Cooling vests - compared and explained

[garyahouse]

Sorry, Bwana-- no hundred ++ temps around here. West coast of Fla never gets above 97 or so. It's the humidity that kills me. But as you pointed out, I'm sure there will be a similarity. There are some differences, like the fact that the Veskimo has a zipper and is sooooo easy to remove. It's not nearly as bulky as other cooling vests... it's extremely thin and lightweight. The pump and the insulation are different than other water circulating cooling vests as well, as Kurt (owner of Veskimo) was telling me on the phone. The Veskimo pump is purpose built, not some recycled aquarium pump. This makes it longer lasting and more efficient; which really helps with battery life. One thought, because of the flexibility of those lines through out the vest it really sticks to ya, and combined with the fact that 4 of them go over the shoulder and close to the neck, I think the circulating vests will be a little more effective than phase change or freeze pack vests. Another major difference: how quickly you can recharge the unit with fresh ice at any gas station. I buy a bag of ice for a couple bucks, and it takes about a minute to drain and load. Quick and easy. One thing's for sure: that Veskimo backpack is one quality piece of equipment... as is the pump -- talk to Kurt at the phone number provided on the Veskimo website about that pump... and he'll tell you how and why it's different than the one you have. Just a great design. But I'm sure both of us can attest... thank God we've got SOMETHING to fend off the miserable heat.

Gary
darksider #44

 

[puppychow]

I field tested the Veskimo unit (equipped with the passenger seat cooler) last year in 100+ degree heat on some of CA's most famous roads, 96, 3 and 36. Having ridden in 100+ degree days on the FJR with and without the Veskimo - I wouldn't want to go without it.

 

[garyahouse]

IN other words, you had the "cooler" to put the ice in rather than the back pack like I bought. Which size did you get the small or the large?

Gary

darksider#44

 

[puppychow]

IN other words, you had the "cooler" to put the ice in rather than the back pack like I bought. Which size did you get the small or the large?

Gary

darksider#44

9 Quart Hand Carry.

 

[garyahouse]

Puppychow:
So, you got the 9 quart cooler. The website said that thing lasts a lot longer than either the 4.4 backpack or the smaller 4.4 cooler that looks like it. I read about one fella that had both the backpack and the 9 quart... so he'd be prepared for anything. I might pick up the 9 quart sometime in the future to supplement my backpack unit for those long trips on the bike. Hard to argue with 2 gallons of ice on those hot days... Did you know that the backpack unit comes with a hydration hose with a bite valve? Grab yourself a drink while you're riding. Don't suppose the cooler unit has any such thing?

(EDIT: IT DOES NOT)

Edit: 7/17/13 - - - I bought the 9qt cooler. Glad I did. Works really well. Now I've got both the back pack unit and the larger cooler.

Gary
darksider #44

 

[Patriot]

bump since it's summer

 

[Chuck35]

Bump, summer is just around the corner

 

[RadioHowie]

Ermmmmm, SPRING is still 2 weeks away.

DAMN big "corners" they got up in Joejah!

 

[garyahouse]

Talk about a meat head. recently, I was getting ready to do a 6k mile trip out west, had the Veskimo cooling vest in my hand, and couldn't find my bungie cords anywhere. I wanted to strap my 9 qt. cooler to the pillion seat. Looked for the cords for ever, it seemed. I was late for a multi-bike meet-up, and had NO more time to search for it. So I had a sort of temper tantrum and tossed the Veskimo down on the table in the garage, and headed off on my trip... through the deserts of Arizona, Cal and NM, without it. HUGE MISTAKE. They had record high temps and I like to died out there trying to get through that heat. What was I thinking?

Gary

darksider #44

 

[FJRMGM]

this is all you need to know - been using one for over five years now. Great unit at a great price - and it works.

it will keep you cool for two days before recharging.

https://www.amazon.com/Occunomix-MiraCool-Cooling-Poncho-Vest/dp/B00186RMHO/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hi_1

 

[garyahouse]

this is all you need to know - been using one for over five years now. Great unit at a great price - and it works.
it will keep you cool for two days before recharging.

https://www.amazon.com/Occunomix-MiraCool-Cooling-Poncho-Vest/dp/B00186RMHO/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hi_1

I appreciate your positive attitude about this product, but I would have to disagree: this is not all we need to know: precicely what this entire thread is about. The poncho vest you endorse in your link a smaller, more economical version of the Miracool cooling vest. This item is in the category judged least effective in the comparisons in our research, but admittedly the cheapest. From another website, not previously quoted in this thread, consider the following info:

"...all body cooling vests are not equal. There are various designs and styles to choose from, as well as various cooling technologies." The article goes on to describe vests like the Miracool you mentioned...

"Evaporative cooling vests are the simplest to make and most basic in function. These vests are made of cloth materials and provide cooling simply through the evaporation of water, similar to body sweat. The water absorbs heat from your body, and under favorable air conditions, that heat vaporizes the water into the atmosphere. To use evaporative vests, you must immerse them in water before putting them on. This is called, "charging" the vest. Although some of the vests are lined with a water repellant liner, the vests are not waterproof. So, users often complain that their clothes get wet while wearing these evaporative vests.

