The Best Recovery Tools to Buy With Your Wellness Stipend
Recovery is where fitness results actually happen — and it's where most people neglect to invest. A few simple recovery tools can cut soreness, improve mobility, and extend your training career. Here's what we recommend spending your wellness stipend on.
What to Look For
- A quality foam roller (TriggerPoint Grid) is the single highest-ROI recovery purchase — under $40 and lasts forever.
- Percussion massage guns cover a wider range of use cases than foam rollers but cost 5x more.
- Compression boots (Normatec, Rapid Reboot) are pricey ($800+) but transformative for runners and heavy lifters.
- Don't forget a lacrosse ball for glutes, feet, and hard-to-reach trigger points — $5 well spent.
Frequently Asked Questions
A foam roller, a massage gun, a lacrosse ball, and a stretching strap cover 95% of home recovery needs for under $250.
Yes. Foam rollers, massage guns, compression gear, and most recovery equipment are standard approved items.
Start with a foam roller — it's cheaper, covers more of your body at once, and lasts forever. Add a massage gun later for targeted trigger points.
For serious athletes or anyone with chronic leg fatigue, yes. For casual exercisers, they're overkill — stick with foam rolling and massage guns.