We slouch in front of our desks for at least 40 hours a week and crane our necks on our phones for the rest of the time. Not to mention we’re nearing the one-year mark of the pandemic that has limited our usual activities. All of this may be affecting our back health. Bad posture doesn’t just cause temporary pain and stiffness; it can cause a permanent hunch.

After seeing far too many photos of myself with horrible posture—my shoulders fully rounded over, my stomach somehow pushed forward while my hips are pushed back—I wonder why anyone has ever voluntarily spoken to me in public. So I decided to do something about it, trying braces, shirts, a yoga strap, and even a little vibrating device that sits on your back. Here are the best posture correctors we’ve tried.

None of these options will fix your problems overnight. Start using them 10 to 20 minutes a day, and add time as you go on (and listen to the product’s directions). If you have severe back pain, a hump, or scoliosis, talk to your physician before trying any posture correctors.

Updated February 2021: We’ve added a laptop stand, and swapped links to Kinflyte’s updated posture correcting bras. The Wyllielab is no longer available, but we’re still looking for cheaper options.

Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-year subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com and our print magazine (if you’d like). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.

You May Also Like

3 Ways Scientists Think We Could De-Germ a Covid-19 World

If you’re tempted to buy your own UVC lamp, be aware: Lots…

Britain will have to sacrifice 40% of its farmland to biofuel to make net-zero air travel a reality

Britain will have to use half of its farmland to grow biofuels…

Shoppers rush to buy super cheap Fitbit rival that scans at B&M tills for £5 instead of £40 – but you need to be quick

IF you’re looking for a fitness smartwatch but don’t fancy paying silly…

Today’s Cartoons: Father Knows Text

Monday, February 3, 2020. By Jon Adams, with cartooncollections.com. One scientist develops…