Bob and Brad D6 Pro Massage Gun: Tried & Tested by MH
Another day, another massage gun. It seems you can barely scroll between sets these days without stumbling across yet another percussive therapy device promising the world and more. But while the science on whether massage guns actually work appears to be pretty solid, it's fair to assume (and we've tested enough, so we know) that not every device on the market lives up to its (often rather inflated) claims.
Which is why when we come across a genuinely good piece of kit, we like to share it. Among a sea of copycat and sub-par products, massage guns that are durable, effective and come with a host of handy (and not merely novel) extras are not only fairly rare, but also worth shouting about. So, say hello to the Bob and Brad D6 Pro Massage Gun.
It should really come as no surprise that a massage gun bred from the brains of two physiotherapists (yes, that's Bob and Brad) is an absolute beast, but keep reading to find out exactly why we rate it so highly.
Bob and Brad D6 Pro: What's in The Box
The D6 Pro arrives in fairly hefty box which is entirely taken up with the zipped carry case. On first impressions both massage gun and the case feel sleek, sturdy and well-made.
Aside from the massage gun, here's what's included:
Carry case - The case is smart, zips up easily (even when I cram the attachments inside in a not particularly neat fashion) and has an easy-grip rubber handle too.
Seven massage heads - These come in their own zipped storage bag and cater to a range of muscle groups and trigger points (more on these below).
USB charging cable - The USB-C cable comes with a compatible wall plug for super-fast charging.
User manual and guidance booklet - As well as simple user instructions the massage gun comes with an illustrated treatment booklet detailing how to massage different areas of the body.
Two rubber gaskets - It's not made clear but I think these are replacements to fit on the massage heads in case they wear down over time.
I'm awarding bonus points here because everything — charger, all seven attachments and both instruction booklets — fit inside the case along with the massage gun, which you don't see often, even in premium products. This does of course mean it's not the dinkiest of packages (measuring 30 x 24 cm), so you probably won't be slinging the D6 Pro in your gym bag.
Bob and Brad D6 Pro: Features
As you'd expect for a massage device at the pricier end of the spectrum (although it could be considered cheap in comparison to percussive therapy giants Theragun), the D6 Pro is loaded with intuitive features.
Ergonomic multi-grip and rotating arm
With a large handle offering multiple grip points and a swivelling arm that allows for six different positions across a 90 degree span, the brand says the D6 Pro enables you to 'target 80% of hard-to-reach areas of your body without straining your wrists, hands, or arms.' This is obviously hard to quantify, but I can report that other than the always-tricky upper back, I used this effectively all over my body with no issue.
The swivelling arm meant I could target various areas more comfortably — even those that are easy to reach — and in terms of ergonomics I found I preferred this handle to the triangle Theragun design, as my hand fit more naturally in the oblong corners, rather than getting slightly cramped in an acute angle.
To adjust the rotating arm you push in a button close to the circular rotating hinge (ensure the gun is switched off when you do this), then essentially just yank the arm to one of the six positions and click it into place. It was a little stiff at first and after a lot of use still doesn't move particularly easily, but has loosened up somewhat.
OLED screen
The OLED screen is situated just above the control panel and displays your current speed, mode and remaining battery life. Being on the handle of the massage gun it's pretty dinky, but everything is clear enough to read.
Lightweight construction
There's no denying the D6 Pro looks pretty hefty, but to fully utilise that rotating arm and multi-grip handle you need to be able to elevate it (say, for targeting your traps or upper back) without getting so tired you negate the point of your at-home massage.
The brand claims it weighs in at 2.8lbs, but on my scales (albeit sans attachment — though they can't be more than a few grams), the massage gun came out lighter, at 2.13lbs, or 128g. For comparison, the Theragun Pro Gen 5 weighs 125g.
I am not blessed with upper body/arm strength and some of my testing sessions of the D6 Pro lasted a couple of hours — much longer than you'd usually spend using a massage gun. Despite this, I barely noticed the weight and it was only in prolonged overhead positions that my arm did start to tire a touch.
