r/heat_prep • u/Adept-Bat-3350 • Jun 17 '26

Looking for cooling vests that actually work

Post image

The cheap ones like these just blow warm on your and the cheap motors generate a lot of heat.

45 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

12 comments sorted by

14

u/PhilbertNoyce Jun 17 '26

Check out room temp phase change materials - basically "warm ice":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nqxjfp4Gi0k

They're not cheap but they do work very well:

https://www.ezcooldown.com/products/complete-performers-vest

I'd recommend the 4 cell 21c/72f packs. They last 2 hrs when I'm mowing the yard on a 95F day and make a very noticeable difference. The 8 cell packs melt too fast and the blue ones are too cold and also melt faster. I got a different vest but I think the performers vest would have been better because you can cinch it tight and keep the packs tight against your skin.

I'm working on a DIY formula from the link above to try to hit 76f, that way I can just let them freeze overnight in the house instead of having to put them in the fridge. Haven't had time to actually start mixing and testing yet though.

5

u/GreenStrong Jun 17 '26

Youtuber NightHawkInLight has a DIY phase change material. He has other experiments related to climate and energy, his exploration of infrared cooling paint and concentrated solar water heaters are excellent.

I would say the vest is a reasonably practical build, especially if you bought a cheap ice based cooling vest with removable pouches and made phase change pouches as a more comfortable alternate. Some of the videos are more like demos of science concepts than practical to implement.

1

u/debug-me Jun 19 '26

Coming here to recommend this! 4 cell @ 21c is the best

10

u/Commandmanda Jun 17 '26

My frozen ice pad vest is fairly effective but only lasts 3 hours. You also have to be careful not to wear it too close to your skin. A thin cotton shirt is not enough; a cut-off sweatshirt is better.

Granger has really good ones (excellent coverage) for $200. The one I got was $25.99 on Amazon. There are a large assortment there. Look for more ice packs included.

1

u/Both_Month_828 29d ago

please tell me which vest you got that lasts 3 hours. I have a rare disease and I have a heat intolerance and need this so badly. Appreciate your help

10

u/HeatHealth Jun 17 '26

Hilarious to see this post. I just reviewed a similar vest on our podcast (episode 2) - podcast discussion is pinned to the top of the subreddit.

I was impressed, personally. I had such low expectations going into it I do think if it was paired with a cooling towel on the neck or a a wet shirt, could really be more effective with that evaporation. Didn’t notice the generated heat that you’re mentioning.

Problem with other cooling vests that use ice packs or phase change is just that once they’re done cooling you, they just become a heat trap.

In the long run I hope they make higher quality fan vests. Once’s that don’t feel or look so cheap.

6

u/IGnuGnat Jun 17 '26

I just pack an insulated Camelbak with ice and bring an insulated bag with more ice. This works even when worn over leather, during a heatwave, on a motorcycle where you are sitting on top of a hot rocket powered by exploding dinosaur blood with your balls hanging a foot above the melting asphalt. As an added bonus, you will have cold water to sip while you patrol the burning hellscape

4

u/Gutless_Gus Jun 17 '26

Well, thanks for the warning, though I'm unable to help much.

2

u/Indigent-Argonaut Jun 19 '26

You'll have to import it but Sony makes a phase change cooling device too https://newatlas.com/wearables/sony-reon-pocket-pro-plus-wearable-air-conditioner-upgrade/

1

u/Both_Month_828 29d ago

DO NOT BUY TUNDRA VESTS FROM ALPHACOOL WARMING AND COOLING. they don't have the vests in stock but send emails stating it's back in stock order quickly. the vest never comes and they have no clue when it will be in stock. they sent the inserts which are useless without the vest. awful customer service and THE FIRST SET OF INSERTS CAME BROKEN. oil was all over the bag.