Kicking Off My Wearable Tech Hunt
Got curious last Tuesday about gadgets we actually wear, not just carry. Started digging through crowdfunding pages and tech review sites – literally spent 6 hours scrolling until my thumb went numb.
The Testing Ground Rules
Decided I’d only test stuff available right now, no vaporware. Set up my living room like a gadget lab with charging stations everywhere. Called 3 friends over as guinea pigs to try things on. Rule was simple: if it looks stupid or feels annoying, it fails.
10 Gadgets That Made the Cut
- Smart rings: Tried three brands. The circular one kept spinning on my finger when typing.
- Fitness necklaces: This chunky tracker pretended to be jewelry. My friend Tom called it “bling for gym bros”.
- Sunglasses with speakers: Looked cool but made my ears sweat after 10 minutes.
- LED jackets: Felt like walking rave party. Changed colors by tapping my phone.
- Heating scarves: Actually useful! But died in 2 hours on high setting.
- Haptic wristbands: Vibrates for notifications. Drove me nuts during dinner.
- Self-lacing sneakers: Pressed a button, shoes tightened automatically. Felt like Marty McFly.
- UV monitoring patches sticker thing that turns purple in sun. Lasted 2 washes.
- Posture shirt: Vibrated when I slouched. Great reminder, until battery died.
- Solar-powered backpack: Charged my phone slow as hell while walking.
The Good, Bad and Ugly
Half these “wearables” made me feel like a cyborg test dummy. The solar backpack looked normal but that heating scarf puffed up like an angry caterpillar. Worst moment? When all gadgets’ alerts went off simultaneously – sounded like a robot orchestra having seizure.
What Actually Works Daily
After 2 weeks of testing, only smart rings and posture shirt survived my real life test. The rings track sleep without bothering me, and shirt buzz actually fixes my slouch. Rest either died, broke or became fancy paperweights.
Final thoughts? Wearable tech still feels like gadgets first, fashion second. But hey, at least my shoes now auto-tie!