Yoga can be a tremendous, life-altering experience that opens your mind, improves flexibility, and induces relaxation.
However, for those with back problems, certain issues can arise that make yoga exercises exceedingly difficult or, in some cases, impossible.
This can make for a daunting challenge; fortunately, there is a solution: yoga wheels.
Yoga Wheel Benefits
Yoga wheels are sturdy, circular pieces of exercise equipment that are designed to naturally flow with a user’s spine in order to improve posture, stretch muscles, and reduce back pain.
They can be a wonderful tool to enhance your wellbeing, but it can be difficult to differentiate between which ones are worth taking a look at and which ones should be passed over.
Of all the yoga wheels available, two of the most notable are the Chirp Wheel and the UpCircleSeven Yoga Wheel.
There are lots of ups and downs to both of them which can make it difficult to choose one, which is why I’ve compiled this comprehensive Chirp Wheel vs. UpCircleSeven guide to inform you as much as possible on the subject.
The Chirp Wheel Vs. UpCircleSeven
These two yoga wheels represent some of the best the industry has to offer, with free-flowing designs, good materials, and sleek looks.
Chirp Wheel
Specializing almost solely in yoga wheels, the manufacturing company Chirp can find its origins on Shark Tank, where its products made an impressive display on the show.
More than just a run of the mill exercise aides, Chirp products are classified as Class 1 FDA registered medical devices and come with an optional posture corrector to really help you maximize your back pain relief.
Chirp offers several separate kinds of wheels that are used to pinpoint different areas of your back, depending on your specific needs.
They can be purchased in a bundle order that includes three wheels, the posture corrector, and a storage case that can easily fit everything.
In addition to its product offerings, Chirp offers free video tutorials to help their customers with the proper use of their devices.
Marketed as a much superior alternative to foam rollers, Chirp Wheels have experienced a tremendous degree of commercial success, with over 1 million units sold, and are recommended by thousands of chiropractors across the U.S. Financing also doesn’t have to be a pain either as Chirp offers a monthly payment plan through its partner afterpay.
Pros
- FDA Registered
- Supported by medical professionals
- Has an excellent, well-crafted design
- Convenient to carry and store
Cons
- Pretty basic
- Not a lot of customization options
UpCircleSeven Yoga Wheel
UpCircleSeven is a company that manufacturers several yoga-related products such as yoga swings, yoga hammocks, and most notably, yoga wheels.
Yoga wheels can be purchased either individually or in a set and come in several different color and material options.
While back pain relief is a major facet of UpCircleSeven yoga wheels, they’re marketed as being a substantial addition to yoga routines and can be used as a way to improve flexibility.
Their wheels come in four separate color patterns: turquoise, cyan, blue, and black and are accompanied by a free PDF which helps advise people on the proper use of the product.
UpCircleSeven Yoga wheels come in three separate sizes, which each serve a different pain relief or exercise-related purpose.
They’re considered to be a good addition to stretching movements and are excellent ways to facilitate backbending movements.
Pros
- Lots of variety
- Comes with a payment plan
- Very appealing design
- Very high quality
Cons
- Has a lack of storage options
- A lot of its benefits aren’t for everyone
Comparison of Features
As they are similar products, when making a Chirp wheel vs. UpCircleSeven Yoga Wheel comparison, it’s good to keep in mind that there are a bunch of common features that you can find in both of them.
However, having similar features doesn’t necessarily mean they’re equally as good in the same ways.
Here are some aspects shared by both products that are important to consider before making a purchase.
Sizing
Both the Chirp Wheel and the UpCircleSeven come in sets that consist of three different sized wheels: one that is 12 inches, one that is 10 inches, and one that is 6 inches in width.
As they both possess equally sized wheels, you would do pretty well with purchasing either product for getting the same number of wheels that can serve the same purpose.
However, the Chirp Wheel seems to maintain its design pretty evenly across all size ranges, so sizing differences are still going to result in a smooth feeling with Chirp.
Cushioning
When using a yoga wheel, the level of comfort you’re going to receive is going to be really important.
Even if you still receive the level of flexibility and muscle pain relief you’re looking for, the reality is that anything that’s lacking in proper cushioning is going to cause you pain in the long-run no matter what.
Of the two products, the Chirp Wheel is by far the more comfortable one.
While the cushioning itself is pretty identical in terms of softness, the Chirp Wheel simply has much more of it.
The UpCircleSeven yoga wheel only has about 8 millimeters of cushioning, while the Chirp Wheel has more than double that, clocking in at 20 millimeters.
If comfort is indispensable to you, then the Chirp Wheel is the obvious choice.
Material Quality
An attractive look and having lots of bells and whistles is a great way to get people to look at a product, but ultimately what sells it in the long-run is whether it meets quality standards that make it effective and long-lasting.
While the inner frame of both wheels is made from high-grade ABS plastic, the padding for the UpCircleSeven yoga wheel is much better.
