Bonneville America Forums Forums Rider Safety Forums Helmets and Gear Cool Vests :Who's used Them?

I bought my 07 SM in February and off course bought gear for the time of the year in Northern California (I know that's called Spring east of the Sierra). I bought a Frank Thomas Auqa Force Jacket that worked well until yesterday when I had to make my way from a cooling coast ride to home in Sacramento. What to do with 105 deg heat and no desire to face the ride without the jacket. A $2.00 purchase of ice filled all the forward and aft cargo pockets and made the ride tolerable. Too bad I didn't have enough change to buy a brew and cool it for the end of the road. Now it's time for an alternative strategy: Has anyone used any of the "Cool Vests" on the market. I know it means getting a mesh jacket that allow the cooling affect work. But do the vest work? Opinions, please

I have used the mesh jacket with t-shirt only in 100+ weather last year in eastern washington and was extremely comfortable..not sure that I would purchase the cool vest..may be too comfortable!!!

I got a Fox Creek leather vest - it's a cool vest .

When I rode through Arizona last summer I had my Tourmaster leather jacket, long sleeve cotton shirt and an Under Armor on. I had all the jacket vents opened and was decently comfortable. About half way I thought I would be cooler without the jacket...wrong. I sweated like a lady of the night on payday. The jacket kept all the insanely hot air off my skin and I was actually cooler with the jacket on. May have been a fluke, just my little experience.

This has been discussed before on here.

Here's a link.

you could try using a gel neck cooler- $3.00 at the walmart.

get it ice cold, around your neck, feels good in 112* degree heat.
trust me!

SixSixOne worked well for me on a recent 1000+ mile ride from New Orleans to Austin Tx and back. I would like to try one of the full vests one day.