Athlete Tested & Approved: Chirp RPM
Discover this innovative pioneer of rolling percussion massage.
With even just a cursory glance at the market for muscle recovery devices you’ll notice there’s no shortage of options out there.
Looking for a massage gun? At this point you’re choosing between literally hundreds of options.
This is why I was thrilled to see a leading brand like Chirp thinking outside of the box and pushing muscle recovery devices into new territory with one of their latest devices: The Chirp RPM.
That “RPM” in the title stands for Rolling Percussive Massage.
And if you’re thinking that you’ve never used or heard of a rolling percussive massage device before that’s because the Chirp RPM is the first of its kind.
But, of course, it’s not enough to just be different.
It’s also gotta work.
The Chirp RPM not only works very well but does so on several levels, making it highly applicable to a wide variety of athletes and active individuals with all their varying recovery needs.
Here, we’ll look at how to use the Chirp RPM, where it works best on your body, how it stacks up against other devices, and plenty more.
So, let’s get rolling!
Note: Featured products are independently selected and reviewed by Compression Athlete. If you purchase through our links, we may earn commission.
In This Guide:
Rolling percussive massage combines two popular methods for effective muscle recovery.
As I noted above, the Chirp RPM is a rolling percussion massager, hence that RPM abbreviation in its name.
Rolling percussive massage combines two proven muscle recovery techniques by simultaneously providing rolling massage and percussion massage to the applied area.
You’re probably most familiar with rolling massage in the form of foam rolling.
"Rolling percussive massage combines two proven muscle recovery techniques by simultaneously providing rolling massage and percussion massage..."
Rolling your muscles along a foam roller applies pressure to the muscles to relive tension and reduce stiffness.
And, of course, the most popular form of percussion massage is the massage gun, which has exploded in use recently.
Massage guns apply rapid and precise bursts of pressure to the myofascial tissue surrounding your muscles to increase blood flow, ease tension, and improve range of motion.
By combining these two proven recovery methods into a hybrid device, the Chirp RPM provides maximum muscle recovery effectiveness and efficiency.
This is what’s included when you purchase a Chirp RPM.
The Chirp RPM consists of three main pieces: the massager, the hands-free base, and the charger.
The massaging device has 5 different speeds, the ability to spin in either direction, and can be used as a handheld or hands-free device.
Shop at Chirp: Chirp RPM
Available on Amazon: Chirp RPM
Also included is the hands-free base that allows the massager to operate as a hands-free device and comes in handy for storing and charging the device.
When the massager is turned on and placed in the base, it rotates on its own to allow for hands-free usage.
The Chirp RPM comes with its own charger that plugs into a standard wall socket on one end and into the charging port on the handle of the massager.
The Chirp RPM can be used widely and variedly across your body.
Perhaps the biggest asset of the Chirp RPM is its versatility.
One of the main reasons why massage guns are so popular is their ability to be used easily on muscle groups all over your body.
The same is true of the Chirp RPM.
However, its functionality extends even further than a massage gun thanks to its extended application zone, as well as its ability to provide hands-free function.
Let’s take a look at that extended application zone first.
When compared to your basic massage gun head attachment, the Chirp RPM has a significantly larger application area.
It boats an impressive 400% greater massage area when compared to leading massage guns.
In other words, the Chirp RPM can treat more muscle area at once in a shorter amount of time, which I found very helpful (i.e. faster warmups and cooldowns).
And as we mentioned earlier, you can even place the Chirp RPM in its base for additional hands-free function, increasing the number of uses and muscle groups you can target.
In my own use of the Chirp RPM, I found that the hands-free base allowed me to apply my body weight to the rolling percussion, thus increasing the pressure of the massage.
The massager has a stall force of 60 lbs, which is higher than your average massage gun but equal to higher-end massage gun options.
For a demonstration of the Chirp RPM’s many uses, check out our YouTube channel here.
The Chirp RPM really shines when used on your lower body.
Using the Chirp RPM to target lower body muscle soreness alone is worth the investment, as it’s a significant upgrade to both a foam roller and massage gun in both efficacy and overall muscle relief.
In particular, I found that the Chirp RPM really excelled when used in hands-free mode on the lower body.
If any of the following three scenarios apply to you and your training practices or athletic pursuits, it’s definitely worth checking this device out.
1. You lift heavy on leg day.
Look, if you know, you know.
Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS) is real and can be downright debilitating, especially on leg day.
And if you’re really pushing yourself on your lifts, you may legitimately find it difficult to walk, sit, get up, etc. in the days following.
Use the Chirp RPM to target every muscle in your legs and roll away pain, knots, and tension—it works wonders on leg day!
2. You’re an avid runner that rarely takes rest days.
Tight hamstrings and calves are a constant for runners.
Incorporating the Chirp RPM into your routine is a great way to keep your legs pain-free and injury-free day after day.
Use it for warmups to help loosen up stiffness and ready muscles for activity.
Also use it post-workout and on recovery days to boost blood flow and improve recovery time.
3. You experience any form of plantar fasciitis pain.
Honestly, this was the most pleasant surprise I experienced with the Chirp RPM.
Using the Chirp RPM in hands-free mode to target plantar fasciitis pain offers significant, game-changing relief.
This works great to target current pain or use it consistently to prevent plantar fasciitis pain from occurring in the first place.
The Chirp RPM stacks up favorably when compared to other muscle recovery devices.
Because the Chirp RPM (Rolling Percussion Machine) combines two muscle recovery techniques into one device, there are three different ways you can compare it against other recovery devices.
One way is to see how it stacks up against a foam roller, which provides rolling massage.
Another way is to see how it compares with a massage gun, which provides percussion massage.
And, finally, you can contrast it with other hybrid options that combine rolling massage and percussion massage.
So, let’s dive into the breakdown comparisons for both rolling massage, percussion massage, and hybrid rolling percussion massage.
The Chirp RPM is a marked improvement on other rolling massagers.
Adding percussive massage to rolling massage is what boosts the Chirp RPM’s effectiveness well past your typical foam roller.
In addition, you can hit nearly every muscle on your body with the Chirp RPM that you can with a foam roller—many of which you can target hands-free.
Really the only one it can’t do is the classic back roll, as you don’t want that percussive massage hitting along your spine.
Admittedly, not being able to target the mid to upper back is a big hole in its otherwise impressive application abilities.
You can target the shoulders, the neck, and the lats in this area which is helpful.
But there is something very nice and noticeably effective about using your body weight on the upper back area with a foam roller.
In fact, it’s practically the sole reason why I keep a classic foam roller handy.
Apart from this, however, the Chirp RPM can be used as a more effective and powerful foam roller thanks to the addition of that percussive massage.
The Chirp RPM is a nice variation on other percussive massagers.
The most popular and widely used percussion massaging device in the world of sports and beyond is, of course, the massage gun.
And for good reason.
A high-quality massage gun is an extremely convenient and effective muscle recovery tool that offers powerful and precise massage in a compact design that’s easy to handle and transport (which is especially true in the case of mini massage guns).
In comparison, the Chirp RPM has a wider application area, so it’s not as precise and pointed as a massage gun.
However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, as it allows the Chirp RPM to cover more muscle surface area in a shorter amount of time.
Additionally, you’ll find that massage guns can be downright powerful (with higher-end options sporting up to 90-Watt motors).
Now, if you’re a professional athlete or someone that trains very hard day in and day out, trying to hit specific goals and deadlines, then this level of power might be necessary to keep up.
If this doesn’t apply to your athletic pursuits, you may find all that power a tad unnecessary,
and the smoother rolling percussion of the Chirp RPM might be more up your alley.
From my own use with both device types, I wouldn’t categorize this as a one or the other choice.
Rather, I find these devices complimentary and find that each has their own strengths and benefits depending on the situation and what my muscles need.
The Chirp RPM is the only rolling percussive massager of its kind.
When it comes to comparing the Chirp RPM as a rolling percussive massager, the device is basically in a league of its own.
Chirp is the only leading brand in the muscle relief and recovery realm with a rolling percussive massager.
The closest comparison that we could find from other well-established brands would be either the Therabody Wave or the Hyperice Vyper 3.
However, both of these devices are essentially foam rollers with a vibration setting.
Both are nice devices that provide a boost to the typical foam rolling experience but there’s a notable difference between vibration and percussion.
The vibration from these foam rollers won’t offer any of the amplitude or penetration to your muscles that a percussion massager can for deep relief.
If you’re all-in on rolling percussive massage, be sure to check out the new Chirp RPM Mini for convenient on-the-go relief.
