The Best Foam Rollers of 2022 For Every Category
Are you looking for that perfect foam roller? We’ve put together the ultimate list of the best foam rollers for every category so you can find the best tool that fits your training goals.
Every kind of foam roller has a unique design that serves a specific purpose. For this list, we’ve broken it down into eight different categories and selected the best. If you’re still deciding what kind is best for you, check out our article on how to choose the right foam roller.
Categories for Best Foam Rollers:
- Overall Foam Roller
- Most Dynamic Foam Roller
- High-Density Foam Roller
- Trigger Point and Deep Tissue Foam Roller
- Vibrating Foam Roller
- Collapsible Travel Foam Roller
- Low-Density Foam Roller
- Half-Round Foam Roller
- Foam Roller on a Budget
Best Foam Rollers of 2022
  | Best Overall Foam Roller: |
  | Most Dynamic Foam Roller: |
  | Best High-Density Foam Roller: |
  | Best Deep Tissue Foam Roller: |
  | Best Vibrating Foam Roller: |
  | Best Collapsible Travel Foam Roller: |
  | Best Low-Density Foam Roller: |
  | Best Half-Round Foam Roller: |
  | Best Foam Roller on a Budget: |
If you’re interested in adding a foam roller to your gym bag, when you use one of our links from this post, we get a small commission from Amazon (at no additional cost to you!) So if you appreciate the work we do and the information we provide in articles like this, it helps us keep the lights on. Thanks for your support!
Best Overall Foam Roller
TriggerPoint GRID
The TriggerPoint GRID gives you the best of both worlds between smooth surfaced foam rollers and the rugged texture of deep tissue foam rollers.
Its unique surface design is what gives the TriggerPoint GRID its incredible versatility. Its multi-density exterior over a rigid core provides the durability and pressure ideal for rolling through tight muscles, knots, and trigger points. The deep tissue texture mimics the precise fingers of a massage therapist, while the flat sections give you the broader pressure similar to the palms.
Combined with its patented, versatile design, portable size, and affordable cost, the TriggerPoint GRID is the go-to foam roller for athletes of all disciplines. It’s also what puts it at the top of our list for the best overall foam roller for the money or the perfect gift idea for the athlete or fitness enthusiast in your life.
Most Dynamic Foam Roller
Sidekick Flare Vibration Roller
The Flare Vibration Roller is the ultimate powerhouse for at-home muscle recovery. Using your mobile device and the Sidekick SmartMobility app, you can precisely control the Flare’s powerful motor or create custom patterns and set a Favorite Flow for quick go-to sessions.
The Flare is equipped with a 6400 mAh rechargeable battery that delivers full power vibration and heat for up to two hours.
This Vibration Roller also introduces heat therapy to the mix. With its heating element reaching temperatures of 113ºF (45ºC), the Flare is a sure-fire way to treat your muscles to some soothing, deep heat therapy.
The Flare offers an optional interchangeable sleeve so you can choose the best sleeve for your recovery session at the twist of a cap. From smoother surface soothing to deep terranean trigger points, there is a sleeve for the recovery you’re looking for. The Hex sleeve comes standard issue offering a comfortable and all-purpose texture, while the optional Apex sleeve provides a more aggressive surface for deep recovery.
Best High-Density Foam Roller
LuxFit High-Density Foam Roller 36″
High-density foam rollers are a reliable choice if you’re looking for a durable roller that has the density to give back what you put in. The LuxFit High-Density foam roller has an excellent 2lbs per cubic foot density that won’t lose shape with heavy use. And its toxic-free surface repels liquids, making it a great option after high-intensity training sessions.
The LuxFit roller has a six-inch diameter but comes in four different sizes to better fit any of your training goals. The longest 36″ length gives you maximum versatility in coverage and even balance work. Or, if you want to save a bit of cash or need a foam roller that easily fits in your gym bag on the go, the size options go all the way down to 12-inches.
A high-density foam roller is a perfect choice if you have some previous experience foam rolling and are looking to add a reliable first foam roller to your home gym bag.
Best Trigger Point and Deep Tissue Foam Roller
321 STRONG Extra Firm Foam Roller
The 321 STRONG deep tissue foam roller has an additional texture that concentrates pressure and mimics the sustained pressure of a deep tissue massage.
Trigger point and deep tissue foam rollers have the unique ability to get deeper into your muscle tissue. Instead of distributing pressure over a larger surface area like a regular roller, deep tissue foam rollers take all that force from gravity and centralize it to the finger-like texture on the surface of the foam roller.
The Extra Firm option from 321 STRONG provides maximum force and added durability to ensure that you get the most life out of your roller without it beginning to deform from use. However, if you’re looking for the benefits of a deep tissue foam roller with less intensity, 321 STRONG also has an excellent medium-density option that would be right up your alley.
