will england :: motorcycle notes and tips

Cooling Vests

Cool Shirt:

 http://www.rvuultracool.com/  - manufacturer, sells direct (less expensive?)


 http://www.rka-luggage.com/pages/13coolshirt/cool.html


 http://www.actionstation.com/coolmax.html - Buy a back protector while

you're there, too...

 http://www.helimot.com




Mira-Cool vests:

 http:/www.gemplers.com

 http://www.ridecool.com/


 http://www.stageoneproductions.com/vstpnch2.html



Happy hunting!

Cheers - Spencer

Spencer Farrow
'00 Concours - ???
'86 Concours - The Grey Ghost
COG # 2014

==== also ====
From: "David Hartman" 
<.......>
> For the too hot days (you decide) use the Marsee "Hydro Weave Cooling
> Vest." This vest is light, comfortable and real effective. I also own
> the MiraCool cooling crystal vest. Its biggest advantage, over the
> Marsee, is its price, i.e. $49.95-vs-$125.00. Otherwise, the MiraCool is
> heavy, clammy and not as effective. As I put the vest on it felt like I
> was putting on a Level IV bullet bouncer. Once on I felt like I'd draped
> myself with a jellyfish %^)

The MiraCool Poncho is even less, at $27, I think.  I agree about the
weight.  Of course that's only because it absorbs so much water.    I have
learned to not soak mine long enough to get fully swollen - just three or
four minutes in the sink at work is far more than enough to cool me on my
hour commute home..   I also very gently sqeeze excess water out before
putting it on, so it's both lighter and less wet at the surface.   On more
thing, the poncho is cut long enough that the lower few inches are behind
the waist band of my Vanson jacket and thus get little air flow and
evaporation does not occur there, so I usually leave the bottom few inches
of the poncho over the edge of the sink when soaking so it is lighter still.
I'm thinking of cutting off the bottom tube of crystals.  When traveling
through the southwest deserts last summer, I would soak it in the evening
and let it hang up overnight and the next morning it was perfect for another
full day of riding.  Anyway, I'm happy with mine, but have never tried the
Marsee.

Geoff Adams
Arlington, TX

==== also ====

Do a web search before buying one of the Miracool vests. They are made by
Occunomix, not by the motorcycle sites which are selling them at a
considerable markup. Safety companies sell them for considerably less than
these motorcycle supply companies. One of the safety companies quoted me a
price of $18 (plus shipping) for one and a price of $15 in quantities of more
than one.

Try this site   http://www.darlingfiresafety.com/miracool/products.htm


John Fraser


==== also ====
I wrote Occunomix (makers of Miracool products) about the thickness of their vests -
will they fit under my riding gear?

Here's the response:


---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: Occunomix@aol.com
Date: Wed, 11 Jul 2001 18:09:48 EDT

Dear Chris,
>Thank you for your interest in our cooling products.  The MiraCool vest works 
>on evaporative cooling - you hydrate it in water for about 10-20 minutes.  
>Fully hydrated it weighs about 7 lbs and is about 1-1.5" thick.  It does 
>require air circulation in order to work at its optimum.  
>
>The PCCS vest is a phase change cooling system.  The cool packs that are 
>inserted in mesh pockets in the vest are activated by putting in ice water or 
>freezer for about 20 minutes.  You may this garment directly against your 
>skin as the formulation in the cool packs maintains an even 65 degrees.  It 
>draws the heat out of the thoracic cavity.  You do not need air circulation 
>for this product to work.  These vests are usually used by people working in 
>contained hazmat suits.  They weigh, depending on the model, either 3.5 lbs 
>or 6.5 lbs and are about 1.5 inches thick.  
>
>If neither of these alternatives would work under your riding suit, we have 
>Miracool bandanas worn around the neck that many riders use.  Should you 
>require anything further, please let me know.
>
>Sincerely,
>Carol Slasinski
>
>


==== also ====

I picked up the tail end of the cool/heat thread and wanted to throw
this in.

I wore the Marcee Cooling vest throughout most of the Butt (non-Alaska
ride for me).  Seems like have the photo's of my during the Butt show me
in that vest as I rarely took it off. Before the ride I'd only used it
once while riding my lawnmower one afternoon.

I have traveled a great deal around the USA the last 4 years in all
sorts of weather and frankly, I don't know how I ever survived HEAT and
HUMIDITY without it.  It is a GREAT product!

To use, just put it in a Ziploc bag, add water, shake, take it out and
wring out the excess, then put it on. You don't have to chill it, wait
an hour, or anything.  Just get it wet and wring out the excess.  The
vest stays relatively thin when dry or wet (similar to a thick fleece
vest). The inside of the vest remains "dry" and will not get your shirt
wet -- REALLY!  You could wear it over a dress shirt on your way to
work.  I kid you not!

In Iron Butt conditions it would remain "charged" inside my 'stitch and
tall windshield ST for 4-6 hours.  Once it dried out, I'd have to rewet
it in the Ziploc I carried just for the occasion -- all while pumping
gas. 

-bryceu
-----------------------------------------------------------
Bryce Ulrich, Newcastle, WA  


==== also ====

However, even though the orange Cool Vest
worked well for me, I have to agree with Will that it was heavy and
bulky.  I don't agree that it only lasts less than an hour, though.  For
me, it was good for about 3 - 4 hours.

I decided to try the Marcee Cooling vest during the Butt.  It seemed to
work just as well and just as long as the other brand (the hunter orange
one) but it was less bulky and it recharged (soaked up the water) faster
too.

It's also a bit easier on the eyes. ;-)

However, the Marcee brand Cooling vest is mondo more expensive.

Joe Zulaski
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