SmartPak Ratings and Reviews

Customer Reviews for Cool Medics Cooling Vest

Cool Medics Cooling Vest

Sleeveless riding vest with stand up collar to cool the neck. Zipper front with slightly fitted shape. Hip length and shorter in the front, so as not too limit the rider?s movement.?Ladies XS (35 chest), S (37 chest), M (39 chest), L (41 chest), XL (44 chest).
Average Customer Rating:
4.167 out of 5
4.2
 out of 
5
(12 Reviews) 12
Open Ratings Snapshot
Rating breakdown 12 reviews
5 Stars
6
4 Stars
4
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Star
1
10 of 11(91%)of customers would recommend this product to a friend.
Customer Reviews for Cool Medics Cooling Vest
Review 1 for Cool Medics Cooling Vest
Overall Rating:
5 of 5
5 of 5

great item

July 23, 2012
Bybearsmom
fromSanta Fe, NM
I have used this product for:less than a month
Expertise:Intermediate
Riding Style:Leisure/Trail Riding - Western
Competitor:Non-competitor
Quality:
4 of 5
4 of 5
Value:
5 of 5
5 of 5
"Love my Cool Medics vest - a real lifesaver in high desert heat. Am recommending to all my barn-mates. Really keeps me comfortable in the mid-day heat when I am at barn for 4-5 hours. As other reviewers have stated, it does run small, order a size up. Wish I could get one for my horse."
Review 2 for Cool Medics Cooling Vest
Overall Rating:
4 of 5
4 of 5

Great vest!!

June 18, 2012
Bymummygirl81
fromOhio
I have used this product for:less than a month
Expertise:Intermediate
Riding Style:Dressage
Competitor:Rated
"These are great vests, I borrowed one at a horse show from a friend and fell in love!! Unfortunately I had to return mine, as I needed a custom fit for my longer torso and bigger bust, so make sure you measure before ordering!! But I'm in the process of ordering a custom one, and can't wait until it's arrival!!"
 
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Review 3 for Cool Medics Cooling Vest
Overall Rating:
5 of 5
5 of 5

It's not just the heat it's the humidity

July 25, 2011
Byirishsophie
fromSpotsylvania, VA
I have used this product for:less than a month
Expertise:Intermediate
Riding Style:Dressage
Competitor:Non-competitor
Quality:
5 of 5
5 of 5
Value:
4 of 5
4 of 5
"This vest arrived just in time for some miserable summer weather with temperatures around 100 and high humidity.
No, I can't say I was perfectly comfortable with it on but it sure was better than without it.
When I'm not wearing it I wrap it in a pillow case and keep it in the refrigerator"
Review 4 for Cool Medics Cooling Vest
Overall Rating:
1 of 5
1 of 5

Try the Cooline vest instead

June 19, 2011
Byscds
fromMaryland
I have used this product for:1-3 months
Expertise:Intermediate
Riding Style:Hunter/Jumper
Competitor:Rated
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
"I also had this vest and was disappointed until someone recommended the Cooline vest and I switched. What a HUGE difference. My clothes did not get wet at all and it continued to work for 2 days without me having to put in water again. You only have to immerse in water for less than 10 seconds. It is expensive--about $250 but so worth it! Smartpak doesn't carry it but they should. You have to go to their website and call them to order. I believe it is coolineusa.com You also have to hand wash it but again, worth it!"
Review 5 for Cool Medics Cooling Vest
Overall Rating:
4 of 5
4 of 5

Keep Cool

September 1, 2010
ByStraightShooter
fromStockton, CA
I have used this product for:1-3 months
Expertise:Intermediate
Riding Style:All Around
Competitor:Local/Open
Quality:
4 of 5
4 of 5
Value:
3 of 5
3 of 5
Palatability:
3 of 5
3 of 5
"Putting the vest on dry I noticed that they run small. And, when it is wet, it is heavier than I thought it would be. But, it does what it says it will do...keeps you cool during the hot weather!!!"
Review 6 for Cool Medics Cooling Vest
Overall Rating:
5 of 5
5 of 5

worth it

August 4, 2010
ByBitoFaithFarm
fromOhio
I have used this product for:3-6 months
Expertise:Intermediate
Riding Style:Hunter/Jumper
Competitor:Rated
Quality:
5 of 5
5 of 5
Value:
5 of 5
5 of 5
Palatability:
5 of 5
5 of 5
"i wear this under show clothes it works amazingly. At first it felt weird but i got used to it. I have a very low heat tollerace and i used to get light headed and sick at horse shows even with drinking about 10-20 bottles of water a day now i just weat this (still drink plently of water) and it helps out tons!"
Review 7 for Cool Medics Cooling Vest
Overall Rating:
5 of 5
5 of 5

Worth ever penny...

