Lumo Lift vs Upright Go vs Upright Pro: Fight!

If you are looking for a great posture training device then you have come to the right place!

Are you as tech-savvy as health-conscious and concerned about your posture?

Then these smart devices that help train you to maintain better posture might just be the right thing for you.

Wearing a posture trainer will provide you with personalized posture training and help you to make permanent and positive lifestyle changes.

Using motion sensors and pairing with your phone online or via Bluetooth, smart posture trainers provide a gentle buzz whenever your spine begins to curve forward.

this woman could use a posture trainer like upright go

For those with “desk jockey” jobs, these fitness wearables present a modern and inconspicuous alternative to bulkier and perhaps even somewhat uncomfortable posture braces.

Read below to learn the pros and cons of 3 of some of the best performing wearable posture trainers on the market, namely: Lumo Lift vs Upright Go vs Upright Pro.

Comparison Table

Name
(see image on Amazon)
Pricing Pros Cons
Lumo lift

 

(DISCONTINUED)

$$
  • Lightweight
  • Possible issues with loose clothing
Upright Go $$
  • Advanced tracking
  • Low battery life
Upright Pro $$$
  • Long battery life
  • Bulkier
  • Tedious setup
  • combatibility issues

The Importance Of Good Posture

At first glance, good posture or just what you can call proper body alignment is very important for optimal functioning of body-mechanics (joints and muscles moving freely) and for creating the least amount of wear and tear.

If you want to be able to sustain long hours of work and focus and also do that when you become older, then having a good posture is a valuable thing to have.

But besides from these more obvious reasons, here are a few other reasons to why you maintain good posture:

  • Evidence that poor posture like slouching affects emotions negatively
  • Poor posture can interfere with internal processes like digestion and breathing
  • It creates a lot of muscle tension leading to soreness and pain
  • Perhaps what people care most about, it looks really unattractive.

If you want to read more about some surprising benefits of good posture, then you can check out this article I wrote on Big Blue Waves.

Lumo Lift: Easy-To-Use And Affordable


The Lumo Lift is a small, oval-shaped sensor that can be attached under your clothing with a magnetic clasp below the collar.

Although it only weighs 12.5 grams and is unlikely to make your shirts sag, it may be tricky for it to function well with looser fitting clothing.

The material is electroplated thermoset plastic which is relatively comfortable against the skin. However, it is not ideal for exercise as it is not waterproof and may malfunction if sweat seeps into the device.

The device uses an algorithm to sense slouching, which you can choose to track, or for a more interactive option, to train. In ‘coaching’ mode, the device gently vibrates whenever you need to sit or stand up straight.

Setup Is Easy

To set it up, roll your shoulders back and straighten your spine before double tapping the square button (using the clasp) to confirm. After three vibrations, you are ready to go.

You can repeat these steps to realign it at any time, which can be useful considering the differences in sitting and standing postures. First-time users may find ‘coaching’ mode to be intrusive as the device is very sensitive and will buzz at the slightest deviation from the upright position.

In addition to detecting slumps and slouches, the Lumo Lift iOS app monitors other functions such as steps taken and calories burned. It does this using a combination of the actual, physical sensors as well as the details you input on your profile like sex, size, age, and weight.

However, the app does not have a sleep tracker and many users find it unnecessary unless they would like to track their progress in ‘posture hours’ and check their cumulative score against their posture goal.

Discreet Tracker

For those with privacy concerns, it may be comforting to know that the app is unique in that it does not use any social media or third party services.

The tracker itself comes in black, silver or white and there are 10 different shades for the clasp to easily color coordinate with your clothing.

However, there have been complaints about the light flashing under clothing which is understandably aggravating for those looking to wear it discreetly at the office.

It takes just under 2 hours to fully charge and the lithium polymer battery provides five days of use. The Lift comes with a magnetic cradle attached to a USB cable, in which you simply place the tracker to charge.

For those looking for a basic, user-friendly posture tracker at a reasonable price–the Lumo Lift is an ideal answer. Click here to check it out on Amazon.

UPDATE: Lumo Bodytech, Inc (the company behind lumo lift) has ceased its operations and are no longer producing or selling its products, but you can probably still find the product at some retailers.

man in need of a posture trainer
In a situation like this a posture training device could be helpful

Upright Go: Subtle With Advanced Tracking


The Upright Go also weighs around 12 grams and is a similar size to the Lumo Lift. However, unlike the Lift, the Upright does not attach to clothing.

Using an adhesive tab, the sensor is placed squarely in the center of the upper back which some users may find unobtrusive and others inconvenient because it requires you to stretch back or find assistance.