Comfort-wise they’re pretty identical, but UpCircleSeven yoga wheel padding is made from TPE, which is a highly durable material that is non-toxic, biodegradable, and eco-friendly.
Conversely, the Chirp Wheel is outfitted with EVA foam, which is the same material that a lot of exercise mats are made from.
It’s not a bad material by any means, but when compared to TPE it’s not particularly impressive.
If you’re looking for something that’s good for the environment and will last you longer, then UpCircleSeven yoga wheel is the way to go.
Effectiveness of Design
While there are lots of similarities between the two exercise wheels in terms of material and size, there is a substantial difference in terms of design.
The Chirp Wheel possesses a deep indentation embedded in the middle of the device which is designed to fit along the spine in order for the rest of the wheel to better target the surrounding muscles.
Compared to the UpCircleSeven yoga wheel, Chirp’s core function is to focus on back pain relief through a process known as myofascial release.
The UpCircleSeven yoga wheel relieves pain as well, but it has a secondary function as a yoga device, so it’s designed to be more universal in terms of use.
However, despite some slight difficulties that might arise from using Chirp for yoga purposes, it still can be used for that at the end of the day, but the UpCircleSeven yoga wheel will still lack spine-accommodating features.
Of the two, the Chirp Wheel has a much more accessible design.
Shipping and Return Policy
While it’s always unfortunate that the product you purchased might end up not being right for you, it’s still a realistic possibility at the end of the day.
If a company offers a decent return and shipping policy, then that’s going to be a huge plus in the event that something doesn’t work out.
Both the Chirp Wheel and UpCircleSeven yoga wheel offer free shipping and a decent return policy.
However, Chirp’s return policy is much more generous as they offer a Happy Body Guarantee, which allows customers to return their yoga wheels up to 60 days after purchase if they’re not satisfied.
UpCircleSeven’s policy only allows returns up to 30 days after purchase.
Weight Capacity
There are bound to be people with substantially different body types that are going to end up using either of these products, which is why understanding a product’s weight limit is going to be important.
If a wheel can’t support someone’s weight it’s going to wear down much faster or possibly even break.
Of the two, the UpCircleSeven yoga wheel has a higher weight limit of 550 pounds, compared to Chirp’s 500. It’s not necessarily that much of a difference, but that little difference might count for a lot.
What Are Some Major Differences?
Despite their many similarities, there are quite a few differences that seem to arise when making a Chirp Yoga Wheel vs. UpCircleSeven Yoga Wheel comparison.
Storage Options
You’re not always going to be using your yoga wheels and you might need to take them somewhere, which is why storage is an important consideration.
The Chirp Wheel comes with a container which can easily fit all three of the wheels that come with an order.
This makes them easy to keep track of, easy to store, and allows you to take them wherever you would like for convenient use.
Non-Slip Technology and Sweat Resistance
The material differences between the two products aren’t just related to comfort and durability, there are some pretty big technical differences.
The UpCircleSeven yoga wheel is largely sweat-resistant, which prevents the buildup of bacteria and is designed to be very non-slip, which is good for preventing accidents or mess ups during yoga sessions.
Variety
Chirp only really offers a single type of wheel, which has a specific design and color scheme. With the UpCircleSeven yoga wheel you’re given a lot of options when it comes to the look of your device.
Not only can the colors be much different, but the overall look of each wheel can be very different in terms of theme.
In addition, there are some options available from UpCircleSeven that allows customers to purchase wheels made of different materials, such as cork.
Which One Should You Go With?
Figuring out which product is going to be best for you might be a challenge. There are a lot of similarities between the two and they’re both generally quite high quality products.
Still, there are some differences that can easily make one type of wheel more preferable than the other.
Reasons to Buy the Chirp Yoga Wheel
It’s a good idea to go with the Chirp Wheel, if:
- You have some serious back pain issues
- You’re interested in having as much back support as possible
- You don’t mind a little bit of extra expense
- You can do without having lots of customization options
- You prioritize comfort
- Like convenient storage options
- Like having access to a good return policy
Reasons to Buy the UpCircleSeven Yoga Wheel
UpCircleSeven would be a preferable option, if:
- You’re really interested in increasing your flexibility
- Are a fan of durability
- Like having options for choosing the look of the product
- Like going with a less expensive option
- Comfort isn’t a #1 priority
- Prefer being environmentally friendly
- Aren’t concerned about return policy
Final Thoughts
When considering the Chirp Wheel vs. UpCircleSeven Yoga Wheel, it’s good to keep in mind that the Chirp Yoga Wheel would be a much better fit for you if you’re into more casual workouts or yoga sessions and have a heavy interest in relieving back pain, while the UpCircleSeven Yoga Wheel would be a much more appropriate option if you want to enhance flexibility and take your yoga exercises to the next level.
