The Woojer Vest 3 presents an interesting opportunity to anyone in search of the best accessories for virtual or mixed reality. It doesn’t solve the issues associated with VR motion sickness as well as an omnidirectional treadmill, or enhance clarity like a custom set of prescription lenses. But it could definitely make your XR sessions more immersive.
Promising next-level haptic feedback, this vest brings the sense of touch into XR like never before, responding to even the tiniest sounds in VR apps. Though it’s primarily targeted at consumers who want more captivating experiences in games, videos, and movies, I can see value in the enterprise market, too. After all, haptic feedback can make a huge difference to training sessions.
With a new “Made for Meta” option set to arrive alongside the launch of the upcoming Meta Quest 3S, I thought now was the perfect time to put this haptic vest to the test.
Quick Verdict, Pros and Cons
The Woojer Vest 3 is an impressive accessory for XR enthusiasts. It definitely makes virtual experiences feel more realistic and engaging, even if you’re just training in VR. However, it won’t be ideal for everyone. It’s a little uncomfortable to wear after a while, and I think it would need to be accompanied by a set of VR gloves to deliver the best experience.
Pros:
- Highly adjustable fit
- Extremely immersive haptic experience
- Excellent for musicians and audio designers
- Useful, integrated control panel
- Up to 8 hours of power from a single charge
Cons:
- Not compatible with every headset or device
- Some apps work better with the vest than others
- Could benefit from the addition of VR gloves
Woojer Vest 3: Overview and Specs
Described as a “marvel of human engineering” the Woojer Vest 3 is a haptic feedback suit that forms part of Woojer’s “3” collection. It’s packed with the latest haptic technology, using Osci TRX2 transducers and six independent oscillators to deliver powerful, accurate vibrations.
It also comes with a handy integrated control panel, so you can adjust your experience while you’re wearing the best, based on your specific needs. Although this vest is obviously a great option for gamers and film enthusiasts, it has other benefits too. It can help audio professionals create unique sound experiences. Plus, I think it’d be a great training accessory for people in the law enforcement and military space, in particular.
Although, it is worth noting that this accessory isn’t exactly cheap. You’ll pay around $500 for the current model – although there’s always a chance that the Woojer vest designed for the Meta Quest 3S will be a little more affordable – if Woojer wants to attract budget conscious users.
Still, for the price, you do get a great overall product. Here’s a quick run-down of the specs:
- Six patented Osci TRX2 transducers
- Bluetooth support
- Multi-channel and stereo modes
- 1-250Hz frequency range
- 8-hour battery life
- Analog and digital inputs
- 3lbs weight
- App for firmware upgrades
Woojer Vest 3 Review: Design and Comfort
Let’s start with probably the most important part of this review: the design. Haptic body suits – at least the ones I’ve tried in the past, are often bulky and uncomfortable. The Woojer Vest 3 definitely isn’t a lightweight product you’ll want to wear for hours at a time.
Thanks to all the built-in technology, the vest is pretty stiff, and it weighs a hefty 3lbs, which can start to be a problem after an hour or two. Add in various wires and cables for the different connections you’ll need, and things start to feel pretty cluttered.
Still, compared to some older bodysuits, this one does have some advantages in terms of comfort. Its slim, streamlined design is intended to follow the contours of your body for a more tailored fit. It can also easily adapt to your body’s shape when you’re sitting or standing.
I also appreciated the fabric’s breathability on this suit, and the fact that it doesn’t cover your entire torso, so you’re less likely to overheat during intense gaming or training sessions. If you’ve ever used one of the older body suits designed for VR games, you’ll know how sweaty you can get even after just 30 minutes.
Integrated fan systems might have improved the comfort a little, but it would also mean adding more weight and complexity to the suit, so I can see why Woojer has avoided this route. Overall, while there’s room for improvement, the design is still quite impressive.
The Haptic Experience: Powerful Feedback
Woojer has definitely delivered in terms of haptic feedback with the Vest 3. It doesn’t just issue small vibrations in random places throughout your body. This suit comes with six independently operating oscillators strategically placed throughout the vest.
Plugged into your XR applications, these oscillators sense where to issue feedback based on what’s happening in your VR content. For instance, if you were using a military training app and a virtual bullet was fired into your side, that’s where you’d feel a vibration.
The vest is also excellent at adjusting the intensity of the vibrations, and how long they last based on what’s actually happening in your application. It converts sounds into vibrations. So, for example, if you were a firefighter learning how to navigate a burning building in VR, rubble falling close to you would create stronger vibrations than something falling a few feet away.
When it was first introduced, the vest was a little limited in terms of unique vibration profiles for different applications. However, Woojer released a software update allowing developers to create dedicated vibration profiles for specific experiences.
When the “Made for Meta” version is released for the Meta Quest 3S, it’ll be interesting to see if Woojer updates the overall haptic experience. In the meantime, I do think, at least for enterprise users, this vest would work better when paired with a set of haptic gloves for a more “full body” immersive experience—ideal for training.
Ease of Use and Functionality
You shouldn’t have too much trouble getting the Woojer Vest 3 set up and paired with your headset. However, it is worth noting that the vest doesn’t support every headset, so make sure you check the compatibility options before you invest.
While you can connect the vest to your devices via Bluetooth, if you want to minimize the risk of lag, the best option is to use one of the integrated physical jacks. This creates a bit of an issue with comfort, particularly if you’re going to be using various wired connections for your PC, headset, and any headphones you want to use.
Still, it’s better than dealing with Bluetooth’s potential latency. Plus, I found that some Bluetooth connections didn’t work as well as I would have hoped. Your vest might not recognize all of your wireless devices instantly, making setup a little more complex.
Once you have everything configured, the fully integrated control panel is handy. It has a series of tactile buttons and separate options for things like sensing and volume control. This means you can adjust your immersive experience quickly and easily for each app.
I can definitely see why audio professionals would love this suit. It gives you an excellent way to monitor bass and sounds to sculpt more unique experiences for audiences. The configurable DSP also has selectable multi-band EQ and Hi-Cut modes, and there are various easy browser pre-sets and phase control options for flexible use of speakers and headsets.
Woojer Vest 3: The Verdict
Obviously, a haptic body suit isn’t going to be the first accessory every XR headset user invests in. Although haptic accessories are becoming more popular, particularly for enterprise training use cases, and consumers passionate about immersion, they’re still relatively niche.
It’s also worth noting that the Woojer Vest 3 doesn’t perform perfectly with every app. If the software you’re using doesn’t have a dedicated vibration profile, you’ll have a pretty generic haptic experience. Plus, I probably wouldn’t advise using it for long XR sessions. Even with the breathable design, the vest gets pretty uncomfortable after an hour or so.
Still, if you’re looking for a unique way to upgrade your immersive experiences, whether you’re designing new audio tracks or investing in XR training initiatives, the Vest 3 could be a good choice.
It’s definitely more comfortable, precise, and powerful than many of the haptic body suits I’ve tested in the past. It’ll be interesting to see whether Woojer upgrades the design and functionality before releasing its Made for Meta version alongside the Meta Quest 3S.
