Living in the south the heat can become unbearable. Within minutes of walking outside the sweat can become too much and the thought of riding a motorcycle becomes daunting. A car with air-conditioning quickly starts to look more gratifying for that ride to Starbucks.

Searching online I came across the Cooling Vest from REV’IT.  It seemed to show the best bang for my cool hard cash. I wanted something simple, clean, not bulky with no major moving parts. It fit all my requirements. Not only is staying cool a comfort thing, but also a safety thing. If the body gets too hot, fatigue will set in slowing your reaction time and reducing alertness. So I pulled the trigger.

My first impression when receiving the Cooling Vest was how extremely simple it was and the quality of the material was better than I was expecting. It features a convenient side zipper for easy on and off. The Cooling Vest does run a little tight so I’d recommend ordering the next size up. It is a snug yet comfortable fit.

Wearing a base layer soaked in water definitely took some getting used to. But more I used it the more comfortable I found it. REV’IT recommends dunking the vest in water and soak it. Then allow the vest to dry completely to allow all the fibers to fully open.

After completing step one, I went for a ride around town for about 3 hours. With a temperature of 96F degrees out the Cooling Vest I found did well. One thing to note while using the Cooling Vest, it does not work when dry. It felt like it retained heat. For the vest to work properly rinse it under cold water until soaked, then wring it out. 

I attempted with room temperature water which worked fine, but cold water worked best. When riding I did feel noticably cooler. It was as if I had on a cold wet T-shirt on, allowing the vapors to keep me cool. According to REV’IT the Cooling Vest should last up to six hours. Personally to me it felt more like 5 hours but then again here in the south the humidity is very high and although the thermostat may read 95F degrees outside it may actually feel more like 120F degrees.

After travelling on the bike for multiple days I learned the most important thing is to just keep the vest wet. With all my jacket vents open the vest worked great cruising down the highway. At night I’d recommend rinsing out the vest to prevent it from smelling.

Overall I thought the Cooling Vest from REV’IT did a good job cooling me down. It has made my rides more comfortable and along with drinking plenty of water, helped cut down on fatigue when riding. It has made it to the packing list for a must have during any hot summer day riding adventure. MSRP: $130.00 REV'IT.com

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