Techniche TECHKEWL Phase Change Cooling Vest

I officiate college football in the northeast. While it's not the SEC with its 120 degree field temps, it has been hot in the fall the last two years (mid 80's on game days in September, sometimes also early October) and with most of the games being played on field turf (plastic grass with black rubber "dirt"), the field itself adds another 20+ degrees to that temp.I have a condition that prevents me from sweating so I live in what feels like 20-30 degrees above what "normal" people do in the summer months. If I have extended stays out in the direct sun and heat, my skin will get red all over, especially in my face, my extremities swell, I get a terrible headache, get light headed and can get nauseous. It will take hours to recuperate afterward. It has gotten worse as I've gotten older and it seems the fall has gotten hotter as well. Football official attire is completely made up of polyester which, to me, is like a sauna suit. "Heat gear" sports clothing, which is made to wick away sweat for people who can do that, actually makes me feel hotter. Unless I wet myself down every 15 minutes with cold water, I will be susceptible to heat exhaustion in even 80 degree temps.So I looked for a device that would mitigate this condition and allow me to continue to work on the field in warm temperatures. This device had reviews from people who said they wore it under their uniforms while working as plate umpires in baseball and as mascots in suits that would heat up inside so I thought it would be the perfect remedy.My first time using it was this past Saturday. The temperature at kickoff was 78 and it later rose to around 85 by the middle of the game with no cloud cover and little breeze if any. We officials need to be on the field for team warm-ups 60 minutes prior to the kickoff so I put it on under my uniform shirt right before going out for that. It was snug and the other guys said it looked like I had on a flack jacket but it wasn't unusually huge so I went with it. Better to feel good than look good in this one circumstance.By the time the game started, I had had it on for a little over an hour and in that first hour, I had not exerted myself at all. Once the game started, that changed. I need to run in short bursts, starting and stopping continually to officiate the game. The temperature rose as the game wore on and the turf field heated up as well. I was fine through the first quarter but as the second quarter wore on, I started to feel warmer. With about 3 minutes left in the half, I felt the inserts to see if they were solid, semi-solid or liquefied at that point. They were completely melted and not very cool anymore. The last 3 minutes of game time took about 12 minutes of real time with time outs . I estimate that the vest was cooling me for a little short of 2 hours and in only one of the hours was I really generating body heat by running around and being exposed to the hot sun.I took it off at halftime and cooled down with a towel that I had been soaking in ice water back in the locker room in case I needed it. I worked the second half as best I could. I asked the sideline team personnel to bring me water any time there was a time out so I could wet my head and upper body down (which would dry up almost completely in 15 minutes). We almost had overtime but that was averted, thankfully. I'm not sure how much longer I was going to be able to go. After the game, I stripped down to just my shorts and soaked the ice water towel over my head and body to cool down.I had read the reviews that it was lasting 3 hours, sometimes longer, in Texas and Florida heat and humidity so I was expecting at least that in western New York September heat but it didn't.When it was still cooling, it was fantastic. I didn't even really feel the extra weight (about 5 lbs) because I was unusually comfortable in the direct sun wearing polyester (long black pants and striped black and white shirt also with a hat). Initially, I felt quite encouraged that I had found something to allow me to move around in the heat like normal people do. Unfortunately, for me it didn't last nearly long enough.I'll try it again this coming week as 80 degree temperatures are predicted again for late September (WTF?!) but this time I won't put it on until right before game time. Hopefully, I'll have it last a bit longer in the time I really need it to work.

Okay, so I ordered an L/XL and the bag and tag say this, but the vest label says M/L; however, I have no issue as the velcros are at the end of tightening it and it fits well with phase change inserts charged. I could open it up several inches if I needed and so I am happy with the item. This being said, go larger if you want it to go over layers of clothing but ML fit me, and I am a large chested male.It came with a bag which is insulated like cooler lunch bags and seems built well. I charged it for a couple of hours last night then put it on and watch tv for three hours, and it was a little more than half way discharged. I will have to test it out on a hot day and update this review, but so far it is just what I need. I bought it for my upcoming graduation where we will be out in the sun for several hours in San Diego summer weather. Also for motorcycle rides.