So thank you menopause,now I already am having trouble handling the heat when I ride.
It has been in the high 80’s, summer will be in the high 90’s
I have 3 horses to ride and starting next month it will be hot by 8 in the morning…so I need to find a way to keep cool.
Anybody use a cooling vest?
If so what kind and how to you like it.
Any other cooling suggestions appreciated!
My DD and I have used the Techniche vests: https://www.ebay.com/itm/TechNiche-H…gAAOSw0wRZ~nxa. IMO they work really well. My DD doesn’t sweat well, and she came close to passing out and falling off a pony one summer in Virginia. We got her this vest, and she had no more heat related issues. I borrowed it to ride in 90+ degree weather and felt fine, too.
This summer will be the test for me, though, because we live in a much more humid climate now than what we had in the northern Shenandoah Valley. I bought a vest like this a couple of months ago in preparation for the summer, so we’ll see how it cools in higher moisture levels: https://www.ebay.com/itm/TECHNICHE-H…gAAOSwyGZaHcbZ.
I also bought one of these from Riding Warehouse, and it feels fantastic around my head/neck: http://www.ridingwarehouse.com/Equi_…age-ECDCH.html.
I’ve tried everything. 
Dealing with heat stress is a problem in my personal life and in my work life because we send field crews out to work in some very hot conditions. For example, one summer, I was working in a facility where it got so hot one day that they turned on the exterior fire control sprinklers to spray water on the roof to help bring the temperature in the building down.
There are two basic types of cooling vests that are useful for riding and doing chores outside. One kind relies on evaporative cooling. Now, there are all kinds of variations in materials, but fundamentally, you get them wet and as the water evaporates it cools you off. These work fine in low-humidity environments. They are useless in high humidity environments because you don’t get any significant evaporation. I live in Florida. Our field guys refuse to use the evaporative cooling gear.
The other type uses cold packs of some type. Some use ice packs, some use a phase change material. Fundamentally, you put the cold packs in the freezer or refrigerator, depending on what kind of cold packs you’re using, then when the packs get solid (phase change materials typically get solid at refrigerator temps), you put them in the vest and they keep you cool. There is a lot of variation in how cool they keep you and how long they last depending on the materials used.
For a work environment, phase change works better, in my opinion, because the packs can be recharged fairly well in an ice chest and they maintain a more constant temperature. You do, however, have to be diligent about swapping them out as soon as the packs are about 60-80% liquid or you start getting hot. I have used, and like, the Techniche vests.
Personally, though, at home, I prefer the old fashioned ice pack vests. They don’t last as long as the phase change materials, but I feel like they cool a lot better. And at home, it’s easy for me to run in and toss the partially melted packs in the freezer and get fresh ones. I have to pee often enough that I’m in the house anyway.
Also, don’t underestimate the value of a cooling neck wrap. If you’re in a dry climate, the evaporative cooling ones work fine. I have a couple of these “Ice Bandanas” and use them regularly in the summer. They last for 30-45 minutes out of my kitchen freezer. They last longer if they’ve been in the big freezer at work, which is set at a lower temperature than your average kitchen freezer.
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I do live in a high humidity area so it sounds like I want an ice vest.
Any recommendations on brands?
Thank you both for your answers.
If money is no object , I would suggest starting with this:
The vest comes with one set of phase change packs and one set of water-based packs. Current price on the web site is $220. Try them both, then buy more (if desired) of whichever one you like the most.
The vest with just one set of one type of cool pack is, obviously, cheaper.
