Foam rollers are more important workout tools than you may think — these 5 are worth your time

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• Foam rollers aren't just a passing fitness fad, but provide valuable help to both recovery and muscle growth.
• Personal trainer Chris DiVecchio calls them one of the most crucial components to any fitness program.
• Beginners will likely want to shop for soft, long foam rollers while those with more experience may appreciate the intensity and versatility of a denser roller.

It can be hard to tell which fitness tools are a fad, and which can actually help you get more healthy. Foam rollers might look like a fad at first, but you could be shortchanging yourself by not adding one into your routine.

When asked about the at-home exercise equipment most worth investing in, personal trainer Chris DiVecchio told Business Insider foam rollers are “one of the most crucial components to any program I design because [they] increase range of motion and mobility.” More mobility translates into more muscle fiber recruitment, which means bigger and stronger muscles.

Using one can also help you recover from injuries, relieve muscle and joint pain, and improve circulation, flexibility, balance, and mobility.

But while foam rollers aren’t just a passing fitness fad any more than a deep tissue massage is, you might have to look around to find the right one for you. If it's too hard, the roller won't put enough pressure on your muscles, defeating ghe point of having one. If it's too hard, the roller may be more painful than helpful; if you're unsure of what to look for, consider the following:

Size: When it comes to picking a foam roller, size mostly breaks down to personal preference: storage, mobility, versatility. However, size does affect how it can be used.

Short foam rollers can help you target the massage and hit isolated muscle groups more easily. Longer rollers provide more stability and work especially well on the back.

First time users may want to shop for a long, slightly soft roller; the length will provide versatility and stability, and the density will help you progress to the point where you'll want a firmer one.

Texture: Foam rollers are typically either smooth or textured. Textured rollers mimic the hands of a masseuse, using dynamic ridges, bumps, and knobs to work out knots and precisely massage muscles. You have more freedom to apply varying pressure with a texturized roller.

Smooth rollers provide even pressure across the board, so they’re a particularly good choice for anybody just getting started who might not want all the responsibility and intensity of texture.

Below are the 5 best foam rollers currently available on Amazon:

Triggerpoint GRID

Amazon

TriggerPoint GRID foam rollers use a patented design, which uses a multi-density exterior constructed over a rigid, hollow core for better durability and effectiveness. Unlike more traditionally shaped foam rollers, TriggerPoint's multi-dimensional surface is designed to replicate the feeling of a massage therapist’s hands to help channel blood, improve oxygen flow, and heal tissue. 

Plus, it comes with free online instructional videos.

TriggerPoint GRID Original Foam Roller, 13 x 5.5 inches, $34.99 - $38.39

TriggerPoint GRID X Extra Firm Foam Roller, 13 x 5.5 inches, $37.49

TriggerPoint GRID Foam Roller, 26 x 5.5 inches, $48.74 - $74.52

TriggerPoint GRID Mini Foam Roller, 4 x 5.5 inches, $22.49 - $24.99

ProSource

Amazon

The ProSource Sports Medicine Roller has a firm but flexible texture to release trigger points and relax tight muscles while improving blood circulation. 

The grid of multiple density zones with bumps and grooves offers a varied massage, similar to the palm and finger-tip massage one would receive from a masseuse.

The company also says the solid interior improves durability. 

AmazonBasics

Amazon

If you're concerned about price, it's hard to beat AmazonBasics' affordability. The high-density rollers with molded edges are lightweight, easy to clean and transport, and are made from molded polypropylene, which is best for maintaining firmness and shape, even after heavy use. It's also meant to work for all body types.

AmazonBasics High-Density Round Foam Roller, 12 x 6 x 6 inches, $8.75 - $21.06

AmazonBasics High-Density Round Foam Roller, 18 x 6 x 6 inches, $8.75 - $21.06

AmazonBasics High-Density Round Foam Roller, 36 x 6 x 6 inches, $8.75 - $21.06

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