I hadn’t considered that… thanks for the tip!
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Cooling vests
- Thread starter truckerdave
- Start date
I hadn’t considered that… thanks for the tip!
powwow
Member
Evaporative cooling vests work better (and the effect lasts longer) when worn directly against your skin, with your jacket zipped up and just a little air allowed through the end of your sleeves (I don't cinch the sleeve closures on my BMW Comfort Shell jacket). In addition, I use one of the evaporative neck wraps and also wet my helmet liner. The action that makes the most immediate impact is the wet helmet liner...wow, that feels awesome on 90+ degree days. Unfortunately, it doesn't last very long until the liner is dried out.
On the way home from last years Great Falls rally, it hit 108 degrees in eastern WA. Using the above strategy at least kept me from passing out in the heat, but I gotta say at that temperature it was still pretty damn miserable riding.
On the way home from last years Great Falls rally, it hit 108 degrees in eastern WA. Using the above strategy at least kept me from passing out in the heat, but I gotta say at that temperature it was still pretty damn miserable riding.
+1
I use a 2-gallon ziplock and I fold my vest into quarters. I keep the dry vest, in the ziplock, at the bottom of my tailcase. I also carry an aluminum 1-liter water bottle. When I need the vest, I dump the bottle into the ziplock and let it soak for a few minutes. I either refill the bottle at a hose faucet, or sometimes I buy an extra large bottle of cold water from a gas station, and drink half the water and recharge my vest with the remainder. Stay hydrated.
Cap
lkchris
Active member
I have one sold under BMW brand that I purchased from a BMW dealer surely more than 5 years ago now.
Probably they still sell these.
r0ckrat
Active member
Techniche now makes hard-hat liners that use the same tech as their vests. Haven't ordered one to try yet, and it may be too bulky, but that would certainly last a lot longer than soaking my headsock, which I did many times on the trip to and from the rally.
A 20 oz water bottle seems to be about the right amount to fully soak the vest in a bag without it coming out dripping wet. Over a t-shirt under my Airglide jacket worked well, but in super-low humidity conditions it needed more frequent refreshes. It was drying out in half the time expected.
I live in Vegas, and this is all good advice. I'll add that you might want to try the wrist bands. There is almost no skin and fat between the pumping blood in your wrist and when you throw those cooling bands on it does great to cool off your whole body. And yes, air circulation is key for this to work.
I have the hydration pack in my BMW Rallye jacket. Imagine if they had a hose to attach to the cooling vest and it could pump water into the vest as you ride...
When I freshen up my vest, it's like 10 minutes of awesome air conditioning, 10 minutes of pretty nice riding then 10 minutes of realizing it's all going to end soon and then how ever long in hot misery until I stop to rewet my gear... Luckily I'm acclimated enough where anything under 100 feels cool.
purm1200gs
Member
Mr Mario Winkelman, gave an entertaining presentation on his research into LD-rider cooling theories he tested in the Mojave desert...
He told the audience to close up your vents and force air up your sleeves thereby creating a evaporative-cool shell around your torso.
It worked with my big KLIM coat as we traversed a dozen states!
https://ldcomfort.com
I have used LD comfort long sleeve and long pant under gear for 17 years. Still using the original set (top & bottom).
The KEY here is wetting the top to chest height (especially the long sleeves)and lightly wringing out, and riding with a closed up jacket.
This has worked for me in extreme heat very well. I usually have to "rewet" every 2-3 hours.
I was a Firefighter for 37 years. Our department and Canadian Armed Forces did testing on effective ways to reduce CORE temperature during exertion in high heat conditions.
They concluded that cooling the forearms was very effective in reducing one's core temperature.
As a result, the District Chiefs cars would carry several foldable chairs with pocket sleeves on the arms of the chair.
During a fire in hot weather, Firefighters who were sent to the "Rehab Sector" after being relieved by another crew would take their coats off and sit in the Chairs
He told the audience to close up your vents and force air up your sleeves thereby creating a evaporative-cool shell around your torso.
It worked with my big KLIM coat as we traversed a dozen states!
https://ldcomfort.com
I have used LD comfort long sleeve and long pant under gear for 17 years. Still using the original set (top & bottom).
The KEY here is wetting the top to chest height (especially the long sleeves)and lightly wringing out, and riding with a closed up jacket.
This has worked for me in extreme heat very well. I usually have to "rewet" every 2-3 hours.
I was a Firefighter for 37 years. Our department and Canadian Armed Forces did testing on effective ways to reduce CORE temperature during exertion in high heat conditions.
They concluded that cooling the forearms was very effective in reducing one's core temperature.
As a result, the District Chiefs cars would carry several foldable chairs with pocket sleeves on the arms of the chair.
