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What I Tested...
iRestore Sculpt LED Belt ($349)
Why I Tested...
How I Tested...
I wore the LED belt three times a week, after cardio and lift sessions at the gym, for three weeks. I wore it for 10, 20, and 30 minutes depending on my comfort levels or schedule that day. I took notes on ease of use, pain relief, and its effect on my skin.
Test Results...
Ease of use. If you know me, you know how much I hate lengthy instructions. While the packaging for this belt was very involved, the instructions were fairly straightforward. There is no separate remote control so everything you need is right on the belt. There’s a button for brightness levels and another one for timing. For brightness, I could toggle between 50%, 75%, or 100%, though I really focused on Level 3, or 100% brightness, for the purposes of this test. Otherwise, the only other thing you need is a wall plug to power up the belt. I must say, this was one of my pet peeves. I wish this belt were rechargeable so I didn’t have to be sitting or hanging out near a wall plug at all times to feel relief. It made the 30-minute option less appealing to me.
Muscular pain relief. In my opinion, this is where the LED belt really shines. Within five minutes at any brightness level, I could feel my abs’ next-day soreness subside. It reminded me of the heating pad I use for menstrual cramps, only slightly more targeted. Because of this, I felt more confident going that much harder on my workouts because I knew I could experience immediate relief afterward. While I really only used this belt on my waist, you can also use it for your back, shoulders, or anywhere else you may need pain relief.
Effect on skin firmness. After my first session, I did notice a very slight increase in my skin’s firmness. After three weeks worth of sessions, I can’t say I saw a six-pack emerge or my fat melt away, which is ultimately what I was hoping for. But I did see a positive impact on the treated skin. I would consider this belt to be less focused on sculpting abs and more focused on firming skin.
Sidenotes...
Design. The design of the belt is very simple, with one control panel that holds a power button, a brightness button, and a time-intervals button. The entire belt wraps around and holds with a Velcro strap. I can be pretty touch-sensitive with certain materials, and the exterior of the belt is made of a felt I found a little unnerving. It’s the kind of felt material that a hang nail will snag on and that gives me a slight ick. The belt is also quite long, so I nearly wrapped it double around my waist. While this made it slightly uncomfortable, I do appreciate that the longer length allows for use on the lower or upper back, and across the shoulders.
FDA clearance. This belt is cleared by the FDA for wrinkle treatment and temporary pain relief. It’s also dermatologist-recommended and validated by over 3,000 verified clinicians via FrontRowMD.
The Fine Details...
iRestore Sculpt LED Belt ($349)
This belt is HSA/FSA eligible