ROLL Recovery R8 Plus (Carbon Black) - Deep Tissue Massage Roller

Product Information

The R8 roller and a foam roller both help with relief from muscle soreness and tight tissue, but they’re very different and each has its own pros and cons. After using the newer model a few times, for the most part, I can say that the experience is fairly similar to my trusty older R8 model—except for switching out the inserts. I like the idea of different inserts, and I could really feel a difference using the Super Plush or Super Deep versus the standard insert, but changing them out is a bit of a hassle. If I had the newer model, I could see myself finding an insert combination I liked and just leaving it, which kind of defeats the purpose of having interchangeable inserts.

In my experience, the R8 provides more power and force than any foam roller ever could, thanks to its spring-loaded design that clamps down on your muscles. Foam rolling is a form of self-myofascial release, which breaks up those adhesions, and in turn improving your range of motion and reducing muscle soreness. Think of it as a DIY deep-tissue massage. ( Massage guns can also help.) I first spotted one of these roller-skate arm-trapping thing-a-majigs at the gym. It didn’t look enticing; the girl who was using it to massage her forearm had her eyes squeezed shut and her mouth all skewed sideways like she’d just eaten something nasty. Not for me , I thought.I like that the new roller is a single piece, compared to the original model, which was composed of several individual roller skate-looking pieces. The new roller is also rubber coated, making it more comfortable on bare skin than the previous model. ROLL Recovery was founded by Jeremy and Adriana Nelson in their garage in Boulder, Colorado. Adriana, a professional marathon runner and winner of multiple National Championship titles, was looking for ways to enhance her recovery time. As a mechanical engineer, Jeremy got to work tinkering with designs. The R8 was built to compress deep tissue to help athletes break up tight spots and increase blood flow. I was kind of able to use it on my forearm, although it seems my arms are too thin to get enough pressure from the roller. I couldn’t use the R8 on my upper arms by myself; with a friend’s help, I was able to, but that’s inconvenient.

I eventually resorted to just letting this thing squeeze and mash me at full force, which wasn’t ideal. The R8 has two big handles that are easy enough to grip, but the spring-loaded clamps make it tough to choose and maintain a specific level of pressure. Both models share some common ground. They’re both compatible with SuperDeep & SuperPlush inserts, allowing for a bit of a more customizable feel. The other area I really enjoyed using the R8 Plus was on my forearms, which are always tight from lifting weights and climbing. The compression feels amazing on your flexors and extensors, and I can see myself using the R8 as part of my climbing recovery from now on.

Why we made it

However, if you do want to play around with the different rollers, ROLL Recovery makes it easy. Every bolt on the R8 Plus takes a 3mm Allen key. Most bicycle-specific multitools will have a 3mm key. Even if you’re traveling or using the R8 at the trailhead, you’ll likely have the tools on hand to swap out rollers or just tighten up a loose bolt. ROLL Recovery R8 Plus: Just Keep Spinning My call: The R8 Plus deep tissue massage roller is an effective bodywork tool for all the different muscle groups in your legs and arms. Wow!!! The device provided a lot of pressure to give an excellent deep tissue massage you cannot get with a traditional foam roller or using your hands. The R8 Plus is simple to use, and you roll it up and down your legs, hips, glutes, and arms to improve circulation to promote blood flow, which reduces inflammation. Watch these videos demonstrating how to use the device on different body parts.