Cooling Vests - Beating the heat

[GS_Girl]

Hello everyone!

With the summer heat in full force (haven't even hit August or September yet) I am finding it a little difficult to ride in the daytime.  In some cities heat can be a bother especially when humidity is a factor and when degrees reach up to well over 95+.

I have been looking at some cooling vests and wanted some opinions.  Which ones are effective - evaporative or phase change?

I just purchased an Icon Pursuit Leather jacket and it is helping some.  I refuse to ride with just a T-shirt (personally I think that is just plain STUPID).  Full gear everytime - all the time - is important to me.

Advice is helpful - Thanks!

[Aerospike]

I don't have any experience with cooling vests, but  till you get one you can spray the inside of a t-shirt with water using a water sprayer and that should keep you cool for a while.

[davipu]

they work, but you are better off aclimatizing to the jacket, just get used to being hot, and after a few weeks you won't even notice that you have the jacket on.

[mastrind]

they work, but you are better off aclimatizing to the jacket, just get used to being hot, and after a few weeks you won't even notice that you have the jacket on.

ah....that's just a bunch of horseshit (j/k davipu)....this is my 3rd year in AZ.....IT'S FRICKIN HOT....I wear a mesh gear, and it's stil frickin hot out there....I've acclimated just fine....and guess what....IT'S STILL FRICKIN HOT..

.....I have been watching some of the Sahara Vest's on ebay lately....I don't feel like paying $70 (www.newenough.com has em for $67).....I don't know if they work well, but I'm about to find out....

[calamari]

...
i wear a mesh jacket and it gets really hot on the outside layer (no so much on the inside).
Still, I like to wear it even on the 103-109F temperatures we are having these days, specially when stopping at the light and seeing other drivers looking at me like "wthell!" and I look back saying something like "yeah I wear jacket even in this heat. im better than you... foo"

[GS_Girl]

I tried the "spraying a t-shirt" technique - but this doesn't help with the humidity factor.  

I think I will look into the phase change cooling vests and let ya all know.  I'm surprised I haven't gotten much responses.  Unless most are riding with T-shirts or not riding during the day.

[davipu]

after living in NC and wearing jeans and a black teknic jacket all year round, I've upgraded to a Aerostich roadcrafter which has underarm vents.   and a center vent in the back.  this week it's been in the 90's and I still got jeans and my welding jacket under the stich.   it all comes down to whether you want to die from blood loss or sweat,  sweating takes a lot longer.

[themaffeo]

if it gets too hot i drive my car. (heresy! I know....)

Two words:

Air.  Conditioning.

[Faxxxy]

if it gets too hot i drive my car. (heresy! I know....)

Two words:

Air.  Conditioning.

Amen..
I spend $400 a month to ensure that I dont have to ride if I dont want to.

[davipu]

why would you not want to ride?

[Faxxxy]

why whould you not want to ride?

I dont ride in rain..
I dont ride below 50 degrees..
I dont ride when I need to look presentable when I arrive.. (like for a wedding or court) :guns:
I dont ride if I absolutely have to be there at a certain time. (again, like a wedding or court) :guns:
I occasionally ride above 85 degrees, but only if I am JONESING..
And by golly, I dont ride when I just plain dont feel like riding.. :x

Does it sound like I ride at all? :dunno:
I put 12K miles a year on my bike. Same as I do my car, and my bike only gets ridden 5 months out of the year..  

I ride plenty..  

[davipu]

my response, don't take this personally it's just my opinion:

I dont ride in rain..      kitty cat.

I dont ride below 50 degrees..    kitty cat.

I dont ride when I need to look presentable when I arrive.. (like for a wedding or court)   how often do you go to court?  come on now you put arkansas, it's like kentucky but with less teeth. getting dressed up means a import beer T-shirt.  

I dont ride if I absolutely have to be there at a certain time. (again, like a wedding or court)   that's half the reason TO have a bike.

I occasionally ride above 85 degrees, but only if I am JONESING..  the best AC ever, is a 80 mph wind.

And by golly, I dont ride when I just plain dont feel like riding..  when is that?

[mastrind]

I dont ride when I need to look presentable when I arrive.. (like for a wedding or court)   how often do you go to court?  come on now you put arkansas, it's like kentucky but with less teeth. getting dressed up means a import beer T-shirt.

that's the funniest shaZam! I've heard all day....and I just got done watching the new Family Guy.....

[mastrind]

I ride because I don't have another option.....my bike is a hell of a lot cheaper than a car.....so basically I have to deal with 100+ degree heat for 4-5 months.....

....I'm thinking now that I probably should have bought one of these vests earlier, but hey, you know what they say about hindsight being 20-20......

....but when I graduate, and get back in the Army next summer, you better believe I'm getting a second car.....


......and a second bike... ....

[xtalman]

Try a wicking T-shirt like Underarmour, Athletic Wear (WalMart generic) or Starter Dri-Star and a mesh textile jacket.  I wear this combination (Starter Dri-Star and Fieldsheer Mach 3), in temperatures up to 100 degrees here in Texas.

I felt a lot cooler, and the Dri-Stars are only 10 or 12 bucks.  The Starter shirts are a little transparent, though.

[Kerry]

Hey ... Faxxxy lives in Northwest Arkansas.  That's different - Rogers is only a few miles from WalMart's corporate headquarters.  

Besides, NW AR has enough curvy motorcycle roads to satisfy anyone.

[RC]

GS_Girl, I've never tried any of the cooling vests but I'd like to hear what you decided to do. Any links to the sublimation type vests?

I'm in hot and humid Houston and I'm looking for ways to minimize the heat as well.

I don't think an evaporative vest would work as well here with the humidity. Once you were at speed it would be okay. Otherwise I wonder if it would be like being in a sauna.

[themaffeo]

my response, don't take this personally it's just my opinion:

I dont ride in rain..      kitty cat.

I dont ride below 50 degrees..    kitty cat.

Easy for you to say - you live in san diego where it neither Rains or gets below 50 degrees =)

I dont ride when I need to look presentable when I arrive.. (like for a wedding or court)   how often do you go to court?  come on now you put arkansas, it's like kentucky but with less teeth. getting dressed up means a import beer T-shirt.  

Meeting. At. Work. Requiring. Suit.

I dont ride if I absolutely have to be there at a certain time. (again, like a wedding or court)   that's half the reason TO have a bike.

Well,,, agree witcha on that one...

I occasionally ride above 85 degrees, but only if I am JONESING..  the best AC ever, is a 80 mph wind.

Not when its humid or over 100.  

And by golly, I dont ride when I just plain dont feel like riding..  when is that?

Don't think that a fast car with 10"s in the trunk isn't fun to drive - cus it is =)

[GS_Girl]

RC - I'll let you know how the vest shopping goes.

I am considering this (with a hydration system)
http://www.fourseasonssurvival.com/osb/itemdetails.cfm?ID=245&reviewaction=post

OR

Without
http://www.coolsport.net/index2.html

both are well over a $100 but I think it's worth it.

As far as those who don't ride in the rain or in hot weather - that's too bad.  I like to get home faster rather than sitting in traffic and READING bumper stickers and I enjoy the privilege of Californians having to LANE SHARE!!  I prefer the "wussies" instead of "p***ies" :lol:

Sell the bike if you're not going to ride it.

[RVertigo]

I have been looking at some cooling vests and wanted some opinions.  Which ones are effective - evaporative or phase change?

Soundrider.com has an article on them:

TechNiche Evaporative Cooling Vest