I have been DYING to share this one with you guys! While searching for sponsors, I ran across
RPCM Cool Vest! Right away, I knew I
had to contact them. And now, I am beyond happy that I did!
In all honesty, I didn't think I would be hearing back from them. The cool vests are such a nice item, I didn't think they'd want to be a part of this. Maybe I'm cutting myself a little short. Soon after I sent my message, I got an email back from Ray Booska, one of the founders. He told me to give him a call.
Hum...I've never had a contact tell me to call them. But, I was really curious about the product and though, 'hey, if I can shed the light of the blogosphere on a wonderful company, I'll do it'. Right away I picked up my phone and called.
Ray wanted the low down on the whole blog review thingy. :) I explained it all to him. His main concern was that, what if I gave him a bad review. I told him that I wouldn't have contacted him if I didn't think I was going to like the product! He then went on to give me a lot of information on the vests.
Before I start my review of the vest I received, I want to share as much information as I can on this most wonderful vest!
The company was founded in 1995 as a Florida Corporation by Steve Wuest and Ray Booska. They, like many other new companies started out in a garage, but soon moved into a real manufacturing facility. 3 years later they hired their first employees.
In 2001 they created military model products using mil-spec camouflage materials. Cool vests are worn by all, but I love to see them being used by our military. They are constantly battling the heat and these are a great asset for them. A very loyal customer to Cool Vest is no other than the United States Coast Guard right here in Mobile AL! I was so pleased to hear that!
Not only are the military wearing these, but also law enforcement. Not to mention that they even make the vests for dogs! So, yes, law enforcement dogs and military dogs are wearing them as well! Military and Law Enforcement Working Dogs suffer in the extreme heat. This puts them at risk and their handlers at risk. Imagine trying to do YOUR job in the summer heat AND when wearing a fur coat! That's why these vests are helping so much. You could say that they are saving lives!
I wanted to tell you about the Military Working Dogs Cooling Vest Project. Most people don't know that there are also dog overseas serving as well. The military takes good care of their men, but what about the dogs? Temperatures get up to 130 degrees! The dogs can not handle that! That's where the cool vests come in. The Gem City Dog Obedience Club is working very hard to provide vests for the approximate 300 dogs in Iraq. And it's not just the vests they are getting. They also need Doggles to protect their eye, Muttluks to protect their feet from the hot sand and asphalt, and collapsible water bowls. YOUR help is needed to send these brave dogs the tools they need to continue to protect us and our soldiers! There are three ways to donate. PLEASE, send what you can!
1) Visit
http://www.supportmilitaryworkingdogs.org/ and click on the Support Our Troops button and it will take you to a secure online PayPal link.
2) Mail a check, made out to:
SupportMilitaryWorkingDogs.org
P.O. Box 122
Donnelsville, OH 45319-0122
3) Visit any US Bank location and give the teller a check made payable to:
SupportMilitaryWorkingDogs.org
Account #130110310088
The Cool Vests are 100% made in the US! Everything from the straps, down to the thread it's sewn together with! Now, I don't want you to get the wrong idea. Don't think that you are going to put this on and expect to feel like you just jumped into a pool. The cool vest uses Phase Change Material (PCM) Cooling Technology. RPCM® (Renewable Phase Change Material) is made from high-technology processed fats and oils - even classified as "food grade" by the FDA. Think of it as "second generation" phase change material for the 21st century. All other phase change material (PCM) cooling vests use old-style petroleum byproducts like hexadecane, which contain hazardous chemicals. If it doesn't say RPCM®, it's just not safe!
The vest is meant to keep your body temperature regulated, not to make you cold. Put the Cool Packs in a container of ice water, the refrigerator, or freezer until the clear liquid turns into a white solid, then slide them into the pockets on the vest, put the vest on, and you're good to go! There are adjustable straps on the sides and shoulders to make it fit securely to your body.
The vests will continue to maintain a 59 degrees temperature as long as any portion of the PCM remains solid within the pack for up to 2 1/2 hours!
Now on to my review. The day before I got my vest was my grass cutting day. I LOVE to cut the grass, and will do it in the heat of the day. Yeah, I know, I'm a little crazy! 8-) I went out there and got going. It was HOT! I finished the front and back yard and headed inside. We don't have a small yard being that we are on a corner lot. I was out there for a while. I took breaks and drank lots of water. When I went inside, I felt TERRIBLE! I sat down on the tile floor and then couldn't move. All of the sudden, I had to run to the bathroom to throw up. I was dizzy, weak, and scared! The hubby is of course out to sea, so I'm only here with my 4 and 5 year old! Luckily, I relaxed and jumped in a cool shower, then took a nap with my boys.
It could have been a lot worse. Getting overheated is a very dangerous thing. And take it from me, it sneaks up on you! Once again, in steps the Cool Vest!
This week when I went out to cut the grass, I threw my Cool Vest on! I cut the whole yard and the vest was still cool when I finished! The whole time I was cutting, I could feel the coolness on my back. Mind you, I was still hot and sweaty, but not like before! When I took the jacket off after I was done, I immediately touched my hand to my back and stomach. They were nice and cool! And, the cool down process went so much faster because I wasn't as hot as I usually am! There will never be another day that I cut the grass without my Cool Vest!
My husband is an MK in the Coast Guard. In other words, he's a mechanic. Which means that he works down in the engine room on the boat. As you can imagine, there isn't any air conditioning down there! He comes home all the time complaining about how hot he was and trust me, I can smell it on him! :) Since I was sent the Coast Guard issued Cool Vest, I sent it to work with him. He is also having the same results! Being down there in the heat is much more manageable now!
My overall impression of the Cool Vest is outstanding! Not only is the company helping military, law enforcement, working dog, and the general public, but they are also sending vests to the people working out in the Gulf helping with the oil spill! Such a great company!
WIN IT
Ray has kindly sent me an extra Cool Vest to giveaway to one (1) of my VERY lucky readers!
MANDATORY ENTRY
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RT #Win a RPCM Cool Vest from @USCGWifey and #Giveaway ends 7/23 http://bit.ly/chRs9N
RULES
Giveaway ends July 23, 2010 @ 12 (noon) CST
Winner(s) will be chosen via Random.Org., and contacted via email
Winner(s) have 48 hours to respond to the email or another winner(s) will be chosen
Open to US Only
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MILITARY!
