I Used the Ekrin B37 for 90 Days—Including One Very Ugly Treadmill

The Quick Facts (Before You Read My Novel)

Why I’m Even Writing This

Six months ago, I threw my cheap Amazon massage gun in the trash. Literally. The motor burned out after 4 months, smelled like burning hair, and the customer service email bounced.

I limped back to my foam roller like it was 2015.

Then my physical therapist—Ryan at Phoenix PT, the guy who fixed my shoulder impingement—used this weird-looking device on my quad. “Ekrin B37,” he said. “We have three in the clinic. No, you can’t borrow one.”

I went home and googled. The lifetime warranty stopped me mid-scroll. I’d just paid $80 for a replacement battery on my partner’s Theragun Elite (14 months old, 2 months past warranty). The idea of never paying again felt like a fever dream.

I found a 30% discount code through a friend. Ordered the B37. Kept every email, took photos of the box, fully ready to return it.

That was 90 days ago. I’ve used it 67 times. I have notes.

Unboxing: The Details That Actually Matter

The box arrived in 36 hours (I’m in Denver, they ship from Texas). Inside:

• The unit: 2.2 lbs, feels like a quality power drill. The rubber grip has a slight texture—doesn’t slip when your hands are sweaty.
• Attachments: 4 total. The bullet tip is genuinely silicone, not plastic. The flat head has a slight flex to it—good for bones. The fork is rigid, perfect for calves.
• Case: Hard zipper case with a mesh pocket. I’ve thrown it in my gym bag twice a week; zero wear.
• Charger: USB-C, but the cord is only 3 feet long. Annoying. I used my MacBook charger.

First charge took 2 hours 14 minutes. The LED lights are just bright enough to see in daylight but not obnoxious at night.

First use: I went too hard. Speed 6 on my calf, 60 seconds. Bruised myself. The manual says 30 seconds per muscle group for a reason. Read it.

The Performance Tests (I Got Weird About It)

Test 1: The “Will It Stall?” Test

I weigh 165 lbs, squat 225, and have dense runner’s legs. My old massage gun stalled if I pressed harder than a firm handshake.

With the Ekrin B37, I leaned in with about 70% of my body weight on speed 4. It slowed slightly—maybe 10%—but kept hitting. According to my PT, that’s 56 lbs of stall force. My brother (185 lbs, plays rugby) tried to stop it. Couldn’t.

Data: It never stalled on me in 67 uses. Not once.

Test 2: The “Can I Hear My TV?” Test

I used it while watching The Last of Us at volume 22 (normal is 20). My partner didn’t notice until I moved to my upper back, 3 feet from his head.

Me: “Is it too loud?” Him: “Is what too loud?”

Measured with a phone app:

• Speed 1: 52 dB (our fridge is 50 dB)
• Speed 6: 64 dB (our dishwasher is 62 dB)

Verdict: Can you use it in a hotel room at 6 AM without waking a roommate? Yes.

Test 3: The “Does It Actually Fix Anything?” Test

I had a nagging IT band issue from November. Foam rolling helped for 20 minutes. The B37? I used it for 90 seconds per spot, 3x a day, for 5 days.

Day 3: Pain down 40%. Day 7: Pain down 80%. Day 19: Ran 6 miles with zero pain.

My PT confirmed: “The amplitude and frequency are dialed in for myofascial release. You’re not imagining it.”

Test 4: The “Battery Life in Real Life” Test

Advertised: 8 hours.

My usage pattern:

• 12 minutes per day
• Speed 3-5 average
• Full charge on Day 1

It died on Day 37. That’s 444 minutes—7 hours 23 minutes. Pretty damn close.

Charge time from dead: 2h 31m.

Annoyance: No battery indicator percentage, just 5 LED dots. The last dot blinks for an hour before it dies. Give me a real percentage, Ekrin.

The Ugly Stuff (Because I’m Not a Shill)

Problem #1: The Attachment Storage

The hard case has a mesh pocket. The attachments rattle around. After 3 weeks, the bullet tip’s silicone edge got a tiny nick. Not deal-breaking, but for $230, give me an elastic loop for each attachment.

Problem #2: The Charger Cord

Three feet long. My outlet is behind my bed. I have to sit on the floor to use it while charging. First-world problem? Sure. Annoying? Yes.

Problem #3: The Learning Curve

Speed 6 feels like a jackhammer if you’re not used to it. I bruised my calf that first day. The manual says “start at speed 1,” but who reads manuals? I do now. You should too.

