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Lumen Review

Lumen Review – Can You Hack Your Metabolism?

Lumen is a wellness device that uses health technology to measure your metabolism. The device is portable and pocket-size, as well as easy to use – the small device measures your metabolism with your breath.

Lumen claims that since the technology device measures metabolism at any time the user wants, it helps people to lose weight, track their fitness goals, and make healthy decisions about nutrition wherever they are.

Although Lumen was founded in 2016, the company’s device was first showcased to the world in 2020, after a successful IndieGoGo campaign raised over $2.3 million to create the device.

The device has grown in popularity since it was launched, with the likes of celebrity trainer Harry Jameson using and promoting it.

So, I’m super keen to take a closer look at it and see if it really can help people with their fitness and weight loss goals, or whether it’s simply an expensive device that doesn’t deliver the benefits that it’s supposed to.

If you’re thinking of purchasing Lumen, or you’re also keen to take a closer look at this health tech device, check out my full Lumen review below.

Lumen and App Photo

What is Lumen?

My first impression of Lumen is that it looks intriguing! The website is professional, informative, and I’m definitely impressed by the fact that the company has good reviews from the likes of the BBC, Forbes, Entrepreneur, and TechCrunch.

Looking at the Lumen device, it’s sleek, smart, but it does look slightly like a vape pen, which I’m not sure is what people are looking for when they’re trying to get into fitness and health! Nonetheless, it still seems impressive. I also like the look of the Lumen app!

Similar devices I have reviewed and a selection of supplement reviews you may be interested in:

Background on Lumen

Lumen was founded in 2016 by Michal Mor and her twin sister Merav Mor, both of who are Israeli physiology PhDs and triathletes.

When the duo wanted to bring their device to life, the company ran an incredibly successful IndieGoGo campaign that raised over $2.3 million with just under 10,000 fundraisers.

Lumen is the only device that the company produces, although the health technology that the devices use is said to help with a multitude of things, such as nutrition tracking, fitness tracking, and weight loss tracking, by monitoring the metabolism.

Lumen Benefits

The main function of Lumen is that it tracks metabolism and improves metabolism by supporting metabolic flexibility.

However, the device doesn’t just offer that! It also offers personalized daily nutrition tracking since it tells you how your body is using fat, carbs, and nutrients, as well as provides you with nutrition recommendations.

Lumen also helps you to track your energy levels, which allows you to optimize your workout and track the nutrition that your body needs post-workout, aiding in recovery.

How Does The Lumen Device Work?

The Lumen device works by using the breath of the user and measuring the CO2 concentration within the breath. The user simply needs to inhale a fixed volume of air through the Lumen device, hold it for ten seconds, and then exhale fully.

Lumen uses RER (Respiratory Exchange Ratio) to work out the metabolism of the body, as well as whether the body’s source of energy is coming from carbs or fats.

Lumen Photo #2

How Does It Feel To Use Lumen?

There are positive reviews from Lumen ambassadors about using the device on the Lumen website, with athletes, trainers, and physicians having videos on the site stating it’s easy to use!

However, there are a couple of negative reviews on using the Lumen on Amazon – people state that it’s hard to use.

Therefore, the feeling and experience of using Lumen may differ from person to person.

Side Effects

There are no side effects associated with using Lumen.

However, the brand suggests that the device should only be used by those over 16 years old, and if you have metabolic/respiratory medical conditions or other medical conditions that are affected or aggravated by changes in your diet, you should consult a doctor before using the device.

Does Lumen Work?

The Lumen device is proven by peer-reviews and San Francisco State University to provide results that are comparable to clinical RER tests. Therefore, the device is proven to measure metabolism.

In order for the Lumen to actually provide health benefits, the user of the device needs to actually make active changes in their life.

However, even if the Lumen device works, it is the responsibility of the consumer to read and track their own metabolic information and to change their nutrition intake and exercise plan as they see fit in order to make changes to weight and metabolic flexibility.

Therefore, in order for the Lumen to actually provide health benefits, the user of the device needs to actually make active changes in their life. However, the device is proven to work in terms of measuring and tracking metabolism.

Lumen Iphone metabolic analyzer screenshots

Lumen Reviews

There are testimonials on the Lumen website, most of which are video testimonials from personal trainers, athletes, and coaches.

All of these reviews definitely have the potential to be biased, and therefore in order to make sure we’re looking at unbiased reviews, we have to take a look at other third-party sites.

Lumen is available on Amazon India, and therefore it’s possible to take a look on there for unbiased customer reviews, although there are only 7 total ratings and 23 reviews.

Overall, the formula scores a rating of 3.2 stars out of 5 stars – not great!

Let’s take a look at the three customer reviews available on Amazon.

Very difficult to use. 1-star review

I had high hope for this, but no matter what I did I couldn't get it to sink with my iPhone. Very disappointing. 1-star review

The item has clearly been used. When you spend this much money on a product, you expect a new product and not something that has been used and re-boxed. 1-star review

Money-Back Guarantee / Returns Policy

Lumen offers a 30-day return policy. If you want to return a device, you will need to return it in its original packaging with the charging cable and dock. Lumen also offers a one-year warranty.

Where to buy Lumen?

You can buy Lumen from the Lumen website.

Is It Worth The Price?

One Lumen device costs $349. If you buy two devices, you receive a 10% discount.

Honestly, I’m not sure if the device is worth the price that it is sold at. I understand why the device is as expensive as it is since it uses innovative health technology.

However, unless you are really interested in tracking your metabolism and you think it’s an essential part of your weight loss and nutrition plan, I don’t think there’s any real need to buy a Lumen.

My Final Verdict

Lumen has created an incredibly innovative and technologically advanced device that is proven to work. However, I’m unsure whether the device is really as useful as the brand makes it out to be.

Unless you are someone that really needs to measure and track your metabolism to improve your weight loss and nutrition intake, I don’t really understand why you would need this piece of tech.

If you really do want to buy it and you have the budget to do so, then do so. However, if you’re on the fence, then I’d suggest spending money on bettering your nutrition and exercise instead of tracking your metabolism.

Adam Author

About the LifeHacker Guy

Hi, I'm Adam the founder of the LifeHacker Guy.

I have a First Class Honours degree in Sports Science from Brighton University, specialising in exercise physiology and nutrition. In my youth I was a competitive Triathlete and long-distance runner placing top 10 in most triathlon races I completed.

Since suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, I moved into web development, after a couple of years I then moved onto developing a number of online businesses. I've recently taken a sabbatical and I'm now looking to make big changes in my life, hopefully this may resonate with you - join me in my journey!

3 comments

  1. I just looked into returning this. I received it a week ago, and it is a joke.
    You pay for the subscription, which is not refundable. The shipping label shows the device as ‘free’ so getting a refund for a free device will be impossible. But, the agreement also states that Lumen owns the device, and they are letting you use it while you maintain a subscription. To end the subscription you must return the device (or cancel your credit card so it doesn’t auto-renew). Of course, I read all this AFTER I purchased the Lumen and even paid for the better subscription to the tune of $300. There is a lithium battery, and it has to be returned to Hong Kong, so I imagine the fees to return will be exorbitant. Nothing good ever comes out of placing an order from Hong Kong.

  2. The company customer serve sucks.
    You pay return shipping over 180.00.
    I did not get the device ask for refund that send me a second device which I did not want now to get a refund I have to ship it back for 180.00.
    DO NOT BUY

  3. Very insightful review. Way better than I expected. I think if I reach a point where I need to lose the last 5 pounds or so and am having problems doing that I’ll revisit Lumen as a possible solution. Otherwise, I agree — why buy it if you don’t need it?

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