It's outrageous in both idea and execution, but the Woojer Vest 3 may be the most unique and exciting gaming accessory I've ever tried. Wearing it like a tactical vest, you enhance your immersion while gaming to a level I thought impossible. I can attest that the haptic motors and included app control works great, even though mobility due to the many connections needed is sacrificed somewhat. It's an entirely frivolous piece of gaming accessory overkill, though, so you need to be a dedicated gamer to justify the cost. For those who crave their gaming to feel like a vigorous workout, though? Yes, please. It's absurd, and I want it.
For
Absolutely unique
Full upper-body haptic response
Easy to control
Against
Do I need it?
Does ANYONE need it?
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That's the instant reaction I had when I was presented with the Woojer Vest 3, a bespoke vest for video gaming, for the first time.
Who wants that? Who needs that? Why strap yourself into what looks like heavy extra equipment when you want to cast off the weight of everyday work and the oppressive burden of IRL existence to escape into the fantastical world of play and whimsy? Especially when that extra weight will set you back somewhere between £270 and £540?
And why do I want it?
So, Woojer were kind enough to send me one of those crazy creations to try out for a bit.
And after a few weeks of using it while playing racing, sports and action games, I'm still not sure anyone needs the Woojer Vest 3. But do I want it? Ohohohoho yes.
Design and setup
(Image credit: Future / Erlingur Einarsson)
The Woojer Vest 3 strikes me as somewhere between a parachute vest, tactical vest and a waistcoat with speakers attached to it. It's available in a few different designs, one Meta-themed and a couple of game-branded ones (Call of Duty, Fortnite), but the one I was sent to try out was the plain black one. Which is probably my favourite one, and the most future-proof, aesthetically.
Made using fabric all over, faux leather on the back and plastic coverings over the sensors and control panel, it's reassuringly weighty and sturdy from the off. It weighs 1.5kg so it's not quite a Kevlar vest but you'll definitely feel it once you've put it on.
Instead of different size options, it comes with adjustable straps that make it 'one size fits most', to quote the Woojer website. If you wear sizes M through XXL, you should be fine here.
Before you do any of that, though, you need to charge it. That's a first for a piece of clothing for me...
Once fully charged, you switch it on and open the accompanying Woojer app on your phone to connect to the thing. You can also connect your headphones/earbuds (either via Bluetooth or through the audio jack on the vest) and plug in your computer using the USB-C port on the front. I definitely felt like a living science experiment when I got myself strapped in for the first time, but tinged with a mix of anticipation and apprehension, I found that everything connected fairly seamlessly, meaning I was ready to go within a few minutes of unplugging the charger.
And it's a good thing I'm unembarrassable, because this may be the first gaming accessory that makes you look more ridiculous than even the Apple VisionPro mustered...
Features and experience
(Image credit: Future / Erlingur Einarsson)
The Big Magic in the Woojer Vest 3 is created by the six "polyphonic & silent Osci V2 TRX haptic transducers" attached to the thing. There's two on the back, two at the side and two at the front, ready to rumble their way into your bones.
And once you've switched the thing on, connected your headphones, controller and computer to the vest (there's just a brain attachment missing for that full Terminal Man impression) and set the app controls to Maximum Derek, boy, does it rumble.
Just listening to music is An Experience, as the haptic transducers funnel the bass directly into your body to make me feel like I'm right next to the speaker stack at a concert or rave.
Firing up an RPG was next on the menu. Every impact was translated and ported directly into my soul, at a frequency response ranging from 1-250Hz, and when I played NBA 2K, haptic feedback to my entire upper body on bone-crunching screens and high-flying dunks made for an immersion level I thought belonged to the realm of sci-fi until now. Riding over the kerb at Silverstone, sliding over the grass and crashing into a wall in Forza Motorsport brought a similar immersive sporting thrill. Same for Doom: The Dark Ages, except for, y'know, complete and utter terror.
The battery life is stated at 8 hours, but there's a proviso that states "depending on usage and volume/sensation level" on Woojer's site. I'm sure there are some completely unhinged people out there who will test the outer limits of that battery life. However, as thrilling as I found it, I'm not sure I could last more than a single race or game (90-120 minutes max) wearing the vest before needing a good long breather, or a similar amount of time of fighting action against wartime villains or bloodthirsty monsters.
Price
(Image credit: Future / Erlingur Einarsson)
The sticker price for the Woojer Vest 3 on the maker's website is £447 for the vest alone, and £537 for a pack that includes a chair attachment, gold-plated cable and a wall mount. At the time of writing this, though, you can get the vest alone for £270 and the combo pack for £295. Even at the discount price, this is a treat for nothing less than a dedicated gamer, but man, it's a unique treat.
Buy it if...
You are (or want to treat) a super-dedicated gamer
You want complete immersion in music and gaming
You don't mind looking absolutely demented
Don't buy it if...
(Image credit: Future / Erlingur Einarsson)
You're not a die-hard gamer (or your intended recipient isn't)
You frighten easily
You only buy things you need
The Verdict
8.5
out of 10
Woojer Vest 3
It's outrageous in both idea and execution, but the Woojer Vest 3 may be the most unique and exciting gaming accessory I've ever tried. Wearing it like a tactical vest, you enhance your immersion while gaming to a level I thought impossible. I can attest that the haptic motors and included app control works great, even though mobility due to the many connections needed is sacrificed somewhat. It's an entirely frivolous piece of gaming accessory overkill, though, so you need to be a dedicated gamer to justify the cost. For those who crave their gaming to feel like a vigorous workout, though? Yes, please. It's absurd, and I want it.
Erlingur is the Tech Reviews Editor on Creative Bloq. Having worked on magazines devoted to Photoshop, films, history, and science for over 15 years, as well as working on Digital Camera World and Top Ten Reviews in more recent times, Erlingur has developed a passion for finding tech that helps people do their job, whatever it may be. He loves putting things to the test and seeing if they're all hyped up to be, to make sure people are getting what they're promised. Still can't get his wifi-only printer to connect to his computer.
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