Philips Ergo Sports Gun Review

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The Philips Ergo Sports Gun is a mid-range hand held massage gun designed for fitness enthusiasts looking to speed up recovery or treat issues like knots, stiffness, and muscle soreness. I extensively tested the device for my Philips Ergo Sports Gun review, analysing its pricing, amplitude, speed settings, and overall performance while providing a few practical tips from my personal experience.

The Bottom Line

After testing the device for my Philips Ergo review, I found it suitable for many applications thanks to its customisable speed settings and heads. While battery life, operating volume, and speed settings could be improved, the Ergo massage gun is ideal if you need a deep tissue massage. However, due to its hefty price tag, the Ergo gun is best for people with experience using massage guns who know the devices are helpful in their recovery process. A better equivalent is the POWR Deep Muscle Massage Gun which is far cheaper.

Final Rating: 4/5

★★★★

What I Liked

The Philips Ergo Sports gun has an amplitude of 12mm, making the service suitable for deep tissue treatment targeting dense muscles like my quads and hamstrings, unlike massage guns with a percussion depth (amplitude) of 8mm to 10mm, which only offers surface-level relief.
I was impressed by the range of heads Philips includes with the massager, they offer u-shaped/bullet heads for targeting smaller muscles, wedge/multipoint arc-shaped heads for larger muscle groups, and a rubber ball head for general use. Additionally, the included titanium is excellent for sensitive skin and applying massage oils.
One of the Philips Ergo’s main selling points is its ergonomic design, which enabled me to use the device by myself far easier than other, more weighty massage guns I’ve looked at. Thanks to the circular cut-out handle, I could hold the device at different distances to reach all over my body conveniently and comfortably.

What I Didn’t Like

During use, I found the Philips massager slightly cumbersome to wield due to its size, making it challenging to reach difficult areas like my back without assistance.
While Philips does not advertise the operating volume, I found it a bit louder than other devices I’ve tested, like the FITINDEX and Everfit massage guns, both coming in at 45 decibels at maximum speed. As such, if you tend to work out at odd hours or find a quieter operating volume that is more relaxing, you may prefer an alternative massage gun.

Who Should Use The Philips Ergo Sports Gun?

The Philips Ergo massage gun is suitable for all types of fitness enthusiasts, from people like myself, who enjoy staying active and doing physical exercise but aren’t professional athletes, to those requiring a highly functional product to speed up recovery times to increase training volume or intensity.

Thanks to its variable speed control, ergonomic design, and range of included massage heads, the Ergo gun can be used effectively by just about anyone. That said, as it’s a premium option priced considerably higher than most other massage guns, the Philips Ergo is best suited to people with experience using massage guns who know the devices are helpful for their recovery but require deeper penetration than budget alternatives offer.

Notable Features

After testing the device for my Philips Ergo Spots gun review, I found the following to be its most notable features.

An ergonomic angled grip

The namesake of the Philips Ergo Sports Gun is its highly ergonomic handle that makes holding on to the device for extended periods far more comfortable than competitor products. During use, I found the angular design of the handle made it much easier to target difficult-to-reach body parts, like my lower back and shoulders.

10kg pressure output

The Philips Ergo offers an impressive pressure output of up to 10kg, more than enough for muscle tissue penetration and decreased recovery times. However, if you have sensitive skin, I recommend starting on a low-speed setting and ramping up as needed to avoid pain or discomfort.

A 12mm amplitude

A significant advantage to the Philips Ergo sports massage gun over weaker massage guns we’ve looked at is its impressive amplitude. Thanks to the sports gun boasting a depth of 12mm, I found it simple to target deep tissue layers and enjoy a concentrated massage, which I felt yielded superior and more complete relief versus less powerful devices.

Low weight

I find it challenging to use a massage gun for extended periods due to the weight and vibration frequency hurting my hands. However, as the Philips Ergo is one of the more lightweight devices we’ve looked at, weighing 750 grams, I could hold it relatively easily. The rubber interior grip is good for dampening vibrations but doesn’t extend to the outside of the handle, limiting effectiveness.

A decent battery life

After fully charging the Philips Ergo, I could consistently get approximately 3 hours of use from a single charge. Many other massage guns boast a longer runtime, like the Theragun Pro, which has 300+ minutes of charge. However, considering that the Philips device weighs just 750 grams, I think it’s impressive that the company has included a battery with such longevity.

