Cooling Vests

Hooked_on_HP · Jul 12, 2011

Does anyone use a cooling vest that they would recomend.As I get older I seem to get over heated easier. When I am racing I have to wear a helmet fire suit and gloves and neck collar. It is easy to get over heated. I have been looking at the cool vests that the motocross riders wear. The only info I can find is from the mfg. and they are not going to say there product sucks. I figured if any one knows it is the TBN members.
Bill

Chilly807 · Jul 12, 2011

I think some of our Navy people used them while in the middle East in the engine rooms. No reliable info as to how good they are though.

Sean

dmccarty · Jul 13, 2011

Search on TBN for a previous discussion years ago. The thread was either on the Related or Rural discussion areas.

As I remember, the vests work for 2-4 hours before you had to put in new cooling packs.

Later,
Dan

teg · Jul 13, 2011

We had gotten one a long time ago, working in the field, hot sun... it wasn't that great. Added extra weight and bulk that you had to carry around... might be different sitting in a car.

WM75Guy · Jul 13, 2011

When I was on the FD Hazmat team we tried about every one that was available inside our suits. The benefit never outweighted the negatives. Some work fair at first but quickly become a bunch of extra weight. Cold packs soon became heavy hot packs. I work Fire/Rescue now for motorsports events including NHRA and IHRA, and worked NASCAR in the past. Rare to see anyone with any type of cool vest and these guys can afford the best.

Hooked_on_HP · Jul 13, 2011

I dragrace in NHRA so it wouldn't have to last for hours. When you are straped in getting ready to make your run and there is some type of delay is when it gets the hottest. One thing I am concerned with is with the evaporitive vests is if my fire suit will get verry wet.
Bill

dmccarty · Jul 14, 2011

Talking about car racing triggered a memory.

Disney World has a stunt car attraction. I saw a show about their cars and equipment recently and the drivers wear a vest with tubes full of ice water. The cars are very light with no AC and the drivers have to perform multiple shows a day in the FLA heat and humidity. This contraption supposedly works for them.

The wifey just had shoulder surgery and they gave her a device that holds ice water which is pumped to a pad that fits on the shoulder to reduce swelling and pain. Worked very well. I have seen the same thing at the PT place on people who had knee surgery. I have to wonder if the cooling jack at Disney is very similar to what the wifey used. There would have to be a special made vest to wear though. The device we have is designed for the knee and shoulder.

For sitting in a hot car for an hour or two I would think it would work. But after a period of time the water would have to be replaced. Which may be why the race car drivers do not use it.

Later,
Dan

jbooth · Jul 14, 2011

repowell said:
When I was on the FD Hazmat team we tried about every one that was available inside our suits. The benefit never outweighted the negatives. Some work fair at first but quickly become a bunch of extra weight. Cold packs soon became heavy hot packs. I work Fire/Rescue now for motorsports events including NHRA and IHRA, and worked NASCAR in the past. Rare to see anyone with any type of cool vest and these guys can afford the best.

Had similiar experience with the ice pack type cool vests for nuclear plant work. My opinion was the vests were worthless except for very short duration jobs. When working in the plastic suits, we sometimes had access to breathing air and it would help a lot. Had to have adequate vents or we would end up looking like the michlen man. I preferred the air supplied type cooling.