58 degree Phase Change cooling vest or collar for hot heads or MS patients

[tron3]

I just discovered these products about a month ago. A little too late for the mostly cool summer we had, but I look forward to using the cooling collar for under my very hot Santa suit and for next summer. I don't have Multiple Sclerosis, thank the Lord, but reviews from those poor heat intolerant people prove these things work. They are already in use by military, MS patients, sports enthusiasts, and yours truly.

So what is it? Unlike water evaporative cooling products which don't work in high humidity, or get moldy and smelly, Phase Change cooling products work in ANY kind of heat or humidity without wetting. "Must be ice cold and uncomfortable, right?" Wrong! Unlike ice or those frozen gels, Phase Change liquid is relatively safe clear liquid in pouches, which harden into a white waxey substance. They cool at a constant 58 degrees Fahrenheit (14.44 C) for up to 2 hours.

How long to freeze them? 30 minutes in ice water, 90 minutes in a freezer, or a couple of hours in the fridge. A small ice chest with spare cool packs could keep you cool and comfy all day along at the beach, picnic, BBQ, or sporting event.

Here are some links.

My Amazon review is the long one. You will see I suffered (a little) in testing the collar. Please vote on my review!
http://www.amazon.com/Deluxe-Phase-C...0&sr=8-2-spell

Best designed cooling collars I have found. Excellent price for 2 cool packs.
http://www.aqualitywater.com/head_and_neck_wear.htm

More color choices from this site. It is where I bought my neck cooler in white.
http://heatreliefdepot.com/catalog/a...2df1bec6212c3c

Nice back wrap I bought from here. Smaller than a vest and keeps core body temperature down. http://www.northamericanpride.com/in...dex&cPath=5_14

[phlydude]

I bought these from QVC a few years back...$18.68 for 6 of them
http://www.cooldownz.com/
I have soaked mine in water and they have stayed "wet" for days. In fact, sometimes, they stay wet too long and I have to be careful when I take them to Florida to use walking around theme parks.

[b0bby]

where has this been all my life? no i don't have MS but damn my neck gets sweaty and sticky fast in the summer even after a nice shower.

[tron3]

Originally Posted by phlydude

I bought these from QVC a few years back...$18.68 for 6 of them
http://www.cooldownz.com/
I have soaked mine in water and they have stayed "wet" for days. In fact, sometimes, they stay wet too long and I have to be careful when I take them to Florida to use walking around theme parks.

Why do you have to be careful? People gonna choke you with them or walk off with it? No, really. Why?

As I stated, they don't work well in humidty. Even when it works they only cool up 15 degrees below ambient, if I am not mistaken. So, if it is 115 degrees, it will still feel like 100 on your neck. I don't like the wet concept and the fact that they never dry. The mold and mildew which may form are allergens. If you can't clean it out then you have to throw it out.

A Phase Change neck wrap helps cool your entire body. Like I said in my Amazon review, the neck has the most blood flow. Cool that down and it cools the blood stream.

Originally Posted by b0bby

where has this been all my life? No i don't have MS but damn my neck gets sweaty and sticky fast in the summer even after a nice shower.

Sounds like you need some wet ones. I believe NASA finally finished development in 2001. I might even recall hearing about it before hand.

Trust me, Bobby. For 40 bucks with 2 cool packs you can NOT go wrong. All you need is a small cooler of ice. I test chilled mine in a small bowl with a moderate amount of ice and it still "froze" in about 30 minutes though most of the ice was melted.

Sure you will look like a whiplash victim, but it like having a/c blow on your neck. I plan on getting some use from the more discreet backwrap.

[phlydude]

Originally Posted by tron3

Why do you have to be careful? People gonna choke you with them or walk off with it? No, really. Why?

Sorry - because they stay wet for so long sometimes I have to be careful when I need to pack them up and bring them home - they tend to use non-colorfast dyes in the making of them and the color bleeds into whatever it is touching if left wrapped in a towel or mixed in with clothing.

And I wrap these around my neck - they use those water absorbing crystals and they dehydrate with enough heat or low humidity in time. I've had mine for over 2 years (3 summers) and they work just like the day I received them - no issues with stink or humidty - AND they are only about as round as a shooter shot glass allowing you to move your neck pretty freely.

[tron3]

Originally Posted by phlydude

... I've had mine for over 2 years (3 summers) and they work just like the day I received them - no issues with stink or humidty - AND they are only about as round as a shooter shot glass allowing you to move your neck pretty freely.

Ok, I hears ya. There are Phase Change bandanas too. More fashionable with LOTS more cool. Sure the downside is they don't last for hours on end, but completely worth it on those humid days when your crystals will simply continue to retain water like a hippo.

No, I have no stock in this stuff. I just really believe in it.

[tron3]

Bump. Spring is here and summer is upon us. Thought some more people would find this useful. Especially for the MS aspect.