Many of our grandfathers used to say, "There's a tool for every problem," as many of our grandfathers used to say. In the world of recovery products, however, not all tools are created equal. There are so many devices for self-maintenance out there, from big massage guns to small fascia scrapers, that it's difficult to know where to start or how to improve your kit. So we're going to dissect two tools that we're very familiar with: the foam roller and the yoga wheel. What are the main distinctions, and which should you choose?

There's a lot of confusion about when these two recovery tools should be used and when they shouldn't. Let's start by describing both of these tools. The Yoga Wheel is a large plastic ring (8–18 inches in diameter) with a foam strip around the perimeter. A foam roller is a cylindrical piece of foam that measures 15–45 inches in length and 5–10 inches in diameter. These two tools are not peas from the same pod, despite the fact that they appear to serve the same purpose.

Here's the thing: while both tools have their place in certain situations, we believe the foam roller is the superior tool overall. This is why...

Let's begin by addressing the elephant in the room. A yoga wheel can be used to roll out your back to relieve specific back pain or to achieve certain yoga positions, but it can't be used for much else. Due to their shape, Yoga Wheels can only address your back (and not even all of it), and that's about it—they're not very versatile.

Foam rollers, on the other hand, not only span the width of your back, but they can also be used to treat ailments in other parts of your body. Calves that are too tight? This is something that a foam roller can help with. Is there a knot in your pecs (in some way)? The foam roller has you covered. Problems with the quads? foam roller, to be precise. It's a multi-talented horse that always has your back. This is a true Swiss army knife of recovery tools that will help you with every major muscle in your body (except for maybe your tongue).

The most useful tool is also the one that is used the most. Isn't that correct? If you don't want to pack up and lug around your yoga wheel and end up leaving it at home, you shouldn't have one in the first place. In general, both aren't great in this department (unless you're using The Morph Collapsible Foam Roller–booyah), but we'll leave it up to you to decide which is easier to transport and/or store.

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We considered putting this at the top, but we didn't want to scare anyone who hadn't read this far. We'll just say it: Yoga Wheels can be hazardous (like, seriously dangerous). Yoga wheels are dangerous devices because of their narrow rolling surface and high suspension off the ground. If you've ever fallen off a futon couch, you know how it feels. They also put a lot of pressure on your thoracic spine's middle, which can be dangerous if you don't engage your core while using them.

You can't fall off a foam roller (trust us on this), and they provide a safe amount of surface area for performing acrobatic exercises. We cannot emphasize this enough: if you injure yourself during a recovery exercise, you are using the incorrect tool for the job.

Fun fact: Foam rollers can also be used as your primary workout tool. The foam roller establishes itself as the leading choice for a better fitness device with dozens of exercises designed for core and stabilizer muscle training.

There's something to be said for all of the foam roller's technological advancements over the last decade. You can choose from a variety of shapes, foam densities, surface options, and features like vibration and collapsibility when using rollers.

The same cannot be said for wheels. With a few exceptions, all that's available are various colors of overpriced plastic pieces with a foam strip around them. They cost about the same as a foam roller, which isn't justified because they have fewer options and features than a foam roller.

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