Cool underneath. Protected on top.
In short: for most riders the best motorcycle cooling vest is an evaporative vest under a ventilated jacket. The airflow at speed makes the water evaporate, and that cools. It works poorly in humid air and in slow traffic. A PCM vest cools without airflow, usually for about two to four hours, and then needs re-cooling. A fan vest rarely suits riding, because a motorcycle jacket leaves the air no way out. Nothing replaces protective clothing.
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Gløde does not sell cooling vests (yet). This article compares types on how they work and on what institutes and manufacturers state. It is not a test and we did not try the products. We name no brands.
New to the subject? Start with our guide to cooling clothing →
The types compared
| Type | Under a motorcycle jacket | What it needs | Where it stops | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Evaporative vest | Works well if air flows through the jacket | Tap water, and airflow from riding | Humid air, slow traffic, closed jackets | Summer rides and tours in dry heat |
| PCM vest | Works without airflow, also under a closed jacket | A fridge, freezer or ice water | Usually about 2 to 4 hours; extra bulk and weight | Humid days, city traffic, short rides |
| Ice or gel pack vest | Works without airflow | A freezer | Cannot be temperature-controlled; often not cool for long enough | A short ride on a hot day |
| Fan vest | Works poorly: the air cannot flow out | A battery or 5 V USB power bank | Tight and windproof outer layers | Off the bike: at the campsite or in the paddock |
Protective gear first
A cooling vest is a layer under your jacket. It is not a reason to ride without one. Your jacket, back protector, gloves and helmet stay on, however hot it is. No cooling vest replaces protective clothing.
Two checks before you ride. Fit: with the vest on, your jacket should still close properly, and the protectors should sit where they belong. Airflow: an evaporative vest needs a jacket that lets air through, such as a mesh jacket or a touring jacket with the vents open.
Why airflow decides
Water that evaporates takes heat away. Evaporation is faster with more air movement and lower humidity. On a motorcycle you have air movement for free, as long as it reaches the vest. That is why an evaporative vest suits riding so well.
The same physics sets the limits. In a traffic jam the airflow stops, and so does most of the effect. In humid air less water evaporates, whatever your speed. And when the air is hotter than your skin, about 35 °C, the airstream also brings heat to your body. On such days the evaporating water has to do all the work.
In extreme heat, cooling clothing does not replace shade, water and breaks.
Type by type
Evaporative cooling vest
The fabric stores water. You soak the vest in tap water, put it on under your jacket and ride. When it dries out, you wet it again at a fuel stop.
It is light: one manufacturer states about 600 to 800 g once the vest is wet. How long a soak lasts depends on speed, heat and humidity, so we give no number.
PCM cooling vest
A PCM vest holds packs that melt at a set temperature, often between about 15 and 29 °C. While they melt, they take up body heat. Nothing has to evaporate, so the vest also works in humid air, in city traffic and under a closed jacket.
The limits are time and logistics. A set of packs usually lasts about two to four hours. Then the packs must turn solid again: often 10 to 30 minutes in ice water, or longer in a freezer or fridge. That is easy at home and awkward on tour. The packs also add bulk, so check that your jacket still fits over them.
Fan vest
A fan vest blows outside air over your torso. The air has to leave at the collar, armholes and hem. Under a close-fitting or windproof motorcycle jacket it cannot, so the principle works poorly. That follows from how the garment is built. A fan vest makes more sense once you are off the bike. More in our fan jacket and fan vest comparison.
Which vest for which ride?
- A summer tour in dry heat: an evaporative vest under a mesh jacket. Wet it again at every stop.
- City traffic, short hops and humid days: a PCM vest. It needs neither airflow nor dry air.
- A closed touring suit: open every vent, or choose PCM.
All types, also for use off the bike, are in our cooling vest comparison.
Interested? We'll let you know.
Gløde is considering adding a cooling vest. Leave your email and we'll send you one message if we launch it. No newsletter unless you ask for it.
We only use your email to send you one message about this. More in our privacy policy.
What Gløde offers today
We do not make cooling vests. What fits in your tank bag today is power. Our power banks supply 5 V USB and can charge your phone on tour. A fan vest built for 5 V USB runs on a USB power bank too. Check its stated input first; we make no promise for garments from other brands.
Both are in our power banks collection. Not sure which size you need? Read our power bank guide.
Riding on into autumn and winter? See heated clothing for motorcyclists and our heated gloves comparison.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best motorcycle cooling vest in 2027?
For most riders, an evaporative cooling vest under a ventilated jacket: the airflow at speed makes the water evaporate. In humid heat or city traffic a PCM vest works better, because it needs no airflow.
Do motorcycle cooling vests work?
Yes, within limits. An evaporative vest needs airflow and fairly dry air, so it does little in a traffic jam or on a muggy day. A PCM vest works in any humidity but only for a limited time.
Do you wear a cooling vest under or over a motorcycle jacket?
Under it. Your protective jacket stays the outer layer. Check that the jacket still closes properly over the vest and that the protectors sit where they belong. An evaporative vest also needs a jacket that lets air through.
Does a motorcycle cooling vest work in humid weather?
An evaporative vest works poorly in humid air, because less water evaporates. A PCM vest does not depend on humidity, so it is the better type for humid heat.
How long does a motorcycle cooling vest stay cool?
A PCM vest usually stays cool for about two to four hours per set of packs. For an evaporative vest the time varies widely with speed, heat and humidity, so we give no number. You can wet it again at a stop.
Can you wear a fan vest on a motorcycle?
It rarely makes sense. A fan vest needs the air to flow out at the collar, armholes and hem. Under a close-fitting or windproof motorcycle jacket it cannot. A fan vest is more useful off the bike.
Does Gløde sell motorcycle cooling vests?
No, not at the moment. Leave your email in the form on this page and we will send you one message if we launch a cooling vest.
Interested? We'll let you know.
Gløde is considering adding a cooling vest. Leave your email and we'll send you one message if we launch it. No newsletter unless you ask for it.
We only use your email to send you one message about this. More in our privacy policy.
All our heated clothing comparisons →
Gløde — warm the person, not the room.
