Does Cooling vest really works?
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,508
Likes: 303
From: N. Tx.
I wore a HD Cooling Vest & Mesh Jacket a couple of weeks ago on a 1000+ mile 4 day ride in 100° weather.
It was my first time to use the cooling system but I knew that we'd be riding in hot weather the entire trip and wanted to do something to try to beat the heat so I laid down the money - about $200 bucks - to gear up. ( of course, you can get cheaper vests & jackets on Amazon or from Cycle Gear or Revzilla)
I also used a hydration back pac filled with ice, (something I've been doing for a couple of decades)
The other 3 riders all wore typical clothing; long sleeve t shirts, jeans, leather gloves and, full face helmets. They fried. And within one week of returning home they all bought vests and mesh jackets ...
The vest and mesh jacket made a world of difference. All I can say is that I was as cool and comfortable as I could be. I give it a 100% two thumbs up. Combine it with a KewlCloth head wrap and some mesh gloves and you'll be way ahead of the heat.
The vest works great without the mesh jacket but it will lose it's water charge faster from the direct air blast. The jacket diffuses the air and helps it stay charged longer, plus will keep the hot sun off your arms.
It was my first time to use the cooling system but I knew that we'd be riding in hot weather the entire trip and wanted to do something to try to beat the heat so I laid down the money - about $200 bucks - to gear up. ( of course, you can get cheaper vests & jackets on Amazon or from Cycle Gear or Revzilla)
I also used a hydration back pac filled with ice, (something I've been doing for a couple of decades)
The other 3 riders all wore typical clothing; long sleeve t shirts, jeans, leather gloves and, full face helmets. They fried. And within one week of returning home they all bought vests and mesh jackets ...
The vest and mesh jacket made a world of difference. All I can say is that I was as cool and comfortable as I could be. I give it a 100% two thumbs up. Combine it with a KewlCloth head wrap and some mesh gloves and you'll be way ahead of the heat.
The vest works great without the mesh jacket but it will lose it's water charge faster from the direct air blast. The jacket diffuses the air and helps it stay charged longer, plus will keep the hot sun off your arms.
Last edited by duoglider; Jul 7, 2018 at 09:34 AM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 2,476
Likes: 193
From: Las Vegas, NV
This is pretty much the same for me. Often I don't need it first thing in the morning so I put so I leave it in an over sized Ziploc bag completely soaked. I put it on when the temps get up there on my way home. If I need to re-wet it, the bag still has water in it or, if need be, I can refill it with the faucet at the rest stop.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 16,021
Likes: 7,147
From: Sandy Eggo's North County
Chicago? Cooling vests?
I'd say wait until January and you're cooling concerns should be a thing of the past!
Actually, cooling vests work quite well. They effect your core, which is what you want. Cycle Gear has them also.
I'd say wait until January and you're cooling concerns should be a thing of the past!
Actually, cooling vests work quite well. They effect your core, which is what you want. Cycle Gear has them also.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 11,688
Likes: 22,279
From: Clearwater, Idaho
This is pretty much the same for me. Often I don't need it first thing in the morning so I put so I leave it in an over sized Ziploc bag completely soaked. I put it on when the temps get up there on my way home. If I need to re-wet it, the bag still has water in it or, if need be, I can refill it with the faucet at the rest stop.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 518
Likes: 244
From: Tucson Arizona
You betcha!
Living in southern Arizona cooling/evaproative/wet vests are a no brainer. It helps that our humidity is typically between 12 and 20% {the lower the humidity the more efficient they are} but even when it creeps up they still work. The key is to saturate them, you don't want them just damp, you want them dripping wet {the easiset way to do this in a sink} as the cooling will last longer. At around 100 degrees I usually need to rewet about every hour or so but it is worth it.
This time of year we usually head out shortly after dawn with a mesh jacket, temps around 75 - 80 and the wet vest in a saddlebag. Within an hour or two when the temp gets up into the mid 80's we just stop, wet them down and resume the ride. Best $40 I ever spent!
This time of year we usually head out shortly after dawn with a mesh jacket, temps around 75 - 80 and the wet vest in a saddlebag. Within an hour or two when the temp gets up into the mid 80's we just stop, wet them down and resume the ride. Best $40 I ever spent!
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,377
Likes: 647
From: Santa Clarita
Not yet you haven't. Wait until the snowflakes invent a personal air conditioning system that's compatible with riding. THEN, and only then, will you have seen everything.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,616
Likes: 4,440
From: anacoco, la
seriously? wanting to stay somewhat comfortable on a ride makes one a snowflake? i guess you've never suffered from a heat injury before.
and regarding your other comment, they already have a personal ac for riding. http://entrosys.com
and regarding your other comment, they already have a personal ac for riding. http://entrosys.com
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Club Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 11,469
Likes: 3,572
From: Idaho
I wore a HD Cooling Vest & Mesh Jacket a couple of weeks ago on a 1000+ mile 4 day ride in 100° weather.
It was my first time to use the cooling system but I knew that we'd be riding in hot weather the entire trip and wanted to do something to try to beat the heat so I laid down the money - about $200 bucks - to gear up. ( of course, you can get cheaper vests & jackets on Amazon or from Cycle Gear or Revzilla)
I also used a hydration back pac filled with ice, (something I've been doing for a couple of decades)
The other 3 riders all wore typical clothing; long sleeve t shirts, jeans, leather gloves and, full face helmets. They fried. And within one week of returning home they all bought vests and mesh jackets ...
The vest and mesh jacket made a world of difference. All I can say is that I was as cool and comfortable as I could be. I give it a 100% two thumbs up. Combine it with a KewlCloth head wrap and some mesh gloves and you'll be way ahead of the heat.
The vest works great without the mesh jacket but it will lose it's water charge faster from the direct air blast. The jacket diffuses the air and helps it stay charged longer, plus will keep the hot sun off your arms.
It was my first time to use the cooling system but I knew that we'd be riding in hot weather the entire trip and wanted to do something to try to beat the heat so I laid down the money - about $200 bucks - to gear up. ( of course, you can get cheaper vests & jackets on Amazon or from Cycle Gear or Revzilla)
I also used a hydration back pac filled with ice, (something I've been doing for a couple of decades)
The other 3 riders all wore typical clothing; long sleeve t shirts, jeans, leather gloves and, full face helmets. They fried. And within one week of returning home they all bought vests and mesh jackets ...
The vest and mesh jacket made a world of difference. All I can say is that I was as cool and comfortable as I could be. I give it a 100% two thumbs up. Combine it with a KewlCloth head wrap and some mesh gloves and you'll be way ahead of the heat.
The vest works great without the mesh jacket but it will lose it's water charge faster from the direct air blast. The jacket diffuses the air and helps it stay charged longer, plus will keep the hot sun off your arms.
I love mine. I've ridden with it in 110+ heat. Works great.
You MUST wear it under a mesh jacket, or other jacket that flows a lot of air through it, or it won't work. It will NOT work under a solid jacket like a leather jacket, even if you open all the vents.
If I know I'm going to be riding later in the day, but it's still cool in the morning, I wet the vest at home and put it in a gallon sized Ziploc bag. When I put it on it might be warm from being in the saddlebag, but chills right down as soon as I start moving.
Wouldn't ride in the heat without one.
Thread Starter
|
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 3,586
Likes: 889
From: Nowhere
Since we are on this topic I thought I will gather more info. I was also looking for good riding pants preferably thin material cargo pants. Jeans are just too thick at least one I got and I dont want to ride in shorts as I caught wasp once and it was no fun.