MyoStorm Meteor 2.1 Review: A Compact but Powerful Heated and Vibrating Massage Tool

I am a big advocate for stretching, massage, and recovery as part of a good workout plan. I’ve tried regular foam rollers, vibrating foam rollers, heated foam rollers, and a few massage guns in the past. But the MyoSotrm Meteor 2.1 is definitely rolling in with an interesting twist in a very crowded market!

You can get a sense of the background on the MyoStorm Meteor 2.1 in their promotional video:

The Meteor 2.1 is smaller than I had expected. It’s a little bigger than a softball. It sort of reminds me of the size of the ball in candlepin bowling. It’s big enough that it seems big in my 8-year-old son’s hands, yet small enough that I can easily hold it like I was about to pitch a fastball (which you definitely should not do, because this thing weighs 1lb, 5oz, and it costs $149.)

The MyoStorm Meteor 2.1’s texture is nubby, and there’s a design in the shape of the MyoStorm logo on each side. I have to give credit to MyoStorm for the button design because the buttons are tactile and easy to access, yet they are recessed enough that you wouldn’t accidentally change your settings mid-roll.

There is also an LED that serves as a battery indicator and it charges via USB-C. I was pleasantly surprised by that since so many electronics that are not phones, computers, or tablets are still using microUSB.

MyoStorm helpfully includes both a wall plug and a USB-A to USB-C cord, so even if your cables have not started to change over you’ll be able to get up and running quickly. The company says the Meteor takes 4 hours to fully charge, which seems about right in my experience.

Vibration-only mode can last up to 6 hours, while the heat setting gobbles up the battery immensely and can last about an hour. There’s an automatic 30-minute shut-off, so if you forget you left a vibrating ball lying around, it will eventually stop. As an aside, if you do somehow forget you left a small, dense, vibrating ball going, please share how that happens in the comments.

For scale, my sneakers are EU 42/Men’s 9/Women’s 10.5

I was super skeptical at first when the MyoStorm Meteor 2.1 arrived. It seemed so small that I didn’t think it could provide a good roll for my muscles. Most of my foam rolling is for my quads, hamstrings, and hips since they tend to get the tightest. They’re also pretty big muscles to cover, so it seemed like a big ask for a tiny ball.

It meant I could dig into different spots more easily, and either do a long roll across a whole area or go deep and dig into one or two, especially tight spots. Also, the compact size and ball shape means you can prop it between a chair or wall and your back and roll your upper and lower back without having to get onto the floor.

The MyoStorm Meteor 2.1 has four vibration modes, and it’s probably best to experiment and figure out which level makes sense for you. I didn’t go higher than the second level but I also didn’t have any particularly angry muscles during the review period!

The MyoStorm Meteor 2.1’s other feature, besides vibration, is heating. It can get up to 120ºF, though it does take about 10 minutes to fully heat. It’s a comfortable warmth more than a burning heat, and you can use vibration alongside the heat if you choose. There are no levels or gradations to the heat, it’s simply either on or off.

It felt nice, especially rolling the heated ball around my neck and shoulders after a long day hunched over my computer, but it wasn’t my must-use feature on the Meteor. Also, note that it appears the heating element runs around the circumference of the ball but does not reach the top where the button controls are or the opposite side with the MyoStorm logo.

If for some reason the heat tends to bother you or becomes uncomfortable, it does mean there are two sides of the ball that are cooler in the meantime, but it also means you want to watch the direction you’re rolling or you’ll end up rolling off the heated part. Finally, the MyoStorm Meteor 2.1 is a little slow to warm up so don’t count on using it unless you plan ahead and preheat it.

There are really two questions here: is the MyoStorm Meteor 2.1 a worthwhile foam roller alternative, and is it worth $149?

The first answer is an easy yes. It’s not for you if you like a soft roller, but if you like a stiff foam rolling experience, then you’ll find that it is really well-made. It is also compact and light enough that you can toss it in a backpack and forget it is in there. At one point during this review period, I threw it in a backpack to show to my girlfriend who has some back issues, and I honestly forgot it was in there for a while — it tucked nicely in the bottom of my bag.

The recessed controls, covered charging port, and stiff exterior makes it seem like this is a rugged and compact massage ball, and I can’t imagine what you could do in everyday use to cause it any damage at all.

The concern I have is that the MyoStorm Meteor 2.1 is not cheap. You’re basically paying for the massaging and heat here because a rubber massage ball that does not vibrate runs anywhere from $10-$40. However, it does get cheaper if you buy multiple balls, dropping to $225 for 2 and $300 for three. As expensive as that may seem, $149 is a drop in the bucket versus physical therapy or going for multiple in-person massages.

If the MyoStorm Meteor 2.1 provides you relief, then its cost is 100% worthwhile. So it really becomes a case of having immense value if you want or need the vibration. If you do, I can’t see how you could do better than the Meteor!

One MyoStorm Meteor 2.1 sells for $149, two are $225, and three are $300. They are available directly from the manufacturer.

Source: Manufacturer provided review sample

What I Like: Very rugged and solid exterior; Charging port is covered for extra protection; Buttons are recessed but easy to press; Uses USB-C for charging; Allows you to cover multiple areas of your muscles with ease; Long battery life on vibration mode

What Needs Improvement: It’s a little pricey for a recovery tool; Heat is not adjustable; It takes about 10 minutes for the heat to activate fully