Trying out haptic vests: What can Woojer Vest and bHaptics Tactsuit do?
More immersion through full-body vibration? We tried the Woojer Vest 4 and the bHaptics Tactsuit Pro with music, VR, and PC games.
Haptic vests from Woojer and bHaptics aim to make music, games, and movies tangible.
(Image: Woojer, bHaptics)
Since the first DualShock controller and Nintendo's Rumble Pack for the N64, haptic vibrations in gamepads have become indispensable. Manufacturers like Woojer and bHaptics are extending these vibrations in gaming to the chest, back, arms, and even the head. Their haptic vests are designed to translate digital events into tangible impulses throughout the body – be it the bass of a powerful soundtrack or the impact of a bullet in a digital firefight. We tried out the Woojer Vest 4 and the current Tactsuits from bHaptics while gaming on the computer, in VR headsets, and while listening to music.
Audio vest versus tactical feedback
The Woojer Vest 4 works with six so-called oscillators that convert audio signals directly into broad vibrations. Two are located on the sides, two at chest level, and two on the back. Everything audible, whether it's a PS5 game, music from a smartphone, or a YouTube video on the computer, becomes perceptible. The fourth iteration of Woojer's rumble vest vibrates regardless of whether a game officially supports the device or not. It connects via 3.5mm jack, USB-C, or Bluetooth to the desired device. In practice, the jack connection turned out to be the most reliable. Wireless audio and the USB cable sometimes led to minimal delays.
Haptische Westen von Woojer und bHaptics (6 Bilder)
Fotos: joe
)bHaptics takes a different approach. Both the Tactsuit Pro and the lighter Tactsuit Air rely on vibration motors for precise feedback. The Pro model has 32 motors, while the Air has 16. Supported games send targeted signals to specific motors. So, if a game character is hit from the right, it vibrates on the right side of the torso. However, this form of directional feedback only works precisely in titles with native integration. According to the manufacturer, there are now 348 games, differing in native support and community mods. Recently added games include the cyberpunk adventure “Replaced” or “Wrath: Aeon of Ruin VR”, which was presented at the VR Games Showcase. The manufacturer offers a complete list with filter options on its website. Both bHaptics vests also offer automatic audio conversion for movies, music, or unsupported games.
Woojer Vest 4: When the bass rolls through your body
The Woojer Vest is lighter than bHaptics' Tactsuits and resembles a holster more than a vest. All straps can be quickly and easily adjusted, so the vest fits in seconds. Weighing around 1.6 kilograms, the Vest 4 sits comfortably close to the body, but requires careful adjustment of the straps. Only when all modules are close to the body does the feedback feel uniform.
It is charged via a USB port on the back. The remaining connections and controls are located in the oscillator on the left chest, which is not an optimal solution. The buttons for volume control, power on/off, and Bluetooth pairing are difficult to feel, especially when the vibration is active. Since the connection sockets for the cable connections are located at the lower element of the control unit, you either have to fiddle inconveniently or take the vest off again. At least a color marking on the surface would have been nice.
Technically, the vest covers a frequency range of 1 to 250 Hertz. In practice, this means: deep frequencies, in particular, have an effect throughout the body. High tones play a subordinate role and are sometimes not accompanied by vibrations at all. Woojer's strengths are particularly noticeable when listening to music and playing rhythmic games. Deep beats don't just run through headphones, but through the entire upper body. Powerful and bass-heavy music like EDM or modern metal quickly becomes an intense experience here. But even quieter sounds like Hans Zimmer's atmospheric Inception soundtrack “Time” can benefit from the vibrations. It is important to adjust the intensity for each genre so that what is heard matches what is felt.
It gets hot: Heat development and annoying details
The heat development was less convincing. After about 15 minutes of listening to music at high intensity, the areas around the vibration rings became noticeably warm. Breaks may therefore be necessary for longer sessions, also because the intense vibrations can be tiring in the long run. In addition, at high volumes, there was a slight background noise through the integrated headphone amplifier. The loud vibration noises at high intensity can also be annoying in the long run. This is quite relevant for music lovers with high demands.
