Airvantage vest uses your breath as insulation

With summer just about over, we're already starting to look for solutions to that winter chill, and the first thing that comes to mind is heated clothing. And while battery-operated heated jackets like the Grado Zero Space sound pretty tempting, but we'd sort of like something that isn't dependent on a power supply to keep us toasty. That's where the Airvantage vest comes in. Pump it up by breathing into a tube, and your breath acts as an insulating layer between you and the elements. If you're too hot, you just let out a little air. Sounds great. Just be careful not to let that air out to quickly if you've had the garlic soup for lunch. You'll really heat up the room, and not in a good way.

[Eric @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

That thing would get some mould in it quickly. And it's too thick anyway.

[retro @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

ZOMFG L337 PWNAGE

[Reza @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Who is willing to bet it doesn't insulate half as well as they say it does. I've been dealing with AIR just about all my life and I know for a fact it has a tendency to cool very quickly. You could even consider me an expert on air.

[mike @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

I "breathe" into my trumpet a lot and the inside of it is covered in mould and doesn't smell too great either. I'm not so sure this thing is going to be very popular unless they've found some miracle fabric that kills the bacteria in your breath.

[John P. @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Why was "Dune" the first thing to come to mind when I looked at this thing? I'm not talking about the poor Sci-Fi version, I'm talking about the David Lynch version...

[t3h_bob @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Sweet! Another trumpet player!!!

[K @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

I have this system in my Rossignol Ski Jacket. It's supposed to be the equivalent of donning another thermal layer, but, to be honest, I haven't been able to tell the difference.

[Chase @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Hey lmao, trumpet players unite!

...on Engadget.. weird.

[E @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

My mom has a pair of gloves that work this way. breathe into a little valve on each glove and your hands are immediately warm and toasty.

It's really nice, actually.

Oh, and another trumpet player here, too. Go figure.

[Monx @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

nice model and nice inovations, but in truth, i never tried gadget like this before, so, i didn't know if the heat last long or not

[Earpy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Sorry, but did you guys actually read the article or go to the link? It says 'insulating layer' not heating layer - i know what you were all thinking tho (i thought the same thing at first glance - that it was going to involve using the heat from your breath to heat the jacket) but from what I can gather its just the insulating capability you change by inflating or deflating it - its not like your going to be huffing down it continuously like a trumpet, or that it cooling is the issue - trapped air IS a good insulator (like snow, batts, cottonwool) so i think this vest would probably be ok when fully inflated in terms of warmth. However the mold issue is a good one if you did what they said and adjusted it all the time for the conditions. Maybe they should incorporate a dessicant chamber into the valve system, or even better just a miniature pump?
BTW #9 - cool sounding gloves -;)

[Karl-Koenig Koenigsson @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

But can you buy it? I went to the site and found the usual yadda yadda but no price, nor any availablilty links. Am I daft or something?

[scooby @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Oakley have been using air vatage vests in thier snow jackets for years, they work great but its nothing new been around for 3-4 years.

[Max SMoke @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

You know, if they REALLY want to warm you up, that tube needs to go into the other end. After all, air is ALOT warmer once it's been passed through your entire digestive tract. Given, the tube would be uncomfortable at first, but once you get used to it...

[Sheldon @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Unless the air pockets within the jacket have a foam structure then this jacket is going to do squat!
Its the same reason why purely inflatable matresses are useless in an outdoor environment whereas the thinner foam based ones (Thermarest et all) work far better. Air may be a good insulator but if there is nothing to stop it moving then its pointless. Thermarests don't get very moldy because when the foam expands (you open a valve to let the air back in) it draws in fresh air, not exhailed air.
As for gloves that you breath into, wrong principle. They warm your hand because you're breathing in warm air, they don't trap any of the air inside them.

[Reza @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

I too, play the trumpet.

[gadjitfreek @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Ah, yes, Dune...stillsuits galore. I think that a stillsuit for desert folk would be a more practical development than this air-suit.

[Conglacio @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

I dont play a trumpet

[Lectoid @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

If nothing else, this jacket might make falls less painful. Those of us that ski in the midwest know what I am talking about. We don't usually get the powder the westerners do.

[OddManOut @ Dec 19th 2005 1:36AM]

Heck this ain't for skiers, it's ideal for ice fishers. If you fall through thin ice you're basically wearing a life jacket !


(Note - I'm not actually serious, it probably doesn't increase boyancy all that much and if it did, in the event of falling through ice it might work AGAINST one because it would make swimming/diving more difficult)