RAD Roller Massage Tools for Recovery, Plus Mats and Layers for the Floor Routine

RAD Roller is a Boulder, Colorado brand started by biomechanical engineer Mike Mallory and professional triathlete Dan McIntosh, which is exactly the combination you would want behind a recovery tool. Its first product was the RAD Roller itself, offered in three hardnesses so you could choose how firm to go. The line has since grown to include the Rod, the Helix, the Axle and the Neuro Roller, plus kits that group the tools by what you are trying to do.

 

I think the brand makes sense for people who have outgrown the foam roller. Foam rolling is broad, and what many bodies need is a way to apply pressure to a specific spot, which is what balls and rods are for. They are also small enough to throw in a gym bag or a suitcase.

 

This edit pulls together the RAD Roller tools for recovery and adds a second grid of mats, straps and layers from lululemon for the part of the routine that happens on the floor. A collage of the whole set sits below, so you can see the pieces together.

If you are buying one thing, make it the Neuro Roller, a compact tool you can use on the back and legs. The Rod is the second one I would add, because a rod lets you work long muscles like the quads and calves. The Neuro Ball and the Atom are the point tools, handy for tight spots in the hips, feet and shoulders.

 

The kits are for people who do not want to choose. The Mobility Starter Pack is the all-in-one starter set, the Roller Roundup is the multi-tool bundle, and the Muscle Flushing Kit and Point Release Kit are named for the two jobs most people have after a hard day: moving blood through tired legs and finding the one knot that refuses to leave.

 

How to use them: spend a minute or two on one spot, breathe out slowly, and stop if anything feels sharp. A recovery tool should feel like a firm pressure, not pain. What I would skip is rolling directly on a joint or a bone. Stay on the meaty part of the muscle and give the area a day off between hard sessions.

A floor routine is easier when the floor is comfortable, and this is where the lululemon pieces come in. The Mat 5mm and the Align Yoga Mat 5mm are the two mats here, both with enough cushion for kneeling and rolling without feeling like a pillow. The Loop It Up Mat Strap turns the mat into something you can carry to class, the Double Roller adds another piece for the back, and the Stackable Yoga Cushions are the soft support under knees and hips.

 

To dress for the floor, the Align High-Rise Pant is the stay-put layer, the BeCalm Wrap-Front Long-Sleeve Shirt is the soft top for a slow stretch, and the Define Jacket in Nulu is the zip-up to throw on when you are done.

 

A simple recovery routine I like: five minutes with a ball on the feet and hips, five with the rod on the legs, then a few slow stretches on the mat. What I would skip is doing this in a stiff outfit. If you can't move, you won't do it, so choose clothes that let you.