Do cooling vests, like the one I am wearing in the video, actually work? Let’s find out.
Product Link: Iaigogo cooling vest
I have been using this cooling vest for several months now, primarily while doing yard work and mowing, but also while riding my motorcycle. It’s inexpensive, costing around $20. The vest holds a total of six ice packs, which are included alongside an extra set. This allows you to easily swap them out once the first set melts. If you are working from home, you can take a quick break to grab the second frozen set directly from your freezer.
Answering the question of whether cooling vests actually work: yes. On a recent motorcycle ride, the ambient temperature in Jacksonville was 91°F, with very high humidity—likely around 95%. I definitely felt the coolness. After riding around for roughly 20 minutes, I jumped on the interstate to head home, and the vest made a noticeable difference for the entire ride. However, you will likely find that it is only effective for one to two-hour rides before the ice packs melt.
Here in Florida, the vest is most helpful during the peak mid-afternoon heat. Because I started the ride later in the day, I got the full benefit. However, if you are going on a day-long ride, you probably wouldn’t need the cooling vest when you first start out in the morning. By the time you need it in the afternoon, the ice packs stored in your saddlebag would likely already be melted. While it has a limited use case for motorcyclists, it offers a much better use case for people working outside for an hour or so.
Another factor to keep in mind is that while you will feel cooler, the vest will not keep you dry. You will still get wet due to condensation from the ice packs, and you’ll likely still sweat depending on the intensity of the heat. These vests are adjustable. You will want to pull it as taut as possible against your torso so that the ice packs remain firmly against your body.
In conclusion, I can recommend this cooling vest for specific situations, particularly outdoor work. Just remember that it will not last all day. The ice packs melt after about an hour. In a best-case scenario—where you have the second set of packs on ice or you are working near a freezer—you can swap them out to get up to maybe two hours of relief in summer heat. Once the packs melt, it’s time to take off the vest and try to finish up as soon as you can.
This vest was not provided by the manufacturer, nor is this content sponsored. It is simply a product I chose to purchase and test on my own.