Picking the Right Cooling Vest at Right Price
So how do you pick the right vest? What’s the best vest for the dollar? Will the dang thing even work? Every MSer will have different needs, and not everyone will gain the same benefit. There are no guarantees. Indeed one vest may have limited effect while another could be a godsend. We at ECFP want to help you make the best, most educated decision possible.
Cooling technology broken down into two types: active and passive.
Active cooling vests and cooling systems require some form of power (electricity or battery) to operate. They continually provide maximum cooling–many lower the body’s core temperature–and are usually used in the home although they are portable and can be used in the car, the office, etc. These tend to be more expensive systems and generally start around $150 and can run into the four figures.
Passive vests have no working components and are easily portable. Use them basically anywhere your body can go, whether it be on a jog, to the zoo, or to a ballgame. But their cooling power is short-term (30 minutes to 4 hours). While they have limited effectiveness in lowering the core body temperature, passive vests do provide a degree of heat relief helping to abate symptoms brought on by MS. These are the most affordable types of vests, and range in price from $30-$500).
It’s important to note the differences of these types of active and passive cooling vests and systems, as the type of cooling–and the construction of the vest–will drastically affect performance. Additionally, outdoor humidity, ambient temperature, exposure to direct sunlight, and even body temperature of the wearer can influence cooling power. In fact, cooling “power” may not even be much of a benefit, as cooling too much can end up constricting your superficial blood vessels near the skin as your body’s natural defense mechanism to warm up kicks in. So your body starts giving out less heat (preserving it, as it thinks its getting colder) and you start warming up. Quite the conundrum!
And lastly, realize that the pricier the vest doesn’t always mean the best choice for your particular situation. Likewise, going with the cheap fix might result in nothing more than wasted cash and one extra piece of clothing hanging on that exercise bike you should use more often. You need to weigh what’s most important to you, from convenience to concealability to construction. That said, let’s dive in.
Passive Phase Change Cooling Vests ($100-$400)
Unlike ice packs, which chill to below freezing, phase change packs maintain much higher temperatures. These phase-change packs often contain liquids (typically nontoxic oils and fats) that solidify (like wax) typically between 55 to 65 degrees and in our tests reliably provide cooling power for as long as 4 hours, the best we’ve tested. Some vests, like those from First Technology International, rely solely on absorbing heat and require no refrigeration. Although these vests don’t “feel” as cold as ice or gel vests, they are working. Due to the higher temps, these vests are comfortable worn directly against the skin. Phase change packs can be recharged in the refrigerator, freezer, in ice water, or even at room temperature. Typical weight: 3-5 lbs.
+ Recharges quickly, in as little as 5 minutes
+ Good for those with cold sensitivity
+ No condensation on packs
+ Long-lasting cooling capacity
– Can be heavy
– Might not “feel” cold
Passive Gel Pack Cooling Vests ($150-$300)
These vests use cooling sheets that activate when soaked in water and plump when agitated. The user then freezes these sheets, which are dropped into the garmet prior to wearing. These vests provide reliable cooling are tend to be lighter in weight than ice or phase change vests. The gel also does not freeze as coldly as ice, so safety is not a concern. Some of these vests can be worn under clothing and may be somewhat concealable. Expect about three hours of cooling per charge.
+ Comfortable, consistant cooling power, not too cold
+ Thinner profile means vests could be worn under clothing
+ Replacement gel packs are inexpensive
– Gel packs feel a bit slimy in the first few freeze cycles
– Condensation is common
– Must have access to a freezer to fully recharge
Passive Embedded Gel Cooling Vests ($75-$200)
These vests are lined with hydrogel crystals that activate when soaked in water. After the gel ribs plump fully, the vests are towel dried (or put in the spin cycle of your washer) to remove excess water. They are then folded, placed in a plastic bag, and frozen. When removing the vest from the freezer, vests tend to be icy and likely will need some coaxing to fully open. They are among the lightest cooling vests available (second only to evaporative) but have less endurance than phase change, gel inserts, and ice, lasting between 30 minutes to a couple of hours in optimum conditions. Also note that these vests need to be stored cool (in the freezer or fridge) in order for the gel ribs to remain plump or else the user will have to repeat the initial activation process detailed above.
