Cooling vests regulate body temperature in hot conditions. There are two types: active and passive. Active vests use energy to recirculate cold water or liquid chemical mixtures, while passive vests use ice. Active vests are more expensive and heavier, but have adjustable temperature settings. Passive vests are simpler and better suited for outdoor use. Some passive vests use chemical technology to keep their temperature lower for longer periods of time.
A cooling vest is a garment worn across the torso that helps regulate body temperature in hot conditions. Cooling vests can be worn for work, exercise and medical purposes. Athletes often wear them before competitions to enhance performance. People suffering from multiple sclerosis and other illnesses often find that cooling vests provide some relief and allow them to be more active when flare-ups of their illnesses raise their body temperature.
There are two types of cooling vests: active and passive. Both active and passive vests work best when they fit snugly around the wearer’s torso. Direct sunlight, humidity and ambient temperature can prevent a cooling vest from reaching its optimum effectiveness.
Active cooling vests require an energy source to keep themselves cool and use the energy generated to keep recirculating cold water or liquid chemical mixtures throughout the interior of the vest. The energy also keeps the liquid cold. These vests can run on batteries or AC power adapters. Sometimes they include hoods that can be placed on the head, allowing the wearer to cool down more quickly.
More expensive active cooling vests combine portability with effective cooling. These garments are often used by firefighters, military personnel, HAZMAT teams, and others whose work puts them at risk of heat exhaustion. This specially made type of clothing is a descendant of the cooling clothing NASA developed for astronauts in the 1960s.
Active cooling vests are made from special synthetic materials that are more conductive to the cooling elements, making them more expensive. The ability to adjust temperature settings is one of the benefits of these purpose-built cooling vests. Weight might be a consideration, because these vests can weigh up to 10 pounds, though some weigh much less. Despite its effectiveness, the power demands of the active cooling vest make it less suitable for prolonged outdoor activities.
Passive cooling vests use ice to keep the body from overheating. These vests have large pockets to hold ice packs that can be refilled and reused. This is often one of the least expensive types of cooling vests due to its simplicity. These vests don’t keep their temperature as cool as other types and can lose their effectiveness in as little as 30 minutes. Their portability and low-tech construction, however, make them better suited for outdoor use than active vests, making “active” seem like a misnomer.
Some passive vests use chemical technology to keep their temperature lower for a longer period of time. The phase change cooling vest contains liquids that solidify at higher temperatures and retain their freshness for up to two hours. These vests take very little time to cool down again – sometimes a short time in the fridge or freezer will get them back to full cooling strength. Evaporative vests are submerged in water and often use both water diminishing freshness and pocket ice packs to keep the wearer cool.
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