The 5 Best Haptic Vests for Gaming Today

The gaming world has kept improving over the years. The yearnings of gamers for a more immersive experience are reaching rooftops.

The advent of the metaverse and VR technologies require a more realistic experience. Gamers become full partakers, thus creating the need for technologies that optimize the experience. Haptic technology is the solution here with vests made to improve the gaming experience.

Haptic technology creates hands-on feedback in a virtual environment, such as raindrops, being shot or knifed by opponents in a battle, and insects crawling on you in a forest. The Haptic vests combine vibrations and motions to confirm activities in VR. If you are carrying anything in the virtual world and you want to feel the weight and perform the fitting gesture, then Haptic vests are what you need.

While several companies are getting into Haptic vest production, 2022 witnessed an upsurge in company emergence at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Famous brands in Haptic Vest production include bHaptics, Owo, Woojer, and Actronika (Skinetic).

Having numerous options can be confusing, so we’ve picked out the best to save you time and research!

• Best Overall Haptic Vest: bHaptics TactSuit X40
• Best for Affordability: bHaptics TactSuit X16
• Best for Performance: Skinetic
• Most Durable: Woojer Vest 3
• Most Comfortable: Owo Game

Best Overall: bHaptics TactSuit X40

Best Overall

bHaptics TactSuit X40 — Haptic Vest with 40 Vibration Motors for VR — with Audio Accessories and Replacement Lining

• 40 Feedback Points - Experience powerful, yet sophisticated haptic feedback delivered by 40 individually controllable haptic points
• VR-ready Haptic Suit - TactSuit is the only haptic suit that has been integrated into VR games. Enjoy fully immersive VR experiences with more than 100 VR titles.
• Cross Platform Support via Dual Connectivity - TactSuit X40 can be connected to almost all devices via Bluetooth or audio jack. Enjoy the wireless freedom via Bluetooth pairing with PC, PC VR, and standalone VR. *Some devices support wired connection only.
• One-Size-Fits-All - TactSuit X40 comes in one size, but it is designed to fit different shapes and sizes. Adjust the size using shoulder snap buttons and side straps for a perfect fit.

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If you ask anybody for the best haptic vests, bHaptics will keep popping up. The company is a leading manufacturer of haptic technology.

The bHaptics TactSuit X40 is our pick for the best overall haptic vest. With 40 haptic points available, you will not miss out on any input in your VR game. Its 360-degree ergonomic design puts you ahead of the game without missing any action.

You want no strings attached when fully involved in your VR character, so bHaptics TactSuit X40 allows you to connect wirelessly via Bluetooth (4.0). But, if you would like a wired connection, it has an audio port you can use. This haptic vest is compatible with Steam VR, Quest, and Quest 2, so your options are limitless with these Haptic Vests in your possession.

In case you are worried about size, the bHaptic TactSuit X40 comes to the rescue with its one-size fits all design. Users can adjust the TactSuit X40 through the shoulder snap buttons. This makes it easy to pass it along to your friends or other players to use when you feel like taking a break from the game.

It is easy to wear and not too heavy at a weight of 3.7 pounds. Plus, the longevity of bHaptics TactSuit X40 is superb as it is equipped with a gigantic 9800mAh lithium-ion battery that can function for up to 18 hours.

Despite its near-perfect features, the bHaptics Tactsuit X40 comes short with its charging time of five hours. Additionally, it only comes in black, so your color option is very limited.

Best for Affordability: bHaptics TactSuit X16

Best for Affordability

bHaptics TactSuit X16 — Haptic Vest with 16 Vibration Motors for VR — with Audio Accessories and Replacement Lining

• 16 Feedback Points - Breathable, light-weight haptic vest with 16 individually controllable feedback points takes your gaming to the next level.
• VR-ready Haptic Suit - TactSuit is the only haptic suit that has been integrated into VR games. Enjoy fully immersive VR experiences with more than 100 VR titles.
• Cross Platform Support via Dual Connectivity - TactSuit X16 can be connected to almost all devices via Bluetooth or audio jack. Enjoy the wireless freedom via Bluetooth pairing with PC, PC VR, and standalone VR. *Some devices support wired connection only.
• One-Size-Fits-All - TactSuit X16 comes in one size, but it is designed to fit different shapes and sizes. Adjust the size using shoulder snap buttons and side straps for a perfect fit.

