Polar Vest

[gordonv]

Not actually being a mechanical issue, but being a ridding issue, I thought this post at goldwingdoc very usefully, even though it was an old post, I'm looking at buying it when ever the borders open up again.

https://goldwingdocs.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=22662

With our resent heat wave (still happening), a Polar Vest, and now having suffered 2 heat strokes, it is something I need. I find winter weather comfortable. It is an ice pack vest that cools to 65F lowest, and allows the body to survive the hot times of riding. Rather than explaining it myself, the post in goldwingdoc is well written and worth reading.

I would suggest if you buy from there, tell them where you heard about their product.

[ridingron]

I've seen those before but never tried one. How do you refreeze the packets if you're in a motel/hotel?

I saw this site and poked around a little. Looks interesting.

https://www.polarproducts.com/polarshop/pc/Cool-Flow-Adjustable-Cooling-Vest-System-p24752.htm

I used an evaporative cooling vest (plain water) years ago when I was in the southwest US. I wore it under my Darien jacket with all the vents open. It made a big difference! They don't work in the humid areas. Might work if there were no windshield and lots of wind whipping by.

[Jess from VA]

I tried the polymer cooling vest.  In heat, the water gets hot quick, and is gone in no time.

Then I tried the crystal water holding vest.  They work much better than the polymer.  They hold water for days. 

You wear them over a tshirt, and under a mesh jacket for evaporative cooling.

You put it in water and the crystals absorb it.  You roll it up in an XXL baggie and keep it in the fridge.

Throw it in the bike when you leave, and put it on later when it gets hot (it's too cold to wear right out of the fridge).

Now, when it's that hot, I'm not riding.

[Avanti]

I use LDComfort clothing under my full leathers. I can ride for around 90 minutes up to 90 degrees with all my vents closed. I can get a little to cool if not careful at 80 degrees and under. These are a double layer material that you can wet by pouring water in the sleeves and down the neck when stopped.  Only works if the water can evaporate.

[gordonv]

The other day I tried pouring water over me, since I was suffering a head ache. I was dry in minutes.

This product, if I remember correctly what I read, was made for the space agency. It freezes hard at 65F and doesn't get colder. You can refreeze just by placing in a bag with some ice and water. 20 min in a fridge will also work.

Buy 2 sets of inserts, store one in your side bags in the above water/ice, and swap them out on the road. The cooler the temps, the longer it lasts. High temps, 1.5+ hrs. Lower temps, ?

I was wondering if someone might have personal experience on this product. It's nice to see it's still around after 6+ yrs.

[-mike-]

Being a firefighter I tested the evaporative type water saturated gel cooling vest of my security gear.
Specced to be worn under the gear at slightly higher ambient temperatures  indoors    
it does its job remarkable well under my bike jacket, too.
So I bought one for private use,  store it dry in the saddle bag and just add a few cups of water when needed.

Simple, no ice packs, no changing pads, no refreezing, no mess, cools a whole day at a "charge".
-mike-

[f-Stop]

Living, working and riding in Central Texas means you'll be hot from May to October.  It's normal to step outside into 100˚F (+) temps during this time.  I've tried out various cooling strategies including evaporative vests and those beads that expand with water, but none seem to work any better than wearing proper clothing and staying hydrated.  There's some great textile material nowadays that wicks away moisture.  I wear long sleeve shirts made of that material at work and a wide brim hat.  With the sun reaching an elevation of over 80˚ by lunch, this clothing combo means I'm wearing my own shade most of the day.

While riding, I'll wear a textile mesh jacket, vented riding gloves and a full face helmet.  Under the jacket I'll wear a T-shirt made of that wick away material.  Also, leaving the face shield down on the helmet is actually cooler than opening it while going down the road.  Seems wrong, but it is true.  Anyway, this clothing combo is like riding in the shade and totally works.

Of course, the most important thing is staying hydrated.  Hydrating before you get out in the heat is essential to getting along well in the heat.  When I say, "before" I mean the day before.  If you try playing catch-up with hydration, you'll loose every time. 

Y'all can buy those expensive vests if you like (and they may work great), but for my money, I'm stickin' with what I know works well here in the Central Texas heat.

Stay cool and ride safe y'all!

[Avanti]

Living, working and riding in Central Texas means you'll be hot from May to October.  It's normal to step outside into 100˚F (+) temps during this time.  I've tried out various cooling strategies including evaporative vests and those beads that expand with water, but none seem to work any better than wearing proper clothing and staying hydrated.  There's some great textile material nowadays that wicks away moisture.  I wear long sleeve shirts made of that material at work and a wide brim hat.  With the sun reaching an elevation of over 80˚ by lunch, this clothing combo means I'm wearing my own shade most of the day.

While riding, I'll wear a textile mesh jacket, vented riding gloves and a full face helmet.  Under the jacket I'll wear a T-shirt made of that wick away material.  Also, leaving the face shield down on the helmet is actually cooler than opening it while going down the road.  Seems wrong, but it is true.  Anyway, this clothing combo is like riding in the shade and totally works.

Of course, the most important thing is staying hydrated.  Hydrating before you get out in the heat is essential to getting along well in the heat.  When I say, "before" I mean the day before.  If you try playing catch-up with hydration, you'll loose every time. 

Y'all can buy those expensive vests if you like (and they may work great), but for my money, I'm stickin' with what I know works well here in the Central Texas heat.

Stay cool and ride safe y'all!

This is what LDComfort clothing does. It wicks and cools. There was a temperature test/study done that I read where a full helmet and proper full riding gear is cooler. Exposed skin gets cooked and fluid is lost much more rapidly.

[hubcapsc]

While riding, I'll wear a textile mesh jacket, vented riding gloves and a full face helmet.  Under the jacket I'll wear a T-shirt made of that wick away material.  Also, leaving the face shield down on the helmet is actually cooler than opening it while going down the road.  Seems wrong, but it is true.  Anyway, this clothing combo is like riding in the shade and totally works.

I wear all that stuff. I remember on this ride pulling on my helmet
at a 100 degree gas stop and thinking "ah... shade!"... I fared much
better than these guys... Joe's stories about a sunburned scalp and
lips that sizzled when he put lip-balm on them are funny, but he
wasn't happy at the time...



-Mike

[Avanti]

I can be in the sun all day with long sleeves, long pants, pair of gloves, hat and a gallon of water. At the end of the day go home with out heat stroke or sunburn. Full coverage works best.

[Bigwolf]

I never ride with less than a long sleeved shirt, long pants, boots, gloves, and usually a full face helmet.

My HOT weather gear seems to be shunned by many but it works very well for me.
I wear a wicking T-shirt under a 3 liter hydration pack and cover that with a mesh jersey.  When it is really hot, I buy ice and fill the hydration pack with the ice before topping it off with water.  This hydration pack serves 3 functions.  1) The ice cools my back.  2) I have it set up so I can drink from it even with my full face helmet on …. Hence, while riding thereby staying hydrated.  3) If I do begin to feel the need for more cooling, I open the valve to drink but use it to dampen my Jersey and T-shirt while still moving.

This system may not be for everybody but it works well for me.

[gordonv]

Thanks for the replies and feed back with other options.

It seemed so good for my need, as I prefer the cold all the time. I can do something about everything else but the heat. But at the price? I was really wondering if I really needed it. But how would it work for my, when traveling? Mice that you can place it with ice from the road and some water in a bag to re freeze.