BackAware Belt Review: I spent three months testing the BackAware app, and it sets itself apart from other workout apps in some unique ways.

At some point during the pandemic and lockdowns, my wife and I bought a Peloton Bike and I was instantly hooked. I found myself loving the instruction and enjoyed the change of pace (sorry about the pun!) of the different classes and programs provided. In addition to adding spinning, I started doing some YouTube HIIT videos. I also started running outside and overall was happy with my fitness progress.

On a wet day in February I did a HIIT class on YouTube that had become part of my routine but what I didn’t know was that would be the last time I would be working out for a long time. I hurt my back doing a burpee type move.

It didn’t feel that bad at the time but the next day I had spasm in my back that made it hard to get out of bed.  

Over the next several months, I followed my doctor’s orders: lots of rest, anti-inflammatories, and plenty of ice.

I went from working out 5–7 times a week, to doing nothing. It was brutal, physically and mentally. Each time I’d try to become active again, my back would flare up and I’d have to revisit the doc’s instructions. I didn’t know what to do.

Then last September I was approached about giving BackAware a try. After some back and forth, I decided that having access to a personal trainer and a technology that gave you feedback on your back position during exercises could be very useful. Also, from the website I saw that they did Pilates which I have always heard is good for back pain.

They offered me the BackAware Belt for free to write a review of the product which usually costs €299 but is currently discounted to €199 (https://backawarebelt.com) and their Personal Training option which is (€49/month) and I got on with it straight away.

Small spoiler: It was one of the best things I’ve ever done.

The Set up

The initial sign-up process for BackAware involves going through a short questionnaire and then a 10 minute set up call to make sure the belt was set up correctly for me and to discuss what the best exercise routine would be best.

They have flexible options for exercise. They have follow-along exercises and a wide range of courses from Back Pilates to Gym Work.

From my call we decided on a schedule of 3 days per week. One Back Pilates session, one Sport Pilates or Gym and one cycle on my Peloton.

It’s Time to Get to Work

You see your position on the bottom right of the screen as you do the movements.

I was on the Premium Personal Training Plan (which is €49/ month). This involves getting a personal coach to check in and outline the program each week. Your plan is emailed on a Sunday, and you can ask any questions. You get nearly daily check ins to see how progress is going.

The workouts generally are done by the Founder Dr. Eoin Everard. There was a nice selection of exercises, and I enjoyed the variety.

Feedback on your position.

The main feature of the BackAware Belt that sets it apart is the feedback feature. The sensors in the belt tracked my position in real time, vibrating gently whenever I went out of position. I could also see my position in the corner and the instructor’s position in the other corner to compare also. This made the classes way more enjoyable and engaging.

Especially with my back it gave me more confidence with the exercises.

Video Review

There was also a new feature that allows you to record yourself in the corner when doing your exercise. If you turn this feature in the settings allow you save you doing the exercises and you can share this with your coach.

The videos are in the App, and you can cast them to your TV or larger device. That is how I viewed my workouts, using my phone for any extra controls.

You can use the BackAware Belt with both the Android and IPhone.

My coach would check in via WhatsApp to see how everything is going and be updated on progress.

Overall, I thought the BackAware app was easy to navigate and use. Even on the rare occasion when I didn’t have my TV to cast to following the workout on my phone was fine. It wouldn’t be an ideal way to work out if it was my only means of access, but it came in handy on a number of occasions.

Staying committed

You can get the BackAware Belt at a cost of €199 at the moment. If you are doing your own workouts then you can see the sensor position and get the vibration when exercising. There is no additional subscription fee for this function.

If you want access to their video library and to be put into a Pilates or Gym group for accountability then there is an additional monthly fee of €19.99. This is quite good value as there are a lot of classes and choice on offer. There are new classes each week to help keep it fresh.

I was on the Personalised Training Plan where I got access to my own coach. This allowed me to check in regularly and adjust. As I mentioned I had stopped exercising because of my back. There were times where we skipped some gym workouts as it was a little sore. As Dr. Eoin Everard is a chartered physiotherapist there were so many tips about how to sit at my desk, or even wash my teeth or T.V to take pressure off my back.

About a month in, I slowly started to warm up to the idea of working out more than once or twice a month. Before that, I hated every second of it. My body hurt. My mind told me I was going to do more damage to my back. I told my coach all of this. In fact, at times I felt as if I was talking to a counsellor.

I told him the days I hated the workout and why, and I also shared with him my excitement when a workout felt easier than it had the week prior.

There were many days when I’d open the app early in the morning to view what my workout was supposed to be, and try to talk myself into just not doing it. What’s the worst that would happen? My P.T would send me a message asking what happened. Cool. I could ignore that. I often told myself.

But over the course of the day, as I continued to debate whether or not I wanted to use 45 minutes of my day working out, I’d start to feel peer pressure. Knowing that my coach would hold me accountable, even if it was virtual, became a huge motivating factor.

I even worked out in my hotel room on more than one work trip, all because I knew I needed to, and I didn’t want to have that conversation with my coach.

By the end of my three months with the BackAware Belt I was once again working out more days each week than not. The switch inside my brain had once again been flipped to enjoy exercise and eating right.

Brian’s patience as we worked through various issues and my travel schedule was critical. And while I was the one doing all the work, knowing a real person on the other side of my phone was invested in health was a massive motivating factor.

Bottom Line: Is BackAware Worth it?

It’s been about a month since my 3 month stint ended. They allowed me to keep the Belt for free and I am now paying the €19 program. This has all the workouts. Weekly shoutouts in more of a group setting where you post up when you have worked out.

I have to admit, though. I miss the personalised Personal Training. I miss the accountability, the daily interaction with a coach and just the feeling of someone else being invested in my well-being, even if I had to pay for it. There is still a lot of accountability in the group program and currently I have kept my routine going.

In my experience, BackAware is a fantastic service that can provide you feedback on your technique and back position that not only gives you confidence that you are doing things correctly but also makes you feel the exercises way more.  

The feedback on technique, the accountability and good variety of classes make this the closest thing to a personal trainer I have ever seen online.