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Often referred to as the sibling of TactSuit X40, this excellent fit-for-money haptic suit has more to offer than the price it is going for.

bHaptics TactSuit X16 has a price tag of $299, which is $200 lesser than the Tactsuit X40. Get ready to be surprised that this haptic suit can do almost all that TactSuit X40 can do with even more playtime. The bHaptics TactSuit X16 is understandably equipped with a lesser lithium-ion battery of 4900mAh, with a 2.5 hours charge time. However, it has a massive 22 hours of playtime, so you can use this vest for the whole day before it needs juice.

This bHaptics vest also provides users with a one-size-fits-all design. It can be adjusted through the shoulder snap buttons to fit all body sizes. The bHaptics TactSuit X16 is a lightweight vest at 0.95kg and it prepares for a lag-free untethered haptic experience through its wireless Bluetooth connection. It is equipped with an audio port for audio-based haptics with console, mobile, and standalone VR.

You don’t have to worry about stinking from prolonged wearing of the Tactsuit X16 because it is lined with Velcro, a mesh lining that can be washed or replaced. Users can configure the vest through the bHaptics Designer, which is a web-based program where you can adjust the sequence of patterns to the threshold you prefer.

You shouldn’t expect the exact same value for a reduced price from the same manufacturer. The bhaptics TactSuit X16 is designed with 16 Eccentric Rotating Mass (ERM) motor haptics feedback so users are a bit deprived of a holistic haptic experience.

Best for Performance: Skinetic

Touted as the future of haptic technology, Skinetic was built after deep research into the variations in the human body’s sensitivity to touch. This informed the 20 patented vibrotactile voice-coil motors (VCM) that Skinetic is built on. This new haptic technology allows the vest to separate intensity from the amplitude of vibration, thus ensuring the delivery of different sensations to the body.

The VCM provides a total spatial capacity to track human position in real time to enhance haptic feedback. It can also deliver localized or continuous motion to capture the event brilliantly. You have a full immersion with this haptic vest. According to the product website, the Skinetic vest allows users to simultaneously touch, see, and hear all actions in the virtual world.

Skinetic won CES Innovation Awards for 2023 and the Time Best Invention of 2022 to further justify its position in this category. With a one size fits all design, gamers can enjoy a holistic immersion. The vest is accompanied by a software solution (Unitouch Studio) for developers and designers to create immersive experiences. The cons of Skinetic include the lack of information about its playtime, so users will not know how long it will take to charge or function before recharging it.

Most Durable: Woojer Vest 3

Perfectly curated to withstand all forms of external shock and provide longstanding quality, Vest 3 by Woojer will give you the confidence to ride the storm with less worry. The Vest 3 was carefully made to offer users high quality and rich haptics experience. Its material and skin leave no concern about fitting whether you are sitting or standing.

The Woojer Vest 3 is equipped with an advanced DSP algorithm to detect the direction and type of sound. The sound is then replicated into a feeling in the body. The Vest 3 can receive feeling in six locations on the body.

The Vest 3 is one of the haptic vests for gaming that supports analog, digital, and wireless connections. The Woojer app accompanies the Vest 3, allowing users to adjust the haptic Vest to suit their preferences. The color of the RGB LED on the Vest 3 can be changed through the Woojer App.

The audio output of Vest 3 is top-notch. It has six TRX2 transducers, a multi-channel 7.1 surround, and stereo modes that provide the gamer with a completely immersive audio experience. It also has a wired headset amplifier to create a unique buzzing sound in your headset. The major con of this haptic vest is the low playtime of 8 hours with a charge of three hours.

Most Comfortable: Owo Game

The Owo Game is a limited-edition haptic ves made with a deft precision that provides comfort to gamers. Designed like a jersey, the Owo Game uses electric shock to provide a haptic experience to users. The electrodes are positioned in ten places across the sleeve vest.

For optimal experience, the company advises wearing the vest alone. The fabric is stretchy and customized with specific sizes. It comes in nine sizes: 2XS, XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL, and 4XL.

