Let's start with back pain. We all have experienced it and we all know that we reach for any available solution to get relief from the dreaded pain so that it doesn't come in the way of our fast-moving lifestyle. And if that solution is portable, then there's nothing like that. Well, look no further as we have something just in store, reviewed and tested so that you won't have to ask anyone else.
SandPuppy has released a smart solution that provides you relief from pain without slowing you down. The SandPuppy FITBELT + is a smart, completely wireless and portable heat belt. Just put on the belt and pair it with your smartphone via Bluetooth, and you are sorted.
It is a simple fabric belt, held with Velcro and built with internal heating wires along with vibration motors. The electronics is built with a Bluetooth communications interface that is controlled using a smartphone app.
The app interface is pretty neat and simple. You can select the AUTO mode and let the belt provide you 20 minute cycles of alternating heat, or you can use the sliders to change the intensity of temperature and vibration with a simple swipe. The maximum temperature is 60 deg C (140F), which is more than enough to provide you enough heat.
The app interface is pretty neat and simple.
You get four vibration modes: Normal, Sine, Square and Triangle. We didn’t find any noticeable difference between the last two modes, although Sine mode gives you a different feel than the normal. Anyways, we were satisfied with the Normal mode because it sends long, uninterrupted waves of vibrations to the affected part. It was successful every time we tried it on various body parts affected with pain. It takes just 10 to 12 minutes to numb the pain and erase the traces of discomfort. You can also choose the heat unit between Celsius and Fahrenheit.
A two-hour full charge is enough to pack your belt with 60 minutes of pain relief with the temperature and vibration intensity kept at the maximum. You need to keep the belt powered on while charging to get notified when the charging is complete. While using the belt, you can see the battery level on your app.
You can wear the belt underneath your clothes and nobody will even notice it. The added advantage of wireless handling via the app means you are sorted for the day if you are looking for small sessions of thermal massage throughout the day. Being able to change temperature and vibration intensity without having to reach for the belt is another plus point.
The only problem we encountered with the belt was while syncing it with the app. We tried it on two different smartphones, but connecting the belt to the app was a bit problematic, despite keeping the location service on. Sometimes it got connected in a jiffy, but most of the times we had to close and reopen the app a couple of times to finally connect the belt. We assume a software update for the app would resolve the issue. Nevertheless, you can also take control of the belt using the button on the belt clip.
Connecting the belt to the app was a bit problematic, despite keeping the location service on.
Build quality: The belt is made of a polyester-lycra blend and is water resistant. Of course, you can’t put it in your washing machine for a tumble wash, but accidental wetting, spills and sweat won’t damage it. You can use a stain remover to clean the smudges if you manage to get it dirty. SandPuppy should upgrade the model with a removable internal bag or a pocket for the electronics so that the external fabric can be washed, mainly for hygiene reasons.
The internals are otherwise perfectly fine, but the vibration points tend to shift or dislocate from their dedicated slots — they are not held in place and seem to move around inside the pocket/housing. Although it does not mar the effectiveness of the vibration, we feel it does have an effect over the pattern of vibration if you opt for any rhythmic pulse mode like Triangle or Square.
Effectiveness: The product is aimed at relieving lower back pain, but we tried it on every available piece of muscle soreness – stiff back, neck sprain, a frozen elbow and even a harrowing toothache. And anyone who has ever suffered from tooth pain due to sensitivity can vouch for the effectiveness of this gadget that makes the pain disappear in under 10 minutes.
It may not be for therapeutic use, but it is definitely a champ if you are looking for instant relief from any pain related to muscle fatigue or sprained nerves, including the dreaded stiff lower back condition that greets you in the morning when you get out of your bed.
Pricing: Fitbelt + is priced at Rs 7,499.00 while the non-smart variant comes with a moderate price tag of Rs 3,099.00 (this one is wireless too - battery operated). However, you get the app advantage along with a host of additional features with Fitbelt +, which totally justifies the price difference between the two variants.
Verdict: Fitbelt + is definitely not a gimmick. The belt actually works and provides you relief from pain and discomfort in a very short time. In our case, it was 10 to 12 minutes every time we used the belt. The hefty price tag is a bit of an eyesore, but if you do the math using comfort as parameter, then SandPuppy Fitbelt + is a total value for money. You will definitely feel relaxed having one on your body, whether you are at home or hiking in the Himalayas.