The biggest disadvantage of the Woojer Vest is also its biggest advantage: its compatibility. While it works with almost any audio source, the lack of deeper support for individual games means that the entire audio track is always used for transmission to the vest. During our test of Resident Evil: Requiem, the Woojer Vest increased immersion, especially during jump scares in quiet passages. However, as soon as background noises like rain or street noise occur, you always feel a slight but actually unnecessary constant vibration.
This permanent rumble effect is more annoying than immersive, especially in VR games. It's hard to tell why the vest is vibrating – whether it's recoil when firing a weapon or a device humming in the background. Instead of targeted impulses, the Woojer vest also delivers widespread vibrations, making it unclear where the effect is coming from. Also worth mentioning: The manufacturer states a battery life of up to ten hours. In intense gaming scenarios, we got about five hours.
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bHaptics Tactsuit Pro and Tactsuit Air: The Gaming Pros
The Tactsuit Pro weighs around 1.9 kilograms and is clearly oriented towards tactical gear in terms of appearance. A rotary knob directly on the vest allows for quick intensity adjustments – practical when a game suddenly gets louder. The cheaper Air model reduces the number of motors to 16 and weighs only about 1.1 kilograms. It also lacks the rotary knob and additional snap buttons for size adjustment on the shoulders, making it not necessarily the perfect choice for bulky torsos. The striking rubber elements on the front are also reserved for the Pro version. Both models are comfortable to wear and can be quickly and easily adjusted in size.
Optional accessories for bHaptics users include arm sleeves that extend the feedback to the forearms. Especially in VR games, this enhances the impression of recoil when firing a weapon, for example. However, the cuffs pressed on the forearms during longer use, as they have to be tightened very firmly to transmit the vibration well. Fine-tuning is required here. If the vibration on the upper body and forearms is still not enough: bHaptics also offers a “Tactivisor”. The face cover fits Meta Quest 3, Quest 2, and the Valve Index and also makes the VR headset vibrate.
Precision in VR Use
The feedback from the Tactsuit Air seems slightly less finely graduated than with the Pro version, but is comparable in its core. We had to set the intensity slightly higher on the lighter vest to achieve a similar sensation. Thermally, the Air performs slightly better. The lower motor density thus leads to less heat buildup, which can be more comfortable, especially during longer sessions. The connection on the PC worked stably with both models, but in a standalone VR environment with the Meta Quest 3, connection problems occurred sporadically.
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Both bHaptics models do their job excellently. In natively supported VR shooters like “Arizona Sunshine 2” or “Pavlov VR”, the system plays to its strengths. Hits from behind, side explosions, or even the click of a magazine are reproduced distinctly by the vests. This directional information can actually help to react faster. However, heat also becomes an issue here. After about an hour of intensive use, a slight heat buildup occurs under the material. The battery is said to last about 13 hours on average, which is roughly in line with our experience. Charging via USB-C takes about five hours.
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Conclusion: Expensive Fun
Haptic vests can enhance immersion when playing with or without VR headsets and also make music and movies perceptible, which can positively impact the experience. However, it is important to be clear about the intended use before purchasing. Even though both manufacturers advertise support for music, film, gaming, and VR, not all models are equally suitable for these purposes.
If you want to feel music or movies throughout your upper body, the Woojer Vest 4 offers a quick and easy solution. It works with any audio source and doesn't require special game support. If, on the other hand, you play competitive (VR) shooters, value detailed, spatial hit feedback, and want extensive customization options, you should opt for the bHaptics vests. The Pro model provides the most differentiated feedback, while the Air vest scores with wearing comfort and price. In addition, there is well-thought-out accessories for arms, legs, and head, which are especially fun when playing in VR.
The biggest criticism is the price: The Woojer Vest 4 is currently available from 508 Euros. For the Tactsuit Pro, bHaptics charges $529 on its website, and the Air model is available for around $269. All systems are therefore luxury accessories that are far too expensive given the actual added value.
(joe)
