The Deluxe Sports Vest July has been hot and humid here, so the time has definitely been right to test out Polar Products, Inc.'s Cool Comfort® Hidden Vest and the Cool Comfort® Deluxe Sports Vest. Both of these vests use Polar Products' Cool Comfort® technology. According to Polar Products, this "innovative new hybrid cooling system combines the efficient cooling power of evaporation with the direct cooling of frozen water."
Each vest is activated by submerging it in cool water for up to 20 minutes. During that time the crystals contained in the vest expand into pea-sized balls, absorbing water. As you wear the vest, the water slowly evaporates, cooling you in the process. You can also freeze the vests for additional cooling.
The Hidden Vest (the tan vest in these photos) is lightweight and involves minimal fabric. The fabric is stretchy, making it comfortable to wear, and it also remains incredibly light, even once the crystals have absorbed water. This vest is also highly adjustable. It features three Velcro straps in the front that you can easily adjust, and a Velcro strap on either side of the vest's bottom allows for a tailored fit and keeps the vest from riding up or bouncing.
Each vest is activated by submerging it in cool water for up to 20 minutes. During that time the crystals contained in the vest expand into pea-sized balls, absorbing water. As you wear the vest, the water slowly evaporates, cooling you in the process. You can also freeze the vests for additional cooling.
The Hidden Vest (the tan vest in these photos) is lightweight and involves minimal fabric. The fabric is stretchy, making it comfortable to wear, and it also remains incredibly light, even once the crystals have absorbed water. This vest is also highly adjustable. It features three Velcro straps in the front that you can easily adjust, and a Velcro strap on either side of the vest's bottom allows for a tailored fit and keeps the vest from riding up or bouncing.
The Hidden Vest once saturated.
I found the Cool Comfort® Hidden Vest to be excellent for riding. It's lightweight and comfortable, and the fact that you can adjust it in a number of ways allows you to fit it to your body. Best of all, even when the crystals are expanded the channels they are contained in are narrow enough that the vest still fits discreetly under clothing. It would be a great addition if you're showing on a hot day, since it easily fits under a hunt coat and no one will know that you're wearing it.
The width of the Hidden Vest.
The Cool Comfort® Deluxe Sports Vest (the blue vest in these pictures) is a bit more substantial than the Cool Comfort® Hidden Vest. It features a heavier-duty fabric than what is used in the Hidden Vest, and a zipper fastens the front. This vest isn't as fitted as the Hidden Vest, and it's not something that you could wear beneath a hunt coat or other clothing. With its looser fit, I did find that this vest moved around quite a bit during the ride, especially at the trot. It is also substantially heavier than the Hidden Vest, so I'd recommend it for wearing during barn work, ground work, or other chores.
The Deluxe Sports Vest once saturated.
The advantage of the Deluxe Sports Vest is that it does contain more cooling crystals, and I found that it cooled me faster than the Hidden Vest. These crystals also make it bulkier, though, so you have to select the vest that's most in line with the qualities most important to you. I found that freezing both vests led to faster cooling, but the cooling properties of the Deluxe Sports Vest also lasted longer than the Hidden Vest.
In summary, both vests were effective. I tested them in the high humidity of Massachusetts, so if you live in a lower-humidity climate, then you may not find it necessary to freeze the vests, as the evaporative properties may be more effective. I found that the Cool Comfort® Deluxe Sports Vest provides more thorough, faster cooling, but the Cool Comfort® Hidden Vest's incredibly discreet design makes it appealing for anyone riding in a show or clinic.
Be sure to check out our review of Polar Products' Cool Max Fashion Vest, then visit the Polar Products website and Facebook page. Be sure to tell them that The Equine Insider sent you!.
In summary, both vests were effective. I tested them in the high humidity of Massachusetts, so if you live in a lower-humidity climate, then you may not find it necessary to freeze the vests, as the evaporative properties may be more effective. I found that the Cool Comfort® Deluxe Sports Vest provides more thorough, faster cooling, but the Cool Comfort® Hidden Vest's incredibly discreet design makes it appealing for anyone riding in a show or clinic.
Be sure to check out our review of Polar Products' Cool Max Fashion Vest, then visit the Polar Products website and Facebook page. Be sure to tell them that The Equine Insider sent you!.
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