If you’re well experienced in foam rolling and feel like you aren’t getting the trigger point release you’re looking for from a traditional flat roller, a deep tissue texture is the step that will take your foam rolling practice to the next level.
Best Vibrating Foam Roller
Epitomie Fitness VIBRA
Vibrating foam rollers take the traditional benefits of self-myofascial release from regular foam rolling and add in the benefits of high-intensity vibration therapy.
The research on vibration therapy for athletic performance has been around for quite a while. But using it in combination with foam rolling is a new technology that is pioneering exciting new areas of additional benefits to self-myofascial release.
The Epitomie Fitness VIBRA has a unique design that sets it apart from the highly competitive market of vibrating foam rollers. Two specific areas make the VIBRA shine:
- Including both flat and deep tissue textures in one foam roller
- Its vibration mode that rotates through all frequencies of vibration
Its texture design gives you the option to ramp up the intensity with its deep tissue texture on the center or let off by moving to the sides for a flat surface that spreads the pressure over more surface area.
But the most exciting feature of the Epitomie Fitness VIBRA is its unique vibrating mode. Since the research is growing in testing vibrating foam rollers, there is still exploration into the mechanisms of specific benefits. Mainly how different vibrations cause different physiological improvements.
For example, the Journal of Athletic Training conducted two different studies. One showed an improvement in muscle oxygen saturation and the other didn’t. The key difference in the two studies was the vibration frequency used.
If you’re interested in all the science and benefits behind vibrating foam rollers, check out our recent article comparing vibration foam rolling to traditional foam rolling.
This is why the VIBRAs vibration mode is so interesting. Since the science is still developing on how differing frequencies provide (or don’t provide) differing benefits, using one tool that cycles through its five different speed levels in one session removes the uncertainty of guessing which frequency you should use.
The final best feature of the Epitomie Fitness VIBRA is its price. The VIBRA beats out some top competitors on price by a pretty significant margin. So if you’re looking to add powerful vibration technology to your foam rolling practice at a great price, the VIBRA is the vibrating foam roller for you.
Best Collapsible Travel Foam Roller
Brazyn Morph Foam Roller
Whether you’re often traveling for work or on the road for a competition, sometimes you need a foam roller that takes up less space to fit into your luggage.
Instead of having to pack less to make room for your bulky foam roller, the Brazyn Morph’s patented collapsible core technology allows it to fold flat and fit in your everyday bag so you can roll more often.
With a quick tug of the ropes, you have a foam roller pop up and expand to a full 5.5″ diameter that lets you keep up your foam rolling practice anytime, anywhere. Regardless of its small form factor, the Brazyn Morph can still support up to 350lbs.
The Brazyn Morph Foam Roller is great if you’re constantly on the go or the minimalist athlete looking to take up the least amount of space with their gear without sacrificing the quality of their training.
Best Low-Density Foam Roller
OPTP Pro-Roller Soft Density Foam Roller
If you’re new to foam rolling or have sensitive muscle groups you’ve been trying to target, high-density or deep tissue foam rollers may not be gentle enough to give you an effective rolling session.
The OPTP Pro-Roller is a low-density foam roller that provides a softer, more comfortable compression for the gentle release of tight areas.
The biggest downside of low-density foam rollers has always been their longevity. A softer surface usually means it will deform quicker over time. But the OPTP Pro-Roller is constructed from closed-cell, heat-molded EVA foam to help make it outlast the durability of typical soft density foam rollers.
If you’re just starting out with foam rolling or have areas of your body that you’ve been skipping over from too much pressure from your high-density foam roller, the OPTP Pro-Roller is just the tool you’ve been looking for.
Best Half-Round Foam Roller
CanDo Half Round Heavy Duty EVA Foam Roller
Half-round foam rollers are perfect for exercises that need additional stability that full-round foam rollers can’t provide. The CanDo Half Round Heavy Duty foam roller opens up a wide variety of self-myofascial release, stretching, and mobility work into your foam rolling practice.
The CanDo Half Round foam roller uses premium EVA foam that gives you both firmness for durability while still being soft to the touch. And the closed-cell foam prevents moisture and bacteria from passing through the surface of your foam roller. This half-round roller gives you a great tool to incorporate unique exercises that aren’t possible with your circular foam roller.
Best Low-Cost Foam Roller
Amazon Basics High-Density Foam Roller
If you’re on a budget but still looking for a straightforward high-density foam roller built to last, the Amazon Basics High-Density Round Foam Roller fits the bill.
With four size options ranging from 12-inch to 36-inch and multiple color options, you’ll have a basic, quality foam roller that fits your unique size and design needs.
Don’t forget to subscribe to the Mobility Athlete newsletter if you’d like to get more tips and tools delivered directly to your inbox to keep you on track with your mobility and workout recovery goals.
Subscribe to our newsletter!
