______________________________________________________ActiveMSers: Staying active with multiple sclerosis

be active · stay fit · keep exploring

Home

Forums

Blog

Tips & Tricks

Cruising with Disability

Breakdown: MS Depression

Foiling Setbacks

Coping with MS

Adjusting Your Attitude

Toilet Tips

MS Gift Guide

Choosing a Cooling Vest

Easy Chicken Recipes

Video Games for Balance

Traveling with MS

Carpe Diem!

Best MS Websites

News Archive

Exercises & Stretches

Cycling with MS

Walking With MS

Best MS Exercise Hacks

Exercise Motivation

TIPS: Exercising with MS

Maximizing Endurance

ADVICE: Stretch Often

REVIEW: Yoga

REVIEW: Pilates

STUDIES: Exercise & MS

Gear

TEST: Off-Road Wheelchair

REVIEW: Travel Scooters

REVIEW: Alinker

REVIEW: Cooling Vest

REVIEW: Forearm Crutches

TEST: Sun-Safe Umbrellas

REVIEW: Trekking Poles

TEST: Cooling Vests

TEST: Mini Med Cooler

REVIEW: Portable Freezer

TEST: Med Cooler

REVIEW: Snow Helmet

REVIEW Sun-Safe Jacket

Your Stories

Skating Rebel

Skiing with MS

CrossFit Fortitude

Black Belt Quest

Inca Trail Trekking

Cycling Adventures

Ironman Mark

Ashlea: Keep Moving!

Kayaking for Health

Snowboarding with MS

Marathon of Life

Climbing MS Boundaries

More Stories

Tennis and Acceptance

Sailing for Hope

Falling for Travel

Hiking to Get Fit

Riding Horses

Kickin Cane Covers

Facebook

Twitter

Get Involved

Sign Up for E-Newsletter

Spread the Word

Volunteer & Sponsor

About

Contact

Mission

About Dave

Contributors



Review: First Line Technology Standard Mesh Cooling Vest

$320-$340

Updated March 23, 2017


When we discovered First Line Technology’s Standard Cooling Vest, it quickly cemented its place as one of our top-reviewed vests, which you can read about in detail here. The vest was virtually all aces in convenience, concealability, comfort, and cooling duration. But, and there has to be a but, it didn’t work for some users. Originally developed for industrial and military uses, the vest was a bit too large for petit users (and a no-go for children), and a bit too awkward for users with larger chests, especially women. First Line Technology listened to their users and developed two new vests: the XPC Cooling Vest reviewed here and the Standard Mesh Cooling Vest with an extra small option.

The Mesh vest functions and wears virtually the same as the Standard with a few key details, starting with the mesh. The mesh is slightly lighter, saving about an ounce, and a bit more breathable. The extra breathability is most noticeable on bike rides, etc., when you’ve got steady airflow. There is a tradeoff, as the fabric used on Standard is more durable than the mesh, a factor if the vest is worn mostly over clothes. Worn under clothes, the mesh vest is the preferred choice. The Mesh vest also comes in white, a cooler option, albeit a more stain-friendly option, an issue for the Pig Pens of the world. (I’ve already managed to smarm our test version.)

Perhaps the most critical difference between the Standard and Mesh vests comes down to sizing. The Mesh vest fits a little snugger and now comes in an XS size for children or petit users. That vest drops two cooling packs (14 instead of 16) and is even lighter (estimated 3.5 lbs). Overall, the First Line Technology series of vests continues to shine, and we are encouraged by their willingness to change up their line to better accommodate multiple sclerosis users of all shapes and sizes.

Design: 5

Fit: 5

Adjustability: 5

Endurance: 4

Comfort: 5

Convenience: 5

Concealability: 4

Versatility: 5

Sports: 5

Portability: 5

Quality: 5

Cold Sensitivity: 5

Dryness: 5

Weight: 3 lbs 11 oz


 
 

Vintage Wash Crew Under-Vest Tee

Most cooling vest manufacturers recommend a light shirt be worn under the vest to both prevent chaffing and to maintain vest cleanliness. Alas, many T-shirts are made of thick cotton and weigh 6 ounces or more. ActiveMSers has teamed with MStshirts.com to procure the ideal under-vest T-shirt. Weighing 3.7 ounces (fabric weight), this under-vest tee is among the lightest of any shirt available on the market and is perfectly suited to be worn under phase change cooling vests or on its own. Made of 100% ring spun combed breathable cotton, the tee comes in the unisex sizes of XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL,and has a well-loved look thanks to its garment wash treatment. Available in white, black, blue and red. Price: $12.

http://www.mstshirts.com/vintage-wash-crew-under-vest-tee/


Members of ActiveMSers can save up to 20% on select cooling vests with reserved coupon codes. To get your discount, join today by signing up for our newsletter. NOTE: ActiveMSers has negotiated these discounts and has no other affiliation with these companies and receives no compensation or commission of any kind. Vests were donated for testing purposes.


© Copyright 2018 ActiveMSers. All rights reserved.