One of the biggest criticisms of first generation smart clothing aside from the price and needing to be super athletic to wear it, was the often disappointing companion apps.
Hexoskin, the first company to launch a sensor-packed smart shirt back in 2013, is looking to address that app issue with its brand new Smart shirt. Like the first version, the Smart can record movement, heart rate and respiration when you're awake or asleep. All of that data can be reviewed in real time on a smartphone or tablet with your entire workout history stored in the cloud.
Now thanks to the inclusion of a Bluetooth Smart sensor the shirt can connect to a whole host of fitness apps, which includes Runkeeper, Strava, Endomondo, Runtastic, MapMyRun and Polar Beat.
There's a little bit of a catch though. When you're inside the Hexoskin companion app you can gain insights on aspects like intensity, recovery, calories burned, fatigue level and sleep quality. The third party apps however will focus on displaying heart rate data only. So think of it more as a replacement for an uncomfortable heart rate monitor chest strap or a heart rate monitor-packing sports watch.
Compatibility does also extend to devices that support external heart rate monitors including the Suunto Ambit 3, Polar M400, TomTom Runner, Polar V650, Wahoo RFLKT and Polar V800.
Hexoskin says battery life of the new Smart shirt is double of what the original is capable of and it's opening up its developer API for the first time with the potential of using the technology inside the Smart shirt for VR and gaming.
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The startup has returned to Indiegogo to raise funds for the Smart shirt and has already raised 100% of its $50,000 goal in just a day. A big reason for returning to the crowdfunding site was to give supporters of the first gen shirt the opportunity to secure a new one at a discounted price. At $299 though, it's still not exactly cheap.
You can find out more details on the new Hexoskin Smart Shirt over on its Indiegogo page.
How we test
By Michael Sawh
Michael Sawh has been covering the wearable tech industry since the very first Fitbit landed back in 2011. Previously the resident wearable tech expert at Trusted Reviews, he also marshaled the features section of T3.com.
He also regularly contributed to T3 magazine when they needed someone to talk about fitness trackers, running watches, headphones, tablets, and phones.
Michael writes for GQ, Wired, Coach Mag, Metro, MSN, BBC Focus, Stuff, TechRadar and has made several appearances on the BBC Travel Show to talk all things tech.
Michael is a lover of all things sports and fitness-tech related, clocking up over 15 marathons and has put in serious hours in the pool all in the name of testing every fitness wearable going. Expect to see him with a minimum of two wearables at any given time.