MiraCool Vest

[BigTom]

Yahoo. A product that works as advertised. The answer for extreme heat riding.

Full review and way more available at:
http://ridecool.com/

I got the MiraCool Reversible, XL. I went with this model for the size. It fits me fine, and has lots of room on the Velcro adjusters. This is suitable for 'big bodies'.

I rode 150 miles across the desert yesterday in the heat of the day. I hydrated the vest in Julian, Ca at about noon. I wore it around town (can you say 'looks like a dork?') for a while, it was very comfy, although heavy. I'm guessing about 10 pounds, yes, more than one gallon of water. Hopped on the STeed, and headed home, using California S2 to I-8. Average air temp 107, bright and cloudless. Wearing my First Gear Mesh Tex over the vest and a T shirt under. Rode to Octillo on S2, (60 mi) where we stopped for water and a cool down for my riding buddy. Rode to El Centro (30mi) for another water and cool down, then home (60mi). My buddy was suffering, in the extreme, while I was comfy. The vest stayed wet, and gave up a little moisture all the way. No problem for me with core temp. My buddy used the old standard "personal water spray" method, and wouldn't have gone so many miles on a 'lap' if there were more stopping spots. I had a water bottle with me the whole way, could have ridden it with out a stop for cool down.

FYI, we are experienced desert riders. From Julian to Yuma, I had 120 oz water and 24 oz tea. I still showed slight dehydration when I got home, a quart of water fixed me right up. The point being, this vest makes it possible to ride comfortably in extreme heat. I will not take the place of proper hydration. Dehydration can kill in the desert faster than heat stroke.

[AzDesertRider]

Tom,

Great to know those thing really work. I bought one last year, but have not tried it out yet.

Bob...

[AZST]

Dehydration really sneaks up ya.

--Bryan
04ST1300A
STOC# 5197
:04biker:

[joeca43]

Tom,
Thank you for the feedback. I have wondered how this type of vest performed and your comments have enticed me to make a purchase for the Palm Springs rides this summer.
Have a nice fathers day,
Joe

[squirrel Hunter]

Thanks for the review Tom. Used your link and ordered one, dam this forum is costing me:eek: :03biker:

[Rolling Thunder]

Big Tom,
1) How much "cold" tire pressure do you start with on these HAH day trips?
2) Does your temperature indicator stay in the three bars?
3) What would be your typical average cruising speed?
Thank you,
RT

[BigTom]

I have a '93 ST1100. Bike is not only mechanically very good, but beautiful, besides. Is the only MC I have owned that I need to look back at after I park.


1) How much "cold" tire pressure do you start with on these HAH day trips?

I run ME 880's front and back (I am not a corner freak, I like to go a long ways.) 42psi rear, 38 psi front. Cold being a relative term, around 80F is the lowest temp that I can see the tire gauge at.

2) Does your temperature indicator stay in the three bars?

An ST1100, I have an analog gauge. My thermostat has stuck open, it is always in the low end on the road. The only time it comes up is in stop and go on hot days. I often have to let the fan run after I get home. Is the only mechanical defect on my MC. I'll change it when the weather cools a bit:) BTW, my temp gauge is off the peg when I start in the morning. Cooling system on this MC is superior.

3) What would be your typical average cruising speed?

Typically, 5-10 mph over speed limit, 80 on the freeway. My buddy was riding his 'busa Saturday, in the lead. We may have been a bit over that pace, too. California freeway, what can I say? We let a high speed driver go in front, then pace him a half mile back. Speed seems to have no impact on cooling, to the speed that I have run.

[haysenglehart]

I just did a 150 miler in San Bernardino in the low 100's with the Silver Eagle Outfitters vest, same concept as the MiraCool, just a dorky, but it really works. Before I owned it I had done Death Valley at 126 degrees, could have really used it then! Silver Eagle or MiraCool, either one will be a big help.

[Clair]

Very cool! I ordered last week the TechNiche Evaporative Cooling Vest and hope to get it this week. Tho not as hot as what you get, here in UT I can ride in the mid to high 90's to the low 100's and wanted a vest. The return trip I did from Durango CO had us riding the desert from Monticello to Green River in mid 90's which sucked. Got stuck in construction zones too. Air temp 95, pavement temp 120+ degrees. Wish Ihad the vest then.

[Louie Louie]

]
I wore it around town (can you say 'looks like a dork?') .
You are supposed to wear a "mesh' Jacket on top.. I was in the same area BTW..Julian, Borrego, Julian.

