Digged a really funny story at WinnipegSun.com today. A staff writer Joanne Richard raves about the radically inventive Radiance winter jacket which features built in heaters. Thanks to this new gadget, she says, she is no longer afraid of the big, bad cold. She asks readers to call her a snow hottie. Oh! Really?! Nice to meet you, snow hottie 
What’s so special about this jacket? Please, read further about it. I would like to know your opinions.
I am trying to be serious and not to laugh until my cries. I just know that local villagers, especially the resident of Oymyakon and Verkhoyansk, will do that. Everytime when they see freezing strangers wrapped up in their ultra warm clothes, they love repeating “There is nothing better than fur clothes.”
So… Let’s read.
Joanne Richard writes “No need to come in from the cold or the freezing hockey arena. With the flip of a switch — just like those heavenly heated seats in a car — I’m warm all over and totally loving it thanks to Mountain Hardwear outerwear.”
“It’s prewired to provide heat and, get this, power your electronics too! And even charge them up.”
“From body core to core gadgets you can’t live without, this advanced snow-sports jacket keeps you connected and totally toasty with integrated heating panels running through critical areas between the liner and shell of the jacket.”
“This hot little number lets you turn up the heat up to 37C in temperatures as low as -40C, or you can just sit back — let’s say on your daily commute — without the heat and power any one handheld device requiring less than 10 watts, including cell phones, iPods, GPS devices and even a light. A USB cable is included for charging.”
“The Radiance is comfy, well-made and really lightweight, even with the wiring and the battery pack packed in.”
“The flat lithium-ion battery is ergonomically designed, weighs less than a pound and slides easily and neatly into an integrated pocket in the upper back area of the jacket. When worn, I can feel the small pack, but it’s not heavy or uncomfortable at all.”
“Mountain Hardwear is definitely the king of the outdoors scene when it comes to innovation and design. There’s Radiance for women and Refugium for men, and both are powered by Ardica Technologies, generating 8.6 hours of heat on the low setting and three hours on the high setting.”
“Jackets come in black for men and black or white for women. Truthfully, white scares me since I’m a pill and attract spills but don’t fear — amazingly the jackets can be washed in cold water, with the pockets all completely zipped up and, of course, the battery removed.Throw it in the dryer on low.”
“Mountain Hardwear reports this is just the beginning for their plugged-in apparel — lots of new styles featuring this innovative technology are planned for 2010.”
Well, here is what I think.
First, it is interesting. I would love to check this gadget in Yakutia, the coldest Siberian region, when it will be, let’s say, below -50C.
Second, I am not sure batteries will last 8 hours as described, even when temperature will be equal to -40C even. If the heater stopped working, the gadget will become totally useless. What’s the advantage to pay “$270 for the jacket plus $160 for the Ardica power system and $60 for the Tech Connector Kit”?
Third, the real test (not bla-bla-bla) will show, who is right. A paid-story author or ordinary Siberian villagers
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Sounds like a miracle jacket! I wonder how bulky it is.
The battery won’t work for a long time, because to keep the battery warm you will need electrical power… which comes from the battery itself. So not only are you trying to warm up the jacket but the battery itself. I’m ot sure how Li-Ion batteries perform in sub zero but most battery lose voltage as temperatures drop.
Anyone living in cold areas will tell you that the best way to dress is to wear layers, you muct dress yourself like an onion. The more thing layers of air you trap between your body and the outside air the warmer you will get. Natural fur works excellently at doing that: trapping air layers close to the skin. Synthetic fabrics are very good too.
Heated jacket… yeah, that’s funny right there! Maybe you could attach a dynamo to a bicycle and plug the jacket to the bicycle, therefore saving the battery. Pedalling the bicycle will make you warmer too!! That will be my next invention, the plug in heated jacket with a bicycle…
Yeah, Ren. You’re right. In extreme cold we must look like an onion. A good comparison. When it will get much colder, hope to show all, amost all, my layers
Please, no pictures of you unlayered!
We must keep this blog safe for all ages…
Hehe! I’ll show just outfits
Guarantee!
Sounds like she got paid to write this article about the “Radiance” snow jacket. I cannot see it catching on here in the Cariboo where winter camping is not unknown in temperatures in the high 30s (minus C) and colder. I would not like to rely on the “Radiance” in these circumstances.
I like to start with silk long underwear and work outward to a big thick coat, loose so warm air can store.
It amazes me that the only thing she’s scared about is getting her new white Radiance coat dirty. She should be scared of freezing to death if her battery goes dead.
This kind of jacket sounds like a good idea for people who do not live in the cold but come here just for a few wintry days… for those of us who live here that is nothing more than a gimmick…
Ren, btw, what type of parka do you wear for extreme cold?