This Wearable Heater Could End Thermostat Wars

The Embr Wave is a 'personal thermostat' for your wrist that heats and cools you at the press of a button. CNBC's Erin Black tries it out.

We've all been there. You're hot. She's cold. Temperature wars happen in the office, at home, in the car — anywhere really. There are even studies about it.

But help may be on the way in the form of a new device called Embr Wave, a personal thermostat that you wear on your wrist.

It was created by two Massachusetts Institute of Technology engineering students in 2013 and launched on Kickstarter in 2017. It went on sale to the public in March.

The Embr looks like a simple lightweight watch. You put it on your wrist and turn it on, then push the left side for cold or the right side for hot. Each temperature has multiple grades of settings.

Embr's co-founder and CEO Sam Shames described it to me as a mini air conditioner or heater on your wrist. And that's exactly what it feels like: the heat or cold comes in waves and lasts for up to 30 minutes.

They also explained that Embr is changing your skin temperature, not your core body temperature. Think of it the same way you would hold a hot cup of tea when you're cold. The sensation of the heat in your hands makes you feel warmer but your core body temperature isn't actually changing.

Instead, the hot and cold sensations are is waking up thermoreceptors in the skin on your wrist and affecting your nervous system.

So does it work? It did for me: Each time I got hot or cold and used the Embr it did make me feel warmer or cooler.

It's also very easy to use and the battery lasted several days.

But it's bulky. I can't really work and use it because it gets in my way when I'm typing or using my mouse. And at $300, the Embr Wave is very expensive. Lastly, if you have sensitive skin this might irritate it. While it wasn't a problem for me, the heat setting actually made another co-worker's skin turn a bit red.

In the end, I wouldn't buy it, but I don't get too hot or cold throughout the day. However, if you find yourself sweating at the office or keeping a space heater under your desk, the Embr Wave may be worth it for you.

About CNBC: From 'Wall Street' to 'Main Street' to award winning original documentaries and Reality TV series, CNBC has you covered. Experience special sneak peeks of your favorite shows, exclusive video and more.

Connect with CNBC News Online

#CNBC

This Wearable Heater Could End Thermostat Wars | CNBC

[williammaurer]

$299 would buy a very nice sweater and a lot of ice tea.

[Lnknvy]

Probably not worth getting now but this is a really cool technology that could he great and made better on the future

[loriesteller]

So I just bought this and I am not impressed at all. Yes, it gets cold and hot, but only on my wrist. It did nothing to make me feel like I was colder or warmer overall. I got it so that when I am outside at football games I could tolerate the cold. It would have been cheaper to buy a battery operated coat that heats up or shoe insoles that heat up. I haven't decided if I'm going to keep it.

[lpg]

I bought this with the hopes that it would help with my hot flashes, but it doesn't make a significant difference. It is bulky and according to the manual, you can only use it for 4 hours a day. I found that for whatever reason, after the 4 hours, when I would press the cool and the cycle would run for 3 minutes, it would then start to warm. No idea why it's doing that but I will be sending it back.

[shhhh]

I only looked it up because it's on sweatcoin and i was considering buying it since I wouldnt spend real money on something like this.

[cig_in_mouth]

may it help for those who suffering cold because it change temp and $350 for early adopter i will wait for real consumer product

[hassk]

So it's a little fan or heater on the wrist... First world problems

[barbarathorn]

Has anybody used this for menopausal hot flashes? $300 is expensive, but if it works for hot flashes, it would definitely be worth it.

[alexhutchins]

Now your wrists will never be cold again!

[cpyimitatin]

Just remember *up to 5°* means if it cools you down 1°, then it's technically working 🤣

[stephenbradford]

The discomfort that comes from wearing that massive thing on your wrist would off-set any pseudo-science results the makers claim.

[Anon]

How about bringing a jacket with you problem solved

[Yu_mi]

But it’s my hands and feet that get cold in the winter, not my wrists -.- how did I get to this video?

[cpyimitatin]

It cools you down up to 5° 😂😂😂 For $300.... We're in a time where people will literally buy and make ANYTHING.

[tiamelancholyjeoncockity]

Or you could buy a mini heater AND a mini fan that’s also portable with less than half the price of that wrist thing. Plus extra food and clothes with the leftover money. Don’t waste it on that widget band 🤦‍♀️

[staiifresh]

So...this is where we are headed....-_-

[osmanghalid]

You could buy big heater with that money😂just another dumb idea

[albeit]

I think I'd rather just have a heated or ventilated seat. Not sure I'd want my skin burned.

[iphonealgeria]

Is amazing I need it
Can't buy it

[austinn.]

So just grab a hot cup of coffee or iced coffee and hold it...