The heated clothing comes in the form of a vest with versions designed for both men and women. That vest is meant to be used as a midlayer, and as such it uses Thinsulate – a high-performance synthetic insulation that is popular in outdoor apparel – to help keep the wearer warm. That alone would make this a viable option for use in cold weather conditions, but with the integration of a lightweight rechargeable battery pack and carbon heating elements, the vest can keep you even cozier for hours at a time.
The integrated heating panels are located on the chest and in the upper back area. When paired with one of two battery options (4400 mAh and 6000 mAh), the surprisingly thin and sporty looking vest can provide additional heat for up to 10 hours before requiring a recharge. The wearer can choose between one of three settings that allows them to dial in the exact level of warmth they need based on the conditions around them. Designers from The Heating Experience say that the vest has already been tested in temperatures as low as -13ºF (-25ºC) where it has performed very well.
Additional design features include breathable mesh fabrics on the side of the vest to further help with moisture and temperature control, two hand pockets, and a smartphone-sized pocket located on the chest. The lithium-ion battery pack gets its own special carrying pouch located inside the jacket behind the left pocket as well. This not only helps to keep it out of the way, but allows it to collect warmth from the body, which can help extend the power cell’s life in extremely cold temperatures. As if that wasn’t enough, the vest is also machine washable, making it easy to keep clean after wearing it on a winter outdoor adventure.
The Heat Experience is trying to raise kr150,000 (about $17,680) to get this high-tech mid-layer into production. If they do manage to hit that goal, the vest will begin shipping in August of 2017. That means it won’t be available for the upcoming winter, which will no doubt come as a disappointment to some readers. When it does finally become available to consumers however, the vest is expected to sell for about $235. Those who support the crowdfunding campaign now can receive substantial discounts of course, even though they’ll have to find alternative methods for staying warm in the winter ahead.
Find out more on the heated vest’s official Kickstarter page.