In addition, these vests are not very effective if worn beneath clothing. So, some evaporative vest weares say they feel silly or embarrassed walking around in an unstylish or industrial-looking vest. Others complain the vests are heavy and feel soggy.

Perhaps the biggest limitation of the evaporative vest is that it cannot provide cooling in high-humidity conditions.

There is a limit to how much moisture the outside air can absorb, based on temperature and pressure. Once air has reached this limit, as is the case in humid environments, it is completely saturated and cannot absorb any additional moisture. In this situation, an evaporative vest is practically useless, as the water it holds cannot evaporate into the air."

In addition you said that this unit would keep people cool for two days. Under ideal conditions, you may be right, but unfortunately most of us don't get to enjoy such conditions. I would love to hear from any of our forum members that have used these in the heat of the Arizona desert. HotRodZilla on this forum told me that the desert can turn a glass of ice water into a glass of hot water in 45 minutes. I wonder what it would do to a evaporative cooling vest like the Miracool? Anybody out there got some input?

Gary

 

[FJR-Pilot]

this is all you need to know - been using one for over five years now. Great unit at a great price - and it works.
it will keep you cool for two days before recharging.

https://www.amazon.com/Occunomix-MiraCool-Cooling-Poncho-Vest/dp/B00186RMHO/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hi_1

With all due respect and not to knock the active cooling products - but - I wholeheartedly agree with FJRMGM about the effectiveness of the passive devices - I'm in my 3rd summer using the $39 cooling vest from Cycle Gear and I absolutely swear by it.

I live in the hot & humid southeastern US and it works very well. Yes it works better when the humidity is low but I can attest it is an absolute life saving device in high humidity too. Georgia rarely has low humidity but it works fine because you are moving and the wind blowing through a mesh jacket causes it to work well enough to do the job. I was able to use it last year in much lower humidity on an 7 day "out west trip" and it works even better in that climate.

And I do appreciate all the other more expensive devices ability to do a better job of cooling. But I dislike the significantly higher cost, the tubes, hoses, backpacks, ice, cases, etc required to make them function. To me that is simply not practical. With the passive cooling vest get you a little wet, is slightly bulkier under your shirt, but they work just fine (IMHO) in high humidity.

For a summer time "all day ride" when I know it'll be 95F+ in the afternoon, I will put the vest under water in the kitchen sink for 5 minutes, wring it out, and then fold it and put it into a 2 gallon Zip Lock Bag and stow it in my saddle bag for later. Then as the temperature climbs above 88F or so I will put it on under my t-shirt and mesh armored jacket. Boom. Immediate relief from the heat.

Later when I get home (and it's still 95F+ outside) and I take off the vest - my skin is COLD to the touch. That tells you how well it works. No more heat exhaustion - I don't feel wiped out. I feel almost like I have been riding in an air conditioned car.

This device is now a critical part of my safety gear for the hot summer months and I would strongly encourage everyone in high temperature climates to at least try it before plunking down $400+ on an active cooler. Sometimes simplicity is "good enough" to get the job done.

 

[Chuck35]

I wonder how your Veskimo might adapt to the 1 gallon cooler on Garauld's peg mount?

 

[FJRMGM]

In addition, these vests are not very effective if worn beneath clothing. So, some evaporative vest weares say they feel silly or embarrassed walking around in an unstylish or industrial-looking vest. Others complain the vests are heavy and feel soggy.

Perhaps the biggest limitation of the evaporative vest is that it cannot provide cooling in high-humidity conditions.

There is a limit to how much moisture the outside air can absorb, based on temperature and pressure. Once air has reached this limit, as is the case in humid environments, it is completely saturated and cannot absorb any additional moisture. In this situation, an evaporative vest is practically useless, as the water it holds cannot evaporate into the air."

In addition you said that this unit would keep people cool for two days. Under ideal conditions, you may be right, but unfortunately most of us don't get to enjoy such conditions. I would love to hear from any of our forum members that have used these in the heat of the Arizona desert. HotRodZilla on this forum told me that the desert can turn a glass of ice water into a glass of hot water in 45 minutes. I wonder what it would do to a evaporative cooling vest like the Miracool? Anybody out there got some input?

Wore the MiraCool all day long on a 750 mile ride from Denver down south of Amarillo on a end of July day. Talk about high heat and low humidity. Stayed alive because of the Miracool vest. The dry heat radiating off the pavement at 7:30 PM south of Amarillo where it was still 108 temp was like a blast furnace - and the vest stayed wet and cool the entire day. Just as hot as any Arizona day.

It was worn beneath my Olympia Air Glide jacket like I always wear it and it did its job.

Yes the vest may be somewhat heavy feeling when fully hydrated but who cares - it works and for not much money at all. And I never feel "soggy" when wearing it - far better than being soaking wet with sweat or even worse, dehydrated. Quite the contrary, I am always amazed that I only feel a little dampness in my shirt when I have it on.

