Recovery — both physical and mental — is a constant topic of conversation in my house. From my days as a Division I runner and my more recent transition to post-college running to my partner Connor’s career as a professional athlete, we’re always mulling over ways to maximize performance and obsessing over the best tools to soothe sore muscles. So, as part of Connor’s birthday gift this summer, I spent countless hours searching for a device that (a) could impress someone who already has access to tons of next-level recovery tools and (b) required minimal steps (and by that I mean press-a-single-button minimal) but was still effective in helping him bounce back from practice and games. Eventually, I landed on Hyperice’s Venom 2 Back.
The Hyperice Venom 2 is essentially a heating pad on steroids — you can use it to ease muscle tension, decrease soreness, and loosen knots. All you have to do is swaddle your midsection with the neoprene wrap and secure it with a velcro strap. It has three different heat levels and three vibration patterns, which you can easily toggle through. An extra compression strap lets you wrap the device tighter around your torso, and a rechargeable battery means the device is cord-free. It has a simple front control panel with buttons for power, heat, and vibration, but you can also control each session from your phone by connecting to the Hyperice app via Bluetooth. The back wrap runs on a 20-minute cycle, which is enough time to relieve tightness or pressure in my lower back, soothing the muscles right where they hurt most.
The Venom 2 Back was technically a gift to Connor, but since he unwrapped it I’ve unabashedly borrowed it most days. (What can I say? I’m an expert gift giver working alongside other expert gift givers who know that giving your partner a product that you’ll probably also use is never a bad idea.) It’s hands-free, so I can work from home as it pulses away on my pain points, and at just over two pounds, it’s relatively lightweight. I’m part of the Strategist’s unofficial running team, and I love using it to warm up my back before an intense track workout, too. The mid and lower back are key in stabilizing your spine and pelvis during a run, and I’ve found that Venom 2 Back helps to relax my entire posterior chain. Ever since using it, I’m no longer struggling to touch my toes or fighting back tears when stretching my hamstrings in downward dog.
I’m not the only one who swears by the Venom 2 Back: Two other Strategist staffers also own and love the device. My colleague Jeremy Rellosa, who is also a runner and wrote about it in his guide to the best back massagers, told me he appreciates that the design is wide and hugs his lower back, which means the heat and vibration never feel too concentrated in one spot. “I sometimes just use the heat or the vibration by themselves, but using them at the same time is luxurious,” Rellosa told me, adding that the hands-free aspect is a huge plus. At $249, the Venom is certainly pricier than a heating pad you’d pick up at your local drugstore, but it heats up in a matter of seconds making it ideal when you just need a quick release.
A few weeks after I gave Connor the gift, I discovered that he had tried a version of this Hyperice device in a few team-training rooms, so he already recognized its benefits for athletes — or anyone for that matter — who want to stay loose. But having one at home has really changed the game. We both think consistent use has helped to improve our range of motion, mainly since the wrap can be applied to other body parts, like across your quads or under your calves. It takes a little MacGyver-ing, but there’s no question it helps ease aches and promotes circulation wherever I have it wrapped. And yes, I can finally touch my toes.
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