Ever since Kim Kardashian revealed she uses waist trainers to help achieve her famous figure it has become quite a hot topic. And now that we’ve officially embraced the hourglass shape once gain, more and more women are having questions about how waist training really works. Below we will discuss some of the most common topics, as well as tips for making your first waist trainer purchase, and reviews of all the top brands.
Don’t have time to read the whole article? Here are the top 8 best waist trainers for sale right now:
- Squeem ‘Perfect Waist’ Contouring Cincher
- Lady Slim Colombian Latex Waist Cincher
- Ann Chery 2021 Waist Trainer and Shaper
- Ann Chery Faja Deportiva Waist Cincher
- Squeem Firm Compression Miracle Vest Shapewear
- Camellias Women’s Waist Trainer Belt
- YIANNA Women’s Latex Waist Training Corset
- Ursula Waist Trainer for Weight Loss
Table of Contents
Waist Trainer Frequently Asked Questions
How do waist trainers work?
It’s fairly simple but does require wearing uncomfortable corsets for long periods of time. Basically, you purchase a waist trainer based on your current waist size (measured from the smallest point of your waist). You then put on and tighten the trainer and wear it for several hours per day (or night), or as often as you’re comfortable wearing it. The pressure not only reduces your appetite, but it increases your body temperature in the midsection, and over time (usually months) reduces the actual size of your waistline. As your waistline gets smaller, you continue to tighten the corset more and more until you reach your desired size.
Are there any other benefits?
Other than long-term results, waist trainers can be worn under your clothes, giving you an immediately slimmer figure and supporting your back. You’ll notice your posture will improve quickly, which is very useful considering most of us spend our days hunched over a desk staring at a computer screen. This not only improves your confidence, but it is good for your health.
How long until I see results?
That can vary from person to person. Some people see changes very quickly, while other bodies are more resistant. If you have a very strong, muscular core, you’ll likely see slower changes than somebody with a more flexible midsection. It also depends on how often you’re wearing your trainer, and how tight you’re wearing it. Obviously keeping it too tight is uncomfortable and potentially unhealthy, but if you’re wearing your trainer for hours every day and tightening appropriately, you should see results in 1-3 months at most.
How long do the results last?
This is another variable answer that depends largely on your lifestyle. If you go on a diet and exercise plan and lose 10lbs, how long does it last? That depends on how much effort you put into maintaining it. Nothing is permanent.
How do you pick the right corset?
Looks are nice, but comfort is what will give you lasting power. It’s hard to wear a trainer 8 hours per day if you have trouble moving around and feel like you’re being pinched and poked. Also, you may want to go for a lower cost option for your first trainer, since the first few inches tend to go the fastest. Dropping $100+ on an expensive waist trainer and then having to throw it in the closet because you slimmed down just sucks.
Is waist training the same as wearing a corset?
A waist trainer does look and function similarly to a corset, but the goal of each product is different. Waist training is all about gradually reducing your actual waist size over time by wearing increasingly tightened corsets. Traditional corsets are typically worn as a fashion accessory or for posture support.
Where did waist training come from?
Corsets have existed throughout history among many cultures that valued a small waistline. In the past, corsets were popular among royalty since having a small waist meant that you were a lady of leisure that had the time and money to look after your figure.
Why are waist trainers suddenly popular again?
The body types we strive to achieve change over time. At some points in history, being overweight was considered attractive. At other times, being extremely skinny was in. Currently, the “ideal body type” is the hourglass figure, popularized by celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Beyonce, and Nicki Minaj. Curvy with a small waist is what women want in 2017.
The 3 Best Waist Trainers for Sale in 2018
There are so many options available to you online, it can be overwhelming. Fortunately, I’ve tried all the top brands and narrowed things down to the top 3 best trainers of 2018 below. Metrics I kept track of include material quality, comfort, ease of use, end results, and cost.
