Lumo Lift?

Can anyone else who has purchased the Lumo Lift give me more feedback?

I have the Jawbone, but am very interested in the vibrating feature to avoid shoulder slouching. I'm curious if the Lumo Lift integrates with MFP as well as the Jawbone bracelet.

Bottom line: Lumo Lift works very well as a “posture coach” and poorly as a fitness or activity monitor. Unsuitable as a pedometer, which is very disappointing. Entirely useless as a sleep monitor. The Lumo Lift iPad app is also very disappointing. So far, it seems Lumo Lift is a toy, not a real activity monitor.

I have a few more weeks to decide about returning it, or keeping it.

It could be improved... It's just a matter of software and firmware... If they can add pedometer and sleep monitor capabilities it would be great. It currently does NOT discern between sleeping, reclining, sitting, standing, or a leisurely walk. To register any activity, you must walk very briskly. So, it is unsuitable as a pedometer or calorie monitor. It works very well as a posture coach, gently reminding you to sit or stand erect if you slouch or lean. If that's all you want, it's good. I had expected much more than that.

I was one of those that preordered, in February. I received mine a yesterday.

Initial opinions, with ratings of 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent):

The manual: Rating 1 :noway:
* Is printed on nice glossy paper. I give a "5",
* It is very small and square in shape. When measured against my debit card, it is about 1-1/3 size the width of the debit card in both width and height. This may have been done to save money as they try to get the business off the ground. I give a "2"
* They seem to be relying primarily on pictures for user instructions. Perhaps this is because they needed to convey how to use it in a single language. I'm guessing this, too, was a cost-saving measure. However, those of us who learn better with words than pictures, it's confusing and provides inadequate information for using the Lumo Lift. I give a "2"
* The print is very light in color and very small in font size, which translates to very small lettering, in low contrast, on a white background. It is "pretty" on the paper, but was impossible to read without assitance. I actually had to use a magnifying glass to read the manual. I'm barely a"senior" in age and am able to function just fine, generally. I assume the team that designed this start-up are all young twenty-somethings. They were probably designing to save money, and to make the manual look nice, without thinking that it is a terrible design for people who do not have young healthy twenty-something eyes. I give a "1" -- or less.

The packaging: Rating 4 :ohwell:
* The LumoLift was nicely packaged and Looked nice. Rating 5
* It took a while to figure out how to get into, it though. Most packaging, unless something states otherwise, is opened from the top. Not the LumoLift. Opening from the top was impossible. Once I finally figured out that by putting my fingernail in the seam on the bottom, it would open right up, it opened easily. A simple "open from here" with an arrow would be an easy fix. Rating 3

The apps:: Rating 0 :frown:
* The LumoLift does not support either Windows OS, or Android OS smartphone. I have both. So, the only information gleaned from the use of this device, in my case, is to remind me I am slouching. According to w3schools, in 2005 windows has about 90% of the market share. To release LumoLift without Windows app capability seems short-sighted when it comes to "wow-ing" early purchasers.
* Android OS smartphone users: Zdnet.com states Android has 75% of the market share amog smartphone users. Again, why wouldn't a company go where the market share is?

The device: Rating 3 :yawn:
* Is streamlined, modern, discreet, and nice-looking.
* However, because the instructions are sorely lacking it it isn't a turn-key ready device. It's confusing when trying to figure out what all the little pieces and magnets are for. What other part are they to be paired with? Nothing tells us.
* So far (remember, please, I've only had it a single day) it seems to do a fairly good job of reminding me not to slouch.
* The vibrations are gentle. You need the device quite snugly placed against your body. However, even when placed on some parts of my bra, the vibrations aren't very strong.

Overall opinion "3"
I knew I was taking a flying leap by pre-ordering, in order to save a little money and to help a fledgling company get the capital it needed to get off the ground. However, it's still a baby company and needs some tweaks. I wouldn't pay $99 for it yet, however. On the other hand, if it helps me with my posture I'll consider it worth what I did pay for it -- $69, if I remember right (it's been 6 months).
I would give an overall rating of "3" though much of the rating because I don't think it's quite ready for prime time based on the reasons stated, above

I'm surmising they may simply hope to sell the device to a more established company who is already in this area, and make some big bucks, rather than build a single business. Only time will tell. I guess I don't care. just want something that works, and works well.

✅ Lumo Lift Review – innovative wearable activity tracking wireless device


The LUMO LIFT activity and posture tracker gives me incentives and reminders to be more active and maintain better posture. The pedometer and activity monitor have been improved – their accuracy was disappointing – it's getting better. Trend graphing is a very useful addition! Awaiting more improvements in future versions.

The app, website, blog, and videos are helpful, and the support staff is responsive.

Personal goals cannot be customized, yet.

The biomechanics/ergonomic/biometric activity model is mostly hard coded, and too simplistic – the only inputs are: Age, M/F, Height, and Weight. There are no inputs to personalize for your individual goals, lifestyle, stride length, lean mass, or BMR/RMR – so calorie counts and distances are useful for seeing relative trends (day-to-day) but are only rough estimates.

Distance (for a measured mile walk) is usually within about 10% to 15% accuracy, not too bad. Could be improved if stride length were measured.

Calories can be way off due to inaccurate BMR/RMR and activity estimates, but are generally within 20% to 30%, good enough?

Activities like gardening and yoga are not slouching – this is another defect in the posture tracking algorithm – when your body is in motion, that's not really slouching – don't buzz me, bro!


PROS: Gives incentives and subtle reminders to improve posture and activity levels. Elegant and simple physical design. Works as a simple posture monitor with intermittent feedback while sitting or standing. Responsive, conscientious support staff. Product improvements ongoing.


CONS: No sleep monitor. Does not allow users to set their own goals for activity levels, sensitivity settings, stride length, BMR/RMR. There is very limited user input to calibrate the biomechanics model – only age, weight, M/F, and height – all other variables are derived, estimated, or hardcoded. There is no user data export (but weekly summaries may be available via email.)


(*) Bottom line: Satisfied, not delighted. YMMV. Helps me improve posture and activity levels. Useful for seeing relative trends (day-to-day) and very rough estimates for calories and distances.


Pre-ordered in January 2014, delivered in August. Looking forward to ongoing improvements, especially the MyFitnessPal integration and firmware/algo/app upgrades for more accurate pedometer, calories, and activity tracking.

Written: August 25, 2014.
Last updated: November 7, 2014.

★★★★★ 5/5 stars due to recent app and firmware improvements and responsive support!