Do you want to buy Halsten Stride for your hip pain? here’s a honest review from a stay at home mom who bought and tested this red-light therapy hip brace.
If you follow this blog, you’d know I have been having hip discomfort ever since my last ceaseran section. So when I saw ads for Halsten Stride, I was hooked. The reviews looked convincing and so I placed an order on tryhalsten.com
First thing I’ve to say is that this device is quite expensive. I got the healing package which contained the device, a case for carrying it, and two support booklets for $180. According to the website the original price was $474 but they were offering a 62% discount sale.
Spoiler alert: I was disappointed with the product’s quality, its performance and, eventually, the company’s refund policy.
Having tried it myself, I honestly don’t think it is worth $180. Here is my brutally honest review of Halsten Stride hip brace
About Halsten Stride
Halsten Stride is marketed as a red light therapy hip heating pad featuring 105 LEDs operating at 660nm red light and 850nm near-infrared wavelengths. It also has three adjustable heat settings and is advertised as a device for people looking for targeted hip pain relief.
Tryhalsten.com is currently offering a Black Friday Sale targeted at women who’re in menopause. They claim that the device’s proprietary triple-wavelength system can restore collagen production even without estrogen.
Interesting, but Halsten Stride has not been proven to restore collagen production in the hips, whether estrogen is present or not. Its triple-wavelength technology uses red and near-infrared light, which researchers have studied for their potential to stimulate cells called fibroblasts.
These cells are responsible for producing collagen, the protein that helps keep skin, tendons and connective tissues strong. However, showing that light can stimulate collagen-producing cells in laboratory studies is not the same as proving that wearing a hip brace will regenerate collagen in your body.
My experience using Halsten Stride red light therapy
When I received my order, I was totally disappointed. It was nothing like the pictures online.
It’s simply a huge black braze while the light portion is less than 10% of the braze. Also, the ads and website show people walking and moving with it, whereas in reality you can’t move with it. You need to be still hook to the electric outlet because the cable is just 1 meter long
Meanwhile, the battery life is terrible. I fully charged the device before my first use, following the instructions. Despite doing this, a full charge only provided approximately 40 minutes of use.
I was also disappointed about the promised guidebook. Which wasn’t a physical book but an ebook with vague information.
It helps a little with the pain but doesn’t stay charged long enough to use it on both sides for 25 minutes each..
For the price, I expected something much better made. Instead, I paid a premium for what was essentially a basic heating pad. What’s annoying is that I found better made red light therapy devices for far cheaper prices on Amazon.com.
When I requested for a refund. Instead of receiving the refund I requested, I was offered a 30% refund if I agreed to keep the device. The alternative involved returning the product at my own expense, with international return shipping fee to China.
Better Alternative
Right now, I’m using this cordless hip heating pad which costs just $59 on Amazon. The vibration is surprisingly strong, which is actually one of my favorite things about it. I prefer a massage I can really feel, and this definitely delivers. That said, it’s not silent. But it’s better than spending whopping $180 on Halsten Stride.
It also has red light and three adjustable heat levels. The wraparound design secures around both the waist and upper thigh, which helps keep it right where you want it. Technically, although it’s shaped to fit a hip area perfectly, you could place it anywhere.
The material inside is super soft! I also love that it’s cordless and rechargeable, so I’m not stuck next to an outlet while using it. It also comes with a nicely written instruction sheet with the product.
Would I Recommend Halsten Stride?
No. Based on my experience, I would not recommend Halsten Stride.
It didn’t relieve my hip pain, the battery lasted only around 40 minutes on a full charge, the build quality disappointed me, and I found similar-looking alternatives on Amazon.com for considerably less.
Most importantly, I think the advertising creates expectations that the actual product does not meet. If you are considering buying it for sciatica or significant hip pain, I would particularly caution against expecting this device to provide that kind of relief. Also, other issues you need to know;
- No customer service phone number: The company relies on jusr email as its customer service contact. For a relatively expensive electronic product, I would have preferred a more accessible way to resolve problems.
- Manufacturing information: It is made in China, something I did not notice being clearly disclosed in the advertising.
- Company address: The address provided was in Sheridan, Wyoming. This caught my attention because I had come across similar addresses in connection with other online retailers using shady marketing approaches.