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Rechargeable, Winter-Ready Gear Keeps Wearer Warm, Defies Nature

by Leila Brillson on October 5, 2009 at 02:25 PM


No matter how many gadgets and products humanity develops, there are two forces of nature that technology cannot stop: age and weather. Efforts to prevent aging have changed dramatically in the last century, but our approach to weather has stayed pretty much consistent -- less clothing when it's hot, more when it's cold -- that is, until recently. While nothing can really be done to change the climate, at least forward-thinking clothiers are trying to make it more bearable.

Two self-heating garments have hit the market, each with a particular body part and function to keep wearers toasty as winter approaches. Water-proof and rechargeable, Columbia's Bugathermo hiking boots keep toes toasty as the wearer traverses heavy terrain. Three settings focus on three locations (the lowest just warms the pads of the feat, while the highest delivers heat all over). And the black-and-orange style, along with the LED battery display, are as fashion-conscious as hiking boots are gonna get.

In a similar vein, Mountain Hardware has also developed a heated, rechargeable jacket, meant to keep out the cold. However, keeping toasty and functional isn't the coat's only goal: the heat generated is actually due to the jacket internally charging iPods and cell phones. Light-weight and good-to-go in three hours, the men's Refugium and women's Radiance jackets ensure that, on top of heating, the wearer's gadgets don't die, leaving them, quite literally, out in the cold. So, you know, take that, Mother Nature. Now, if we could only do something about that aging problem. [From: Besportier, via Engadget and NYTimes.com]

Tags: apparel, boots, clothing, rechargeable, top

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