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When slight-of-frame pop star Bruno Mars performs at the Super Bowl XLVII half time show this Sunday at New Jersey's Metlife Stadium, one question will be at the forefront of everyone's mind: Is the dude freezing, or what?
While there are no exact details about what the Hawaiian native will wear while performing in 20-degree weather, we got the scoop on how he's going to stay warm, thanks to wearable technology from heated apparel company Gerbing.
Tim Nolan, the CEO of Prospect Brands, which owns Gerbing, told Racked that Mars will be wearing a pair of special battery-powered socks which can warm up to 135 degrees for as long as nine hours.
"Our stuff is incredible, and is a great way to stay warm, even in weather like New York," Nolan said. "Our apparel has a pocket in a pocket with a control panel for the heating battery, which can be turned on or off. In addition to Bruno Mars, the entire Fox sports crew, from camera men to Sunday football guys, will be wearing our stuff and they will definitely stay warm."
Gerbing, a company from Olympia, Washington, has been making heated apparel since 1976. The company has two lines: a 12 volt, where heated apparel plugs into motor engines like airplanes, motorcycles, and boats, as well as a 7 volt, whose copper-coated thread wires are heated by a lithium ion battery. The battery can be left off, or turn onto low, medium, or high. Gerbing sells garb like gloves, jackets, seat cushions, and shoe insoles, and makes heated apparel for companies like Harley Davidson and Cabela's.
The socks Mars will wear to the Super Bowl. Image via Gerbing.
Nolan said Mars found Gerbing via social media, where sports personalities like ESPN's Jamie Little and Fox's Curt Menefee have tweeted about their heated clothes. Sports commentators like Erin Andrews and Trey Wingo also frequent Gerbing as well as US military folks like the Navy SEALS.
Prospect Brands bought Gerbing back in 2010, and Nolan, a former Ralph Lauren exec, said the company has spent the last few years rebranding the clothing to look less like heated apparel and more like clothing that just happens to have awesome perks. Earlier last year, the company recalled products from their 12 volt line, after some several burning complaints, but Nolan said the burn hazard has been a non-issue since.
Pricing in Gerbing's line can be steep, but Nolan promises the wear "can keep people warm in Antarctica." Heated puffer jackets retail for $325.99, gloves for $199.99, and the socks Mars will be sporting cost $99.99.
Nolan said Gerbing sent Mars a bunch of apparel, including a men's puffer jacket, but isn't sure if the singer will be wearing the jacket during the half-time show or just on the sidelines.
· Gerbing [Official site]
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