Tired of carrying a mini fan around or rewashing your cooling towel every two hours? As summer temperatures soar to new highs around the globe, enter the latest trend in personal cooling: hi-tech cooling vests and jackets.
These innovative garments claim to keep you comfortable even in the most oppressive heat.
We tested three in the heart of Hong Kong’s bustling Causeway Bay neighbourhood on a hot summer’s afternoon, with temperatures hitting 34 degrees Celsius (93 degrees Fahrenheit). One was equipped with dual fans, one with ice packs, and one with a combination of fan and ice packs. Find out how they fared below.
1. Pink polyester jacket with dual fans
This jacket feels like a fashion statement. Its eye-catching pink colour appealed to me as soon as I saw it and there is even a hood with a hole for my long hair. I can also pull the hood up to cover half my face.
The jacket comes with two fans and a battery, which were relatively easy to equip – though having the fans visible on the back felt like it detracted from its fashion appeal.
When I turned the battery on, the fans started circulating cool air inside the jacket, which became puffed up within seconds.
Wandering through the streets of Causeway Bay in this certainly turned heads. Wearing long sleeves in this heat?
To my surprise, the jacket did keep some parts of my body cool. I felt a breeze around my neck and back and I was not sweating as much as I usually would.
However, the cool air did not reach the sleeves, leaving some heat trapped there. Maybe the jacket would fare better as a vest.
Given its voluminous nature, this jacket is better worn outdoors rather than stuffy indoor areas, and it feels lightweight enough to go jogging in early summer or autumn. I cannot see myself wearing it in crowded areas like the MTR or shopping malls.
More “extreme” variations of the jacket come with four or more fans.
Overall, this jacket is great for a couple of giggles and best worn for keeping yourself cool when doing some gentle exercises. Also, at around 170 yuan (US$23) on Taobao, it is fairly harmless to your wallet. (Taobao is owned by Alibaba, which also owns the Post.)
Joanne Yau
2. Beige worker vest with ice packs
This no-frills cooling vest comes with four removable cold/hot gel packs that can be placed at the front and back. For cooling, simply pop the packs in the freezer for an hour; for warming, microwave the packs for 30 seconds to one minute.
How good is the vest at cooling you down? Not very. It only cools the small areas of your body where the ice packs are placed, while the others sweat under the extra layer of clothing.
After a few hours, the ice packs melt and moisture starts to seep through the fabric. At least the vest can be machine-washed.
The design is minimal, with a zip and four adjustable strips around the shoulder and the waist areas for better fitting. Since the vest only comes in one size, be sure to check before buying.
The polyester fabric feels too hot to wear during summer and it is not waterproof. But the material is solid and feels durable, and could last for a few summers – which at 50 yuan (on Taobao) is pretty good.
Annie Cheung
3. Navy cooling vest with ice packs and fan
Resembling a fishing vest, this vest holds up to five ice packs and includes a battery-powered fan that helps circulate the cool air inside.
The fan is operated via a power button on the left side of the chest. The vest can also be tightened using the buckles on the sides and be zipped up for maximum coolness.
The vest feels sturdy and well made, and is simple to operate. Its dark navy colour is fairly unassuming and at first glance it is not obvious what its function is.
The ice packs feel cool and refreshing at first, but the lining of the vest is thin, so the skin starts to feel as if it is directly pressing against the ice. This creates very cold patches that stand in strange contrast to the hot, humid weather, creating an uncomfortable imbalance in body temperature.
After some time, the vest’s outer shell becomes damp through condensation, which is also not ideal.
While functional in theory, the vest lacks the practicality for everyday use in the summer, especially if you are consistently moving between indoor and outdoor spaces. It may be of more service to those who spend extended periods of time outdoors, such as construction workers, especially given its weight and bulky appearance.
For 368 yuan, I would argue there are better, cheaper and more comfortable alternatives on the market.
Lindsay Feng