Cooling vest

Jenkins Comfort Cooling Vest
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Early Sept '05
First Impression: The 'Eliminator Personal Cooling System' from JenkinsComfort.com
   I took this thing out of the box, loaded the cooler up with ice/water, put the vest in water for a bit to 'charge' the evaporative polymer material, slid in the bladder, put it on, strapped it down tight and hit the switch while in my 106F garage. Got pretty cold. Then I slipped the bladder out from between the vest layers and put that on first, then put the vest on over it, so the bladder with the cooling channels were next to my T-shirt. Strapped it down tight and hit the switch. HOLY SHNIKEYS - Freezing cold!
   If it works half as good in the plane I'm never giving it back <g>. Taking it out to the hanger Saturday to show the guys.
   I'm thinking on a solo trip in the Summer you can load the cooler up with your ice and drinks, strap it down in the passenger seat with the on/off button facing you (RV-6/7/9/10). I was very, very surprised how cold this thing made me feel. It's an odd feeling when your face is hot and your chest is ice cold. dr

   [FMI: www.jenkinscomfort.com]

Mid Sept '05
Weekend Fun @ 52F
Sunday I flew it in Flash for the first time. Cool! Wearing this taxiing in the summer heat on the ground in the tip-up canopy is no sweat (pun intended). It's a little cumbersome but the cool temps are worth the effort. dr

Sept 20th, 2005
...just a short update on the vest. Last Sunday I put ice in the cooler and did not use it on the flight up to Cedar Mills for breakfast (it was still tolerable outside). I expected the ice to melt a little in the plane while I ate and then I'd use that water on the way back. Well, the ice didn't melt one bit! I strapped on the vest and got all situated in the plane. Started, taxied in position and took off. On climb out I hit the button. No joy. I knew what the prob was immediately.
   Plan B. Fly to Gainesville (ten minutes away) for some water - take the long way home and all that. I ran inside and found a pitcher for water. Filled it and poured that in the cooler. I was good to go. Scorch was topping off his tanks so by the time he got that done I was chilling down nicely in my plane. We formed up and I drug him back to 52F for the Navy fan break and other macho, he-man-type aero maneuvers <g>.
   This thing FREEZES you when it's going.

Things I like (Pros):
- It is workable with minimal effort.
- It is COLD when you want it to be cold.
- When the lines are routed behind your seat it doesn't interfere with flying at all.
- You can put your soda in the cooler for the trip.
- Your friends will call you a punk when you tell them on 122.75 how cold you are. 'Punk' has been substituted here for another word...

Cons:
- It's not the most comfortable garment I've ever worn <g>. Or....the most masculine.
- If not put on with care it can rub under an arm in a way that gets uncomfortable.
- When you're out of ice you're out of luck.
- Putting the cooler in the baggage area (RV-6/7/9) in a way you can still reach the button is an art. If you could rig it up in a way the cooler could be in the forward baggage compartment of the RV-8, well that would just be the cat's ass.

Bottom Line:
- I want to use it when it's hot. I can now actually entertain the thought of flying down to Waco from Dallas after work during the summer to eat dinner with my Mom. Without this vest it wouldn't be sane to try. We have one of those gonzo ice machines at my day job where I could load the cooler up before heading out to the airport. If the better half wasn't at yoga right now I could actually go flying - and it's 99F outside.
- For the plane you don't need to dip the vest in water. Simply put the bladder on first (don't slide it in between the layers of the vest) then put the vest on OVER the bladder. Strap it down real tight and run it before you get in the plane to make sure none of the tubes are kinked.
- The system sells for around (I think) $350. Is it worth it? Some will say no. Some will say yes. Right now, with the kids being the ages they are, I get about 2 hours a week to fly when the temps outside are tolerable (summer). This thing opens up whole new time slots....so for me....it's yes.

dr

   [FMI: www.jenkinscomfort.com]