Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsRunner's Best Friend
Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2017
I run recreationally, but like many, I enjoy pushing myself hard and find myself with considerable muscle soreness after really long runs.
Rolling out my legs before, and giving special attention to sore muscles after my workouts, changes everything. Before rolling, my calves would be so sore and tired immediately after running that I could barely walk straight; with this foam roller, I feel more recovered 20 minutes after a workout than I used to 2 hours after. It's not merely superficial pain relief either, I can go from walking with a compensating limp from soreness to walking with vigor after a few minutes with this.
More than that, I've been able to work out considerably more often, and I feel more confident than ever that I'm working out injury free thanks to rolling my ITB and other problem areas before running. In the month after ordering and using this roller, I dropped nearly a minute from my 10k pace - about 5 minutes from my total time.
Be aware that this is not a massage roller. Although I've said it helps with pain relief, rolling with this may hurt a bit itself at first. To call this "firm" is maybe unfair, because its core is completely rigid, covered with a foam layer just thick enough to give it texture and grip so it can be used effectively. The first dozen or so times you use it, you may need to ease your weight onto it and take it easy. However, I found that after a week or so it not only didn't hurt, it felt outright good - I would go so far as to say comfortable thanks to the excellent foam layer. Having used this, I can't imagine hoping for comparable results out of a compressible, all-foam roller.
As for the rest, this roller is simply well designed. It's lightweight, very durable and water resistant (including sweat), the foam layer doesn't look stressed out or cracked from use, even though I live in an extremely, disturbingly dry climate. Nothing is peeling, nothing is deformed, nothing shows even the slightest sign of wear. It's as good as the day I bought it, and I wouldn't hesitate to pack it in my gym bag or trunk without fear of crushing the shape. Top notch, look forward to years of happy use.
