There is a lot of cool gear in the golf equipment world that doesn't always fit neatly into Most Wanted Tests or Buyer's Guides. You still want to know how it performs. In our We Tried It series, we put gear to the test and let you know if it works as advertised.

What We Tried

The Infraway L1. A warmup/recovery tool that uses topical and infrared heat.

Who Tried It

Tyler, Soft Goods Testing Manager.

I've dealt with chronic back pain for years so it's worth sharing my injury history up front. At 17, I herniated multiple discs in my lower back and I'm currently managing that pain every day.

First things first: As you can tell from the picture above, the L1 is discreet.

I've tried way too many recovery gadgets from companies like Hyperice, random Amazon brands and even homemade concoctions and this is by far the most subtle. When you're searching for a recovery device, being subtle doesn't have to be part of the criteria but it should be if you're looking to multitask. The L1 is designed to be used while you play golf or do other activities.

Additionally, the L1 is silent. I've used tools such as a massage gun that are loud in the office and my colleagues don't appreciate the distraction. If you need a tool like this but have been held back by the noise they make, the L1 solves that problem completely.

As far as setup goes, it took 30 seconds to get the L1 fully ready to go. You strap the L1 around your lower back and then download the app that you can get on both iOS and Android that connects the L1 to your phone via Bluetooth. Once connected, you control the timing of the session and the temperature. The app runs seamlessly and the connection to the L1 was near instantaneous.

The L1 offers heat from 100-140°F (38-60C). I was informed by Infraway to start around 120 degrees and test different temperatures after getting accustomed to a lower setting. At 120 degrees, I felt soft and gentle heat. When I moved up to 130, it was noticeably warmer. When I finally hit 140, it was on the border of too warm and perfect.

When the L1 pressed up against my skin at 140, it was too hot. When I was wearing it with my back straight up with normal posture, it felt great. If you're anything like me, that "too hot" feeling is helpful and enjoyable in small bursts. Just be careful and pay attention to your own tolerance level.

Now for the biggest win (drumroll, please).

When I put the L1 on my back and hit a few dozen shots, I noticed a much quicker payoff from ice-cold to fully warmed up. I'd say it normally takes me five to 10 minutes to warm up and the L1 had me warm in three or four. The L1 won't fix your golf swing but it will help you get warmed up faster. It's clear that you're a better golfer when you're fully warmed up.

I was skeptical about whether the L1 would get in the way of my golf swing but I was able to swing my clubs normally without any interference from the L1. In theory, you could play a full round of golf wearing the L1 and use the heat intermittently. From my experience, the battery would drop 10-12 percent during a 20-minute session.

The other gamechanger is the ability to use the L1 when it's cold outside. Cold weather makes your body stiff and the L1 gives you the opportunity to warm it back up. I wore the L1 outside on a stormy day and felt immediate relief similar to holding a pair of HotHands.

When I test golf products, I come across many that are OK but not great. The L1 easily earned a spot in my top five products tested in 2026. My back felt noticeably better and I noticed an increase in mobility during and after use. That "stiff" feeling that those with chronic back pain become accustomed to was minimized and that alone is a major win. The goal isn't to fix your back but to manage those symptoms while continuing the activities you love.

The L1 is $199. Some might argue that $199 is too steep but it truly just depends on where you're at in your golf journey.

If you don't have chronic pain and have a robust warmup routine, you might not need the L1 (but who wouldn't like to see their warmup routine sped up?). If you're like me and consistently need something to manage your symptoms, the L1 should be on your radar.