StaCool Vest

[brady961]

wondering if anyone that has heat intolerance due to a chronic disease/illness has used a stacool vest while visiting WDW-parks?

If so how well did it go?

how long did the thermopaks last?

did it cause you wet shirts?

how heavy was it to wear?

did you carry a cooler with another set of thermopaks?

is it binding to wear? bulking?

if anyone has one and used it at the parks, please share your experiences.

I am in need of a cooling vest, and this was has been recommended. However it will be out of pocket expense and they aren't cheap.

But if they truly work in the Florida heat and humidity I wouldn't mind paying the price. As I woud be using it for day to day activities, not just for the parks.

i have tried the cooling neck bandanas, and similar items with the crystals that you put in cold water, they expand and suppose to stay cool. well not here in Fl heat and humidity. at least not for me. also tried the sharper image cooling neck collar runs on battery, your put water in it, little fan blows on back of neck etc... did absolutely nothing but make me even hotter wearing this thing around my neck.

thanks

 

[OneLittleSpark]

I'm afraid I've not tried these, but another suggestion that Sue came up with a while back, is to use a screw-top ice pack, that you tip ice into, rather than cooling in the freezer. You can get a free cup of ice at any CS restaurant on demand. Just wanted to throw another idea into the mix.

Good luck !

 

[brady961]

I'm afraid I've not tried these, but another suggestion that Sue came up with a while back, is to use a screw-top ice pack, that you tip ice into, rather than cooling in the freezer. You can get a free cup of ice at any CS restaurant on demand. Just wanted to throw another idea into the mix.

Good luck !

thanks. I often if not always get cup of ice. I have such a heat intolerance my core body temp rises quickly then I have more problems. My physical therapist suggested a cooling vest. I know someone that uses this StaCool vest (she has MS) and thinks it great. But she lives in VA. Since I have tried other cooling devices not all work in the FL heat and humidity.

I need like this vest for everyday use, work, etc...

Hoping that someone on the boards has used this during their WDW visit as I believe they would be better providing how it works here in FL. not that I dont believe my friend and how she loves it, just know temp/humidity wise Fl can be do different.

again thanks for your ideas as I use these also.

 

[SueM in MN]

There was a poster with a small child who was looking at these vests a year or two ago. I don't know if she actually got one or not. I have seen highway workers wearing them, so they probably do provide some relief or they would not wear them.

I went to the Stacool website and they have a few tesimonials and some FAQs. According to their FAQs, in most situations, the vests provide about 2 hours of cooling per "Thermopak." and they suggest bringing extras in a cooler. It says each vest comes with 2 sets of paks, so you can use one and cool one. It doesn't say how long it takes to cool one, but I noticed that they are water absorbing. (This page shows a picture.) Because they absorb cold water, I would think they would cool faster than something like a gel that has to get cold from heat transferring out of the gel. They look like you could have a cooler with ice water in it to hold one and then just 'trade' the warm one for a new cool one.

I'd suggest you try contacting the company and ask if they have any users that would be willing to talk to you about how it works in Florida and/or heat and humidity.

 

[brady961]

There was a poster with a small child who was looking at these vests a year or two ago. I don't know if she actually got one or not. I have seen highway workers wearing them, so they probably do provide some relief or they would not wear them.

I went to the Stacool website and they have a few tesimonials and some FAQs. According to their FAQs, in most situations, the vests provide about 2 hours of cooling per "Thermopak." and they suggest bringing extras in a cooler. It says each vest comes with 2 sets of paks, so you can use one and cool one. It doesn't say how long it takes to cool one, but I noticed that they are water absorbing. (This page shows a picture.) Because they absorb cold water, I would think they would cool faster than something like a gel that has to get cold from heat transferring out of the gel. They look like you could have a cooler with ice water in it to hold one and then just 'trade' the warm one for a new cool one.

I'd suggest you try contacting the company and ask if they have any users that would be willing to talk to you about how it works in Florida and/or heat and humidity.

thanks. I made contact with stacool yesterday and coolingvest.com today. i don't really understand the difference in the two except style of vest. I keep reading both websites but guess my brain just isn't absorbing or processing what I am reading. as no matter how many i read both its like mumble jumble.

i have been in email contact with both too asking questions. now to decide which one. coolingvest appears less costly but stacool in their price for vest is two paks, (One spare), coolingvest only one pak. so would have to buy extra pak at coolingvest which brings cost higher than stacool.

i like how coolingvest seems more adjustable. yet keep reading that ones you can soak paks in cold water don't offer as much cool time or don't work as well. on other hand then i read these work just great.

doube grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr the amount of either imo is costly for me, so want to make sure one i finally get really works, and works well. both were made for Fl humidity and heat.

again thanks.