COOLING VEST FOR OUTDOOR WORK AND CONSTRUCTION
FROM JUST 56.95
Quick answer: which cooling vest should you choose for outdoor work?
For outdoor work in the sun, an evaporative vest such as the H2O 2BSafe or the Bodycool Basic works best, as evaporation cools most effectively outdoors where there is a flow of air. If you need to wear a cooling vest under your workwear, choose a dry DRY model such as the Smart-X DRY or Smart Coolover. If you’re working by the roadside and high visibility is required, opt for a reflective model compliant with EN ISO 20471 Class 2. If you want consistent cooling that’s less dependent on humidity, the Bodycool Hybrid offers a PCM mode.
When should you choose a cooling vest for outdoor work?
You should choose a cooling vest for outdoor work as soon as the temperature rises and you cannot postpone your physical work outdoors. Anyone who spends a whole day labouring in the sun will notice that the heat builds up: you get tired and your concentration wanes. A cooling vest for outdoor work keeps your torso cooler, allowing you to carry on working more comfortably. It is no substitute for shade or breaks, but it makes a difference during the toughest hours.
Why choose this over a standard cooling vest?
A cooling vest for outdoor work differs from a standard cooling vest for home or on the go in three ways.
More robustly constructed
Outdoor work places greater demands on the material than a walk. Cooling vests for outdoor work, such as the Bodycool Basic, are more robustly constructed and come in generous sizes up to 4XL and 5XL.
Visible in accordance with the standard
Working by the roadside or on a building site requires high visibility. The H2O 2BSafe and the reflective Smart-X DRY T-shirts comply with EN ISO 20471 Class 2, ensuring you stand out whilst staying cool.
Can be worn under workwear
A DRY vest doesn’t get wet on the outside. This means you can wear the Smart-X DRY or Smart Coolover under your workwear or safety jacket without your shirt getting damp.
What should you look out for when choosing?
When choosing a cooling vest for outdoor work, pay particular attention to the cooling technology, visibility requirements and size.
The cooling technology
Outdoors with a bit of a breeze, an evaporative vest works well: you wet the Bodycool Basic or H2O 2BSafe and it cools through evaporation. If you want to wear the vest under your workwear, choose a dry DRY model. For consistent cooling that is less dependent on humidity, use the PCM mode of the Bodycool Hybrid. If you’re unsure which technology to choose, compare the full range of cooling vests.
Visibility
If you need to be visible at the roadside, choose a reflective cooling vest for outdoor work compliant with EN ISO 20471 Class 2, such as the H2O 2BSafe. This way, you combine cooling with a safe working environment.
Size and activation
Measure your chest and waist circumference and bear in mind that a vest should fit snugly for best performance. The sizes are generous, ranging up to 4XL and 5XL for the Basic and Smart-X DRY models. The activation method varies depending on the technology: soaking, filling with tap water or freezing the cooling elements.
Tips for use when working outdoors
Get more out of your cooling vest for outdoor work with these five tips:
- Activate an evaporative vest the night before, so it’s ready for use in the morning.
- Wear the vest snugly so that the cooling elements make good contact with your body.
- Re-wet an evaporative vest as soon as it feels dry on a hot day.
- Combine a reflective cooling vest with the rest of your high-visibility clothing when working roadside.
- Read the washing instructions before washing, as these vary depending on the technology used.
You can read more about staying cool on hot days in our blog ‘Stay cool this summer’.
Frequently asked questions about cooling vests for outdoor work
- Which cooling vest is suitable for the construction industry?
For the construction industry, a sturdy cooling vest designed for outdoor work is suitable, such as the Bodycool Basic or the reflective H2O 2BSafe. If you’re working roadside, choose the 2BSafe model, as it complies with EN ISO 20471 Class 2.
- Does a cooling vest work under workwear?
Yes. A DRY cooling vest such as the Smart-X DRY or Smart Coolover stays dry on the outside, so you can wear it under your workwear or safety jacket without ending up with a damp shirt.
- How long does a cooling vest last during a working day?
That depends on the technology and the conditions. An evaporative vest cools for as long as it remains damp and you re-wet it from time to time, whilst a PCM vest such as the Bodycool Hybrid cools for a fixed period until you reactivate the elements.
- Which cooling vest meets the hi-vis requirements (EN ISO 20471)?
The H2O 2BSafe and the reflective Smart-X DRY T-shirts comply with EN ISO 20471 Class 2. This allows you to combine a cooling vest for outdoor work with the high-visibility requirements that are mandatory when working by the roadside.