This was published 9 years ago
The Germinator Transit Jacket: The ultimate anti-germ jacket for travellers
By Soo Kim
The Germinator jacket features a high collar with anti-microbial fabric and interior vents that help keeps travellers cool down when it gets too hot. Credit: gravitytank.com
The Germinator Transit Jacket is a softshell water-resistant jacket featuring a high zippered collar and pull-out sleeve cuffs made with a silver-infused, anti-microbial fabric that can keep your hands, face and neck area covered when in a germ-infested environment.
The jacket, created by the Chicago-based innovation consultancy group gravitytank, may not necessarily protect travellers from catching Ebola and it "vigorously discourages field tests", but claims it "can't say for sure that it won't help".
The Germinator is, however, designed to enable you to "discreetly protect yourself" from sneezes, coughs or "a thick brew of backwashed breath", as well as "reckless farts" when someone "lets out a silent but deadly one" on a bus or train, according to Betabrand, the crowdfunding clothing company where the jacket was launched.
Its removable and washable mesh sleeve cuffs come with a thumbhole on each arm which can be pulled over to cover your hands when grabbing onto a pole or other handles on a bus, train or other form of public transport.
The coat also has a built-in outer pocket for your travel card on its right sleeve for easy access, as well as zippered front pockets and an internal chest pocket. A removable hood, which comes with cords that can tighten the hood to your head, offers extra protection, while its breathable fleece lining comes with interior vents that help you cool down when it gets too hot. The jacket allows a bit of room for wearing extra layers and can be machine-washed and ironed as needed.
The Germinator, which will be available for shipping from next January, is the latest in a series of unusual jackets and protective gear that have been available to travellers.
Earlier this year, a multi-pocketed trench coat and vest claimed to offer a surprisingly stylish solution to cutting baggage fees. The SeV Women's Trench, which appears to be a classic trench coat, is designed to carry "as much as the average carry-on bag in specially-engineered pockets" said a spokesman for the company.
It comes with 18 pockets cleverly hidden inside the coat that allow you to carry up to two mobile phones, a digital camera, an iPad, a water bottle, keys, a passport and ID card, a USB/Bluetooth stick, pens and a stick of lip balm. There are separate deep pockets for your hands.
Cautious beach lovers on China's crowded Qingdao coastline took sun protection to another level in 2012 by donning "face-kinis", masks that shield the face from exposure to the sun. The face-kini covers the entire face except for the eyes, nose and mouth, and is often worn with a long-sleeved shirt or a full body wet suit for complete protection. It is thought that the bright orange versions of the masks can help scare away sharks.
The Kuchofuku Air-Conditioned cooling shirts and trousers have small battery-powered fans built into their pockets which keep you cool by circulating air into the garment. Its creator Hiroshi Ichigaya, a former Sony technician, admits his garment isn't fashion-friendly and also tends to make you look rather inflated from all of the extra air flow. The four-inch fans, with batteries that can be charged on a USB port, can be removed before washing the garment.
The NosiLife Ultimate Hat is meant to keep harmful UV rays and insects away from the face, with a protective mesh fabric draped over its rim. Users can adjust the drawstring to create a closed but see-through cocoon around the face. The foldeable hat also features a hidden pocket.
The Telegraph, London
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