Ekrin Athletics B37 Massage Gun Review

Ekrin B37 Overview

Ekrin offers 4 different massage guns ranging in price from $330 to $150. The main difference is the speed options, size, battery life, and attachments. This review covers the B37 model, but we also have reviewed the Ekrin Bantam if you would like to take a look at that review and video as well.

Specifications

Ergonomic Design

Unlike the Hypervice and other popular massage guns, the Ekrin B37 has a 15-degree angle on the handle. I don’t feel like I get any benefit from an angled handle. In fact, when using it on my quadriceps, I feel like the angle is a little awkward because the wrist is slightly angled up to accommodate the ergonomic design. Adjusting the grip around the motor can make this a more comfortable position.

Level 3 Brushless Motor

I searched long and hard to find details on what a “Level 3” brushless motor is. Needless to say, I didn’t find much. I am guessing this refers to some performance or efficiency of the motor. When comparing the Ekrin line of massage guns, it seems that they rank the levels by each massage gun in their lineup. With the smallest Bantam being a level 1 and the professional quality B37s being a level 4.

Battery

The battery for the Ekrin B37 is a 2550 mAh battery that lasts a really long time. Ekrinathletics.com states the Lithium-ion battery last 8 hours. I was trying to let the battery die just to test the charging time and left it running for what felt like days (although it did shut off, I’m guessing for safety reasons). The battery indicators kept turning on every time I found it off. The battery is also lightweight compared to the HyperVolt 2Pro which has 2500 mAh battery only last about 3 hours. The Ekrin weighs less than the Hypervolt but runs more than twice as long. I can only assume that this is because of the level 3 brushless motor efficiency.

Functions

The Ekrin B37 has 5 speeds, which is different from the smaller Ekrin Bantam which only has 3 speeds. To change the speed, you press the power button which will cycle through the speeds from 1400 RPM to 3200 RPM and is indicated by the small LED lights on top of the massage gun. There are 4 additional lights below the power button that indicate the amount of battery remaining.

Massage Gun Attachments

Included are 4 different attachments. A soft-ball, a solid point, a flat point, and a fork. These are pretty standard attachments included with most percussion massagers. The different massage gun tips just pull out and push in to install. There are not screw on like some massage guns.

Loudness

Sometimes overlooked as a feature, the Ekrin B37 is fairly quiet at around 70 dB in my testing. This is fairly quiet compared to other massage guns like the Tim Tam which is about 83 dB.

Carrying Case

Some massage guns don’t include

Stall Force

Stall force is important with percussion massagers because it indicates how much pressure can be applied before the motor stops working.

B37 Stall Force is 56 lbs

Amplitude

The amplitude of a massage gun is measured by the length of the tip when full extended from fully contracted. The Ekrin B37 measures

Performance Comparison

PRO’s

• Long Battery Life
• Nice Carrying Case
• Simple design

CON’s

• Not chargeable via USB-C
• Can pinch around head attachment

Ekrin B37 Overview

Comparison to Other Massage Guns

Ekrin B37 vs B37s

It may be hard to decide between the Ekrin B37 and the B37S. The main difference between the reactive force sensor on the B37s. Additionally, the B37s include 6 locking head attachments with a stronger stall force than the B37. Lastly, the cost of the B37 is $229.99 the cost of the B37s is $229.99.

Ekrin B37 vs Theragun

Thereagun cost almost twice as much as the Ekrin B37 with a shorter battery life, shallower amplitude, a less stall force. The Theragun pro does include two replaceable rechargeable batteries that the Ekrin doesn’t. There is also a digital readout of the RMP on the Theragun. The Thragun also includes 6 attachments and an adjustable head. You can also connect the Theragun to a smart phone for ultimate precision. If you feel like these options are worth the additional $200 for the cost of the Thereagun it is a better option for you over the Ekrin B37.

Ekrin B37 vs Hypervolt

The Hyperice Hypervolt 2 and 2 Pro are other options when considering the Ekrin B37. They cost $229 and $329 respectively. The price is consistent with the Ekrin B37 and B37S. So why would you choose one over the other. The Hypervolt doesn’t include a case. They both include 5 attachments. The Hypervold batteries last around 3 hours, while the Ekrin battery can last up to 8. Like the Theragun, the Hypervolt can be customized via Bluetooth and the Hypervice app. The Ekrin and Hypervolt are both about the same volume. Another difference is the ergonomic handle with a 15 degree slant on the Ekrin. They are both good options for about the same price point. You need to determine if a case and longer battery life is more important to you than the straight handle, Hypervolt app, and shorter battery life.

Why use the Ekrin B37

Massage Guns have many proven benefits. In one study the participants improved their range of motion by using a massage gun for 5 min. The dorsiflexion of the ankle increased by around 5% after using the precision massager.

Therefore, we suggest including a percussive massage treatment in a warm-up regimen to optimize the flexibility level of an athlete, without losing muscle performance.

Konrad, A., Glashüttner, C., Reiner, M. M., Bernsteiner, D., & Tilp, M. (2020). The Acute Effects of a Percussive Massage Treatment with a Hypervolt Device on Plantar Flexor Muscles’ Range of Motion and Performance. Journal of Sports Science & Medicine, 19(4), 690-694. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7675623/

Ekrin B37 Review Conclusion

The B37 has an industry-leading battery power-to-weight ratio. When testing the B37, It would be weeks before I needed to charge it again. This is with average use of about 10 min a day. I can confidently recommend the B37 as a good upper-end massage gun that performs well, has a great battery, with all necessary tips, and a nice carrying case all for a reasonable price.