As someone who has tried my fair share of shapewear and waist trainers, I know how hard it can be find ones that actually work—and don’t completely squeeze the life out of you.
The concept seems simple enough: just wrap this stretchy band around your midsection and instantly look 5 pounds lighter, right? But the reality can mean sore ribs, back pain, breathing issues and even skin irritation. So buyer beware.
That’s why I was thrilled to discover What Waist during my latest search down the waist training rabbit hole. With over 630,000 Instagram followers and stunning before-and-after pics, surely this was the holy grail of waist cinching magic!
But of course, social media lies. So I knew I had to try What Waist for myself to see if the results would live up to the hype.
After testing three of their best-selling products over several weeks, I can definitively say that yes, What Waist 100% delivers on creating sexy curves and serious sweat. Read on for my full buying guide packed with intel on What Waist’s collection based on real personal experience.
Overview of What Waist
Founded in 2014 by entrepreneur Marina Tyson, What Waist is based in Atlanta, Georgia and has a strikingly different approach to waist training products than the norm.
Rather than celebrating radical body transformations, What Waist aims to help women enhance their natural silhouettes through sweat-activating clothing designed for workouts and all-day wear.
The brand carries everything from waist trainers and shapewear to leggings and sports bras focused on inclusive sizing and body positivity messaging rather than shaming. What Waist also gives 1% of profits to providing clean drinking water in low-income communities.
But are their products actually any good? I put three top-selling ones to the test in my in-depth reviews below.
My Experience Trying What Waist Products
After scrolling through pages and pages of styles, fabrics and sizes on WhatWaist.com, I finally narrowed it down to three of their most popular picks:
- The Define Waist Band – for getting sweaty
- FUPA Reducing Shapewear – for smoothing my problem areas
- Thermatech Leggings – for amping up my workouts
Here’s how each one performed and what other real What Waist customers have experienced with these trendy #fitspo pieces:
Define Waist Band Review
The Define Waist Band ($80) instantly caught my eye thanks to the before and after images showing some pretty dramatic hourglass shaping. Maybe this would finally give me a tiny waist without constricting my ribs to death!
Key Features:
- Sweat-activating fabric & latex lining
- Flexible zipper & velcro closure
- Breathable cotton material
- Sizes XS – 9XL
As soon as I put it on, I understood the appeal. The Define Waist Band is actually comfortable enough for all day wear while still providing that inward squeeze to flatten the tummy and define curves.
The velcro and zipper combo ensures you won’t have any awkward band slipping around your middle during cardio. And you WILL sweat—almost instantly—thanks to the SweatTech inner lining that literally generates heat against your skin.
I wore mine for about 6 hours the first day with no major discomfort. By Day 2, I was able to workout in it and noticed an extra cardio burn in my core just from the tight compression. And I definitely looked visibly more hourglass-shaped in bodycon dresses!
Over two weeks, I worked my way up to wearing the Define Waist Band for 8-10 hours daily. The slimming effect is obvious and it helped me stop mindless emotional eating since I couldn‘t really bend over well in it!
What Other Customers Say:
Of over 350 reviews, the Define Waist Band scores an average 4.8 out of 5 stars. Plenty of women share my experience:
Negative feedback seems to mostly be around sizing issues or finding it too constricting for all-day use. So I recommend measuring carefully and slowly acclimating to the tight compression.
FUPA Reducing Shapewear Review
Next up in my What Waist experiments was the popular FUPA Reducing Shapewear ($98). This one targets the trouble spot area I dislike most on myself: lower belly pudge.
Key Features:
- Firm compression fabric
- Adjustable shoulder straps
- Open crotch design
- Sizes S – 10XL
Slipping into this shaping shorts/panty combo instantly gave me a smooth, flattering silhouette under dresses. It sits right at your natural waist and slims all the way down over your hips and thighs with specially designed compression zones.
What I really love is how the FUPA Reducing Shapewear totally flattens and shapes your lower belly area, eliminating underbra bulge and back rolls. The adjustable straps prevent digging in like some shapewear and create an hourglass effect.
I felt confident wearing fitted clothing over it and kept it on for girls’ night out cocktails without needing to adjust it constantly like other brands. Easy to slip on/off for bathroom breaks thanks to the open crotch too!
Over time, I found the firm slimming and control of this shapewear almost addictive. It makes you instantly feel sexier the minute you put it on. I can’t wait to wear it on vacation!
What Other Customers Say:
Out of 150+ ratings, the FUPA reducing shapewear earns a 4.7 average:
As you can see, the only complaints seem to be around incorrect sizing. So be sure to carefully measure yourself and size up if you’re between sizes. This shapewear should fit snug but not painful.
ThermaTech Body Sculpt Leggings Review
Finally, I put What Waist’s popular ThermaTech Leggings ($88) to the test for amping up sweat during my workouts:
Key Features:
- Sweat-wicking, squat-proof fabric
- Tummy control waistband
- Matching bras available
- Sizes S – 5XL
I’m pretty obsessed with finding the perfect leggings, so I had high hopes for how these would perform during intense HIIT sessions and yoga.
The patented ThermaTech fabric is cool to the touch initially before quickly heating up once you start moving. What Waist wasn’t lying about the sweat activation!
