Various cooling vests are available, and each one uses a different technology to provide its cooling effect. We have explained the different modes of operation for each Vest below.
Operation of a hydrogel cooling vest
The technology behind hydrogel cooling vests uses polymers with high water absorption capacity placed between two layers of polyester. When the cooling
vests come in contact with water/moisture, the polymers absorb the moisture and turn it into a gel. Hydrogel cooling vests usually provide a cooling
effect in three ways.
Once the Vest is activated, it begins to trap moisture, and then airflow makes the water evaporate to produce the cooling effect. This effect can last for
72 hours before there's a need to reactivate the vest.
For a more intense cooling effect that will last about an hour, place the cooling Vest in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours. Once the intense cooling
is over, you'll start to experience the regular cooling effects which lasts upto 72 hours.
If you need even more intense cooling, put the cooling Vest in the freezer for at least 8 hours. You'll experience extreme cooling for up to a half an hour.
Cooling by evaporation
This method of cooling is suitable for 99% of consumers since the cooling vest, in this case, mimics the human body. When you're hot, you start sweating, and the body cools down by evaporating the sweat on the body.
The cooling vest employs this same method by extracting heat from the body and storing the sweat/water, and due to the evaporation of the water in the cooling vest, you begin to cool down. However, this cooling method requires air circulation, so you can't wear any other clothes as outer layer when you have this cooling vest on.
Cooling by the refrigerator
Placing the cooling vest in the refrigerator for about 4 hours will make the water absorbed by the vest as cold as the refrigerator's temperature. Once you wear the vest, the mean temperature lasts between a couple of minutes to 2 hours (depending on several external factors) before it wears off and returns to the average cooling temperature.
Cooling as an ice vest
You can put the vest in the freezer if you want extreme cooling, like most (professional) athletes. If you use the cooling vest as an ice vest, you have up to a half an hour of excessive cooling. Additionally, if you want to preserve your vest, fold it in half when you put it in the freezer with a piece of plastic between the layers of fabric, so it doesn't end up torn when removing the froze vest from the freezer. Also, ensure you’re the fabric of the vest is dry before you put it in the freezer.
Once all the ice has melted, the evaporation and cooling process will begin. Another great thing about the ice vest is that it does not need air circulation to cool, so you can wear it under your clothes.
Operation of a DryCool cooling vest
The DryCool cooling vests employs the same evaporation technology used in hydrogel cooling vests. The DryCool cooling vest is often used by motorcyclists because they can easily (re)activate it on the road by pouring 1000 ml of water into it. Once the wind blowing enters the holes in the vests, it helps to make the water evaporate, this process now triggers the vests' cooling effect.
Activate the DryCool cooling vest
- 1. Open de ziplocks on the front and back of the cooling vest
- 2. Pour 500ml of (tap) water in the ziplock on the back of the vest and 250ml in both ziplocks on the front and close them
- 3. Turn the vest upside down to evenly divide the water
- 4. The cooling vest is now activated and ready for use
Operation of a PCM cooling vest
PCM cooling vests create their cooling effect with the help of a unique cooling material called Fleece-cool, produced explicitly by IZI BodyCooling.com for that very purpose. These cooling vests don't operate on the evaporation principle. Instead, they contain cooling pads. PCM cooling pads absorb body heat, release the cold stored within the cooling pads, and can be worn with other clothing materials.
All IZI Bodycooling.com PCM cooling products are top-notch because of their flexibility, activation ease, fire resistance, and lots more. These properties are enhanced by their salt, water, and stabilizer content. We have many high-profile clients, including Shell, Tata Steel, and Akzo, amongst other notable brands.