Do you have a slouching posture?
Are your shoulders rounded forwards and inwards?
Is your head tilting forward (forward head posture)?
Unfortunately, all of these are common problems and they very often caused by poor posture.
You might want to fix this because it makes you look less attractive, but did you know that it also puts unnecessary stress on your muscles and joints.
Having this kind of posture might even have a negative effect on your mental/emotional health.
The good news is that you can fix your posture and buying a posture brace could potentially make a big difference.
The posture braces come in varying design and sizes, while not all of them are bulky the majority of the posture braces are not that easily concealed under clothing.
So, if you are looking for a small and subtle posture brace that you can put while other people won’t be able to tell, then it is important you pick the right one.
By the way, if you want to check out the best overall posture brace right away here is a link to it on Amazon.
However, as I explain below, if you are truly looking for an “undetectable” product that you can wear under your clothing seamlessly in your everyday life, then you should consider getting the more expensive posture shirt (learn more below).
I did a lot of research for writing this article, and below you will see the list of best posture braces to wear under clothing.
Keep in mind that while these posture braces are small and minimalistic in their design you might need to wear a small t-shirt underneath for the most comfortable solution. You can put on a shirt or lose polo on top of that.
Comparison Tables
Discreet Posture Corrector for Men And Women by Vriksana Posture
This discreet posture corrector is made in a non-restrictive design that fits both men and women.
It is made in elastic neoprene and well-padded with cotton for extra comfortableness. Depending on how sensitive your skin is you might be able to wear it without having any t-shirt underneath.
However, whether you wear a small t-shirt underneath or not, this posture brace is thin enough that you can hide it underneath a shirt or lose polo.
The brace is both highly durable and breathable. It is resistant to wear and tear and water. It can be washed easily by hand.
Product Features
- Breathable and lightweight material.
- Elastic neoprene well-padded with cotton
- Extra thin makes it easier to hide
- Washable by hand only.
Pros
- Adjustable
- Versatile and unisex
- Thin design
- A lot of positive feedback
Cons
- Can have a rubber smell that takes a little while to dissipate
Check out what other people have to say about the posture brace on Amazon here.
EquiFit ShouldersBack Posture Support Lite Medium
EquiFit is a company specializing in manufacturing advanced products for top riders and horses.
Their well-known posture brace named ShouldersBack was originally only marketed to riders, but later became popular among other professionals like athletes, dancers, actors, and people who in general are required to be in awkward position for longer periods of time.
The ShouldersBack is made of elastic nylon and has a comfortable and breathable design. The brace does not restrict or hinder your movement.
It is probably one of the best options if you want to wear it directly on your skin and therefore could be easier to conceal than other braces.
The downside is that the posture aligning effect is probably less than other braces which can be both good and bad. If you have serious slouching posture, you might need a more rigid brace.
However, unlike other posture braces made in the common material neoprene rubber, this brace should not have any smell.
Braces made in neoprene rubber have a smell which can take some time to dissipate. Sometimes the smell can be strong.
Product Features
- Breathable and lightweight material.
- Made in nylon
- Good option to wear directly on the skin
- Washable by hand only.
Pros
- The stretchy material makes it adjust to your body
- Versatile and unisex
- Thin design
Cons
- Probably has a less posture correcting effect than others
- Higher price point than alternatives
Check the current price and learn more about the product on Amazon.
Posture Corrector with Armpit Pads by Anyandsor
This brace is both also unisex and one-size. It gives good support for the upper back but also has special armpit pads to protect against pinching of armpit skin.
From what I have been able to gather about the many different shoulder/back braces it is not too uncommon that people experience issues with armpit skin being pinched.
Product Features
- Breathable and lightweight material.
- Armpit pads to prevent skin pinching
- Comes with resistance bands
- Washable by hand only.
Pros
- Good price
- Adjustable
- Versatile and one-size (Both you and your partner can wear it)
- A little bit bulky
- Comes with armpit pads and resistance bands
- A lot of positive feedback
Cons
- Can have a rubber smell that takes a little while to dissipate
- Can be a little difficult to adjust yourself
Click here to go to Amazon and check out theposture corrector with armpit pads.
How Do Posture Braces Work Anyway?
Described in a simple way, depending on how rigid support the posture brace offer it can make it harder for you or even impossible to maintain a poor posture.
Wearing the posture brace pulls muscles and joints into a position that basically encourage good posture.
You probably knew that already right?
This can work great to improve your posture, but it can also give rise to issues if you use a brace long-term.
