Cooling Vests for Summer

[paws]

Has anyone purchased one of those cooling vests to wear during hot summer riding?

We've seen a couple of different types advertised here and there in the various motorcycle magazines.

In the past we have purchased those little collar-type things that have little beads inside that swell up when you soak it in water. Re-use of them usually didn't work too great.

We've also been known to wet a denim jacket down and dang-near froze to death for about 10-15 miles in 107 degree temps at 70mph.

Today is our first day of super-warm, almost hot weather in west Texas and this subject came up at the GWRRA dinner-ride this evening.

Any experience, opinions or information you might want to share about the vests would be appreciated. Thanks! Carla and Jim

[Blondie Gal]

Hey, Paws!! Don't have an answer about the cooling vests - have seen them used, but never had one on. Others on here have experience and will have product info for you.

Last summer, comin' home from the Rally in the Valley in early July, I had some kind of a heat stroke between Memphis and Little Rock. About 110 in the shade - and there wasn't any shade. Black full-face helmet. Kept gettin' Cokes for John and ice water for me at McD's - would drink the water as long as it was cold, then poured the rest over me. Had a soggy bottom for a little while, but dried in just a few minutes in that heat. Agree that the neck thingies don't work. Gonna try to go East a little earlier this year and come back immediately after the Rally to avoid a little heat.

[Rick Kay]

Hello, Paws. I frequently use a cooling vest in the summer, due to a medical condition. Its from The Original Cool Vest - Body Cooling Vest Ice Vest - Glacier Tek, and is good for about 4 hours on a hot day. I find that it does a great job of keeping my core temp lower, and makes a hot day tolerable for me. Its is a vest type garment, with pockets for the cooling packs. Its little bulky, about 2-3 inches with the packs in place. I wear it under a mesh jacket with body armor. I could not ride in the summer without it.

[paws]

Thanks for your replies.

Blondie I'm hoping that heat stroke wasn't bad enough to do you long-time harm.

Years ago we made a bet with a fellow rider about how hot his black helmet was compared to our white ones. Coming home on a trip from Fort Davis to Midland in July Jim told him to just put his hand on his helmet then put his hand on ours....he was very surprised at the temp difference. We won that coke! He bought a white helmet shortly after that. Out here Jim and I wear either a white or silver helmet - also drive white or silver cars.

[Ozarkryder]

We have evaporative cooling vests from TehcNiche - TechNiche International

We had a very hot summer last year, and these did the trick. On a ride over 100° I was comfortable, everyone else was dripping sweat. They can be a bit clammy, but cool and damp is better than hot and heatstroke.

The phase change and cool pack vests don't get clammy, but once they are used up they have to be reactivated by freezing or cooling for 20 or 30 minutes or more. Soak evaporative vests in water for 2 minutes and they are good for a few hours of cooling, then renew for another minute or 2 in cool water and they are good to go again. Any cool vest you get should be snug to get the most cooling area against your body.

Gloria's is tan, mine is black. I put a few patches on mine to make it look more like a regular riding vest. They come in colors, but at most rallies and bike shops I mostly see silver. I got mine through Bike Bandit on sale for $32 plus AMA 10% discount. Gloria got hers at a aftermarket shop in Springfield MO for $38 including tax. I've seen them at rallies and on line for $35 to $40 at an average.

[DakotaTG]

I have the mesh jacket from HD that has the built in pockets for the hydration packs. There are two in the front and one large one in the back. I have worn it on 90+ days without the hydration packs in it. If it gets down around 70 it is almost not warm enough to wear. The mesh is a good strong cordura type nylon yet you can almost look thru it. The jacket has body armor pockets in the shoulders and elbows. I got this jacket about three years ago at local HD so not sure what they have that is similar now. It did come with the hydration bags that you soak in cold water and insert in the built-in pockets of the jacket. Retail price was around $175. at the time (but I did get it on sale for $100).

2011 Merlot and Black TG

I started out with nothing and I still have most of it left.

[hisst]

Bein from Nevada I wear a cool vest any time over 90 degrees..............just the way of life out here in 116 degree heat but still be very comfortable.............I wear the water soak type because of the ease gettin it ready to wear...............just soak it in water an go...............if you are lookin for a vest get the type that has long sleeves........... it keeps you cooler longer..you need a good jacket that has good adjustable air flow so you can adjust what coolness you desire........these vest work the best in low humdity like we have in Nevada..............an the wht vs black helmet .......the blk helmet is cooler when you are ridin..............the blk helmet makes your head sweat more an with the adjustable vents the air flow actually cool your head more than a wht one.............just cant beat evaropation.............hisst

[Lunchbox1983]

One comment on heat is fluids and lots of them, drink water or sports drinks not cokes. The day before a big ride in the heat tank up with a lot of water so that you start out hydrated. Then force your self to drink way more than you thirst for. if you are not having to go pee you are not drinking enough. As a Surveyor tramping through the woods we use the 2L camel backs to stay alive. I take one big swallow every 5 to 10 minutes, you must stay ahead of hydration, I refill my 2L with ice water every hour. On your trike you need the same.

You can dehydrate wearinge a cool vest so be careful.

[Memnoch451]

Right now I'm in good enough shape not to worry about the heat.. But, I'm also smart enough to drink lots of water and not to ignore when my body says...stop find shade or pass out!

Last year I rode to Scottsdale it was 126..after about 2 hours I had to put my wife in a cab to the resort... that scared me to death for her sake I don't put her in the heat for more than an hour... so a vest for her might just be the answer. As for me... I love the heat to this day!

[paws]

These are great responses....just the type of info we were looking for. Thanks everyone!

[Ozarkryder]

Now that we are into the middle of summer with record high heat in most of the country, I thought I would dredge this thread up. What did you end up getting, and how does it work for you?

We have the evaporitive vests and they are used daily. For short rides we soak them for a short time, wring them out and wipe the inside with a towel to keep our shirts dry. On longer trips they get soaked for 2 or 3 minutes, slightly wrung out to get rid of dripping water and we ride until they are pretty much dry, about one gas stop to the next. Really helped going home from Maggie Valley in the +100° heat accross the flatlands of Missouri. If it weren't for the cooling vests we would have holed up during the day and traveled at night. Cooler, but don't see much that way.

[Ironhorsepilot]

I have the cool medics vest. I tried it here around the farm in 110 heat. By the time I put it on and got to the barn, it was zapped of all it's cooling properties, but was still heavy because of the water. I'm not sure anything will work with 78% humidity.

[paws]

We haven't bought anything yet. Been busy buying other stuff - like Baker AirWings, superbraces, etc... (this is for 2 GWing trikes). We don't get to ride too far as we only have weekends to ride and dogs at home to tend to, so have been taking advantage of the cooler morning time and returning by about 1pm. Therefore, we've just been wetting down that old denim jacket if we get too hot. Also, the tops of the legs get so hot with the direct sun after a while... water poured there gets us home and dry by the time we get there! Somebody needs to make leg toppers of that cooling stuff so that you could just strap them on. Will probably buy something more sophisticated next year....thanks for all the input.

[shadow]

Here in Arizona you don't leave the house without ICE water not even to the gorcery store.......and don't reuse the plastic bottles you get from the store, they produce a toxin when left in a hot car or bike bag..........