Cooling Vest

[Dikicep9]

Has anyone tried a cooling vest yet on a long, hot ryde? It's getting really hot down here in Georgia! Today was 90 with a little cloud cover, yesterday was hotter with NO cloud cover and my brains were boiling. I usually pull over, take a break for awhile, get a drink, do whatever to cool down when it's that hot OR don't ryde at all, but I had to be on the road yesterday. I usually ryde in a t-shirt, but always boots and full finger gloves. Any recommendations on brand or do the things even work?

 

[Havasu Rider]

I wear one all the time on any distance ride during the summer out here. Just remember that a distance ride in the summer is 2-3 hours before 10:00 A.M. They work fairly well but you must wear a shirt, vest or light jacket over them. Even with that they only last a couple of hours if you do not keep wetting them down. Just remember, here in Ariz. no one with any brains are out riding in the afternoon in the summer.

 

[Wingman]

We wear Hyperkewl vests by Techniche. Used them yesterday on a 250 mile trip to see the new grandson. It was nearly 100 With very low humidity. They work well but can dry out pretty quickly. We usually re-wet them at every stop. We have worn them both over a light shirt and under also. Probably works a little better under the shirt. We also travel with a half-gallon jug of ice and at least 6 bottles of water, just to be safe. A wet do-rag (?) under the helmet helps a bunch too.

 

[bruisersbaby]

Facebook "Girls on Spyders" have been having the same discussion this evening. It was suggested by one of the members to get the "Hyperkewl" by Techniche. This is what she uses, and said the mandarin collar design is great, too. To find them, go on Amazon.com, search for cooling vests. There are quite a few, including the Hyperkewl. Seriously considering getting one of these. Rode for just a short while yesterday with Bruiser, and my face was beet red and we were both very hot. It was in the 90's, so I can only imagine riding in the 100's. Prices are reasonable, and looks like a great item of clothing to have! :thumbup:

 

[GeminiJane]

I've used one for quite a few years when it's really hot. You have to remember the higher the humidity (which is really bad in SO IL), the less effective the evaporative quality. But having said that at close to 100 it still feels pretty darn good when you are moving. I carry a small trash bag when I wear it and when we stop for fuel I either fill the sink in the bathroom and re-wet and wring it or it that's not feasible (like the bathroom is small and there's a line!), I put a small amount of water in the trash bag and take it out to the parking lot and let the vest soak for a couple of minutes. The only complaint with it is you need to wear a t-shirt under it and a jacket (mesh) over it. I find that even if the vest is losing its cooling efficiency due to drying, when I take it off to go into an air conditioned restaurant, my t-shirt is often damp/clammy which makes for an uncomfortable meal.
In July's issue of Rider Magazine, they review a new one by Silver Eagle Outfitters called Kula-XD Dray Evaporative Cooling Vest. You add a bit of water "through a sealable filling point, which is absorbed by an interior material that's sandwiched between two layers of waterproof, breathable fabric. This keeps the moisture away from the wearer, allowing it to escape away from the body through evaporation. The cooling time of the vest is 24 hours or more." It's $119 - more than the one I bought, but I'm gonna check it out. For more info, check out: coolingapparel.com

 

[dannymax]

We wear Hyperkewl vests by Techniche. Used them yesterday on a 250 mile trip to see the new grandson. It was nearly 100 With very low humidity. They work well but can dry out pretty quickly. We usually re-wet them at every stop. We have worn them both over a light shirt and under also. Probably works a little better under the shirt. We also travel with a half-gallon jug of ice and at least 6 bottles of water, just to be safe. A wet do-rag (?) under the helmet helps a bunch too.

I bought two of the Hyperkewl vests thinking I would switch back & forth but only one is needed as Wingman said, you can re-wet them easily and quickly.
They work pretty well, certainly a help on the real hot days. I ran them thru a couple wet/dry cycles before wearing them to remove the 'slimy' substance they release when new.

 

[Dochands]

The Veskimo system really works. And so does LD Comforts shirts. They are amazing. Wearing a long sleeve black shirt might be counter intuitive when its hotter but it does work.