Because the brace is doing a lot of the work that the muscles should be doing you can end up with weaker muscles and being dependent on using the brace.
But there is also another aspect to how they work to improve posture.
Wearing the posture brace help you become familiar with what good posture looks and feels like. It increases awareness of how to maintain good posture and can potentially help you train the right muscles.
Depending on the specific posture brace, wearing it will also immobilize some of your muscles to an extent.
This can potentially relieve sore or even injured muscles from some pressure and tension, reducing uncomfortableness or pain.
E.g. if you have pain in the lower back or you are sore around your neck, then wearing a posture brace could help that.
Another thing is that wearing a posture brace might make you both look and feel better. Research has been able to show a link between posture and mental/emotional state.
If you have a slouching posture, wearing the brace could make you stand a bit taller gaining a tiny bit of height.
I know how important that can be to some (short) people. I am a short guy myself 🙂
How Effective Are Posture Braces?
You can think about your current posture as a reflection of your usual position/postural habits since your body literally adjusts and adapts to how you position it.
A poor posture is something that is developed over a long period and that is why correcting your posture is also going to take a long time.
Because correcting your posture takes a long time, whatever thing you can get or do can that makes it easier can potentially have a very big impact –the difference between pushing through or giving up.
This is arguably a universal thing, by the way, put simply whenever something takes a long time to do there is a higher chance that people give up.
I guess that is just the nature of being alive in our modern society.
Whether you buy a posture brace or not is obviously not going to be the determining factor, but they could be a great help.
Additionally, a posture brace is not the “magic solution”.
You will need to do real work and do exercises that stretch and strengthens the right muscles.
You will also have to get better postural habits and ergonomics. For further reading on this topic you can check out this guide to good posture from medlineplus.gov.
Is A Posture Brace The Solution For You?
As mentioned above, a posture brace can do a decent job to help you improve your posture.
They are also relatively cheap and easy to use.
Additionally, a lot of people have expressed how wearing a posture brace helped to fix their posture and also to be more conscious about proper posture.
Posture braces do have their shortcomings, and honestly, they will never be as easy to wear under clothing as a posture correcting shirt.
You can learn more about why wearing them could be a good idea here.
Posture Correcting Shirts
Posture correcting shirts is a good alternative to posture braces.
Unlike posture braces that mechanically pull your shoulders back, a posture correcting shirt will stimulate your muscles to do the actual work. This means you won’t have to fear to wear a posture correcting shirt long-term.
Another thing is that these shirts can be worn seamlessly underneath your clothing.
These shirts look and feel similar to compression clothing, but due to their unique design, they also have a posture correcting effect which you can feel right away when you put them on.
If you want to check out some of the best posture correcting shirts on the market, then I suggest you check out my review of two popular brands here.
The Importance Of Good Posture
Poor posture makes you look less attractive and I would not be surprised if that is the most important reason why people want to get better posture.
However, poor posture does not only affect how you look. Studies show that your dominant posture can have a strong impact on how you feel.
Specifically, if you improve a slouching posture and get an upright posture with an open chest, then you are likely to become more positive and confident.
And we all want to be confident right?
Another thing is that people respond to how you carry your body both consciously and subconsciously.
There is often a lot of non-verbal communication going on without us being conscious about it. Getting good feedback from others can have a reinforcing effect on your confidence.
Poor posture also creates unnecessary stress on your joints and muscles. You might feel great slouching right now and even for the next 5-10 years.
But these kind things develop over a long time and it could lead to a lot of uncomfortableness and pain.
If you want to stay free of injuries, feel great both mentally and physically now and when you are much older, then you need good posture.
I wrote a guest post on a wellness website called bigbluewaves, where I go more in-depth covering many other benefits of having good posture. If you find such things interesting, I am confident you won’t be disappointed.
Also the website is a great place to get cleverer on many health and wellness topics.
Conclusion
It took a long time for you to develop your poor posture, and fixing it won’t be a quick-fix either.
A posture brace can be a great help in addition to doing strengthening and stretching exercises and improving the ergonomics in your surroundings.
They can be worn underneath clothing and perhaps be out of sight, but if want the best solution to wear seamlessly under your clothing, then you need a posture correcting shirt.
Correcting your posture will require long time and effort, but it is worth it!
My name is Marcus, I am a lawyer (LL.M.) and the founder of this website. Besides sometimes doing lawyer stuff, I like to write about fitness and health and share what I have found “works” for people like YOU. If you want to know more about me and my vision for this website then you can 