1) Squeem ‘Perfect Waist’ Contouring Cincher
Specs:
- Fabric: 75% natural rubber, 25% cotton
- Boning: Stainless Steel
- Size Range: 23” – 51”
- Available Colors: Black and beige
Intelligent Fabric: If the thought of having a piece of rubber wrapped around your abdomen all day makes you cringe, don’t worry. Thanks to the soft, triple filtered cotton lining, you will be able to get all the benefits of a rubber trainer, without having to actually come in contact with the rubber. The rubber can be irritating to skin and definitely wouldn’t be comfortable to have squeezing you for 10 hours. I was surprised when I put this trainer how comfortable it was after assuming I wasn’t going to like it. It can be hard to find a good rubber waist trainer, but this one is superb and is especially good if you have a latex allergy.
Supreme Back Support: This super strong waist trainer straightens your back, giving you maximum support, and relieving most types of back pain. It is always best to consult your physician because each case is different, but most back pains are caused by poor posture. This trainer corrects that problem by correcting your posture. Good posture has its own set of benefits as well, including less wear on your joints and a more attractive appearance.
Easy to Use: Because of their very tight nature, waist trainers can be tricky to put on, especially ones with complicated closures that have to line up perfectly or that are difficult to lace. Thankfully, this trainer is easy to put on and you don’t have to worry about the closures being misaligned. There is only one row of closures, so it is easy to just snap into place. After using trainers with 5 rows of hooks, I was pleasantly surprised to see how much I liked this trainer with only one row.
The Good
Internal boning is key to this waist trainer’s structure. With high quality, yet flexible stainless steel boning, this trainer is able to instantly take inches off of your waist, and slowly reshape your figure. The boning keeps this trainer sturdy enough to be used daily, and best of all, it keeps the trainer where it is supposed to be and prevents it from rolling up while you’re wearing it. Other trainers with low-quality boning will ride up throughout the day, which counteracts the effects of the trainer, and creates an unsightly muffin top.
The Bad
Not every waist trainer can be used while working out, and this is one of them. This doesn’t mean you have sworn off exercise completely and become a couch potato when you put this trainer on. Light exercise that is just part of your daily routine is fine, but don’t go to the gym in this waist trainer. Because of the tight compression, it would be very hard to get a good workout anyway, not to mention uncomfortable. This doesn’t pose much of a problem though, just slip it off before workout and you’re good to go.
2) Lady Slim Colombian Latex Waist Cincher
Specs:
- Fabric: Latex
- Boning: Steel
- Size Range: 23” – 40”
- Available Colors: Black and beige
Adjustable: The great thing about this trainer is that it is adjustable, so it lasts a long time. There are multiple columns of closures along the front of this trainer, so you can tighten it or loosen it based on your needs. I love this because when I got mine I had to hook it on the very last row of closures, and then over time I had to tighten it as it reshaped my body. If you’re hoping to lose weight, an adjustable waist trainer is extremely helpful because once you start shedding the weight you’ll need to tighten it up.
Smart Absorption: The inner layer of this latex trainer was specially designed to absorb any moisture. The latex increases thermogenic energy in your abdomen, which means it also increases sweat levels, but sitting in sweat all day can be gross and bad for your health. That’s why I love the soft inner layer that whisks away any sweat, keeping you fresh and dry. The last thing you want to worry about when you’re wearing a waist trainer is sweat spots showing through your clothes and embarrassing you.
High Quality: This waist trainer is also incredibly durable, made from high-quality materials, and comes from a trusted brand. It features hook and eye closures that are 5 times stronger than the average closures and a reinforced triple glued front closure system. You can trust that you’re getting a quality product when you purchase from this company, and customer reviews back that up. They’ve been in this business for over 20 years and have made a great name for themselves.
The Good
An additional benefit of this waist trainer is that it ends just below the bust, so you can still wear whatever bra you’d like. Some trainers go over the bust, making it difficult to wear a bra, but don’t give you the support you need. Thankfully, with this trainer you have full freedom to wear your favorite bra without the trainer interfering with it. The trainer itself even helps boost your bust line, making your breasts look higher and perkier.
