Phase change chemical (PCC)cooling vest

[Gary Fowler]

I was reading a Goldwing motorcycle forum and the administrator recommended a particular brand of the phase change cooling vests (Polar but there are many other similar brands with similar pricing). Well I had considered buying one several years ago but decided it was too expensive at the time. Well the prices have come down a bunch so I bit the bullet and bought one of the vest and 2 of the neck bands. I have used it in 96F heat mowing my lawn and again today trimming some trees with my pole saw.
I have to say, it is definitely worth the $259 it cost me for two neck bands and a vest. I didn't order extra cooling packs since the said it last 1.5-2 hours (and they do). I figured after 2 hours of constant work, it would be time for a 30 minute break which is about how long it takes the cool packs to refreeze. They don't keep you from getting sweaty underneath the vest but they sure do keep your core temps down.
I do definitely recommend this PPE for hot weather work when you cant do it inside of your cabbed tractor.

For those not familiar with PCC freeze packs, they freeze at 65F and don't get any colder than 65F even if you freeze them in a -40F freezer and they continue to stay about 65F (some are 59F)until they turn back to liquid so there is not danger of burning or frostbite from them like there would be using a frozen water ice pack.

Safety NOTE: You do need to replenish the cool packs when they are no longer frozen otherwise the extra weight and layering of clothing will cause you to get hotter.

 

[oosik]

Several years ago I bought two neck bands. They have some sort of beads in them that swell when you soak them in water. You don't freeze them or put them in the refrigerator. They get cold just by being soaked in cool water. We wear them riding our motorcycle - when we really should be sitting in the shade with a cool lemonade.

That must be something fairly new. I will definitely look into that product. Here I am at 11am - kind of stuck in the house because its already 92 outside and is expected to be well over 100 this afternoon. I've tried the soaked bath towel over my head routine - it scares the wildlife to death and shortly its cooling effects are nil. Thereafter its like being in a steam sauna.

 

[TheMan419]

Several years ago I bought two neck bands. They have some sort of beads in them that swell when you soak them in water. You don't freeze them or put them in the refrigerator. They get cold just by being soaked in cool water. We wear them riding our motorcycle - when we really should be sitting in the shade with a cool lemonade.

That must be something fairly new. I will definitely look into that product. Here I am at 11am - kind of stuck in the house because its already 92 outside and is expected to be well over 100 this afternoon. I've tried the soaked bath towel over my head routine - it scares the wildlife to death and shortly its cooling effects are nil. Thereafter its like being in a steam sauna.

I have one similar to this but it is a full vest. You soak it in cold water for like 30 seconds. Wring it out and put it on. It is nice and cool for an hour or so. Does not work so well in humid weather. However cost was like $50.

 

[rustyshakelford]

I have one similar to this but it is a full vest. You soak it in cold water for like 30 seconds. Wring it out and put it on. It is nice and cool for an hour or so. Does not work so well in humid weather. However cost was like $50.

Those work under the evaporative cooling principle and in high humidity won't be as effective as you noticed. A cool vest would work better there

Brett