Cool vest opinions
Thread Starter
|
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 800
Likes: 408
From: Middle Tennessee
Cool vest opinions
I am planning a trip to Utah for late July and early August. Past experience on a previous trip is it will be hot.
Do any of you have first hand experience using a water soaked cool vest in hot temps. Im curious if one is worth the trouble and how effective they are.
I live and ride in Tennessee and summers are hot and humid, much different than the hot and dry through the southwest.
Opinions are welcome but I am looking for riders that have used these and their real world experiences.
Thanks.
Do any of you have first hand experience using a water soaked cool vest in hot temps. Im curious if one is worth the trouble and how effective they are.
I live and ride in Tennessee and summers are hot and humid, much different than the hot and dry through the southwest.
Opinions are welcome but I am looking for riders that have used these and their real world experiences.
Thanks.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 7,147
From: Las Vegas
My wife wears one, so I can give you my observations. She keeps it in a large baggie soaking wet until she needs it. Once she puts it on (under a vest), it's good for a couple hours max and it needs to be soaked again. The hot/dry weather we have out here dries it out fairly quickly. It is effective, and she is a fan in spite of its drawbacks.
Last edited by 702; May 15, 2024 at 01:00 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 8,012
Likes: 6,908
From: NC
I have a Darien riding suit from Aerostitch. When riding through Death Valley I had all the zippers closed, sleeves closed, and stopped every 160 miles. My long sleeve tshirt I'd soak the top half in water. Put it back on, and ride. The first 50 miles I was cold. The next 50-80 was still cooling. The last 50 miles was looking for the next fuel stop. Repeated that several times. Rode from Los Angeles to John Day Oregon, in June, 876 miles in one day, doing that.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,088
Likes: 1,962
From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail
I've done the SoCal trip from NC a few times with some riding buddies. We usually start the ride about 4AM. It starts to get warm at around noon and that's when I ride with a soaked long sleeve tee about then to get another couple hours riding before we stop for the day.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 366
Likes: 143
From: Peoria, Az
The cooling vests work fairly well. I have used one for several years here in Phoenix. Our dry hot air really shortens the time they are effective. I would normally get about 30 minutes or so out of them. And also the tighter they fit to your skin the better(for me at least). And you have to also be completely fine with being soaking wet....you'll dry soon enough. They used to make long sleeved versions but I haven't looked for one of those in a long time. If I had a choice I would get long sleeve. Its just more surface area covered and working to cool you.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 12,776
Likes: 2,607
From: san antonio
I live and ride in south Texas and the south Texas summers are hot and already heating up in mid May; 91* today and wil hit 98* in a week or two. I ride an early model Deuce, with one saddle bag and usually start my rides out into the hil country between 8:00-9:00 AM with my vest tightly wrapped in a big zip lock with a little water and ice. My rides will vary from 200-300 miles each day so with gas stops and lunch, I don't get home until 3:00-4:00 PM; the hottes time of the day. I usually pull the vest out after my lunch stop around noon or a bit later and it's good for almost two hours before it needs soaking again. The Texas hill country is mostly ranch land so the next soaking has to be coordinated with a known populated area where I can buy a few bottles of cold water at a gas station. Soak it for about 15-20 minutes while I rehydrate with some Gatorade and that last soak will get me home. The vest it a Techniche worn over a cotton T under a textile jacket. I consider the vest a necessity for south Texas June through August. Not needed every ride but with me every ride. I would advise the OP to get a good one; mine is several years old and I am sure the technology has improved and there are better products available now. Which remindse me, I might look for an upgrade.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,476
Likes: 3,003
From: Charleston, SC
I tried a few and really wanted them to work for me, but it just didn't work out.
The vest(s) block a ton of air by design and the cooling effect would wear out after 50 miles or so leaving me sweating my *** off for the next 100 until I stopped.
I tried keeping a bottle of water handy to pour into the vest, but that ended up being a hassle with only minimal improvement.
I've honestly had more luck staying cool wearing loose fitting white long sleeve moisture wicking shirts like so:
The vest(s) block a ton of air by design and the cooling effect would wear out after 50 miles or so leaving me sweating my *** off for the next 100 until I stopped.
I tried keeping a bottle of water handy to pour into the vest, but that ended up being a hassle with only minimal improvement.
I've honestly had more luck staying cool wearing loose fitting white long sleeve moisture wicking shirts like so:
Last edited by lp; May 15, 2024 at 03:40 PM.
Trending Topics
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 357
Likes: 205
From: Eastern Washington USA
I’m a fan for a really hot day (95 plus). Soak it, keep in a plastic bag till you need it. I wear a denim vest over it to keep it wet longer once it’s hot enough to use. About an hour & a half this way, without something over it about 45 minutes till too dry to work. Resoak next stop takes just a couple minutes.
108 last summer thru Lewiston ID - I was really glad to have it.
108 last summer thru Lewiston ID - I was really glad to have it.
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
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,191
Likes: 2,420
From: USA
I've got one, even used it a few times.
It's humid here, so it doesn't evaporate well, which means it doesn't cool well.
When it's dry it works well. Sometimes too well, which involves a jacket over it to regulate the evaporation rate.
If it's soaked, it will dribble into my crotch, so I look like I peed myself whenever I get off.
I want to like it more than I do.
It's humid here, so it doesn't evaporate well, which means it doesn't cool well.
When it's dry it works well. Sometimes too well, which involves a jacket over it to regulate the evaporation rate.
If it's soaked, it will dribble into my crotch, so I look like I peed myself whenever I get off.
I want to like it more than I do.
