Isn't there a more stylish cooling vests?

[rebeccaC]

I think chemical phase change vests don’t need an evaporating wind and that might be a big difference they have with polyacrylamide gel-crystal ones...especially if you're not moving a lot. For phase change you also need ice water, a fridge or freezer to recharge it every two hours or so. In assuming you're thinking about using a vest on a bicycle ride, for around a two-hour max ride both crystal and phase change should work as a cooling vest if someone really needed one. I might make a neck band (like on the watersorb site) if I road or hiked a lot in lower humidity heat. I've soaked a bandana in mountain streams and worn it around my neck on hot hard mountain climbs and that worked well. A woman I met during my recent desert trip used polyacrylamide crystals and sun screening fabric to make a shirt that she says helps with working in the heat….so yes…make one to your style!!!

My recent desert ride was in 106-9 weather. To acclimate to a hot weather ride like that I did hot yoga for two weeks before…and I make sure I’m continually hydrated, properly fueled, use lots of sunscreen and wear jerseys, shorts and caps with sun protection fabric ……now, a few years ago on Iowa’s ragbrai whenever a sprinkler or a person was out on the road with a hose spraying people who wanted it… I’d stop and get completely soaked….that helped too

It would be good to hear how others who ride in real heat a lot handle it.