thunderstorm80
1 kW
- Joined
- Mar 29, 2016
- Messages
- 383
Hi,
After reading some threads here where different vests were briefly mentioned, I thought it would be effective to start a dedicated thread for it.
The problem with reading about different vests on different websites is that they are based on subjective opinions and the full technical specs are disclosed, so you can't tell if they are really good for your application.
For example, with one company (I already forgat which as it was many months again) they phrase their product for ALL sport conditions, but after long and excruciating Google work, I have found reviews that say that their vests are only good for stationary workers who don't need high-capacity cooling as cyclists or runners.
Since there are so many companies who makes different kind of vest nowadays, it would be much more effective just to ask here for personal reviews of certain products. I trust ES members to give their objective opinion
So:
1. I am looking for a solution for humid conditions, so evaporative vests won't work. (and in dry conditions I can just use a wet T-shirts as it's free and available)
2. The vest should be passive, that is, with no external electricity required/pumps/etc.
3. It should have significant cooling-capacity for several hours of hard cycling work in hot&humid weather. I don't mind if it needs to be heavy because of that. I assume that only phase-changing gels (or ice) can have such heat-capacity which can only be achieved thanks to the heat-latency of phase changing materials.
4. It should still allow me to wear a backpack.
5. Less important, but It would be nice if I could "recharge" it in minutes: If it's gel based to soak it in icy water, and if it's ice-based to be able to replace the warmed water with fresh ice.
6. Even less important but that kind of contradicts #3 - if it was slim enough so I could wear it to my work everyday. I am a science teacher and at times we have lessons outdoors. (in the summer - even early mornings are already hot&humid enough so I sweat like an animal ) Maybe I can buy one thick vest for long exercises, and a slim one for more official duties.
And last - maybe one of you have built something by yourself? I was thinking if I could make a shirt that has several ice pockets in the chest area, but there would need to be a bit of small insulation so your skin isn't exposed directly to zero degrees Celsius. (and a thick insulation towards the externals where the wind blows while you ride)
After reading some threads here where different vests were briefly mentioned, I thought it would be effective to start a dedicated thread for it.
The problem with reading about different vests on different websites is that they are based on subjective opinions and the full technical specs are disclosed, so you can't tell if they are really good for your application.
For example, with one company (I already forgat which as it was many months again) they phrase their product for ALL sport conditions, but after long and excruciating Google work, I have found reviews that say that their vests are only good for stationary workers who don't need high-capacity cooling as cyclists or runners.
Since there are so many companies who makes different kind of vest nowadays, it would be much more effective just to ask here for personal reviews of certain products. I trust ES members to give their objective opinion
So:
1. I am looking for a solution for humid conditions, so evaporative vests won't work. (and in dry conditions I can just use a wet T-shirts as it's free and available)
2. The vest should be passive, that is, with no external electricity required/pumps/etc.
3. It should have significant cooling-capacity for several hours of hard cycling work in hot&humid weather. I don't mind if it needs to be heavy because of that. I assume that only phase-changing gels (or ice) can have such heat-capacity which can only be achieved thanks to the heat-latency of phase changing materials.
4. It should still allow me to wear a backpack.
5. Less important, but It would be nice if I could "recharge" it in minutes: If it's gel based to soak it in icy water, and if it's ice-based to be able to replace the warmed water with fresh ice.
6. Even less important but that kind of contradicts #3 - if it was slim enough so I could wear it to my work everyday. I am a science teacher and at times we have lessons outdoors. (in the summer - even early mornings are already hot&humid enough so I sweat like an animal ) Maybe I can buy one thick vest for long exercises, and a slim one for more official duties.
And last - maybe one of you have built something by yourself? I was thinking if I could make a shirt that has several ice pockets in the chest area, but there would need to be a bit of small insulation so your skin isn't exposed directly to zero degrees Celsius. (and a thick insulation towards the externals where the wind blows while you ride)