The Owo Game weighs less than 0.6 kg to give it a featherweight feel. It has a wireless Bluetooth 5.2 (BLE) to ensure wireless connection to all devices. An app accompanies the Owo Game haptic vest for users to adjust the sensitivity of the touch. The issue with this haptic vest is its 8 hours of playtime, which is considerably low considering what industry leaders like bHaptics offer.

How to Pick the Best Haptic Vests for Gaming: Step-by-Step

When choosing haptic vests for gaming, there are five essential things to look out for:

• Haptic experience
• Ergonomics
• Battery Life
• Connectivity
• Price

Let’s look at these points in detail.

Haptic Experience

The whole essence of haptic vests is to appreciate your experience and create a more immersive feel to the game or activity. Different haptic technologies are out there, ranging from electrodes that use electric shock to deliver a touch on your body, Voice Coil Motion (VCM) that fully converts sounds to touch and creates a full spatial experience, and the popular ERM motors that deliver haptic to the user’s body. So, ensure the vest you pick resonates with your gaming needs.

Ergonomics

As an intense gamer, you don’t want to feel discomfort from long gaming sessions. The design and materials of the haptic vest should be considered. Avoiding any other touches aside from the virtual world is the primary purpose of the haptic vest in the first place.

Any subpar design, like the choice of fabric, stretchy strap, or loose hook, should be avoided. You don’t want to be adjusting your haptic vests during the battle or miss an event because you are catching a break. Most haptic vests are lightweight, so you have little to worry about weariness.

Battery Life

As a wireless wearable, battery life is significant. Haptic vests should last at least 10 hours because you don’t want them to die halfway during an intense or long-drawn battle against your opponent. Long battery life repose confidence to continue your game without disturbance or incessant daytime charging. Haptic vests are designed to last longer, at least for 8 hours of playtime. Some of them even nudged it up quite a bit to have a playtime of up to 22 hours.

Connectivity

The joy in the haptic vest is its no-cord connection. Users can connect wirelessly to consoles and other devices to enjoy themselves. However, the range of this connectivity is a significant concern. To avoid restriction into a particular area, the haptic vest should guarantee at least 30 feet of indoor lag-free connectivity.

Price

We understand the tradeoff between price and quality. However, not all product with high-price offers better value than some low-price products. A haptic vests’ price is very important to watch out for. Ensure you do your due diligence to check around before deciding on which one to buy. You can get discounted prices for some premium products.

What to Know Before Buying Haptic Vests for Gaming

The comfort and immersive experience should trump considerations when buying haptic vests. While price is necessary, the value you will derive from the products should be more important. Buying a subpar haptic vest because of its low price will not give you the lived experience you seek in the first place.

Similarly, a haptic is not complete without all its accessories, usually coming separately. So, prepare to buy other haptic accessories like headsets and gloves to get the most out of your vest.

Technology Updates for Haptic Vests

Although haptic vest technology for gaming is still relatively new, even the early stages of technology is looking promising. A few competitors have risen to the top of the market in 2023, with overall positive reviews going toward companies like bHaptics, Skinetic, and Woojer. Gamers seem to be overall impressed and continue to use multiple models of haptic vests from these three leaders.

For serious gamers looking for an immersive gaming experience in 2023, haptic vests are becoming more affordable and compatible with a variety of different games. Haptic vest feedback technology is becoming more realistic and is designed to be more comfortable after being worn for an extended period of time.

Using Haptic Vests: What It’s Like

Haptic vests put users in the center of actions in virtual reality. Gamers’ role as passive partakers is canceled with the advent of haptic vests. Using different haptic technology, users can now feel everything in the metaverse and virtual reality, like lifting objects, punching, kicking, insect bites, collisions, physical stress, wind and rainfall, and so on.

Most haptic vests adopt a one-size-fit design to incorporate versatility and allow for more than one user, encouraging collaboration and sharing among friends. Wireless connection of haptic vests guarantees indoor free movement with intense experience.

Ultimately, you should evaluate exactly what you want to get out of your haptic vest and use that information to browse the competition and pick the vest that is both the most comfortable and exciting for you.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©iStock.com/Thinkhubstudio.