Inflatable, compression or heated: which back support to stock.
Two back supports are in production: the M102R inflatable traction belt and the M1001-R red-light heated belt. This guide compares them with three earlier back supports on construction, power, price and packing.
Five back-support options compared
| Decision point | M102R traction belt | M1001-R red-light heated | 102 thickened | M189 wide inflatable | Steel-plate belt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | Air-column belt, H-frame support | Air-column belt with heating, red light and vibration | Deeper air-column belt | Wider air-column belt in R and L body styles | Fixed compression with steel-plate reinforcement |
| Pump or power | Gold hand pump, or a rechargeable electric pump | Electric pump plus a 5,000 mAh battery, six heat steps to 65 °C | Manual pump, no battery | Manual or electric pump | None |
| Indicative price | $16 per set with the electric pump | $33 per set | |||
| Quantity quoted | From 500 sets | From 500 sets | |||
| Packed weight | 695 g hand pump · 745 g electric, 20 per carton | 1,145 g, 12 per carton | 640–900 g | 720–890 g | 700 g |
| In production | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Details | M102R | M1001-R | 102 thickened | M189 | Steel-plate belt |
Prices are indicative and ex-works. Values not listed are stated on your quotation.
Pick by order profile, not by feature count
The most expensive model is not automatically the best fit. Availability, quoted quantity and battery status usually narrow the choice faster than the feature list does.
Most pump choice: M102R
$16 per set with the electric pump at 500 sets; the hand-pump set is quoted for your quantity. It is the factory's highest-volume line, and the supplied hand and electric pumps swap on the same belt.
Powered plus inflation: M1001-R
The M1001-R at $33 per set combines the air-column belt with six heat steps to 65 °C, 55 red-light emitters at 650 nm and two vibration motors, on a 5,000 mAh battery, with the electric pump in the box. It is in production and packs 12 to a carton.
Deeper or wider bodies: the earlier belts
The 102 thickened and M189 wide body are the adjacent choices for deeper or wider air columns, and the steel-plate belt needs no pump or power. All three are no longer in production; ask whether any can still be supplied.
Still deciding between two models?
Send your channel, target price point and quantity, and we will set out the trade-off for your case.
Notes
Prices are indicative, ex-works, at the factory's 500-set price tier; your quotation states the exact version and current figure. Earlier models show no price or order quantity.
Before approving a sample, ask for laid-flat dimensions, adjustment range, contact materials and the size chart per letter size. Medical-device status has not been established for any model in this range; define intended use and market classification with qualified local advisers.
For the M1001-R, ask for the battery specification, charging time and the documents your destination market requires. For the M102R, the quotation names whether it covers the hand-pump or electric-pump set, and any battery-shipping requirements for that configuration.