Hyperice Venom Go Review

The Venom Go is the first thing I put on when getting ready for a run. It's able to stick to wherever I need it while I get the rest of my wardrobe and gear ready. Pictured here, I have it on while doing a few floor stretches at home before lacing up my shoes and heading out the door. It's very simple to use. The pod itself attaches to a sticky pad via magnets on the back of the pod and pad. Then, remove the covering from the other side of the pad to reveal the sticky side and attach it to anywhere on your body. I've used it on the muscles near my knee, as well as on my calf (shown here), hip, quad, and shoulder. The pad can supposedly handle up to 20 uses, though I think I put the first one through more than that before retiring it! The Venom Go comes with three of these reusable pads, with more available for purchase when you need to restock. 

Once it's attached where you need it, press the power button on top to turn it on. From there, you can adjust the heat level and vibration patterns using the two side buttons shown above. Three different heat levels plus three different vibration patterns equals nine different combinations! I tend to go with the highest heat and the third vibration pattern, but the lower heat levels are nice to have for especially sensitive spots. Lights on the side below the heat and vibration buttons tell you what level or setting you're currently on. The pod will run for ten minutes before automatically stopping. If you need more, just up the heat and vibration again. 

When you're done, hold down the power button again to turn it off. Then release the magnetic attachment by simply pulling the pod off of the pad, and peel the pad off of your skin. Be sure to replace the covering on the pad so you can get as many uses out of it as possible! As I mentioned, I've gotten more than 20 for sure—probably closer to 50 on a single pad. 

I use the pod most often during my warm-up. But, it's also useful for the sake of soothing sore muscles post-run. I've also pulled it out during long flights or car rides to prevent stiffness! 

The pod itself is a small square that fits in the palm of your hand. It's extremely portable. I travel a lot for work and life, and it goes with me in my carry-on purse wherever I go. The pod has some heft to it, but nothing crazy. I appreciate the weight of it as a reminder of the powerhouse that it is! 

The compact size means that the pod can go almost anywhere you need it. The pod isn't flexible, of course, but the pad is—so it can accommodate the joints and curves along your body. I've been mostly using it for my knee injury, which is maybe the only tough place to target directly with the pod since I can't place the pod right on the joint. But, since the main issue for me is the related tightness in the muscles and soft tissues surrounding the actual knee, I've had success placing it right beside the kneecap. If you have a bone injury like me, the Venom Go can still be quite useful on the nearby muscles. I recommend working with a PT to figure out where your pain or injury is coming from, and place the pod on the source.  

Herein lies the only real downside to the Venom Go, and it's a give-and-take at that. It's extremely powerful, and emits much more heat and vibrating power than you'd expect from such a small tool. However, that means that the battery life is very short. On a full charge, I can get two rounds of ten minutes each on the highest heat setting before it dies. This is plenty at one time; it only becomes an issue when I forget to charge it up to full power. It takes about an hour to charge up from zero. If you have an easier time remembering to charge it regularly than I seem to, you'll be set! Otherwise, prepare for a few frustrating early mornings... but you ultimately only have yourself to blame 😉