July 29, 2010
Byrunning4faith
fromFlorida
I have used this product for:1-3 months
Expertise:Intermediate
Riding Style:Barrel Racing
Competitor:Local/Open
"This vest is an absolute Godsend! I ride two horses five-six days a week for two-three hours a day, maybe more depending on what I'm working on that day. Because my horses are boarded for the time being, I don't have the luxury of simply walking out my backdoor anymore and saddling up my horses at anytime of the day. Instead, as soon as I get off work around noon, my mom and I drive out to where my horses are at just so I can work them-which happens to be when the heat is at it's peak during the day. And in Florida, it's no walk in the park. There have been times that that heat index has been over 110 degrees! But since I got the CoolMedic cooling vest, all I have to do is stick it in a bucket of cold water and when I'm ready to ride, I just slip it on and go! Since I've been using this product, I've been able to take my mind off the heat and humidity and refocus my attention on what I need to do with my horses. As I said before, this product is a Godsend and it's worth every single penny. I have recommended this product to several riders and my dad is seriously thinking about getting one to take to his jobsite (he's an electrician)!"
Review 8 for Cool Medics Cooling Vest
Overall Rating:
3 of 5
3 of 5

Not for tropics

July 28, 2010
Bywildgreypony
fromOhio
I have used this product for:less than a month
Expertise:Expert
Riding Style:Dressage
Competitor:Rated
Quality:
5 of 5
5 of 5
Value:
3 of 5
3 of 5
"Initially disappointed -- turns out that the vest doesn't work well in high humidity. Wore it at a horseshow where temps were in the 90s and humidity was high. It provided a small degree of cooling, but not enough to justify the expense. I think it would be effective in drier climates, however."
Review 9 for Cool Medics Cooling Vest
Overall Rating:
4 of 5
4 of 5

Pretty good

July 14, 2010
ByGetBusy
fromNorthern Illinois
I have used this product for:1-3 months
Expertise:Intermediate
Riding Style:Hunter/Jumper
Competitor:Rated
Quality:
4 of 5
4 of 5
Value:
4 of 5
4 of 5
Palatability:
5 of 5
5 of 5
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
"This vest isn't bad - and it is certainly better than nothing. As someone who is extremely heat sensitive, I knew after I got heat stroke whilst riding in early May, something had to change. I found this CoolMedics vest and gave it a shot.
The good news? I haven't had heat stroke since, and I've ridden on some *really hot* days. The bad news? I'm always soaking wet when I wear this thing. I swear, no matter how much I wring it out, my clothes are absolutely drenched several minutes after putting it on. I don't know if that's just my vest or what, but it's kind of annoying. Still, a small price to pay for being cool.
The vest is attractive and I am not embarrassed to wear it at the barn at all (I can't say the same for another cooling vest I tried - too bad, that one *really* worked!). It is relatively stylish and tasteful.
The vest is quite heavy when wet and stays that way for a long, long time. Mine takes a solid five days to dry out, which seems kind of weird. Also, after about a month of wearing it 2-3x a week, some of the little absorbing cells aren't puffing up like they used to. However the vest still seems to cool appropriately so maybe it's just fine. The crystals that are used do tend to escape the vest so you will look like you have dandruff :)
All in all I would recommend it. It's certainly better than nothing and is really great on non-humid days. We have a lot of humidity here and it is still helpful but less so, I think. Still, I have experienced much less heat-related fatigue since purchasing this vest, and will continue to wear it.
Oh - as others have mentioned, it runs small. Like, really really really small. I ordered a size up and barely squeezed into it. Vests of comparative size usually leave me swimming around in them, so order a size up at minimum! It is supposed to be form fitting, but it's not supposed to be a girdle. ;)"
Review 10 for Cool Medics Cooling Vest
Overall Rating:
5 of 5
5 of 5

Very cool, but heavy

July 6, 2010
ByCris
fromAL
I have used this product for:less than a month
Expertise:Expert
Riding Style:Eventing
Competitor:Rated
Quality:
5 of 5
5 of 5
Value:
5 of 5
5 of 5
Palatability:
5 of 5
5 of 5
"This vest really does work, I was skeptical, but I figured it would be better than riding with nothing in the Alabama heat/humidity combo. The first time I used it I was actually cool enough that I got chilled and had to take it off! I love this and I will be ordering another one soon in something other than white."
Review 11 for Cool Medics Cooling Vest
Overall Rating:
4 of 5
4 of 5

cool but heavy

June 14, 2009
BySLRSLR
fromBluegrass area, KY
I have used this product for:less than a month
Expertise:Novice
Riding Style:Reining
Competitor:Non-competitor
Number of Dogs:4
Quality:
4 of 5
4 of 5
Value:
4 of 5
4 of 5
"Good news : this vest does make you feel cooler. Bad news: weighs 6 lbs when wet. And yes, evaporative cooling does involve your shirt below the vest being wet. Not soppy, just moist. It runs alittle small, I would recommend ordering up a size."
Review 12 for Cool Medics Cooling Vest
Overall Rating:
5 of 5
5 of 5

It Really Works

December 11, 2008
ByDebbie B.
fromEastern WA
"Although I often purchase from SmartPak, I didn't buy my Cool Medics Vest here. I just couldn't resist writing a review when I saw that they are carrying this product. I've had one for two years now - it is fabulous! When I saw a clinician wearing this first in 100 plus degree weather, I thought to myself - "what the ..." But then I tried it on and totally understood and had to have one myself. It works just as described - you totally immerse for about a minute, squeeze the excess water out and put it on. It’s hard to explain, but the vest won't even feel particularly wet. But it WILL keep you cool! It is wonderful! I love mine. Keep in mind that, as shown in the picture, they are somewhat form fitting. If you live in a warm climate, this vest will make all the difference in the world. Highly recommend!"