Kmart posture alert trainer review: Can it help you sit straighter?

What is a posture trainer?

There are two common types of gadgets that claim to help correct bad posture. One type physically pulls back your shoulders, so you innately adopt a better posture. The other signals you when you slouch, so you consciously correct your posture.

The Kmart posture alert trainer is the latter type.

The alert trainer is worn on your back with shoulder straps, like a backpack, and sits between the shoulder blades. Once turned on, it gently vibrates whenever you slouch.

But how does it know you’re slouching? The trainer has a sensor inside that detects whenever the device tilts a certain degree beyond upright (about 30°), signalling that the wearer is slouching.

There’s a bit of tolerance in the tilt angle, so it won’t vibrate every time you’re slightly off straight up and down. But unfortunately, you can’t calibrate the tilt sensitivity. So, if you have a medical condition that means you can’t sit straight, this isn’t the device for you.

I wondered if users needed to count the number of times the trainer vibrates while they’re wearing it – so they can assess if their posture is getting better? Thankfully, no. The trainer’s small display counts whenever you slouch, providing a summary after each session. But be aware that the counter resets every time you use it. So, if you’re a data maniac, you might want to keep a written record of your posture stats.

Back in 2020, we reviewed a higher-end vibration posture trainer that stuck directly on your back (with reusable adhesive patches), called the Upright Go2. It was also a vibration trainer, but came with a fancy app that recorded and let you monitor your stature stats.

Does it work?

When I said the posture trainer gently vibrates when you slouch, I wasn’t kidding. During my trial, the vibration was sometimes hard to feel through clothing, particularly if I was wearing thicker clothes or multiple layers.

But that doesn’t mean the trainer didn’t vibrate. It definitely did! I recommend using it with one or two thinner layers, so you can feel the vibration.

Most posture trainers are targeted at office workers who spend long hours behind computers. But I realised there’s another trendy group of people who might need a reminder not to slouch – crafters!

Since the COVID lockdowns, I, like many people, have taken up new hobbies. One in particular, lends itself to slouching – cross stitch!

With cross stitch, it’s easy to end up bending over a piece of work for a few hours at a time, which puts a serious crick in my neck. While a good embroidery frame helps stop me leaning over too much, I still find myself slouching a bit.

So, I decided to give the Kmart posture trainer a go.

During my following cross stitch sessions, I strapped on the posture trainer and tested how often I slouched. At first, I had abysmal slouching counts, averaging 12 slouches every 10-minute session. But after a week of using it, I had reduced the count to just five slouches per session (not a statistic I ever thought I’d be recording).

The posture trainer isn’t an overnight solution to slouching, as it does take time to change habits, so you’ve got to stick with it for the trainer to have an effect.

Another thing to keep in mind is that if your craft (or work) requires sideways movement, say a horizontal knitting machine, then this posture trainer will register that as slouching as well.

Kmart states that the trainer is adjustable and its straps are elastic, so it can fit most people. But I found the smallest the straps will go is about 35cm, while they max out at about 105cm fully stretched.

Overall, the trainer is comfortable to wear and didn’t get in the way of my cross stitching at all. Just don’t get too comfortable and wear it to the supermarket or you can expect some odd looks.

Is it worth buying?

For helping correct my bad posture when cross stitching, I say the trainer’s worth it. It won’t change your posture overnight, but it was good at reminding me when I was concentrating too hard on counting stitches to notice I had slouched.

Considering the trainer’s low cost – just $12 – and that Kmart also offer a plain elastic and band posture trainer for $19, why not get this vibrating one? If you just want the physical pull on your shoulders to remind you not to slouch, you can wear the trainer without turning on the alert, Sometimes that’s just as helpful.

The Kmart posture alert trainer won’t break the bank and might help correct your posture. Just don’t expect any miracles.