Looking for Info to buy a cooling vest

[Corriel]

Hi folks, responding to another post reminded me that before I purchase a cooling vest it might be a good idea to find out what types seem to be working well for most of you.

I primarily need one for working in my office and getting back and forth short distances to my car and wait for my a/c to get good and cool.

Any tips on what I should avoid or look for?

Thank you!
Corrie

[Sailorsong]

Corrie,

   Last year the VA gave me one of the Ice based cooling vests but I didn't like it at all. First off the ice is 32 degrees and very cold to your body. I could only stand it for a few minutes at a time. So most of the time I was not wearing it and there fore getting too hot. The ice pack cooling vest also made me feel like I was wet constantly due to the dampness of the vest. the other drawback is to refreeze the packs you need a freezer.

  I then bought one of the Phase Change cooling vests. It sits at 58 degrees constantly until the material melts.  This is a lot easier to stand and would wear it until it melted.  I also didn't feel damp any more and the packs can be refrozen in just about any fridge as it only needs to be less than 58 degrees. Of course the colder it is the quicker they refreeze.

Dennis

[Lulu54]

you might look at the MSAA and the MS Focus.org sites and see which brands they offer through their cooling equipment programs.  You might qualify for this equipment for free.

MSF's program is at
http://www.msfocus.org/Cooling-Program.aspx

  mSAA is at
http://mymsaa.org/msaa-help/cooling/


last year I bought one of the vests that you wet and then wear and it felt like I had been on a log flume ride at an amusement park with the dampness. I would not recommend one of those.

I DREAD thinking of the summer heat but I know it's not far off.

~Laura