The Bad
The only downside of this waist trainer is that there may be an initial latex odor. I personally do not mind the smell of latex, so it wasn’t a problem for me, but I know others who have been bothered by it. Luckily the smell is not permanent and will go away; you can speed it up by letting it air out for a couple of days in a well ventilated room after you purchase it. Since the smell doesn’t affect the quality or performance of this trainer, I don’t even really consider this a downside.
3) Ann Chery 2021 Waist Trainer and Shaper
Specs:
- Fabric: Latex and cotton
- Boning: Flexible plastics
- Size Range: 24” – 42”
- Available Colors: black, blue, gray, and pink
Cotton Lining: Like other waist trainers, this one has a cotton lining for maximum comfort. The lining has multiple functions, all of which contribute to the overall comfort. It acts as a barrier between your skin and the latex exterior of the trainer, which prevents irritation. It also absorbs sweat, which is useful since latex is known to increase perspiration, further preventing irritation. Even though this lining isn’t necessarily unique to this trainer, it is still a great feature for it to have and it definitely makes the trainer better.
Stylish: This waist trainer is super stylish, probably more so than the other ones. When you choose this trainer you have more options to choose from than the other two. All of the trainers, except for the black one, also come in a camo design, which is a lot cuter than it initially sounds. In my opinion this one is even cute enough to wear on the outside of your clothes, which is on the rise right now thanks to Kim Kardashian. This trainer offers the most versatility, and is great for people who are looking for options.
Unnoticeable: Wearing this trainer on the outside of your clothes can be cute, but you probably won’t want to do it every day. Most days you’ll probably wear it under your clothes, preferably without it being noticeable or making your clothes look weird. This trainer can do just that, and it can be the star of the show or blend right in. It’s totally discreet and since it is just accentuating your natural curves, it doesn’t look fake. Best of all, it doesn’t bunch under your clothing when you sit or stand, thanks to the interior boning that lines it.
The Good
This Ann Cherry trainer is also adjustable, with multiple columns or closures for you to choose from. This lets you get the exact tightness you desire, and the ability to adjust it when needed. Let’s face it, we all bloat, and some days the trainer may need to be loosened a little bit. Or, once you start losing actual inches off of your waist the trainer will need to be tightened. That’s why I love that this one is adjustable, you get the sense that it will be with you for a while.
The Bad
There aren’t really any downsides to this product. When I was purchasing mine, they didn’t have my size in stock at the moment but they got it very quickly and I was able to order it within a week. So sometimes they might not have your size at the moment, but they restock regularly and have a wide selection of sizes. Some waist trainers only come in a very limited range of sizes, but this one is available in sizes XS to XXXL.
The Runner Ups
Not feeling the top 3? Not to worry! The 5 waist trainers below all performed very well and provide great quality for the money.
- Comfortable
- High quality materials
- Issues with counterfeits
Upon first putting this on, I knew it was a high quality product. It fits snugly but I can still move around and exercise with it on without pinching. The materials are durable and the lower rise makes it comfortable for all day wear (for reference, I'm 5'4"). You can tell right away that this is a premium product in the waist training industry.
I wore this corset trainer for 3 days in total, at about 6-8 hours per day. It has a slim profile which makes it good for daytime wear, but it is still durable enough that you can wear it to the gym without worry. I like Squeem trainers, which are in a similar price range, but I have to say this fits me better and feels more heavy duty than anything else I've worn. I highly recommend the Faja Deportiva.
- High quality, durable materials
- Comfortable enough to wear at night
This trainer looks amazing and is small enough that you can wear it with most clothing garments. One downside is that it is a bit longer than some other trainers and pushes your breasts up like a sports bra. This may sound like a positive, but it can become uncomfortable if you're wearing it for a long time and for some it may look unnatural. To get around this you can put a sports bra, simple as that.
Overall, this is a very solid trainer and a great purchase for those looking for high end shapewear.
