Whether or not you're the type that owns articles of clothing for every reason and season, you may want to make a little extra room within your winter wear collection. One of the latest wearables uses modern tech to keep you more comfortable when it's chilly out. Venture Heat has launched its Evolve Heated Hoodie, a zip-up sweatshirt that's powered by a USB power bank.
Hoodies tend to be pretty popular, which may be why they seem to have fun features added to them first. Some designs, such as HB3 Labs' earbud-drawstring Hoodiebuddy or Audio Engineer's acoustically-transparent Hoodie, cater to audio enthusiasts. If you ever felt the need for surreptitious massages throughout the day, TWare's Aira jacket does just that. But the Evolve Heated Hoodie is different and a little more accessible to most, in that it provides extra warmth on demand without having to pile on extra layers of clothing.
On the outside, Venture Heat's Evolve Heated Hoodie looks like your typical fleece-lined, polyester/spandex blend sweatshirt. Underneath lies three heat panels, one on the back and one on each chest, that are designed to be powered by any USB power bank (external battery pack) capable of 2.0 A or greater output. These heating panels are flexible and separated by a breathable mesh layer for efficient heat transfer. An externally-located controller lets users cycle between low (95º to 105º F / 35º to 41º C), medium (105º - 115º F / 41º - 46ºC), and high (115º - 125º F / 46º - 52º C) temperatures.
With a 10,400-mAh power bank, the hoodie can provide anywhere between 3.5 and 12 hours of continuous warmth, depending on the temperature setting. Those not needing extra heat at the moment can use the USB power bank to charge up tech or mobile devices. And since the Heated Hoodie features waterproof pockets, users can keep personal items dry under wet or snowy conditions.
Venture Heat has designed the embedded heating panels with fail-safes to prevent short-circuiting. So not only is the Heated Hoodie meant to be safe to wear, but it can be put through the washer and dryer normally along with other clothes. Just be sure to remove any USB power banks.
The Evolve Heated Hoodie is currently funding on Indiegogo, having raised one percent of its US$30,000 goal in just a couple of hours, with another 31 days left to go. An early-bird pledge of $89 sets you up with a Heated Hoodie in either black or grey in sizes ranging from XS to XXL. Those needing a USB power bank can opt to pledge more and bundle one in.
The tech and design for Venture Heat's Evolve Heated Hoodie is ready, so if production goes according to schedule, backers can expect shipments to start sometime this December.
Check out the video below, and tell us what you think in the comments section!
Sources: Venture Heat, Indiegogo
