______________________________________________________ActiveMSers: Staying active with multiple sclerosis

Steele has been in the cooling business for nearly two decades and has an established industrial and military following, as well as fans in the multiple sclerosis community. And based on our review, there’s a reason their vests appeal to those trying to stay cool in harsh conditions. Two things would likely survive a nuclear apocalypse: cockroaches and Steele vests. They are that beefily made. Even the gel ice cooling packs are of such high quality they would probably survive being driven over by a pickup laden with kegs of beer. Those cooling packs—a mixture of starch, water and other ingredients—“have a similar cooling capacity as ice” when frozen, and therein lies our biggest concern with their vests.

Worn atop a single T-shirt, the coldness of the vest (as low as 28 °F in testing) matches or exceeds temperatures commonly used in icing an injury. The Mayo Clinic recommends applying ice no longer than 20 minutes to prevent frostbite. Based on our ice control test, with temps ranging from 27 to 33.8°F over a half hour, ActiveMSers strongly advises all users of Steele vests to wear an additional layer of clothing for protection. Read more details on our full test of this vest from 2011 (photos, including my bright red chest from the intense cold, are from that test). Although the Steele vest gets demerits for its coldness from our safety testing, that is easily remedied by an extra layer of clothing, which can then be removed as the elements begin to thaw. And for those MSers who feel coldness is next to godliness, you can't get much closer to those heavens than with this chilly vest.

Design: 3

Fit: 4

Adjustability: 4

Endurance: 4

Comfort: 3

Convenience: 2

Concealability: 1

Versatility: 2

Sports: 1

Portability: 2

Quality: 4

Cold Sensitivity: 1

Dryness: 2

Weight: 5 lbs 11 oz