- Very comfortable
- Chemical smell
- Not good for tall women
While the product is very comfortable and made of high quality materials (I don't see this thing ever falling apart), it is definitely bulkier than most other corset style waist trainers. This can be a problem for women who want to wear it during the day and wear form fitting clothing. If you're wearing a sweater or loose t-shirt you'll be fine, but other than that it will be noticeable. That makes this trainer better suited for nighttime wear. Another downside is that it has a strong chemical plasticky smell when it comes out of the box. This goes away over time, but is very off putting.
At 5'4" this trainer belt fit me well, but some taller women or those with longer torsos have complained that the height of the belt is too short (it only cinches a portion of their midsection). I could see this being a problem, so taller ladies beware.
- Comfortable
- Durable materials
- Lots of counterfeits
As far as sizing, be sure to use the manufacturers sizing chart and if in doubt, go one size larger. There are multiple different hooks so it is somewhat adjustable, but if you order to small you are out of luck. As far as the length, it fits great for me at 5'4 and I have a little bit of extra room. If you're closer to 5' then the length may be an issue, depending on your size.
Getting this trainer on for the first time was a bit of a pain, but once you get it on it is pretty comfortable. I've had no issues with it rolling or pinching my skin and I'm able to move around easily even after eating. During my test run I kept it on for 8 hours with no trouble.
Overall, this is a great low-cost option as far as waist trainers go. If you're on a budget but still want to shape your midsection, give it a shot. There is very little difference between this and the expensive Kardashian option.
- Attractive design
- Comes in different heights
- Not good for working out
First off, the sizing is a bit confusing, as is often the case with these things. They run small across the board. Even when using the manufacturer provided size chart, you may want to consider ordering a size up. Once you do find your right size, you'll likely be very happy with the packaging and looks of the garment when it arrives. It looks a lot more expensive than what you pay.
That said, there are a few downsides. While this corset looks great, it isn't the most comfortable I've tried. It's fine for regular daytime wear, but I don't find it comfortable enough to work out in. It can sometimes pinch if you're moving around a lot. On the plus side, it does come in different heights, which taller women will find useful.
Overall, this is a really solid purchase at this price range. It's not quite as comfortable as some of the more expensive trainers out there, but for those on a budget looking for a high quality alternative, this is it.
What to Look for While Shopping
Once you decide to buy a waist trainer, there are a couple things you will want to keep in mind. Always make sure the waist trainer is made from high-quality materials and one that you are comfortable in. If you prefer the feel of polyester over denim, there’s no reason to waste your time looking at denim corsets. High-quality fabrics are especially important while shopping for corsets because people will try pass off low-quality materials as corsets and they won’t give you the same results.
When you’re shopping for a waist trainer it’s also important you get the right size. It’s best to take your measurements or get them taken professionally before you start shopping so that you have an idea of what size you need. A trainer that is too small will be too tight and dig into your ribs, if it’s big enough to even get on. Trainers should be snug, but they shouldn’t be painful. On the other hand, a trainer that is too big will be loose and won’t shape you the way you want. Getting a waist trainer that is the wrong size is just a waste of money, so always make sure you’re looking for the right size.
Lastly, you will want to look for a trainer that you actually like. Waist trainers come in every color and style, so if you’re going to spend money on one you might as well get one you really like. This is where personal preference plays a big role in your decision, although overall quality should still be more important. A cute trainer won’t do anything if it’s made from low-quality materials.
Different Types of Waist Trainers
There are two main types of waist trainers, cinchers and corsets, both of which help shape the body and give you a more hourglass figure. Waist cinchers tend to be a little more comfortable and are made of latex, nylon, cotton, or any combination of the three. The spandex is what compresses and pulls everything in, making your waist appear much smaller, but they aren’t as good for permanently changing your figure. However, they are great to work out in since they are still somewhat flexible.
Corsets, on the other hand, tend to be tougher and over time actually change the shape of your body. Of course, this is a slow and not always comfortable process. Corsets give you more options when it comes to materials; they can be made of spandex, cotton, polyester, silk, leather, and even denim. They aren’t great to work out in, but they do a great job of shaping your body.