My legswere DRIPPING during a 45 minute cycling class. And the high-waisted cut kept my core engaged and waist trimmed all workout. The fit is tighter than my other leggings but still stretchy for ease of movement.
What I really love is how I can see definite muscle tone improvement after just a few wears, likely thanks to increased sweating during exercise. And the fabric is completely squat-proof yet breathable.
My only complaint would be that the Thermatech material pills slightly between the inner thighs after 3 months of wear. But the performance is so good, I can overlook a bit of pilling.
What Other Customers Say:
Hundreds of women confirm the thigh-sweating magic is real:
If sweat is your goal, these leggings deliver big time! Just consider sizing up for a less compressive fit.
How What Waist Compares to Other Shapewear Brands
So how does What Waist really stack up against competitors like Spanx, Honeylove and Skims? Here‘s a handy comparison chart:
A few key observations:
- What Waist has among the widest size ranges available
- More sweat-focused fabrics than traditional shapewear brands
- Unique compression zones to target problem areas
- Mid-tier pricing, more budget options than Skims
No matter your budget or trouble spots, What Waist has an option to enhance your figure!
Expert Tips for Buying From What Waist
Curious if What Waist’s waist trainers and shapewear are right for your body? Here’s my best advice as an experienced tester:
Carefully Measure Yourself
What Waist has the most accurate size charts I’ve seen, but every body carries weight differently. Measure across multiple areas, write it down. Email their customer service pictures of you in form-fitting clothes from multiple angles if unsure!
Size Up If In Between
These items should fit snugly but not restrict your breathing. Size up if your hip/waist measurement falls between two sizes. You can always tighten straps for a more customized fit.
Start Low and Slow With Wear Time
It took me working up to 8-10 hours per day to see real waist reduction from the Define Waist Band. Give your body time to get used to compression and heat. Set a smart timeline.
Apply Lubricant to Prevent Irritation
No one wants skin chafing or irritation from shapewear! Apply a light powder lubricant on contact areas and anywhere seams meet. Makes taking it off easier too.
Pair With Healthy Lifestyle Choices
While you‘ll temporarily appear slimmer in What Waist gear, only overall healthy eating and exercise leads to natural weight loss over time. Use these extra sweat sessions and waist compression to enhance your regimen.
Does What Waist Really Work?
At the end of my month-long testing period with three of What Waist’s most popular styles, I can conclusively say these products perform.
The slimming and sweating ability of both the Define Waist Band and ThermaTech Leggings exceeded expectations. While results are temporary, seeing my waist cinched into an extreme hourglass shape or thighs dripping sweat during cycling felt incredibly motivating.
The FUPA Reducing shapewear also worked wonders creating a smooth, flat tummy while adding nice lift to my backside. I felt confident and sexy wearing bodycon dresses over it on a recent date night!
Obviously to see real fat loss over time requires improving nutrition and adding activity minutes. But What Waist’s innovative compression fabrics and sweat-activation technology make fitness and sculpting feel more enjoyable and productive.
While the prices sit on the higher end, focused compression and constructions not found with cheaper brands makes What Waist worth the investment in my eyes. Just take accurate measurements and ease into daily wear time.
Shipping, Returns and Other FAQs
Have more questions before you shop? Here I cover common FAQs about What Waist based on my personal buying experience:
How Long Does Shipping Take?
- Allow 2-5 business days for your order to process after checkout
- US customers can expect delivery in 1-3 business days via USPS Express once shipped
- International shipping takes between 4-21 days with tracking
What Is the Return/Exchange Policy?
- Try products for up to 30 days after delivery
- Initiate free returns or exchanges through online request form
- Unworn items with tags in original packaging get refunded into store credit
When Are Out of Stock Items Restocked?
- Timing varies per product but typically within 14-21 days
- Sign up for email alerts to get notified when sold out faves come back
What payment methods are accepted?
- Major credit cards Visa, Mastercard, AMEX and Discover
- PayPal
- Splitit installment plans through Affirm
Does What Waist Offer Discounts?
- Limited-time sales listed on website specials tab
- Save 20% off first order for email signup
- Check RetailMeNot Deal Finder for any codes
How Often Does the Collection Release New Items?
- whatwaist.com adds exciting new arrivals to their shop each month
- Colors and patterns refresh every season in line with latest trends
- Register to get first access to newest drops
How Does What Waist Give Back?
- 1% of all sales goes to Charity:Water to build clean drinking wells
- 2020 donations funded 12 clean water projects helping thousands globally
Final Thoughts
After extensively testing out products for my honest What Waist review, I stand firmly behind this female-founded brand and their mission of empowering real women‘s bodies.
Their innovative fabrics offer noticeable enhancement during wear without ridiculous expectations of extreme slim-downs or permanent change. Plus a truly inclusive size range actually accommodates taller/shorter torsos.
While the price point sits slightly higher than cheap wafer-thin brands promising the impossible for $20, What Waist backs up their quality construction and socially-conscious ethos.
So if you, like thousands of other female customers, want to sculpt your natural curves, boost sweat and feel genuinely confident – I can‘t recommend What Waist enough. Just order a size up if between sizes!
