Cool Vest review

[aviationfred]

I purchased a Cool Vest with the hopes of finding something to help with the 90+ degree weather during the summer riding season. I brought it along to the Central FJ Rally, but the weather was so great that it was not needed. Actually Friday morning ride the departure temp was 60 degrees, the vest worked great as a standard jacket liner.

On the ride home the temps slowly crept up into the high 80's and then into the low 90's. Finally I get to see if the vest works.

At one of my fuel stops, I took it in and soaked it full of water, wrung it out and put it on. It felt a bit odd at first, you have that wet feeling, but you are not. The inner fabric does a good job of blocking the water. Once filled with water, it does have some noticeable weight.

Riding about 4 hours in the 88-90 degree heat was actually very comfortable. I stopped a few times and if I touched the outer fabric, it was actually COLD. I did have to stop and resoak it once after it started to loos the cooling effect. Over all it lasted about 3 hours.

I HIGHLY recommend all riders who do any sort of day rides and long distance touring get one of these. The jacket I used is completley mesh on the chest and back. I have not used this with my textile jacket yet. The concept of design is stated for mesh style jackets.

Fred

[Arnie]

Fred,

That Cool Vest sounds like something worth its (wet) weight in gold for summer rides here.
Where did you buy it from?

Arnie

[aviationfred]

Fred,

That Cool Vest sounds like something worth its (wet) weight in gold for summer rides here.
Where did you buy it from?

Arnie

This is the brand and model that I have. I got it off of eBay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/TECHNICHE-6529-KHAKIL-Cooling-Vest-L-Khaki-Nylon-/221498826801?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item33925be031

The following seller ships to Australia


http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/TECHNICHE-EVAPORATIVE-COOLING-VEST-HYPERKEWL-MOTORCYCLE-SPORTS-/251006580764?pt=Apparel_Merchandise&var=&hash=item3a7128781c#ht_1743wt_867

For those in the United States, Cycle Gear sells a similar vest.
Fred

[Arnie]

Thanks Fred

[FJmonkey]

I own and use an evaporation cooling vest. They work really well with a vented jacket... For me, above 40 MPH... I am trying to bring them into my new company that has curing ovens and they heat one the buildings (due to curing ovens), air must flow for the vests to work. If air is not moving then it feels like 5 extra pounds an added heat... The owner is employee centric, he wants to take care of his people. The weather has cooled and the vests have not been in use. They work really well when air is moving....