FluidStance Level Review – Great Exercise?
The FluidStance Level is a low-impact exercise device that comes in the form of a balance board. It’s designed to be placed under your standing office desk or computer desk to help you exercise throughout the day. Here’s our review of this crowdfunded product.
What is the FluidStance Level?
FluidStance is an exercise equipment company that recently released a product called the Level. That product is a balance board-like object that promises to increase your heart rate and facilitate movement at work without being a nuisance to your coworkers.
You place the Level under your standing office desk or computer desk, then use it to create constant movement beneath your feet while raising your heart rate.
Fluid Stance calls it a “perfect addition” to a standing desk, gaming system, or classroom. You’ll need to be standing to use the Fluid Stance, so it’s not really a piece of equipment you can use while sitting down.
As one review on the Fluid Stance Level explains, “you switched to a standing desk because standing was better for you than sitting. Turns out, standing isn’t enough. What you really want is to move.” with that in mind, Fluid Stance wants to help you move using its Level technology.
Although the Level is designed for standing desk users, FluidStance does claim you can get some benefit by using the Level as a footrest, which may moderately increase your heart rate.
The company has acquired four patents for its products, which you can view here: Fluidstance.com/patents/
How Does the FluidStance Level Work?
The Level works like any balance board: you place your feet on either end of the board and then stand up, using your core and your legs to maintain balance without tipping too far in either direction.
The Level can be placed on carpet or hard floors. You place it underneath your standing desk and stand on it for however long you can last. FluidStance recommends you start with a 70:20:10 breakdown if you’re new to standing workstations, where you spend 70% of your day sitting, 20% of it balancing on the Level, and 10% of it engaging in “real-life movement”.
Meanwhile, those who are already used to standing desks are advised to implement the Level into their existing standing routine for as long as they like. The longer you can stay on the board throughout the day, the more calories you’re burning.
Benefits of the FluidStance Level
When implemented into a standing desk, you can expect a modest heart rate increase. FluidStance claims that heart rates increase 12.5% to 15% on average while using their balance boards (that number comes from a third-party testing company).
FluidStance also claims that third-party testing company observed an increase in the range of motion: participants in the study were able to see an average range of motion of 23.98 degrees. The idea is that when you’re standing on the FluidStance Level, you can swivel around on the board for a greater range of motion around your desk. So you can have a multi-monitor setup or access different parts of your desk more easily.
Unlike with certain standing desks, FluidStance level claims that “there is no statistical difference in the amount of typing errors that someone makes standing on our product compared to the same person in a seated environment.”
Level Pricing
The Level is available in several different varieties, including pricey handmade wooden boards and slightly-less-expensive factory-made boards. Here’s how pricing works out:
— The Original Handmade Level: $489
— The American-Made Level (Solid Bamboo): $389
— The American-Made Level (Maple): $289
— The UPmat: $69 (it’s a standing desk mat that can be used on or off the Level)
— The Lo-Pro Base Mat: $89 (recommended for suing the Level on hard floor surfaces to minimize damage)
— The Holster: $89 (a wooden base where you can place your Level when not in use)
— High-Five Rack: $489 (a rack of five wooden holsters put together, like for use in the office)
— The Upcycled Base Mat: $129 (recommended for use on most surfaces, including carpet)
— The Small Fleet: from $1695 (a set of 5 Levels and a High Five Rack holster system)
The company offers further discounts if you’re ordering the equipment in bulk as a company. The Small Fleet’s $1695 price tag includes 5 Levels, although you can purchase more to save more money per unit.
What is the FluidStance UpGrade System?
FluidStance recently unveiled something called the UpGrade system on Kickstarter that promises to put bodies and minds in motion and transform the common kids’ space into an active learning environment while keeping them moving. The Kickstarter project doesn’t quite look like it will reach its funding target of $45,000 (it currently sits at around $25,000 funded), but there are still 13 days to go.
That UpGrade system is a set of balance boards designed to be placed in a classroom for younger kids to use. Each board is called a “Grade”. The company claims that kids can enjoy a 14.5% increase in heart rate and better cognitive abilities. Basically, it’s the smaller, children’s version of the Level board. It sells at a retail price of around $125.
Who is FluidStance?
FluidStance is a brand under Company of Motion, LLC. That company was founded in 2014 and, according to their LinkedIn page, has between 1 and 10 employees. You can learn more about the company at their Team page here.
Get in touch with FluidStance by emailing [email protected] (that’s their customer service line). Or, you can contact them by mail at their physical address here:
218 Helena Ave, Suite D
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Ultimately, the FluidStance Level is a straightforward balance board that promises to help you stay in motion and increase your heart rate throughout the day. If you recently started using a standing desk and want to enhance your standing activity even further, then the Level may be the right choice for you.
