Cool Vest trial (test 1/2)

[cactusjack]

A couple of weeks ago, we had a new member join the forum at Trip's invitation. This gentleman works for a company that sells a Cool Vest product that does not work on the principle of evaporation, instead it is based on "phase change cooling".

He contacted me and offered to send me one of their vests for a 30-day trial, with no obligation. I'm guessing it's because of where I am located.

The only "catch" is he wants me to post my honest comments, good or bad - in the forum. He obviously believes very strongly in his product, and I am curious about it myself. I have an evaporative vest so I know how one of those works. Hopefully, this will work better.

I received the vest today via UPS. I plan to put it through its first test tomorrow. I will post the results of my tests here over the next 30 days.

Here is the link to the product they sent me: http://store.coolvest.com/c-2-classic-cooling-vest.aspx

[mc88]

Looking forward to ur results. Especially based on how that member was recieved at first on the forum

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by mc88

Looking forward to ur results. Especially based on how that member was recieved at first on the forum

I was hoping to test it on the trip to Maggie Valley, but I decided to cancel due to health concerns. I guess I'll just have to test it here in the desert.

[Dave]

If it works good in your area, Scoot, It'll be worth every penny. We know you'll give an honest opinion beyond the royalty checks. :)

[mc88]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

I guess I'll just have to test it here in the desert.

Haha, prob about the best place you could test it I would imagine

[mc88]

Oh yeh I was going to ask, if after 30days you decide you like it, did you ask if they offer a discount on used products?

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by mc88

Oh yeh I was going to ask, if after 30days you decide you like it, did you ask if they offer a discount on used products?

Haha, I should ask. Hey, I don't want this one, it's used.

[Loafer]

Put it through hell and back. Maybe I could test the cold weather one they are working on. :)

[mc88]

haha, worth a shot ;)

[ringadingh]

Your certainly in a location to give it a good test, Im curious to see what you think of it.

[cactusjack]

Okay, I waited until it got good and hot today to try out the vest. I immersed the coolant packs in icy water for about 30 minutes. The yellowish, clear liquid in them turned white and hardened up.

At 1300 on Sat 04 June 2011

It was 100.4° in Chandler, AZ
Relative humidity 13%
Wind 0 mph

I rode SW to the town of Maricopa, then SE to Casa Grande, then back home. A total distance of about 75 miles. I was gone for 1.75 hours.

Right now, at 1519 in Chandler

Temp is 100.4°
Relative humidity 9%
Wind NNW 2 mph

####################################

The coolant packs are each about 12" long and 4" wide. They look like large Freeze Pops. There are 4 of them, and each pack fits into a pouch inside the vest. 2 in the back, 1 on each side in the front. The vest has a zipper closure in the front. The vest itself resembles a flak jacket.

I wore my Power Trip mesh jacket over the vest.

The vest seems to do its job. I felt very comfortable for most of the ride. The packs weren't ice cold, but maintain a temperature of around 59°. I did not feel overheated, by any means. By the time I returned home, the packs had returned to their clear, yellowish state and were no longer cool to the touch. At some point their cooling ability had depleted and they became insulation instead of coolant.

A couple of remarks about the design of the vest. The rear packs sit just a few inches above my belt. This interferes with my rider backrest, and adds an inch or so of thickness that I never did adjust with the backrest enough to make me comfortable.

Instead of having 4 12" packs, they should use 8 6" long packs with 2 rows of pockets. This way, the shorter packs would fit into a 6-pack cooler (easier to carry on the bike) and I could have removed the lower 2 packs in the rear in order to use my backrest while retaining some cooling ability on my upper back.

If I were going on a day ride here, I wouldn't need the vest until probably mid-day, when it starts to get really hot. I'd need some way to keep the packs cool for when I did need them. Gas stations can be few and far between and even a frozen bottle of water melts in around 30 minutes in a saddlebag or tourpak.

I was kind of disappointed that the packs only maintained their ability to cool for maybe 90 minutes at best before they warmed up. My evap vest is good for 4-6 hours easy. To recharge my evap vest, I only have to soak it in water for 10 minutes. Cold water, warm water - doesn't matter. I don't have to fiddle around with ice and coolers.

So there you have it, the first test of the vest. I'll give it another go as soon as I get more time to ride.

[ringadingh]

It doesn't sound like a very long length of time to keep the packs at an effective temperature. Frozen water would be almost as good. And 30 minutes to recharge them wouldn't work for me as I wouldn't have the patience to wait that long, maybe leaving from home but definately no way on the road.

[coacha]

We bought similar vests a couple years ago with the packs that you put in ice water or in the fridge/freezer. We used them twice and now they are simply gathering dust in the garage. Lasted all of 2 hours down here in Florida.

I felt they were bulky and like CJ said, pushed me forward from the backrest. I wore it inside my jacket and by itself. Just don't like it too much. Good idea but just not practical in my estimation.

[ringadingh]

Scott; perhaps if you wore a light windbreaker over the vest it will stay cold longer. It would help keep the hot air passing over it as quick and melting it down.

[cactusjack]

Yeah Steve, I plan to try different configurations as my testing continues. I hope I can get more than 90 minutes out of them, that's not enough time to get across the valley.