An air-conditioning vest is one way of quelling the heat on a hot summer day when you are outdoors. While it has your torso covered, your lower half does not enjoy the same luxury. It remains hot and sweaty. This is where AirLink Pants from Japanese workwear brand Monsoon Works come in.
No. It does not have fans like air-conditioning vests. In fact, how it cools is hinted at in the name: AirLink. It “links” the air. It leverages the cooling effect of fan-equipped work jackets and extends it to the wearer’s lower body. It channels the airflow generated by a compatible fan jacket into the pants through a patented ventilation system located at the rear waist. The air then travels through the legs before exiting through mesh vents behind the cargo pockets and the pant cuffs, helping reduce heat, sweat, and moisture around the thighs, hips, and lower body.
So how does it actually connect with your air-con vest? Well, it has a thing called an automatic linking mechanism. Simply crouching after putting on the jacket automatically connects it to the pants via a dedicated attachment, creating an air passage to the lower body. There’s no need to manually fasten the two together, and the connection naturally disengages when you take off the jacket.
In addition, the pants boast a patented AGD (Air Guide Duct) structure designed to prevent the air channel from collapsing while sitting, squatting, driving, or performing other movements. According to the company, internal testing showed that the system increased moisture evaporation by approximately 2.2 times compared to wearing the pants without airflow.
Despite having a ventilation system akin to an office HVAC on the inside, the AirLink Pants maintain a clean silhouette, looking just like a regular pair of trousers. The pants are available in M, L, and XL sizes. The regular retail price is 12,800 yen (tax included) (~79 USD). However, Japanese residents can purchase a pair for 9,600 yen (25% off) (~59 USD) or a two-pack for 17,920 yen (30% off) (~110 USD) while it is being crowdfunded on the Japanese crowdfunding platform, Makuake [JP].
We are not sure if Monsoon Works supports international backers. Even if it does, you will likely still need a local Japanese shipping address, such as one provided by a parcel forwarding service. The package includes the pants and the attachment only; a compatible fan jacket, fan, and battery must be purchased separately.
Images: Monsoon Works [JP].