Arguably the biggest “first world problems” that modern day young people suffer from are their smart phone batteries dying, and their skinny jeans falling off of their hips. Fortunately, there’s a new product that can solve both of those problems.
The new XOO Belt is not just a belt — it’s also a battery charger. The XOO Belt contains a 1,300mAh lithium ceramic polymer flexible battery that is sandwiched between the leather in the belt itself. The buckle is an additional 800mAh battery (giving you 2,100mAh total).
The buckle does even more than that, though. It acts as a ratchet to tighten the belt around the waist. It’s a plug that you can connect your USB adapter to. There is a set of five LED lights along the base of the buckle that tells you how much charge is left in the belt battery.
Created by Nifty, a Manchester-based tech company, the battery belt looks just like any other belt. Available in either black or brown leather, there is no awkward, bulky buckle or obvious cords. The buckle can also be used interchangeably with other belts.
Nifty’s CEO, Piers Ridyard, explained that he came up with the idea for the belt because he was sick of his phone”dying by dinner time,” which he described as “a first-world problem but, nonetheless, a really big pain.”
But why a belt? There are plenty of accessories Nifty could have chosen: battery sunglasses, battery socks, battery scarves, etc. The location, for one, in close proximity to the pockets in which you would store your phone, makes it a convenient choice. But that’s not all.
Like all good things, the XOO belt will only come to those who wait. While they’ve created a fully-functioning prototype, the project is contingent upon the Indiegogo campaign Nifty has started. The good news is, Nifty has already exceeded its goal of $50,000 with over two weeks left to go in the campaign.
The belts will ship for $155, and are expected to be available in July 2015, but you can pre-order your XOO belt for $125.
The belt has enough juice to charge an iPhone 6 from dead in about three hours, and can be done while wearing the belt. Once the belt itself is out of charge, you can charge it by plugging in its USB cable. The belt takes about three hours to charge, as well.
Makes your regular old belt seem pretty lame in comparison, huh?