TechKewl Phase Change Cooling Vest Blue

I went on the sizing data that came with it. It wouldn't zip over my tummy in the xl. I have a 36 waist and 46 shoulder and xl shirts fit me fine. This was more like a medium. Still it works well unzipped so no issues but their sizing charts are off.

Was as they describe it. Quickly freezes and definitely keeps me must cooler while working in attics etc. But the zipper broke after only a few weeks of wearing it. So I had to drop the rating.It cuts the effectiveness in half. I tried Velcro straps but nothing works as well as a working zipper. I contacted them but I was blown off. If they fix the zippers it would be a perfect product. Mine sits in a box and just have have to rush in and put 150 degree attics.

Excellent product design and garment workmanship, feels durable and the adjustments are easily made.The coolpacks' duration can be extended by storing the vest in the insulated duffel when not needed, and donning the vest before entering the heat. A single charge can last 5-6 hours, if you don't need to wear it constantly. Have tried keeping blue ice packs in the duffel to keep it cooler when not being worn. Not sure if that helps extend a charge.Two reasons it has 4 stars instead of 5:1. The velcro straps don't allow quite as much adjustment range as needed based on what is worn beneath. This issue is noted by other reviewers, and hopefully is being addressed by the manufacturer. Basically, the soft side of the "hook and loop" is too short to allow much expansion, especially when shared with different "sized" women, whereas the hook side is very long.2. The pockets for the coolpacks are very soft mesh, that feels like it is going to rip when inserting the solid packs. They also allow a lot of 'settling' by the end of the coolpacks duration, so the packs are bunched up in the bottom 1/2 like bags of melted ice water.I would like to see a plastic tray or holder for recharging, so that the packs are spaced apart and allow the cold air or ice water to circulate around them evenly and charge them faster. Piling them on each other doesn't let the inner packs charge as quickly.

I used this vest driving at a race track. I don’t have a cool suit and knew the temperature would be mid to upper 90’s. I was impressed with how I felt in 95 degree temperatures, driving 4-5 thirty minute sessions a day. It’s a bit heavy, and “bumpy” when harnessed in race seats, but well worth the discomfort. I got better with re-freezing the packs in the cooler so they were flatter, and smooth.

I bought this so that I could ride the motorcycle to work in the Houston heat. The afternoon temperatures are still well into the 90s in late September in Houston, and I do not ride without protective gear, so I normally only ride from mid-October through late April. May through September are simply too hot when you're geared up.I've used the vest twice so far, putting the cooling packs in the freezer at the office an hour or so before I leave for home. I put the vest on with my summer jacket on top of it. This has made the trip bearable.I halfway expected to be cold, but that was not the case. While I still felt quite warm, I was no so hot as to find the commute exhausting. Taking the motorcycle allows me to use the HOV lane, so this vest is now an important piece of my commuting gear.

Buy this. really. I am an archaeologist, and work outdoors in extreme heat, in places with unreliable (or non-existent) electricity. Worse, due to a combination of genetic predisposition and past heat injuries, I have really poor heat tolerance. So, this TeckKewl is not just about comfort - it's literally about life-and-death. The phase-change vest inserts only need to get down to 55 degrees F - and you can get than done in a solar-powered cooler. On those most important measures, it scores a full five stars. With one exception: I'm a woman. This vest does not, er, accommodate my, er, physiology. To get its cooling power next to my skin, or to keep it from riding up over my shoulders, I have to leave the shoulder straps undone, squash flat, and improvise. Even then, I look (and feel) like I'm wearing a flak vest, not cooling gear. I've taken to removing inserts from the vest itself and instead inserting them into - er - other articles of (under)clothing. So when TechKewl designs a Phase Change Cooling Bustier, I'll be first in line. NOTE: this would be FABULOUS for disaster relief; low-income elderly, and other situations where people cannot (or cannot afford to) run A/C during extreme weather, but can power a mini-fridge for a few hours a day.

Especially when the temp is over 110 outside, this is potentially a literal life saver. There are some fit/comfort issues, mostly around the adjustable straps, but otherwise it's nearly perfect.It doesn't breathe at all, so if the temp isn't super hot, I find myself feeling very warm even with it on just because the shoulder straps trap all this heat and provide no cooling in that area. The other minor flaw is the packs have sharp(ish) corners which get caught on the netting inside and out makes putting the packs in pretty tough, honestly. Other than that, I am just so happy and I've been telling everyone who loves to be outdoors here in Phoenix all about it.

Good long cooling power (3-4 hours). It would be better if it was white for outdoor use. The adjustment straps are scratchy and do not go tight enough for a skinny person like me, I have been putting a belt around mine, but eventually I'll probably just sew the sides together and remove the velcro or adjust those straps so they can close it more tightly. The mesh inside the vest is also scratchy and doesn't feel great on bare skin. But suprisingly, there aren't many competing products like this, I especially like the 58 degree (F) phase change temp of this vest, it doesn't get crazy cold, and lasts longer than the 32 degree vests that are out there. Plus you can recharge/re-freeze this in a regular refridgerator or even a bucket of ice water or just a pile of ice (for example at a hotel). Wish these weren't so expensive.