provides plenty of power! The Pulse provides six intensity level options ranging from 1,300 vibrations per minute (VPM) to 3,300 vpm. In general, I mostly enjoyed using the 3rd level (1,800 VPM) and the 4th level (2,500 VPM) to treat general soreness, such as after working out or even after waking up from a bad night of sleep. I would occasionally decide to use the 6th level of intensity, just to take the treatment a step further. Thanks to its 12 mm amplitude and 3,300 VPM, my knots would be subdued very quickly when using it at level 4.
If you are like me and your main gym was temporarily closed during the pandemic, the Pulse will be an especially useful tool as your body adjusts to getting back to a workout routine or schedule. When you start working out again after a period of no activity, you will feel fatigue and muscle soreness more frequently, and more intense than usual. The Power Plate Pulse helps combat this post workout soreness quite nicely.
When it comes to evaluating massage guns, power is a key factor. As you may guess, if a handheld massager isn't powerful enough to subdue your toughest knots, you won't be 100% satisfied. So with that in mind, let's share the test results from our staff, so you get a better sense of the Power Plate Pulse's power.
This will give you a better idea of what type of power you can expect from the Power Plate Pulse.
Power Plate Pulse Power Rating
In conclusion, the graph above shows that all staff members who tested the Power Plate thought it was pretty high powered, scoring it an average rating of 8 when used at the top level setting of 3,300 VPM.
I personally rated the Power Plate Pulse a 8 for power when using it at level 6. Not only have I yet to run into a knot that it can't handle, it is able to treat my sore areas very quickly due to the power capability. I like the pistol grip design, because it makes it easy to provide any extra manual pressure when needed, which isn't very often, thanks to its power.
How does the Power Plate Pulse feel on your Back?
Beyond describing the power of the Power Plate Pulse to you, I've also included the descriptions below for how the Power Plate Pulse does with different body areas.
Back: First off, one of the hardest things to do with a massage gun is maintaining a good grip when attempting to massage hard to reach areas like your upper back. However, the Pulse's lightweight and simple design makes it easy to grip when operating. The Power Plate Pulse did my back wonders, as someone with a back injury, my back tends to randomly cramp up and stiffen throughout the day, especially after a good workout. This massage gun is able to loosen the knots and provide enough pressure to relieve the soreness. The Pulse truly feels great on my back and provides instant pain relief.
Legs: My running form is not the greatest, as I tend to be "heavy" footed or a plodder, so I run into many issues regarding poor circulation and leg cramps. Before beginning a run, the Power Plate is able to dig deep into my calves to release tension caused by lactic acid, which helps get the blood circulating and works almost as a replacement to stretching. The gun works well pre and post run.
Front Shoulders, Forearms: For those suffering with shoulder and neck issues, the Power Plate comes with additional attachments that work well on these thinner muscles. These specific attachments allow the massager to add just enough force around your neck to provide relief from stiffness, without causing any harm.
Back pain? Check out our top picks for relieving back pain.
Accessory Options
When it comes to accessories, the Power Plate Pulse massage gun comes with a total of six attachments. The benefit to you is that each of these attachments are designed for treating specific body parts and areas of soreness. I really liked the fact that it comes with a variety of attachments that you can try out, depending on application.
The Power Plate also includes a handy carrying case, which is a great perk at its price point. In addition, the Power Plate Pulse includes two global adapters that allow you to retain charging capability, during international travel.
Lastly, I enjoy the fact that the ON switch is at the bottom of the gun, away from the speed level button, so that I wouldn’t accidentally turn off the power while engaging in a massage.
- Small flat, Large flat: Perfect for treating your legs and back, these attachments allow you to quickly treat large muscle groups groups.
- The Fork, Thumb: The closest thing to a massage therapist's thumb! These are the perfect tools to use when trying to subdue the most painful of knots.
- Small ball, Large ball: These tips provide great all around treatment.
Battery Life
The Pulse's battery life is dependent on the level your using the gun on. If you are on Level 1, you can enjoy up to 4-5 hours of life before needing to recharge, whereas if you are on Level 6, you may need to recharge after only 2-3 hours of battery life.
During my testing, the battery life performed very well for me, as I rarely find myself charging this thing. As of this article, I’ve already used it a few days straight and according to the power level lights, I still have half of the power left. This is very convenient for me since I’m always on the move and don’t like to carry a charger on me.
If you’re convinced the Power Plate Pulse is the right massager for you, the pricing information for the massage gun is below.
Recreation of LA
- Sitewide offer: Use code SAVE15 to save 15% off orders of $150 or more
Amazon
- Prime Shipping Available
Is a Power Plate Pulse Worth it?
After testing the Power Plate Pulse, I would recommend the Pulse to anyone looking for a premium massager at a great price. The Power Plate Pulse will enable you to provide self-care and massage whenever you need it. In fact, its lightweight design, convenient size, and pistol grip modeling makes it quite simple to apply self-care to many parts of my body. In addition, the variety of intensity level options allows you to provide adequate relief to your neck, arms, back, and legs. Lastly, one of the best things about this product is how quiet it is; I don’t have to worry about disturbing anyone around me as I precede with self-care. Overall after using the Power Plate and testing all of its features and attachments, I would recommend this massage gun.
- Whisper Quiet: During testing I used the Pulse in public areas and social settings, and I never had a single complaint. It is truly whisper quiet despite providing the impressive power of up to 3,300 VPM and 12 mm amplitude of displacement.
- 6 speeds: The variety of speed options makes it a very versatile handheld massager, capable of treating anyone from serious athletes recovering from intense workouts, to treating the average person's everyday soreness.
- 6 attachments: The included attachments allow you to switch up the massage style, which is great for handling different body parts and treatment sessions.
Power Plate Pulse Massager Review
- Power ★★★★
- Versatility ★★★★
- Accessories ★★★★★
- Battery Life ★★★★
- Self-Use ★★★★
- Brand ★★★★★
Summary
Star Rating ★★★★ 4.33 Power Plate has produced a truly fantastic massager. While it can be challenging to differentiate brands in a saturated market or category, the Power Plate Pulse really stands out for its unique tooling and robust materials. It is built to last and designed by a reputable brand. You will be able to use the Pulse anywhere on your body whenever you feel cramped, sore, or stiff.
Click here to order your Power Plate Pulse from us with fast, free shipping, free returns, or checkout the Power Plate Pulse on Amazon.
Use code RECOVERNOW to save an additional $25 off all orders over $150 Hurry, offer ends midnight July 31, 2023
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Author Bio Gideon is the founder and Director of Purchasing at Recreation of LA. A Los Angeles native, Gideon spent a decade working in purchasing, merchandising and content development, before launching Recreation of LA. In his free time Gideon likes playing basketball, lifting weights, and reviewing the latest fitness tech.