During a fire in hot weather, Firefighters who were sent to the "Rehab Sector" after being relieved by another crew would take their coats off and sit in the Chairs
purm1200gs
Member
Mr Mario Winkelman, gave an entertaining presentation on his research into LD-rider cooling theories he tested in the Mojave desert...
He told the audience to close up your vents and force air up your sleeves thereby creating a evaporative-cool shell around your torso.
It worked with my big KLIM coat as we traversed a dozen states!
https://ldcomfort.com
I have used LD comfort long sleeve and long pant under gear for 17 years. Still using the original set (top & bottom).
The KEY here is wetting the top to chest height (especially the long sleeves)and lightly wringing out, and riding with a closed up jacket.
This has worked for me in extreme heat very well. I usually have to "rewet" every 2-3 hours.
FYI......I was a Firefighter for 37 years. Our department and Canadian Armed Forces did testing on effective ways to reduce CORE temperature during exertion in high heat conditions.
They concluded that cooling the forearms was most effective in reducing one's core temperature.
As a result, the District Chiefs cars would carry several foldable chairs with pocket sleeves on the arms of the chair.
During a fire in hot weather, Firefighters who were sent to the "Rehab Sector" , after being relieved by another crew would take their coats off and sit in the chairs.
The pocket sleeves were filled with cool water and fans were directed on the firefighters.
Once there core temperature was lowered, they were sent to "Staging Sector" for reassignment.
These principles work well in the fire service and should work well for you when riding in extreme temperatures.
It wouldn't hurt to carry a few packets of powdered Electrolytes with you to replace ones you lose due to excessive sweating.
He told the audience to close up your vents and force air up your sleeves thereby creating a evaporative-cool shell around your torso.
It worked with my big KLIM coat as we traversed a dozen states!
https://ldcomfort.com
I have used LD comfort long sleeve and long pant under gear for 17 years. Still using the original set (top & bottom).
The KEY here is wetting the top to chest height (especially the long sleeves)and lightly wringing out, and riding with a closed up jacket.
This has worked for me in extreme heat very well. I usually have to "rewet" every 2-3 hours.
FYI......I was a Firefighter for 37 years. Our department and Canadian Armed Forces did testing on effective ways to reduce CORE temperature during exertion in high heat conditions.
They concluded that cooling the forearms was most effective in reducing one's core temperature.
As a result, the District Chiefs cars would carry several foldable chairs with pocket sleeves on the arms of the chair.
During a fire in hot weather, Firefighters who were sent to the "Rehab Sector" , after being relieved by another crew would take their coats off and sit in the chairs.
The pocket sleeves were filled with cool water and fans were directed on the firefighters.
Once there core temperature was lowered, they were sent to "Staging Sector" for reassignment.
These principles work well in the fire service and should work well for you when riding in extreme temperatures.
It wouldn't hurt to carry a few packets of powdered Electrolytes with you to replace ones you lose due to excessive sweating.
Maybe that's why I'm usually always cold...I have wimpy thin arms....
When you have air blowing up your arms..
Where does it enter? My wrists are two shades.darker than my arms from blowing up during the ride. Maybe I should get longer gloves for cooler weather.
pglaves
#13338
I use LD Comfort gear - long sleeve shirt or long sleeves in hot weather. So do 90% or more of the LD riders who ride 24 hour or longer LD rallies, including the 11 day Iron butt rally. Mario's advice is good. Close the vents and then let air up the sleeves and out the neck do evaporative cooling.
jbculbreth149
New member
I have long thought about creating a vest with tubing, similar to a heated vest. Hook the vest on to the cooler I was given after shoulder surgery. Fill the cooler with ice and water, then plug it into a 12v socket. A pump circulates the water through the vest and then back to the cooler to be chilled again. Might be a fun experiment. Anybody tried something like this?
Jack
Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk
Jack
Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk
pglaves
#13338
Not exactly. But I do know a rider with neuropathy whose feet become very painful if hot. He is now riding a Spider three wheeler. He has a cooler with ice water located in the front trunk, connected to an aquarium pump and tubing inserted in the soles of his shoes to circulate ice water using tubing.
jbculbreth149
New member
That is exactly what I was thinking. Thanks. Definitely pricey though. Would like to retro what I already have.
Jack
Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk
jbculbreth149
New member
This actually exists. I have one, I used it in my race car. It works pretty well. I had a switch where I would cycle the pump during my track session to increaed the cooling effect. If you've ever had medicine pumped into your body to do an Xray or something, it feels like that when you first cut it on. I think it'd be a pain in the butt on a motorcycle.
https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/advcat.asp?CategoryID=COOLSHIRT
