98 Fahren Cooling Vest Review

Could this be the most reasonable solution for riding in the summer?

Riding in the summer is not particularly pleasant if one lives in the tropical part of the country. Even the most ventilated riding jacket has its limits when it comes to keeping the rider cool. An Indian company saw an opportunity where everyone else saw a problem and came up with the cooling vest. We used 98 Fahren’s CoolVest Neo and we are convinced that it is the simplest and most cost effective way to keep cool when the sun is short on mercy.

It is a simple piece of kit. All one needs to do is soak it in fresh water and gently squeeze all the excess water out before wearing it. Evaporation is the key here. The moisture in the vest evaporates slowly as one rides. For best results, we recommend using it under a ventilated mesh jacket. On the harshest day of summer, we were able to get between three to four hours of use from the vest before it ran dry and I find that reasonable.

Once it does become dry and consequently loses its ability to keep the wearer cool, it can be easily replenished by another soaking. The company claims that one will experience a temperature drop of up to 15 degree Celsius when compared to the surroundings but that depends on too many factors. For what its worth, it does it job perfectly and kept me well insulated and comfortable given the ambient temperature and conditions. 98 Fahren’s decision to use material that had anti-microbial treatment was particularly thoughtful.

Being easy to wear and flexible in nature allows the CoolVest to be used effectively, and although one is wearing what is essentially a wet garment, it does a good job of keeping the wearer from getting soaked. Priced at Rs 3,999, it may seem a tad expensive but use it once on a hot day and even the most stubborn mind may see reason.