Cooling vest in high humidity?

[Chiefy]

Live on the Florida gulf coast.  God awful heat and humidity in the summer.  Wondering if anyone has tried a cooling vest, and are they effective in 99% humidity?

[John Schmidt]

I use them often during our summer months. I usually will put it on over a t-shirt, then either a long sleeve shirt or mesh jacket over it. I also use it for traveling in summer, it does help but whether it works good in high humidity I don't know. I would assume your humidity is higher on the coast there than inland around Orlando.

[PAVALKER]

They have some cooling sports shirts that wick the moisture away from you and help with cooling.... its the material that does it.  But if you need an ice vest.... maybe it's time to do some night riding instead.

[The Anvil]

I use them often during our summer months. I usually will put it on over a t-shirt, then either a long sleeve shirt or mesh jacket over it. I also use it for traveling in summer, it does help but whether it works good in high humidity I don't know. I would assume your humidity is higher on the coast there than inland around Orlando.

Having been all over the state of FLA I personally have seen that the humidity level inland vs. coastal depends on which way the wind is blowing. Sometimes inland (especially in central FLA which is essentially a big swamp) can be much worse.

One thing that's always funny is when you're at Disney during July or August and the usual 3pm 15 minute afternoon downpour happens. You'll invariably hear someone (who's never been through it before) say something like "oh this is nice this will cool things down a little".

 

A half hour later it's a Turkish bath and everyone's miserable.

But yes, evaporative cooling items DO work in high humidity. Moreso if you're moving. If you're just standing still they don't do very much.

[Gear Jammer]

Don't work in high humidity (I'm in Houston area   ) because water doesn't evaporate here, ergo no cooling effect from the vest.  It will though cause the water to run down your torso along with your sweat and puddle in your pants  

[Chiefy]

I use them often during our summer months. I usually will put it on over a t-shirt, then either a long sleeve shirt or mesh jacket over it. I also use it for traveling in summer, it does help but whether it works good in high humidity I don't know. I would assume your humidity is higher on the coast there than inland around Orlando.

I doubt there's enough of a difference in humidity between you and I to make a difference.

They're made to be worn against the skin, aren't they?  Have you tried that, and is there much difference compared to the tee shirt?

[Chiefy]

Don't work in high humidity (I'm in Houston area   ) because water doesn't evaporate here, ergo no cooling effect from the vest.  It will though cause the water to run down your torso along with your sweat and puddle in your pants  

Well that's not good....... Thanks

[Jess from VA]

They are supposed to be worn over a T and under a mesh (for the swamp cooler effect).  Not so good unless moving.  Less good in humidity.  I presoak mine, roll it in a big ziplock plastic bag and keep it in the frig.  Goes in the bag, but still cool midday when I put it on.  Can really feel wet and gooey, but still better than nothing, esp on a long ride.

The water retaining crystals are way better than the polymer vests (you can have my Fieldshear iceberg polymer vest).

http://www.tuffrhino.com/MiraCool_Poncho_Vest_p/hs1054.htm

I use these bandanas and headbands (can work with a half helmet) more often than the vest.  Also kept in the frig.

http://www.tuffrhino.com/Cooling_Bandanas_Headbands_s/46.htm

[Chiefy]

They are supposed to be worn over a T and under a mesh (for the swamp cooler effect).  Not so good unless moving.  Less good in humidity.  I presoak mine, roll it in a big ziplock plastic bag and keep it in the frig.  Goes in the bag, but still cool midday when I put it on.  Can really feel wet and gooey, but still better than nothing, esp on a long ride.

The water retaining crystals are way better than the polymer vests (you can have my Fieldshear iceberg polymer vest).

http://www.tuffrhino.com/MiraCool_Poncho_Vest_p/hs1054.htm


http://www.tuffrhino.com/Cooling_Bandanas_Headbands_s/46.htm

If you overnighted somewhere with no refrigerator, would just soaking it before you take off do anything to keep you cool?

[solo1]

I have a Silver Eagle Outfitters vest that supposed to cool.  I've tried it a number of times. It will hold 12-24 oz of water . I used it over a t shirt and under a mesh jacket.  It cools somewhat but if the humidity is high, not very good.

