Whether it’s sitting all day at a desk job or reading on the couch, it’s easy for your shoulders to hunch and slump—which soon becomes your natural resting position. Since good posture is critical for balance and injury prevention (according to a study by the Harvard Medical School), a naturally slumped position is detrimental to your health.
I have a desk job and, like many fellow writers, my body has become naturally prone to slouching. That’s why the promises of a posture corrector like the Evoke Pro A300 were instantly alluring. The brace vows to offer all-day support with a durable, comfortable design that actually improves poor posture. But given these lofty promises come at an affordable, under-$30 price point, I started my week with the product skeptical. Could a discreet brace no larger than the back of a sports bra actually retrain my slump-prone shoulders? Read on to find out.
Design: A figure-eight build that works
From the second I adjusted the Evoke Pro A300 Posture Corrector, I could tell it would work—at least while wearing it. It’s about the size of the back of a sports bra, so it’s easy to hide in an office or on the go. The compact, figure-eight build has soft, adjustable straps that made putting it on—similar to the motion of putting on a backpack—relatively simple. (That said, I have a smaller build; it was tougher for my fiancé to put on since he has broader shoulders.)
Once I had it on, I could easily adjust the underarm hook-and-loop straps myself to get a snug yet comfortable fit. The straps that tighten the posture corrector go under the shoulder and toward the front (and to the back if needed). When I had it too tight, I felt it digging into my armpit despite the armpit pads, so I opted for a slightly relaxed fit, which still got the job done.
One of my favorite things about this corrector is the padding. From the straps to the back brace, the entire thing is lightly padded, which made it comfortable from the second I put it on.
Materials: Soft on bare skin
This brace is made with breathable neoprene that’s soft to the touch and lightweight, which was a particular perk during my trial in the summer humidity. I never felt overheated while wearing this product, both at my desk and out walking my dog. The padded straps were also particularly comfortable, and the metal brackets were surprisingly flexible.
Fit: Adjustable, padded straps provide extra comfort
The corrector comes in two sizes: regular and extra-large. I tested the regular, wearing it for a week while working at my desk and, at times, when walking my dog.
At first, I was worried the Evoke Pro would feel like a back brace, but I was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable it was. The brace instantly pulled my shoulders back and trained them to rest naturally in an upright position.
While other posture correctors suggest 30 to 40 minutes of wear per day, the A300 didn’t have these specifications, so I wore it for as long as I could. I found it comfortable for up to about three or four hours. After that, I was ready for a break (since it’s retraining my shoulders to rest upright, it’s slightly restrictive and uncomfortable for long hours, particularly the first few days). The more I wore it, though, the less I noticed it, meaning I could wear it up to four or five hours without realizing it was still on.
Throughout the week, I tightened the straps for the utmost correction. After just a few days, I started to feel my shoulders adjust to an upright position on their own (even without the brace).
Of course, old habits die hard, and the longer I went without wearing the brace, the more likely my shoulders were to resume their old, hunched-over status. That’s why wearing the brace every day is a smart idea. Not only does it keep shoulders in place, but it also serves as a regular reminder to sit up, as it feels more uncomfortable to slouch.
Price: Worth every penny
At under $30, the highly effective Evoke Pro Posture Corrector is worth every penny in my book. It went above and beyond expectations in terms of posture correction, and did so at a surprisingly low price point. (I’ve paid more than that for one visit to the chiropractor!) The posture corrector also comes with a latex-free resistance band to use for strength training.
Evoke Pro A300 Posture Corrector vs. Marakym Posture Corrector
The Evoke Pro and the Marakym Posture Corrector have similar styles that include a small, figure-eight build. But after wearing each for a full week, I can easily say the A300 is the winner.
Unlike its competitor, I noticed a difference in slouching (as in, I wasn’t doing it as much!) after just the first time wearing the Evoke Pro corrector. With the Marakym, I noticed my shoulders were sliding back and upright a bit, but the results didn’t last once I took the corrector off.
In terms of price, the Evoke Pro is $10 more than the Marakym Posture Corrector, but from my own experience, I’d say it’s worth the investment.
If you have bad posture but a limited budget, the Evoke Pro Posture Corrector is a smart investment with proven results. This figure-eight brace is surprisingly comfortable given its improving years of poor-posture habits—and it may start working in as little as one week!