Problem #4: The Bantam vs. B37 Confusion

I almost bought the Bantam (mini) because it’s cheaper. I’m glad I didn’t. The Bantam is great for travel (I got one later), but the B37 is the workhorse. The website doesn’t make this super clear. I had to call them.

The Warranty Test (I Actually Called)

At day 42, the power button started feeling “soft.” It still worked, but I wanted to test the warranty claim process.

Called: 10:17 AM on a Tuesday. Human answered on ring 2. Her name was Lisa.

Me: “My power button feels different. Not broken, but softer.” Lisa: “I can send a replacement today. Or you can send yours in and we’ll fix it—usually 5-day turnaround.” Me: “What if I’m just being paranoid?” Lisa: “Better to have a unit you trust. I’ll send a new one. Keep the attachments. Return label in your email in 5 minutes.”

New unit arrived in 48 hours. I returned mine. Zero cost. They didn’t even ask for a receipt—just the serial number on the unit.

That alone is worth the price.

Side-by-Side: Ekrin B37 vs. The Competition

I borrowed three other massage guns from friends for a weekend torture test.

The Theragun feels fancier. It has an app. The app is useless—you’re not changing speeds on your phone while holding the gun. It’s louder. The battery died during my test.

The Hypervolt is quieter than the Theragun but louder than the Ekrin. It’s fine. It’s also $70 more with half the battery life and a 1-year warranty.

The Amazon cheapie (TokFit, $89) lasted 3 minutes before stalling on my hamstring. Returned it.

Who Should Buy This? (And Who Shouldn’t)

Buy it if:

• You work out 3+ times a week and you’re serious about recovery
• You’ve had a cheap massage gun die on you
• You value warranty over brand names
• You want something quiet enough for apartments
• Your PT or trainer recommended percussion therapy

Don’t buy it if:

• You need Bluetooth and app integration (get a Theragun)
• You want the absolute smallest thing possible (get the Bantam, but accept less power)
• You only foam roll once a month—this is overkill for casual use
• You’re under 25 and care more about Instagram cred than function

The Bantam is perfect for: Travel nurses, consultants, flight attendants, anyone who lives in a suitcase. I got one for Christmas. It lives in my carry-on. It’s 1.1 lbs and I used it in a Dallas airport lounge. No one noticed.

The Kestrel is perfect for: Professional athletes, trainers, people who deadlift over 400 lbs. My brother bought one. He says it’s “noticeably stronger.” It’s also $350.

The Discount Reality Check

The 30% discount drops the B37 from $369 to $230. That’s $139 you keep.

But here’s the actual math that matters:

Cost per use (projected over 3 years):

• Ekrin B37: $230 ÷ 1,080 uses (1x/day) = $0.21 per use
• Theragun Elite: $399 ÷ 540 uses (battery dies sooner) = $0.74 per use
• Plus one battery replacement: $0.89 per use

The warranty means you never buy another. My PT has had his Ekrin for 4 years. Still runs like new.

The discount link: https://www.ekrin.com/?ref=VICTORIAADAMS

It auto-applies at checkout. If it doesn’t, code “VICTORIAADAMS” works manually.

Verdict: 90 Days In, I’m Not Going Back

I sold my Theragun Elite for $200 on Craigslist. I now own:

• Ekrin B37: Lives by my couch, daily driver
• Ekrin Bantam: Lives in my suitcase
• Total cost: $230 + $150 = $380

I spent less than my original Theragun and have two devices that do more.

The B37 isn’t perfect. The cord is short. The attachments could store better. There’s no app (which I don’t want anyway).

But it’s honest. It’s powerful. It’s quiet. The warranty is real—I’ve tested it. The discount makes it a no-brainer if you’re on the fence.

My IT band pain? Gone since Day 19. My squat depth? Improved because I’m actually recovered. My partner’s opinion? “I don’t hate it when you use it during movie night.”

That’s the real win.

P.S. The 30% discount is live as of my last check (January 2025). Ekrin runs sales often, but this is the deepest I’ve seen. If you’re reading this later and the link shows a smaller discount, maybe wait for the next big sale. The product’s worth full price, but why pay it?

P.P.S. If you buy through the link, I get a small commission. Doesn’t change my opinion—if it broke tomorrow, I’d update this review in a heartbeat. Integrity pays the bills better than one-time commissions.

P.P.P.S. Seriously, start on speed 1. Don’t be a hero.

I Used the Ekrin B37 for 90 Days—Including One Very Ugly Treadmill

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