There are many different cooling products
available and depending on your
personal
situation, activity and environment. We recommend you consult your
health care
professional prior to purchasing a garment or system. A summary of the systems:
|
Cooling Power: Low*
Cost: Very Low
(*depending on humidity)
|
Cold
packs
Cooling Power: High Cost: Low to Medium
|
Phase
Change
Cooling Power: Medium
Cost: Medium
|
Active
Cooling
Cooling Power: Very High
Cost: High
to Very High
|
Detailed
information on each type of system:
Passive Cooling - Evaporative: These products come in an
assortment of garments that fit a wide variety of locations on the
body. These products are soaked in water to charge special materials
built into the garments. As the water evaporates (sometimes over
several days), the garment provides surface cooling. These systems are
typically low cost and light weight.
|
Advantages
Low cost
light weight
works for an extended period of time
|
Disadvantages
requires wetting of garment
loses effectiveness in higher humidity
|
Passive Cooling - Cold packs: These products typically come in
vests, neck coolers and wrist coolers. The products
work by incorporating cold packs into pockets of the wraps.
The cold packs are placed in a freezer or a refrigerator until
ready for use and then are placed in pockets designed into the wraps.
The packs will stay cold for 2 to 3 hours depending on environmental
conditions. Prices for basic vests with cold packs run from $85 to
$200.
Spare cold packs cost from $25 to $50
|
Advantages
medium cost
no wetting required
effective for 2-3 hours
greater cooling capacity
works in all environments
adjustable cooling with more / less packs
extra packs easily carried for extended cooling
|
Disadvantages
requires access to freezer / refrigerator
requires time for packs to freeze
medium weight: 4-5 lbs.
|
Passive Cooling - Phase
Change Technology: These products
typically are similar to the cold pack systems only use a phase
change polymer in the cold packs or the garment. This technology
controls the release of temperature to a specific range through out the
cooling cycle. (A typical temperature is 62 degree F)
Phase change cold packs may be recharged in the freezer, refrigerator
or in ice water. Prices
for basic vests with phase change cold packs run from $160 and
up. Spare cold packs cost from $125 and up.
|
Advantages
charges in ice water,
refrigerator, freezer
wetting not required
effective for 2-3 hours
provides constant cooling temperature
works in all environments
extra packs easily carried for extended cooling
|
Disadvantages
high cost of replacement packs
requires freezer / refrigerator / ice water
fast recharge of the cooling packs
medium weight: 4-5 lbs.
medium / high cost system
|
|
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Active
Cooling: These products typically incorporate a coolant, often
ice water, that is circulated from a reservoir by a pump system through
tubes connected to a vest. Often a hood is incorporated into the system
also. The temperature of the circulating coolant usually can be
adjusted. The garment has small channels or tubes built into it that
circulates the cooling fluid throughout the garment and then back to
the reservoir. The system operates on batteries, house or car current.
The reservoir is often a cooler and is charged with ice and water. This
type of system will provide many hours of cooling before the ice and
water needs to be recharged. Prices
for these systems run from $700 to $3000.
|
Advantages
Most effective cooling
adjustable cooling temperature
extended cooling time between recharges
no wetting required
works in all environments
light weight garments
|
Disadvantages
very high cost system
tethered system limits mobility
requires ice water reservoir
|
MSolutions
Inc.
1-800-763-8423
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