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Construction and event workers, costumed mascots and security guards
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Welders, coal miners, foundry workers and other "hot" occupations
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Many Others !
What makes the KewlFlow Cooling Vest better than the other water-cooled garments on the
market?
As part of our product development process we have tested most of the competitors' offerings and
strongly feel we have a vastly superior product in terms of cooling effectiveness, ease of use
(particularly taking on/off), durability and value.
How do I fill or "recharge" the system?
Simply open the zippered flap on the back of the backpack, release the quick-disconnect fitting on the
hose and unscrew the fill cap. Then add four pounds of ice plus one pint of water. Screw the cap back
on, reconnect the hose, close the flap and you are ready to go! You can use store-bought ice, home-
made ice cubes or any form of ice that fits through the 3.5 inch diameter fill port. See the "Filling the
Reservoir" section of our Backpack User Guide for additional details.
How long will the ice last?
The ice can last as long as four hours or more, or can melt in as little as 90 minutes in extreme cases.
The actual duration depends on many factors which can be divided into two groups: How much "cold"
you start with and how rapidly heat is absorbed.
It takes more heat to melt a pound of ice just removed from a deep freezer than a pound of ice that has
been sitting out and is beginning to melt, thus the colder the ice you start with, the better. When you
add water to that ice (which is necessary for circulation through the pump and vest), it "warms up" the
ice, so adding only a minimal amount of the coldest water possible (ice water) is best.
More body heat is generated by a person rigorously exercising than at rest. More heat will be absorbed
when the vest is worn tightly against bare skin as compared to loosely over a shirt. In addition, more
heat is absorbed from the surrounding environment when the ambient temperature is high and there is
nothing worn over the vest. This is why we recommend wearing a lightweight windbreaker-type jacket
over the vest to minimize loss of cold to the atmosphere.
The heat absorbed by the water in the vest is in turn, absorbed by the ice, causing it to slowly melt. You
will obtain the best cooling performance if you start with the coldest ice, the coldest and least amount of
water and minimize your loss of "cold" to the atmosphere by wearing a lightweight garment over the
vest.
How long will the batteries last?
The water circulation pump in the backpack can run for eight hours or more continuously on a fully
charged set of batteries. If run intermittently, the total run time can be even longer. When required, the
batteries can be easily changed by removing the quick-change Power Pack (see the "Changing the
Batteries" section of our Backpack User Guide).
Won't this feel like pouring ice water on my skin?
No, not at all. When the water is circulating, the temperature inside the tubing is 32° F, but the outside
of the tubing is approximately 60° F. There is a "temperature gradient" through the wall of the tubing
