The Coolest Pieces of Gear We Tested This Week

This ring of ABS plastic wrapped in EVA foam might be the best way to relieve back pain that we’ve seen—and it’s kind of fun to use too. The Chirp is a system of three wheels, each with a different diameter: 12, 10, and 6-inches. We’ve been working with all three to help target pressure on different parts of the body.

Unlike a tubular foam roller that maximizes contact while minimizing targeted pressure, the Chirp works on a narrow strip of your body right between your shoulder blades while focusing the pressure. A channel in the foam accommodates your spine, stretching it in long and wide, across the 5-inch-wide wheels.

When we used the largest wheel, it didn’t take long to hear our spine correct itself over a couple of passes. For newbies and those with limited mobility, start with the 12-inch wheel and roll your back along it while on the floor, or you can stand and squat while the wheel is against a wall. The large wheel provides the least amount of pressure but it covers a greater area giving a good stretch. As your flexibility improves, you’d move to the 10-inch wheel which is more targeted. The smaller 6-inch wheel is the targeted laser that gives a deep tissue massage. That could be on your back, the back of your neck, your glutes, etc.

If you have bulging discs, sciatica, scoliosis, or slumped posture from sitting at a desk, this combo of wheels can provide some relief.—Sal Vaglica, contributing editor

[3 Wheels/$100; gochirp.com]

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