Customisable speed range
The D6 Pro offers six speeds, increasing in 200rpm increments from 1500 to 2500 — 100rpms faster than the Theragun Pro Gen 5.
While impressive, I actually favour a slower rpm on my massage guns and tend to stick around the 1500-2000 mark. The D6 Pro's 2500rpm was so fast it felt like the massage head was just gliding across my skin rather than getting into any niggles — but that's just me. If you favour a higher intensity massage or want the ability to play around with settings (most find different areas of the body will benefit from different speeds) then this is a big plus.
16mm amplitude
Amplitude in a massage gun refers to how deep it can reach into your muscles, so the higher the amplitude, the deeper the massage. 16mm amplitude is currently the highest available on the market, and on the D6 Pro this is backed up by 85lbs stall force. Not familiar? Stall force (or torque) refers to the amount of pressure you can apply on the massage gun before the motor stalls, and 85lbs is among the highest we've seen.
As you can see below, these factors combined pack quite a punch.
Ultra-quiet technology
I'll admit something here: I initially forgot to review how quiet the D6 Pro is because I didn't even notice the volume throughout all my testing. I had background radio on and could still hear it the entire time — impressive.
When I went back to really listen I compared it with my 5th Gen Theragun Pro, and it's a lot quieter, and has a lower frequency so is less piercing on the ears. While it does get slighly louder the faster you go, you can absolutely use it at full pelt while watching TV and won't have to turn the volume up so high your neighbours give you side eye the next day.
The brand calls the D6 Pro whisper-quiet, a description I find is never accurate, but it is the quietest massage gun I've tried, and I've tried a lot.
180-minute battery life
A three hour battery life is impressive in a Bluetooth speaker, let alone a moving, shaking, massaging machine — and incidentally is 30 minutes longer than the 5th Gen Theragun Pro.
You're not likely to use a massage gun for 180 minutes straight (in fact, please don't), but even after extensive testing over a few weeks I've yet to recharge the D6 Pro. I fully charged it out the box (which takes three and a half hours from flat) and it's still going strong.
Bob and Brad D6 Pro: Settings
There are just two buttons on the control panel of the D6 Pro, located just beneath the OLED screen. One is the power button as well as the 'up' arrow, the other is the mode selection tool and 'down' arrow.
To turn the gun on and off you press and hold the power button, which is also how you switch to the mode selection tool on the other button. I personally feel the gun could have just had four buttons so as not to double them up, but this is minor niggle.
Speeds
Controlling the speeds (1500, 1700, 1900, 2100, 2300, 2500) couldn't be easier — in mode 1, you simply use the up and down arrows to toggle to your desired speed.
In certain modes (see below) you can also access the speeds inbetween the presets (1600, 1800 etc.) .
Modes
The D6 Pro comes loaded with four modes, inventively named modes 1, 2, 3 and 4. The default setting is mode 1, which allows you full control over the speed.
To change modes, you press and hold the 'M' button, upon which the massage gun will stop moving. From here you click the 'M' button, which will cycle you through each mode, until you land on the one you want. Then you press the power button to confirm your mode and the preset routine starts.
M1 - You're in full control of the speed.
M2 - Cycles through the default speeds, from slowest to fastest, in 30 seconds, then goes back to the beginning and repeats. The brand recommends this for relaxing muscles after a workout.
M3 - Essentially M2 but in reverse (going from fastest to slowest), recommended to activate muscles before a workout.
M4 - Described as 'triangle wave mode,' this increases and decreases the speed very quickly in increments of 100rpm from 1700-2300.
For each of the programmed modes the OLED screen displays a status bar as well as the speed and mode name. After around 10 minutes use in these modes the gun automatically switches off.
Bob and Brad D6 Pro: Attachments
The D6 Pro comes with an impressive seven attachments made from soft-touch silicone, bar one (the large ball) which also uses foam.
To change the massage heads, make sure the device is switched off, then you simply grip the inserted head and pull firmly to remove it. Then insert the stem of a new head and press hard to secure it. As with changing heads on all massage guns (aside from the few screw-on options), yanking it out feels a bit rudimentary and it was quite stiff to begin with.