[BigTom]

Hummm

Didn't see another ST. Rode up with a guy we met on a brand new FZ1, really sweet looking bike. Lots of Beemers, two more 'busas, (One a full tilt touring model...corbin bags and seat w/custom paint), Valks, HD's up the kazoo, but not another ST. We went from Yuma to Barett Junction (highway 94 near SanDiego) to Julian and down to Borego Springs, then home. Sorry I missed you. We were in Julian at lunch time (not that we ate this time, breakfast in Barett Junction), you'd have noticed the guy in the orange vest. I left the mesh jacket on the bike:)

[Louie Louie]

Hummm
Didn't see another ST. left the mesh jacket on the bike:)

I was in a cage!

Regards

[UNTMatt]

Yahoo. A product that works as advertised. The answer for extreme heat riding.

Full review and way more available at:
http://ridecool.com/

I got the MiraCool Reversible, XL. I went with this model for the size. It fits me fine, and has lots of room on the Velcro adjusters. This is suitable for 'big bodies'.


Maybe we can get a group buy on the Sport Evaporative Vest w/the STOC logo?

[Elmo]

Ordered a Sport Evaporative Vest today from the website mentioned. This will be my first experience with any sort of cooling apparel. I got a big Texas trip lined up in mid-July, so I thought if I was ever going to need one, this would be the time! Sure hope they work like I've heard they do.

Elmo

[haysenglehart]

The Silver Eagle Outfitters cooling vest is a bit more expensive, but from the looks of it a better design. Mine has front zippered pockets and and inside vest pocket. The outer shell, the one you see, is smooth, not a diamond tuft like others. Clement Salvatori, the journalist from Rider magazine, did a review on it just a couple of months ago and was pleased. Thats why I went with Silver Eagle.

www.silvereagleoutfitters.com

[Don-STOC237]

I run ME 880's front and back (I am not a corner freak, I like to go a long ways.) 42psi rear, 38 psi front. Cold being a relative term, around 80F is the lowest temp that I can see the tire gauge at.


Since the ME880 doesn't come in the correct size for your '93 ST1100 front, i.e. 110/80/18, what size are you using?

[BigTom]

100/90/H18

I forgot. I got the front changed (I usually do it myself) just after I got the bike in March. I went with the same size that was on the bike (110/90) and the tech came out of the back and said 'This tire's too big. It'll strike if we leave it on." Then we looked it up, and went with the 100/80, they did the switch, no charge. Seems to work just fine, about 6500 mi on it.

Seems weird, too. PFO had a Metzler Lazer Tech on it. I can't believe one Metz fit and one didn't. I'm guessing he put a worn tire on.

[Elmo]

I got my "Ultimate Evaporative Cooling Vest" from www.Ride Cool.com (http://www.Ride Cool.com) earlier this week. As I stated before, I have absolutely no experience with these things. The first thing I noticed was that after I got it wet, it felt "slimy" on the outside, and still does.

For those who know, is this the way it's going to feel all the time, or is it just this way for the first few times until it gets "broke in"?

Thanks,

Elmo

[dond]

Got a Sahara in my work-mobile and use a Eagle on the ST. Hydrated it in Independance CA yesterday and put it on in Rosamond for my sprint home in 90* plus heat. By the time I got home it was 75* and I was a bit chilly.
VeST with Fieldsheer (non perf) w/o liner and vents open, ws down and it was nice. 2 L. Camelback bladder in the tankbag keeps the insides wet.

[MLRickards]

Another vote for the MiraCool reversible vest. Used mine for the first time on a trip from Tulsa to DFW and it kept me pleasantly cool for the bulk of the trip. I wore it under a Joe Rocket 4.0 mesh jacket and it got drier a little faster than I would have thought, but it was an easy re-charge by soaking it in water in the handy bag it came with. I also noticed that if I cinched it tighter, it did it's job a little better.

[hojo in sc]

Trying to decide on which vest to get. This one says it can stay cool for a couple of days (actually 3 I think), which I find hard to believe.

http://www.ctaz.com/~party1/Human24.htm

[lbo]

I ordered one a few days ago. Coming home frm Yucca to the east end of Plam springs was abt. 25 min in temps of 113. Had to stop 2 times to cool down. It is really dangerous to ride thru the desert when it's above 105.I will never ride without the vest and lots of h2o.