When I follow directions for soaking it,  it will always soak my jeans as the water seeps out of the vest and runs down. If I don't follow directions and barely soak it, it only cools for a short period.  By the way, it's supposed to cool by evaporation, not by refrigeration. It won't cool if the humidity is high, just makes it more of a sauna!

Mine wasn't worth the money.

[Demo]

Anyone ever tried the phase change cooling vests?

[donaldcc]

They are supposed to be worn over a T and under a mesh (for the swamp cooler effect).  Not so

The water retaining crystals are way better than the polymer vests (you can have my Fieldshear iceberg polymer vest).

  I live in the desert with NO humidity.  Got a Fieldshear mentioned above and did not like it.  I soaked it in sink and wore it about in > 100*.  I thought it was too heavy when soaked, dripped out of bottom on my pants and in general a PIA.  I just use a bandana around the neck, soak it in water every now and then, and dump a little on my shirt also.

Only worn one time, give you a great deal.  

[hotglue #43]

Anyone ever tried the phase change cooling vests?

I have a phase change vest.  chill the paks in an ice chest for 10 min and they will change to solid white ice...  it's not water... and will freeze solid in cold water. 
  Whear it over a tee shirt, and under a heavy shirt... in my case it was a welding shirt.  They woud keep ya cool for about 2 hrs.... then freeze them again in the ice chest.  Worked pretty good for me!have thought about using it on the bike for trips in the summer.... but ya have to have a place to freeze 'em back. 

  Neatest hookup I've seen is Gear Jammers' cool vest.  He sewed tubes into the vest and pumps cold water through it from a small ice chest on the back seat.

[BF]

Water doesn't evaporate all that well when the humidity is as high as it gets around here.  I don't have any experience with one of those, but I'd bet it wouldn't work all that well here.  During the summer, my glasses fog up just walking out the front door.  I have a vehicle with a/c when it gets like a furnace.  The Valk stays parked when it's too dang hot to ride....it's just too darn miserble to ride much when it's 95 degrees with 85-90% (or higher) RH. 

[Jess from VA]

If you overnighted somewhere with no refrigerator, would just soaking it before you take off do anything to keep you cool?

By the way, it's supposed to cool by evaporation, not by refrigeration.


Yes, like Wayne says it works by evaporation, not refrigeration..... it's just that after you wear it long enough to get it to body temp (98*), it's really hot if you're not getting 45-70 mph constant air thru it.  Can be murder in stop and go.  The IS fairing/shield and tourer shield, with wings and bakers, on most bikes blocks too much air to get the best benefit from these things.  High humidity doesn't help either.

If I leave early, I don't need it for a while, so I keep it refrigerated so it's not 110* when I pull it out of the bags at 11-12noon to put it on.  Believe me, you don't want to put it on right out of the frig.  The water in the crystals does not freeze, just gets cold.

The polymer cooling vests weigh a ton wet and only last a couple hours before dry in hot weather.  The crystal vest will retain water for days, and is lighter because only the rows of crystals are wet, not the whole vest, and they do not leak down as much as the polymer,..... and the crystal vest I have, I do not soak the bottom row of crystals front or rear so water seeps into my butt/crotch (and some have just cut the bottom rows of crystals off.... if you're shorter it's a good idea.

Either vest, once 100+ degrees is not much good.  I will only use mine on long slab trips on hot days.... and last year came home from MI to VA overnight.... already seen the scenery and 30 degrees cooler (no vest).  I do use the crystal bandanas and headbands much more often than the vest.

I've seen a guy throw his vest in the 711 ice machine for 20 minutes at a gas stop.  (stinky  ) 

Got a buddy in TX who puts a good sized insulated picnic cooler with heavily iced water on his back seat and rigged a camel-back-type bite-tube clipped over his shoulder, and he drinks small amounts and spits it down his shirt (with mesh jacket) continuously, and this may work better than a vest.   

