Custom and convenient back relief

Although my lifelong catalogue of injuries is longer than most—nearly two decades of competitive distance running tends to have that effect—I’m fortunate that nothing back-related is on the list. But that doesn’t mean I’m immune to the everyday aches and pains that stem from sitting in a chair for long stretches at a time, no matter how hard I try to undo the damage before and after the fact.

Ideally, I’d keep a standing appointment with a bodywork professional (such as a masseuse, soft tissue therapist, or chiropractor) who would help keep me loose and fine-tuned between runs. But it’s hard to justify shelling out $100, the average cost of a massage, on a regular basis, and difficult to carve out the time needed to get to and get through all those sessions.

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The Venom Back by Hyperice makes it easy for people like me—more tight than hurt, preventative than reactive—to keep my back warm and relaxed, whether pre-workout, post-workout, or somewhere in between. A portable heat and vibration back device that wraps around your midsection with a velcro fastener, it allows for “a hands-free, portable treatment on demand.” Not the same as a real masseuse, but a convenient alternative worth considering. Read on to learn what the Venom Back does, how it performs, and whether, after two weeks of testing, I think it’s worth dropping $199 on.

What is Venom Back?

The Venom Back looks like a stretchy, more comfortable, higher coverage version of a weightlifting belt, with velcro rather than a buckle, that uses heat, vibration, and compression to treat lower-back issues (or just keep yours feeling good). The touch-screen control panel sits just above your belly button, and allows you to adjust the heat level, vibration pattern, and run time.

The unit is bulky but comfortable

At 2 pounds and 44 x 10 inches, the Venom Back was a little bulkier than I expected it to be when I opened it up. Secured around my lower torso, however, it feels less cumbersome and even quite comfortable, thanks to the Neoprene material it’s made out of. The problem of one-size-fits all products not actually being one-size-fits-all was a non-issue here, as the Velcro covering the outside means it fits a wide range of bodies, from 5-foot-tall me to my former college football-playing dad (although, of course, it covers a larger section of my lower back than my dad’s). Overall, the Venom Back offers a positive out-of-box and first-wear impression.

The touch screen is finicky and awkward to use

On the surface, the large circular dial with a digital touchscreen is pretty luxurious for a back massager. But actually using it is a different story. First of all, you either have to strap the unit on so the screen is right-side-up, but someone else has to change the settings for you, or you have to put it on so the screen is upside down, which requires you to angle the dial up towards your face anytime you want to adjust a setting. Because I wanted full control over the experience, and often manipulated the settings while I was using it, I chose the latter, and found it to be a little tedious. You could also adjust the settings before strapping it on, but to change any of the variables, there’s no escaping the same awkward angle issue without taking it off and putting it back on again.

On top of that, the touchscreen is not at all intuitive to use. It took a few failed attempts and some time with the user manual, but here’s what I eventually figured out: You turn the device on by pressing the red button on the bottom of the dial for 3 seconds, and then press “start.” From there, you can then toggle through the different temperature, vibration, and time settings—but not as smoothly as you’d think; the screen dims and locks after 5 seconds, after which you have to press “start” again in order to manipulate the different settings. The interface, to say the least, could be more user-friendly.

The experience is customizable

Once you get the hang of the Venom Back’s touchscreen, you can start to appreciate the three variables that you’re able to manipulate: For temperature, your choices are Level 1/Low (130° Fahrenheit), Level 2/Medium (145° Fahrenheit), and Level 3/High (160° Fahrenheit). I wore the unit directly on my skin, and thought it got sufficiently warm on the highest setting without ever getting unbearably hot.

For vibration, you can pick between a wave (in which the vibration moves across the four back vibration pods in short bursts), a pulse (in which the whole device alternates between on and off), and constant (which is a steady flow of vibration through the device). This setting is largely a matter of personal preference; although I found the wave and pulse modes to be fine, the constant vibration felt most relaxing and effective, so I mostly kept it there.

The timer setting proved to be the most difficult to change of the three. It was only upon reading the user manual that I discovered the time is auto-set for 20 minutes, and can be reset by touching the timer bars when the device is unlocked. Although 20 minutes will be fine for most wearers, it would be nice to have a little more control over that element, as the dial suggests you might.

It’s good for most on-the-go therapy

Besides the comfort and customizable factors, the ability to use the Venom Back while doing other things is one of its best features, in my opinion. Unlike most personal massage devices, which require the use of one or two hands and a good deal of attention, this one was designed for “a hands-free, portable treatment on demand.” I can attest that Hyperice nailed that part, having used it roughly every other day while sitting in a desk chair, driving to a trailhead, puttering around my house, and lounging on a couch. Although it’s most effective when I’m not moving around a lot, the multi-tasker in me appreciates that the Venom Back stays put and interferes minimally with whatever else I’m doing at the moment.

Technically, the unit is also TSA approved, so can safely be traveled with. However, as I mentioned above, it is a little bulky, and wouldn’t be the easiest thing to lug around an airport. Unless I really needed it—if a back issue popped up before a big race, for example—I’d probably leave it behind.

Go for it?

You don’t have to have back problems to benefit from the Venom Back by Hyperice. It’s comfortable to wear, fine to multitask in, and effective at warming up a back that’s sore, tight, achy, or straight out of bed. Speaking as someone in that category (rather than the need-it one), I tend to feel a little looser and more workout-ready after using it for even just 10 minutes.

It’s not, however, the easiest device to use. The touchscreen dial is in an awkward position for manipulating, and the interface can be frustrating until you get the hang of it. As a result, my take is that the Venom Back is worth a $199 investment if you have a good reason to (like chronic back issues or a back that requires excessive loosening up to be functional) and if you’re willing to take the time and effort to master the interface.

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