In terms of attachment features, the included instruction booklet details suggestions on where to use each massage head and their specific benefits — for example trigger points, particularly sore muscles, or parts of the body. It does feel like there's a bit of doubling up on recommended usage, but I'm a firm believer that having choice is no bad thing.
Large ball - For larger muscle groups like glutes and quads. I used this predominantly on sore quads, which was very effective, and felt it was a good all-rounder but nothing to really write home about. Made from foam rather than silicone it has a different kind of give, and I personally prefer the feeling from silicone.
Standard ball - A targeted option for overall use. Not actually ball-shaped, confusingly. This was brilliant on large muscle groups (thanks to the flatter head) and for getting into my hip flexors without eliciting too much wincing.
Damping - For tender or bony areas and overall use. This worked wonders on the tender muscles around my knee. It has less give than the standard ball and thus a bit more intensity, which I liked.
Air cushion - For those extra sensitive areas. Because this compresses like an accordion it was harder to attach than the other massage heads, but once I got it in place I found it was ideal for a gentle touch on extra sore spots — for example the groin, pecs, tender traps and the side of the neck — or for winding down, but the slapping noise the hollow construction evokes isn't exactly soothing.
Flat - For trigger points and the lower back. I had a sore lower back during testing so was sceptical verging on slightly afraid of this given its small surface area, but it actually worked like a dream and I loosened up in no time. I found the flat head was also great for getting in those niggly bits around the hips and glutes. It's meant to mimic a human thumb, but of course moves a lot faster, so for those triggers points where a slow approach is more soothing (neck, shoulders, traps) it's probably not quite what you’re looking for.
Spade - For shoulder blades, IT bands, scraping and flushing. This one has a bit of flex to it so isn't as intense as it looks, and while the adjustable arm makes reaching your own shoulders easier, it’s still not ideal and I think you really need a recovery partner to help here. I also found the recommended sweeping motions on bare skin (I tried it down my IT band) were pretty uncomfortable (and I can imagine this would be tenfold if you’re a hairy bloke), so I’d recommend using such motions over clothes only. This is easily the best massage head for traps though, it felt incredible.
Bullet - For pinpoints and smaller muscle groups. This was made for workout- or walk-weary feet. The targeted pressure offers instant relief, which I also really enjoyed on my traps, but I’m someone who likes to feel like I'm being beaten up during a massage, so this might not suit all.
Bob and Brad D6 Pro: The Verdict
I tested the Bob and Brad D6 Pro a couple of days after I decided to run a 10k and do an intense strength session on the same day (why?) so the DOMS was very much present. And I'm convinced that the only reason I was able to move the following day was because of this massage gun.
After a full-body percussive pat down I felt renewed, and it truly sorted out some of the worst DOMS I've ever experienced. It's a really brilliant offering and not only rivals, but potentially outstrips, the Theragun Pro Gen 5 — which fetches a much higher price tag.
Pros
Loads of choice in attachments and speeds for a fully customisable experience
Among the fastest and most powerful on the market
Comes with elevated extras (smart carry case, massage guide, wall plug)
Fully ergonomic
Very quiet
You get more for less when compared with competitors
Cons
Changing the attachments could be easier
There are lighter offerings out there
While it comes with a carry case, it is a large addition to any gym bag
While the D6 Pro packs a punch, it's also the detail in the extras that elevate products to elite levels, and this is loaded with them. Take for example the handle on the carry case — it's made from easy-grip ergonomic rubber, compatible with sweaty hands — or the work the brand have put into making the gun as quiet as possible. There's nothing they haven't thought of, and nowhere you can't target nor tailor the gun to.
In a busy market the D6 Pro stands out for its huge customisable opportunity alongside the quality of the basic elements that make up any massage gun — power, battery life and ergonomics. It's quieter and has more features and attachments than other market leaders, all for a lower price point. If you're in the market for a quality massage gun, this won't let you down. It's sleek, powerful, quiet and oh-so effective. I'm a convert.
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