[Oss]

I have an evaporative cooling vest, the kind that is blue on outside and silver on the inside

I bring a gallon size zip lock  put the vest in the freezer when I wake up before I check out of the motel and put ice in the zip lock with the vest (dont want to leave the vest in the motel)

Also I put my microfibre doo rags in the ice bag  I have 2 at least

By 10-11 am the vest comes out and goes on under my mesh jacket  Most gas stations have the ice machines outside, throw the vest in for just a few minutes while you gas and piss and you are ready to go for another hour

Every rest stop I switch doorag from ice bag to my head  also I soak my head in the bathroom and put the doorag over my wet hair  After the first 4 rest stops I find myself stopping for gas every hour just to drink, piss and soak my head if its that hot and humid  Maybe a few bites of banana a piece of a hard boiled egg and a few cashews with water and I am off Too much carbs makes me sleepy not good when its hot and you have 700 miles to go before dark

This works for me in every state but pennsylvania   I dont know why but that state just sucks the life out of me in the afternoon when I am already on the road for 8 or 9 hours already

Once I hit 287 the adrenaline of 3 or more lanes each way doing 80-90mph takes over and I make it home wired

one other thing microfibre shirt like you wear in winter skiing can be great UNDER the vest as you dont want to get cold, which happens sometimes when you are tired and wet

[Chiefy]

If you overnighted somewhere with no refrigerator, would just soaking it before you take off do anything to keep you cool?

By the way, it's supposed to cool by evaporation, not by refrigeration.


Yes, like Wayne says it works by evaporation, not refrigeration..... it's just that after you wear it long enough to get it to body temp (98*), it's really hot if you're not getting 45-70 mph constant air thru it.  Can be murder in stop and go.  The IS fairing/shield and tourer shield, with wings and bakers, on most bikes blocks too much air to get the best benefit from these things.  High humidity doesn't help either.

If I leave early, I don't need it for a while, so I keep it refrigerated so it's not 110* when I pull it out of the bags at 11-12noon to put it on.  Believe me, you don't want to put it on right out of the frig.  The water in the crystals does not freeze, just gets cold.

The polymer cooling vests weigh a ton wet and only last a couple hours before dry in hot weather.  The crystal vest will retain water for days, and is lighter because only the rows of crystals are wet, not the whole vest, and they do not leak down as much as the polymer,..... and the crystal vest I have, I do not soak the bottom row of crystals front or rear so water seeps into my butt/crotch (and some have just cut the bottom rows of crystals off.... if you're shorter it's a good idea.

Either vest, once 100+ degrees is not much good.  I will only use mine on long slab trips on hot days.... and last year came home from MI to VA overnight.... already seen the scenery and 30 degrees cooler (no vest).  I do use the crystal bandanas and headbands much more often than the vest.

I've seen a guy throw his vest in the 711 ice machine for 20 minutes at a gas stop.  (stinky  ) 

Got a buddy in TX who puts a good sized insulated picnic cooler with heavily iced water on his back seat and rigged a camel-back-type bite-tube clipped over his shoulder, and he drinks small amounts and spits it down his shirt (with mesh jacket) continuously, and this may work better than a vest.   

Thanks.  I ordered a Miracool vest and bandana.  At those prices it isn't much ventured against a decent chance of positive results.

If it doesn't work out, that's what eBay is for, I guess.

[czuch]

No real humidity here two doors northa hell. I'll hose off when I leave work and be ice cold for about ten minutes then dry by the time I get home. 30 mile ride. Really high evaporation rate. I think the motion through the air would work to cause at least some evap.

[Tropic traveler]

Double 95's for me! 95 degrees & 95% humidity... Time to ride! 

Just twist the throttle & it's all good. 

I do have to admit I have to do my summertime riding alone, Kim can't hack it. We had to stop 3 times to cool her down last September coming home from the Starke Bikefest.  Starke is only 55 miles from Ocala. We are both native Floridians but I guess I got the heat tolerant gene. 

[john]

some ... but not much         
just better than nothing             
 save yer dough ... pour the water over your head
            " wet it down "           
       

[captsharky]

 I used one of these while shooting, with a heavy shooting leather coat in the hot florida sun. I now wear it under my vest while riding in the summer. When you stop for gas you can put it in the machine they sell ICE from and it will re freeze.

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