An easy to use single button design

While quite a few of the massage guns I’ve tested utilize a multi-button system or finicky touchscreen, the Philips Ergo Sports Gun boasts a convenient and streamlined one-button system. Although having just a single button makes cycling through speed settings a convoluted process, it was ideal for one-handed use and helped me get set up and ready for use within a few minutes of opening the box.

Price and Value for Money

The Philips Ergo Sports Gun is undoubtedly a premium option, priced at around $499 (although I’ve seen it discounted as low as $349). Based on its pricing, the Philips device is a middle ground between budget-friendly alternatives like the Everfit Percussion Massage gun ($150) and costly options like the Theragun Pro ($999).

Despite its middle-of-the-range price tag, the Philips Ergo offers premium functionality and a high-quality build. With a 12mm amplitude, seven-speed modes, and up to 10kg of pressure, the device can target facia, deep tissue treatment, and scar tissue, making it suitable for all recovery forms. Moreover, its lightweight and ergonomic design makes it comfortable enough for extended daily use.

Ultimately, the Philips Ergo Sports Gun offers a reasonable value proposition targeted toward people looking for relief at a level above what’s possible with budget massage guns. While the massage gun doesn’t feel as well-built as the Theragun Pro I tested, it’s a great option if you’re looking for a good entry point into the premium massage gun market.

My Own Experience (and practical usage tips)

With the Philips Ergo Sports gun boasting a powerful 26W motor with a massage frequency of 1,600 Hz to 3,200 Hz, it can be tempting to get started immediately. However, in practice, I found it wise to mediate your massage strength based on which massage head you were using. For example, the rubber ball head is suitable for all seven power levels, while the bullet-shaped head feels much better set to lower settings.

While using the device, I found the seven-speed modes to offer precise control over the massage intensity. However, the difference between intensity levels was quite high, making it difficult to find a suitable middle ground between ample strength and comfortability. That said, the force feedback system does well to help counter the lack of modes, but I still feel the device would benefit from a few extra options.

I have relatively sensitive skin, so I find that many massage guns cause excess redness and discomfort, mainly when using rubber heads in high settings. However, the Philips Ergo sports gun comes with a professional titanium head, which I love as it penetrates deeper into the tissue and facia thanks to its superior hardness while reducing redness, as titanium is the most body-friendly metal on the market.

What Customers Are Saying

Unfortunately, not many verified customer reviews were available, making it difficult to accurately ascertain how people feel about their Philips Ergo Sports Guns, possibly hinting at an overall lack of popularity in the market.

However, the Philips website had a handful of reviews. Some people raised issues with its operating volume and size, but most agreed the device boasts a premium build quality and more than enough strength for deep tissue treatment.

Final Verdict

I found the Philips Ergo Sports Massage Gun offers excellent performance. While more costly than many massage guns, the Philips device boasts an impressive 12mm amplitude, perfect for treating deep-rooted issues. While its loud operation and limited battery life make it unsuitable for travel, the Philips Ergo is an excellent option for athletes and fitness fanatics looking to take their recovery to the next level.

How I Rated The Philips Ergo

Ordering, Shipping, Delivery – 4.5/5
Speeds – 4/5
Motor – 4/5
Attachments – 4.5/5
Battery Life – 3.5/5
Noise – 3.5/5
Portability – 4.5/5
Value – 3.5/5
Warranty and Returns – 4/5
Customer Service – 4/5
OVERALL: 4/5

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Philips Ergo sports gun easy to use?

Thanks to the easily interchangeable heads and convenient one-button design, I found operating the Philips massage gun very simple. If you struggle, the included manual outlines safe usage well.

Does the Philips Ergo massage gun compare to Theragun?

While the Theragun Pro costs twice as much as the Philips device, its performance is similar. While the Theragun beats the Philips slightly in all areas, the massively reduced price makes the Philips Ergo Sports Gun a compelling alternative.

Is the Philips Ergo sports gun worth it?

You must consider your needs to decide whether the Philips Ergo is worth it. If you’re looking for a powerful mid-range massage gun that can penetrate deep into the tissue, it’s a great device. However, a budget option like Aldi’s massage gun might be preferable if you’re making your first foray into the space.