WheelBrace
Posture support made for the hours at the wheel.
- Upright while you center
- Lower back support
- Fits under your apron
- 60 day trial
- Ships in 6 to 12 days
- Secure checkout
What it does
Most potters don't hurt while they throw. They hurt after, when the lower back has held them over the clay for two hours. The shoulder straps draw your shoulders back, the cross-over belt wraps your lower back, so it's easier to hinge from the hips pot after pot.
Fit and sizing
Sizes XS to 4XL, for waists from 23.6 to 55.1 inches (60 to 140 cm). Measure about 0.8 inches above your belly button, standing relaxed. Between sizes? Go by your waist.
Materials and care
Breathable mesh back panel, adjustable shoulder straps and a belt that closes in front. Hand wash cold and let it air dry.
Shipping and returns
Orders ship in 6 to 12 working days. If it isn't right for you, email us within 60 days and we'll help you return it for a full refund.
Your back shouldn't decide when you stop throwing.
Ask potters about back pain and the story is always the same. It isn't a sharp pain. It's a heavy soreness that shows up after class, creeps into the hips and hangs around for a day or two.
The advice is always the same too: raise the wheel, throw standing, strengthen your core. Good ideas, when your studio allows them and when you have months. WheelBrace is for the classes in between.
Made around the way you throw
Three things that come up again and again when potters talk about back pain.
A hip hinge you don't have to remember
Every teacher says it, and everyone forgets it by the third pot. The straps and belt hold the position for you.
Support where the soreness starts
The cross-over belt sits across the lower back and sides, right where it gets heavy at the end of class.
Works in any studio
No raising the wheel, no special stool. It rolls up in your tote and fits under your apron.
Same potter, same wheel, two hours in
Without support, the back rounds and the head drops toward the clay. With WheelBrace, she still leans in to center, but from the hips.
What potters say about back pain
From conversations in pottery communities on Reddit. These are the problems WheelBrace is designed around.
"I'm only 30 years old but my back makes me feel like I'm 70."
"My head and heart wants to keep going, my back doesn't."
"Every wheel at my studio is a different height."
"I don't think my studio will allow us to make the wheels standing-height."
Next to the usual advice
None of these are bad ideas. They just ask for different things.
| The usual fixes | WheelBrace | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it works | Needs a wheel you can raise or a stool you can bring | Any wheel, any stool, any studio |
| When it helps | Before class (stretching) or after (heating pad) | While you're throwing |
| How long it takes | Core strength takes months to build | From your first class |
| What it costs | Wheel leg extensions from $300, physio by the session | €43,95, once |
Putting it on
About a minute, before you sit down.
- Straps onSlip the shoulder straps on like a backpack.
- Belt closedCross the belt behind you and close it in front.
- AdjustPull the straps until your shoulders sit back and down.
- ThrowSit at the wheel and lean in from the hips.
Our 60 day promise
Wear WheelBrace to your next classes. Throw the way you normally do.
If you still come home with that heavy, sore back, send us an email within 60 days. We'll help you return it and refund you in full.
The NORVIQ team
Questions
Will it stop me from leaning into the clay?
No. You still lean in to center. It encourages you to do it from the hips, and your arms stay completely free.
Can I wear it under my apron?
Yes. It lies flat under a t-shirt and the belt closes in front, so your apron ties go over it.
Does it replace core work or physio?
No. Keep doing what helps you. WheelBrace supports you at the wheel while you build strength, and if you're in real pain, see a professional.
Does it work for hand-building?
Yes. It works the same way when you're bent over the bench.
Will it get hot?
The back panel is breathable mesh, so air gets through during long sessions.
How long does shipping take?
Orders ship in 6 to 12 working days.
Ready for your next class?
Choose your sizeFind your size
Measure your waist about 0.8 inches (2 cm) above your belly button, standing relaxed. Between sizes, go by your waist.
| Size | Waist | Height | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 23.6 to 27.6 in / 60 to 70 cm | 4'11" to 5'3" | 88 to 99 lb |
| S | 26.8 to 31.5 in / 68 to 80 cm | 4'11" to 5'7" | 88 to 121 lb |
| M | 30.7 to 35.4 in / 78 to 90 cm | 4'11" to 6'3" | 88 to 143 lb |
| L | 34.6 to 39.4 in / 88 to 100 cm | 4'11" to 6'3" | 99 to 176 lb |
| XL | 38.6 to 43.3 in / 98 to 110 cm | 4'11" to 6'3" | 132 to 198 lb |
| 2XL | 42.5 to 47.2 in / 108 to 120 cm | 4'11" to 6'3" | 154 to 220 lb |
| 3XL | 47.2 to 51.2 in / 120 to 130 cm | 4'11" to 6'3" | 176 to 242 lb |
| 4XL | 51.2 to 55.1 in / 130 to 140 cm | 4'11" to 6'3" | 198 to 287 lb |