cool vests

grumpygy

Anybody use them. If so which one and how good does it work.

Looking to make a long bike trip this year. Down thru the desert. Would be nice if I could be a little more comforable.


Was down in Red Bluff Calif 2 years ago. Talk about hot. Had a couple of friends end up in the Hospital and they traveled less than I did. I made on stop at a gas station with a store in it. They had a place to sit. While I was sittting there a local Police Officer stopped and talked to me. As he was departing he told me to stay Where I as for a while longer. I must have looked bad.

It was about 115 deg that day.

wsfiredude

Gunny,

We use (or should I say have) cool vests at work. In addition to staffing a regular engine company, we also operate as the primary hazmat team in our city/county. Our department purchased teh cool vests about 3 years ago. The vests have 3 parts. The first is the vest itself (carrier). The other two components are inserts that go in the front and rear of the vest. You "charge" the inserts by placing them in a refrigerator. They contain a liquid that when cooled, solidifies.

We did some testing and evalution on them when we received them. We wore them when we were operating in level "A" suits (vaportight/liquidtight). For the first few minutes, they work really good, however, once we actually started performing tasks and heating up, the "coolant" component of the vest de-solidified and warmed up rather quickly. Now, in addition to wearing a SCBA pack and being in a level A suit, we were carrying an additonal 12 pounds of weight (the vest), and that vest had lost all of its cooling properties.

I'm not certain how the vest would perform on your trip. It may serve you well, and prove to be invaluable.

dcinffxva

I've motorcycled through the deserts a bunch of times, but never tried one of the vests you mentioned. I've used these things, and they are great.

http://www.aquamonster.com/catalog/index.php?cPath=30

Also, whenever you stop, get at least 3 large (liter) bottles of water. Drink one, and pour one over your head, getting your shirt wet as well. The third, keep for drinking from until you stop again to repeat the process.

grumpygy

dcinffxva

That little scarf is how I got home, they had some in that store I stopped at.

I just know that my body can no longer take extreams in temp. Hot or cold. I was born and raised in the desert. But since my By-pass surgery the heat really gets to me.

Found one that they say really helps with the heat and it can be used by Fire Fighters. Kind of spendy but for them it would be great. Will post a link in a Minute.

Try this one, may get it but was hoping somebody has already tried it. Think this would be better than the ones with cool packs in them.

http://www.coolshirt.net/motorcycle-cool-bag.html

grumpygy

As the heat of the day starts kicking in I start thinking again of ways to stay cool. Any others use them.

txlawdog

Its not really a cool shirt, but I have a couple of camelbaks that I use for hydration, they are pretty cool as well when the condensation runs off of them. While it may not be the same thing your looking for, in this heat, you need some water too!

dcinffxva

That shirt, and the stuff that goes with it looks a little cumbersome for a motorcycle trip. I guess if I was constantly riding in very high temps, it might be worth it, but I don't know of anyone who has used one.

remingtonoaks

quote:Originally posted by dnelson457
dcinffxva

That little scarf is how I got home, they had some in that store I stopped at.

I just know that my body can no longer take extreams in temp. Hot or cold. I was born and raised in the desert. But since my By-pass surgery the heat really gets to me.

Found one that they say really helps with the heat and it can be used by Fire Fighters. Kind of spendy but for them it would be great. Will post a link in a Minute.

Try this one, may get it but was hoping somebody has already tried it. Think this would be better than the ones with cool packs in them.

http://www.coolshirt.net/motorcycle-cool-bag.html



my son is a postal carrier and they have no a/c in the van, he bought one and loves it. but he puts the bag in an ice chest filled with ice. says he had to add a switch to turn it off and on because he got to cold.

Kenthetoolman

We have some of the cool vests at work and Most of the people that use them love them. The ones we have are as described above except they put the gel packs in the freezer. They last for several hours in 140 or higher temps and make a big differance. I will try to get the brand name tomorrow at work.

BlueTic

I've used them when welding in summer - 400deg preheat on a stainless flue stack. We were only allowed 30 min work and 30 off. Those vests chilled me to the bone - but did nothing for arms. We had to use the high temp gloves and insulate the area between our body and the stack. Fun stuff in the middle of July!!!. They did not seem too heavy - just cumbersome.