Feeling silly and embarrassed walking around in a cooling vest? Are you kidding me? LOL - We look like spacemen in all our riding gear anyway so what's one more item? I can't tell you how many people I have allowed to slip on that poncho vest to see how well it works even while standing in a parking lot - they all are amazed. And thats with only the wind blowing normally not from riding speeds.

As for working in high humidity, I lived 25 miles south of Houston for 26 years and used this vest there - it works. Not as well, but it does help a lot. And the humidity there is as bad as anywhere. The only real solution for high humidity is to get inside to the A/C.

I didn't and still don't 't want a solution that requires additional equipment on my bike or for me to spend five minutes hooking up wires like I am on life support - now that looks silly.

the MiraCool vest is not a perfect solution but it does work well for the money. And more importantly, works well for me.

 

[Aasland]

I've used three of those Mira-cool style vests, primarily when riding in the low-humidity western states and they work very well.

However ... I do feel soggy and they are heavy. And the reason I used three of them is that I had to throw two away when they got moldy. Even hanging them up to dry after riding, they got moldy. Once moldy they stink and will impart that odor to whatever else you're wearing. I think the problem is that the less expensive cooling vests (like the Miracool) use large wide poorly distrubted bands of the material which don't entirely dry out. My third vest (Hyperkewl) has the material spread evenly in smaller thinner quilted pockets and dries much faster ... preventing mold. It is also more expensive.

Another thing .. I had the cheap-o poncho style before, but now prefer the zippered vest so I don't have to remove my helmet to put it on.

 

[red2kcbr]

We did 7 days of riding, NE Texas to San Francisco and back, with a little Sonoma County riding in the middle. About 3,800 miles altogether, in mid June. We took the I40 route then cut north to SF. Wife and I used the Hyperkewl vests with excellent results.

They are less effective in high humidity, but out west they really helped. We also used them this week on 1,200-mile trip to Mobile, AL and back, and while the vests didn't help as much as they did in the dry west, they did help a lot and were very much appreciated.

We found the method described by FJR-Pilot to be useful, vests charged and bagged up in zip lock bags waiting for use. As for recharging, we tried the water bottle method, but had better luck soaking them in the sink and drinking the bottled water.

Best results was to wear the vest over a T-shirt and under a mesh jacket. Even in the worst heat through New Mexico and Arizona, they provided good results, lasting a full tank of gas between recharges.

We hang the vests to air dry between use, and so far so good. At $45 each, I'm happy with the value and performance of these evaporative vests.

 

[garyahouse]

I wonder how your Veskimo might adapt to the 1 gallon cooler on Garauld's peg mount?

Won't work. No pump.

On another note, once again, as I've seen so many times before, our forum does what plain old research cannot do. It provides for us a large variety of information and a valuable diversity of opinions based on experience. There's no place like this place. I appreciate the time each has taken to post up the information provided on this thread. Needless to say there are pros and cons to nearly every decision we make. It's rare that we all agree on any one thing. But at least we have decided, as one old deacon put it to me years ago, to disagree agreeably. And with all the ribbing and nit picking that go on across these pages, I think we do this fairly well. And when it's all said and done, we've created a pretty decent data base for others to research.

And the great part of it all? If ya buy something and fell like you wasted your money,

Ya gist sell it to some other fool on this forum, and buy the one ya really want: like for example the various seats that are bought and sold through this forum's classifieds. One man's pain in the butt becomes another's padded paradise.

FJRforum: best thing since sliced bread.

Gary

darksider #44

 

[FJR-Pilot]

... Even hanging them up to dry after riding, they got moldy. Once moldy they stink and will impart that odor to whatever else you're wearing. I think the problem is that the less expensive cooling vests (like the Miracool) use large wide poorly distrubted bands of the material which don't entirely dry out. My third vest (Hyperkewl) has the material spread evenly in smaller thinner quilted pockets and dries much faster ... preventing mold. It is also more expensive ...

A little bit of bleach solution goes a long way in preventing mold. I'm on my 3rd stink-free year with my cycle gear cheapo vest

 

[Chuck35]

I wonder how your Veskimo might adapt to the 1 gallon cooler on Garauld's peg mount?

Won't work. No pump.

Installing the pump in the 1 gallon jug shouldn't be a big deal.

How long did the 4 qt backpack last you in full gear?

 

[yamafitter]

While up here in the Great White North you would think that we would not have to worry about stuff like this we do get the odd heat wave and humidity can go through the roof. With the FJR riding with mesh gear is usually good enough since I can create enough of a breeze but the bicycle and dirt bike is a different story. My buddy Paul just got back from a trail ride near Barrie and the heat took a lot of the fun out of riding the single track.

This is why I'm thinking about an additive cooling system like the Vestimo and then I would have a system for the FJR if I decide I want to head down into the States before the heat wave breaks south of the border. As I understand it the evaporative vests require air movement over the vest to work properly and I don't know if the 20 kph I average on my bicycle or the 25-30 kph I can average on the single track I ride on the WR is fast enough to make the evaporative vests work properly.