+ Can be extremely lightweight
+ Packs down smally when uncharged
+ Typically best suited for athletics
– Limited cooling capacity, no more than 2 hours when frozen
– Entire vest must be chilled; takes up room in freezer
– Vest can be damp, less practical for day-to-day use
Passive Ice Pack Cooling Vests ($100-$300)
These vests are among the most popular and basic in design and tend to provide the most theoretical cooling power among passive vests (which scientific research suggests is not always a positive), with cooling that can reliably last for several hours. The user pre-freezes the ice packs, which are then dropped into pockets on the garment prior to wearing. But our tests have shown that many of these vests can have too much cooling if properly frozen–on par with therapeutic icing for injuries, which should be done for no more than 20 minutes–and in theory could cause frostbite if worn with a single T-shirt. If you find a vest too cold, ActiveMSers recommends these vests be worn with extra layers of clothing for safety, especially if you are already numb in the chest area.
+ Affordable
+ Maintains cooling charge longer than many vests
+ Popular with complimentary vest programs for MSers
– Cooling packs often too cold
– Typically heavier than other passive vests
– Must have access to a freezer to fully recharge
Passive Evaporative Cooling Vests ($30-$80)
Just soak the vest in cool water, then towel or wring dry, and you are ready to go. You’ll likely get a little damp, but that’s to be expected as these vests are essentially portable evaporative coolers that chill the human body. To be effective, the vest should only be worn in low humidity (arid/desert) environments. These are the most affordable passive vests but also typically the least effective. Note: if your home/gym is cooled by an evaporative cooler (swamp cooler), using the vest while the cooler is running will result in little benefit.
+ Most affordable style of passive vests
+ Quite lightweight, good for sports
+ Easy to recharge (just add water)
– Not effective in humid environments
– Limited cooling capacity
– Vest is damp, could breed bacteria if stored incorrectly
Active Cooling Vests ($350-$2,000)
Most active vests work by recirculating chilled fluid through the vest being worn by the MSer. The vest, which may include a cap, requires a separate cooling unit–a pump to recirculate the fluid and a cooler to hold the ice that chills the fluid–and a power source. Typically these vests run off either A/C or battery power (say D cells or a car battery). By reducing the body’s core temperature and providing a constant level of cooling, these vests have been shown in studies to be therapeutic and to reduce MS symptoms in many (but not all) patients. Usually MSers with heat sensitivity will wear this type of cooling garment several times over the course of a day. The vests themselves range greatly in weight, from as little as 2 lbs to 10 lbs and heavier. While the vests can be worn during exercise–for instance putting the pump/cooler equipment next to the stationary exercise bike–wearing the vest outdoors is impractical. However, the benefits of the cooling vest may continue to last for a period of time (manufacturers say up to an hour or two) after the vest is removed. There is one vest that touts portability (about $500 with accessories), although at 12 lbs you better be fit with good balance if you plan to strap on the water/battery backpack.
+ Maximum cooling benefit
+ Best of any vest type at dropping core body temperature
+ Effectiveness proven in studies
– Due to power/fluid needs, vests are not very portable
– Vest complexity ups price significantly
– Not practical for most outdoor activity
Active Cooling Systems ($995+)
Relatively new to the market, active cooling systems like those made by CoreControl are not vests at all. Unlike cooling vests, which cool the body from the outside, cooling systems work to extract heat from the blood as it moves through the body. This technology is pricey (typically $1,000 or more) and is most often used by those who can afford the price tag: professional sports teams, big-time college sports programs, private hospitals, and the military. But it has found an audience with MSers for its potential effectiveness and convenience. Simply insert your hand into the system, a light vacuum seal is created around the wrist (to keep blood vessels from constricting with the cold) and lightly grip the cooling handle for a period of time. That’s it. A pump, power, and fluid are still required. According to CoreControl, their system works by using the “specialized blood vessels [that] exist in the palms of your hand for heat dissipation purposes. These structures–your body’s radiator–allow large amounts of blood to flow directly beneath the skin when the body needs to dissipate excess heat. CoreControl enhances the blood flow to those surfaces through a combined application of temperature and a slight vacuum.” It’s important to note that the system works best to cool someone who is experiencing heat stress (blood vessels wide open), and only has limited effectiveness at cooling the MSer who is relaxing at home or has done only mild activity (blood vessels already relatively constricted).
+ Newest cooling technology on market
+ Convenient to use, relatively lightweight
+ Extremely effective after heavy exercise
– Pricey ($995)
– Limited effectiveness after light/no activity
– Hard to use during activity, limited portability
Summary
There is no one single best cooling vest. Indeed what works brilliantly for one body type might fall woefully short for another. They all have their pluses and minuses–in an ideal world you’d have more than one type. You’ll need to decide what is most important to you in a vest, a certain vests fit certain body types better. If one doesn’t work for you, try another. NOTE: There are many more vests than those listed here. If you have a favorite vest and would like it to be considered, write me at the contact page.