Cooling vests? Who uses them? What’s the best?

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greenmonster

Well-known member
Weird question since our temps are supposed to drop a bunch but...I actually didn’t know these existed until recently and now I’m considering getting one to wear under my jacket on hot days. I’ve read about evaporative vests which are about $40 like the one from Fly Racing, then there are vests which hold ice, others like Glacier Tek that hold gel packs.
Anyone have any experience with these?
 
dravnx

dravnx

Well-known member
I picked up a cooling vest from Cycle Gear. My biggest regret was I didn't get one years ago. Works really well.
You have to wear a textile jacket and control the venting. Too much air flow and it dries out too fast. I can get about an 1.5 hours of cooling in 100+ deg days.
Here in the dry west they work really well. Not so good if its very humid.
A lot of value for the money.
 
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G

greenmonster

Well-known member
dravnx said:
I picked up a cooling vest from Cycle Gear. My biggest regret was I didn't get one years ago. Works really well.
You have to wear a textile jacket and control the venting. Too much air flow and it dries out too fast. I can get about an 1.5 hours of cooling in 100+ deg days.
Here in the dry west they work really well. Not so good if its very humid.
A lot of value for the money.
Click to expand...

Is yours the evaporative kind? The Glacier Tek has gel packs so there’s no reliance on venting but they’re about $180 and once the gel packs warm up you gotta find a freezer to recharge them.
 
budman

budman

General Menace
Staff member
I have a couple. I love that they work.

Both mine are evaporative vs. gel. Works well given the need to stop for gas. I carry a large baggy and just buy a water to pour into it with some ice from the gas station. It absorbs all the water amazingly well and as dravnx said the textile jacket is a key for me.

You get wet.. so leather would be damaged with prolonged use.

I don't recall the type, but I can look if you wish to know.
The neck ones are a nice add, but they don't last very long.
 
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greenmonster

Well-known member
Yeah, I think the gel ones are more suited for construction workers or others that have to work outside in the heat. I’m tending toward the simple evaporative style. Good to know they work.
 
O

ocoas

Well-known member
Evaporation type and use as budman said.
I gallon baggie, stuff vest in it, add a little ice add some water wait 10/15 minutes.
I find that in 110 degree temps it needs to be recharged every 90 minutes or so.

At 100 it will last a few hours.
 
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davidji

bike curious
Pretty much what ocoas said.

When I rode with it at rural freeway speeds when temps hit 116F, it seemed like it was dry in 40 minutes. Lower speeds, lower temps, it lasts longer.

I don't wait 10-15 min when recharging though. Maybe that would make it last longer?
 
Cabrito

Cabrito

cabrón
I have one that I use occasionally. Sometimes I pre-soak it and put it in a ziplock bag if I have space for it and I'm going to need it later as it gets hot.
 
3

3B43

Well-known member
I bought a cheap one, from Cycle Gear, to make it worked. It DOES!!! The first time I used it, the temp hit 90, so I put it on, and it ‘cooled’ to 87 and I almost froze. Hottest temp I’ve used it in was 114 and as many have said.....I wish I had bought one years ago.
 
GAJ

GAJ

Well-known member
greenmonster said:
Weird question since our temps are supposed to drop a bunch but...I actually didn’t know these existed until recently and now I’m considering getting one to wear under my jacket on hot days. I’ve read about evaporative vests which are about $40 like the one from Fly Racing, then there are vests which hold ice, others like Glacier Tek that hold gel packs.
Anyone have any experience with these?
Click to expand...

Inexpensive evaporative vest from Cycle Gear works very well.

Huge difference wearing a perforated leather jacket over it.
 
GAJ

GAJ

Well-known member
budman said:
You get wet.. so leather would be damaged with prolonged use.
Click to expand...

I only use it with my perf leather jacket above 95 or so which is very rare.

No damage at all.

After all, leather boots might get soggy in the rain but they certainly don't fall apart because of it.
 
Gabe

Gabe

COVID-fefe
I had all kinds of different vests and whatnot for years, and they all worked okay, and then I tried this:

https://www.roadrunner.travel/blog/2011/10/19/ld-comfort-review-undergarments/

And it's amazing. You don't need airflow! Just soak it and wear it under your non-vented jacket or Aerostich. It creates a little air-conditoned microcliamte next to your skin. I was actually shivering lane-splitting in LA on a 100-degree day. For real.

https://ldcomfort.com/dryline-long-sleeve-turtleneck-top.html

LS%20Mock2.png


Another nice feature is it's pretty thick, so you can wear it dry to keep warm, meaning you don't have to pack many layers to be comfy with say an Aerostich in temps from 50 to 105 degrees. Amazing times we live in.
 
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