Motorcycle Cool Vests and Heated Clothes

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There are three technologies available. Polymer embedded fabric, Polyacrylamide crystals, and Phase-Change packets. Each has their own advantages and disadvantages. The polymer embedded fabric looks and feels most like a normal vest. The fibers soak up water and cool you by evaporation, so some wind is required. These vests don't hold much water, and therefore have limited cooling capacity. Recharge by soaking for 5 minutes in a large zip-lock bag. Polyacrylamide crystals are the thing that make disposable diapers work, and the latest rage in gardening. The fibers soak up water and cool you by evaporation, so some wind is required. These crystals hold a lot of water. The downside is that the vests will soak up seven to ten pounds of water, if you let them. Recharge by soaking for 10 minutes in a large zip-lock bag. Phase-change packets work chemically, not by evaporation, so these vests work in still air. The phase change packets are good for about 2 hours. However, to recharge the vests you have to cool them down, either by soaking them in ice water or by putting them in a freezer or refrigerator for an hour. So these vests are only good once per day if you're riding. Also, they're quite pricey.

I've used the polymer embedded fabric and the polyacrylimide crystals. The crystals are better.
 

Techniche Vest - polymer embedded fabric, articulating gusset on sides. HeatReliefDepot.com. About $40
 

Miracool Vest - crystals, fastens with velcro straps. IndustrialSavings.com. About $32
 

Joe Rocket Sahara Vest - polymer embedded fabric, stretch nylon on sides. JoeRocket.com. About $80
 

Liberty Vest - polymer embedded fabric, stretch nylon on sides. MotoLiberty.com. About $50
 

Phase Change Vest - Phase change packets, velcro straps on sides. RideCool.com. About $140, Extra chemical packets about $80. Available optional camelback-type 70oz water container, $40
 

Polymer Vest - Polymer fabric, stretch nylon on sides. RideCool.com. About $50,
 

Miracool pull-over - Crystals, fastex buckles on sides RideCool.com. About $28. Available in tan and orange. Careful in Florida, the orange one could get you mistaken for a fruit, and wind up getting squeezed for juice.
 

Zip-front vest - Polymer fabric, stretch nylon on sides. SilverEagleOutfitters.com. About $45. Available in tan and silver.
 

Hi-Visibility vest - Polymer fabric, velcro adjustments on back. SilverEagleOutfitters.com. About $55. Yellow with reflective tape. Careful in Britain, someone will mistake you for a lemon and slice you up for tea.
 

Classic vest - Polymer fabric, velcro adjustments on back. SilverEagleOutfitters.com. About $85. Available in black and grey.

Two Widder heated vests and a pair of heated grips are about 110 watts total - this is no problem for most bikes, and means you and your passenger ride in comfort down to 35 degrees. I don't think heated arm or leg chaps have much value - if your torso is warm, your body will take care of everything else. But then, I was born in Green Bay. If you're from Honolulu, perhaps you have a different opinion. Some people like heated socks or insoles. I don't need them, and I think the extra wiring is a pain. Heated grips are good because they're always on the bike - your vest and gloves are not always packed.

Heated vests fit quite tightly on you. I wear only a t-shirt under mine, then over it goes a sweatshirt and my jacket. Jacket Liners do not fit as tightly, and therefore are not as efficient at transferring heat. In any case, you want the heat as close to your body as possible, and as much insulation between the heat and outside as possible. Vests also pack smaller than jacket liners, and allow more options in layering when putting on clothes.
 

Widder Electric Clothes

Vest $110 33/35/48w	Vest w/ Collar $130 33/35/48w	Arm Chaps $80 20w	Gloves $90 20w	Chaps $100 33w

Heated Clothes from Widder. To hook up the Widder gear you'll need a Battery Cord $15 and one of Electronic Controller $80, Mechanical Thermostat $35, or On/Off Switch $15.
 

Gerbing Electric Clothes

Vest $140 53w	Jacket Liner $200 77w	Pants $200 44w	Gloves $140 22w	Socks $60 22w

Heated Clothes from Gerbing. To hook up the Gerbing gear you'll need an Electronic Controller $70.
 

Aerostich Electric Clothes

Vest $140 45w	Jacket Liner $230 70w

Heated Clothes from Aerostich. To hook up the Aerostich gear you'll need an Electronic Controller $60.
 

Kreamer Electric Clothes

Vest $50 22w	Insoles $50 15w	Gloves $50 15w

Heated Clothes from Kreamer.

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