Personal Cooling Systems

While I valiantly wait for someone to invent an air-conditioned suit to wear into battle against the summer heat, there a few personal cooling systems  that come close to convincing me that the whole suit idea might be a little over the top.

Personal cooling systems  are designed in a number of different ways to accommodate cooling for various levels of activity.

Personal Cooling Systems
Neck Bands  Miniature evaporative cooling system. Fill with water for four hours of cooling. Inexpensive (about $30).	Cooling Vests  High level activity, used by athletes, firefighters, even the U.S. military. Vest does not restrict movement. Uses removable cooling packs that recharge in frozen water. Packs last about two-and-half hours.	Belt Misters  Evaporative cooling generated by a fan and a spray of mist. Battery operated, so cooling lasts a long time. On the expensive side.

If you plan on working outside, cycling, fighting fires or anything that is physically demanding, the vest is the best choice. The technology in the vest is also used in wheel chair pads and is very useful for individuals who are intolerant of the summer heat. Belt misters and neck bands are better for walking around, summer parades, amusement parks, and public transport without air conditioning.

The rave reviews about the Sharper Image personal cooling system  made me trade in my hopes for a climate-controlled suit for something a little more practical and lot less dorky.