It is recommended that the tab is changed every few weeks, however, it is possible to clean it using alcohol wipes, which are provided with the product.

Setting Up

The tracker is only available in a white casing. However, unlike the Lift, no parts are visible above clothing and users do not have to worry about the power and sync LED light flashing.

As far as setting up, the Upright Go calibrates in a similar fashion to the Lift. After inputting your information, place the sensor between the shoulder blades and directly on the spine.

Your Android or iOS device will then display an avatar representing your posture. Like the Lift, roll your shoulders back and straighten your spine to make the avatar turn green. Any slouch will be indicated by the avatar turning red.

Also equivalent to the Lift, the Upright Go has two modes, tracking, and training. Similar to Lumo’s ‘coaching’ mode, Upright Go’s training mode vibrates to indicate that the user is slouching.

However, Upright Go is more nuanced in that it switches between the 2 modes according to your posture programme. What this means is that ‘training’ only takes a small part of the day, starting with short sessions and progressing to longer ones over several weeks.

In addition, Upright Go provides the option of changing feedback. Users can pick their preferences as far as how many seconds they can be in the red before the device vibrates, as well as adjusting the intensity of the vibration itself.

Upright Go Critiques

Although the app is more or less straightforward, there have been complaints of connectivity issues if the mobile device is connected to Wi-Fi, which can be resolved by switching to 4G. The app is also available on Apple Watch, which provides the live posture avatar as well.

Another slight disadvantage to the Upright Go is the battery life. The battery lasts approximately 8 to 10 hours, which may be adequate for a work day but is still an inconvenience as far as adding yet another device to your charging station.

For those who prefer a subtler posture coach and more of a focus on tracking, the Upright Go is probably your best choice.

See for yourself what other people are saying about the Upright Go on Amazon.

man in need of an upright pro posture trainer
Don’t let poor posture get to your head. Most of us suffer from this problem 🙂

Upright Pro: Bigger, But With More Battery Power


On the pricier side of the smart posture tracker market is the Upright Pro. This is in part due to its advanced features and more durable material.

The Pro is the first posture tracker to be released from the Upright brand. Weighing at around 20 grams, it is larger and heavier than the Go.

However, it is similarly designed to be placed directly on the skin with replaceable, hypo allergenic, adhesive tabs. If the larger size is a concern, rest assured that the Pro’s dynamic shape allows it to be easily concealed under clothing and just as unobtrusive as the Go.

Moreover, unlike the Lumo and the Go, the Pro tracker’s 2 built-in sensors can be positioned on either the upper or lower back.

In addition to providing the same clavicle training as the Go, users who want to focus specifically on their lumbar region can use the Pro to train and strengthen core muscles.

The Pro, like the Go, has both a tracking and training mode. It also features the same options as far as feedback preferences, allowing you to choose the intensity of the vibrations in training mode.

Upright Pro Disadvantages

A disadvantage of the Pro is that it is designed to be used while sitting only when placed on the lower back. When placed on the upper back, however, it can be used when standing and walking similarly to the Go.

The Pro cannot be worn throughout the day, however–it features a trainable program of intense 15 to 60-minute sessions. Despite using it for shorter periods, the trainer has proven to be effective in progressively bringing the spine to an upright position.

As such, it is ideal for a more pronounced slouch. According to consumer reviews, the Pro can provide better results and faster with users have found a noticeable difference in their posture in as little as 2 weeks.

Another asset the Pro has in comparison to the Go is a much longer battery life. The Pro can last over a week, whereas the Go has to be charged daily.

Unfortunately, as it is an older model–it is not compatible with newer phones (e.g. iPhone X) and can only be paired via Bluetooth. Moreover, like the Go–the Pro has to be re-calibrated before each use which can be inconvenient for users who are only placing it on their lower backs.

Not surprisingly, these issues are often what people criticize in less positive reviews.

For those looking to build core strength and relieve pain in their lumbar region, the Upright Pro will be a great option.

Check out what people have to say about the Upright Pro on Amazon here.

Other Product Options

For some people (myself included) the idea of getting an electronic device that can monitor and train your posture sounds pretty cool.

However, it should be noted that far from all customers have been positive towards them. To be fair, the feedback has been mixed and a lot of people have said that they weren’t effective at all.

If you want to improve your posture and looking to spend some money, then you might want to check out some other products that have a much better track record.

Posture shirts and posture braces are two kinds of products that I think could be a better option for you.

Read more about posture shirts here, and click here to read more about posture braces.

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 click here.