It was a scorching hot day with a maximum temperature of 35°C and humidity of 65%. The weather was clear, making for a perfect test environment…
Every year, Motorfan BIKES conducts an experiment and test to find out if there are any items that can help you beat the heat while riding your bike during the sweltering summer. In 2025, we will introduce some of the items that our editorial team found comfortable and purchased with their own money (we tested six items in 2025).
This fifth installment is a front-opening version of the “Cooling Vest” that was also tested in 2024. Compared to the “bib version” that is worn completely over the head, this cooling vest is easier to put on and take off. But how effective is it?
[Experimental Data]
Test date: Daytime in early July 2025
Location: A city in Chiba Prefecture
Weather on the day: Sunny with occasional clouds
Maximum temperature: 35°C (as announced by the Japan Meteorological Agency)
Humidity: 65% (as announced by the Japan Meteorological Agency)
Heatstroke warning alert issued
Test environment: The glare from the asphalt was intense. The measured temperature in the sun was over 45°C
Feeling temperature: The sun was strong and it was extremely humid. If you didn't take a break in the shade every now and then, you'd get heatstroke. The heat was so unbearable that it made the tester wonder, "Is this a punishment game? Is it torture?" Television also warned, "Try not to go out during the day if possible.
" Test vehicle: Honda Super Cub 50
Hebaogugu Cooling Vest…2,533 yen (tax included) / Free domestic shipping
This cooling vest does not use any ice packs, chemicals, or ice, but instead uses the principle of water evaporating and absorbing heat to achieve a physical cooling effect. It is a cooling item that can prevent body temperature from rising and heat stroke.
The material used is a new material called “PVA (Polyvinyl Alcohol)” that has a cooling effect using only water. The non-toxic and harmless PVA material has excellent water absorption and water retention properties, and it does not irritate the skin and does not contain any chemical agents. It should be safe for people with sensitive skin to wear.
This cooling vest is made of PVA material and is gentle on the skin, promoting sweat elimination and quickly lowering the body’s surface temperature, providing a comfortable cooling effect that lasts for an extended period of time.
To use, simply soak the entire vest in water for about five minutes. Alternatively, simply wet the entire vest thoroughly under a tap and wring it out gently. If you feel that the cooling effect has decreased, simply wet it again with cold water. No electricity or batteries are required. It can be used over and over again, making it a cost-effective heat protection item.
The three buttons on the front are hook-type, reminiscent of the traditional Chinese clothing often worn by Jackie Chan in kung fu movies.
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Wide elastic bands are used under the arms, making it easy to put on and take off.
Product data
| Product name | Hebaogugu Cooling Vest |
| Country of origin | China |
| size | Free (unisex) |
| material | PVA |
| Cooling method | Soak in water for about 5 minutes, or wet with tap water. |
| Estimated cooling time | 3 to 6 hours outdoors *Duration varies depending on water absorption and temperature |
| weight | 250g (when packed) *with moderate moisture |
| Packing size | 33.29cm x 27.1cm x 2.9cm |
| Washing with water | Possible |
| Purchase site | https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B0DYNNVG3D?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details |
“Cooling Vest” Comfort Index
When riding a motorcycle ★★★★★
Waiting at traffic lights ★★★★★
Air-conditioned interior ★★★★★
Convenience ★★★★★
Compatibility with motorcycles ★★★★★
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For the summer of 2024, we tested a “bib-style” cooling vest that you pull over your head. This was the most convenient and effective cooling item in the 2024 selection. For 2025, we chose a “Chinese-style button-up” type that opens in the front and is easy to put on and take off. It was even easier to put on and take off than the bib-style type.
The bib-type test in 2024 uses Velcro under the armpits to adjust the chest width, while the new front-opening type uses wide elastic under the armpits, which is another reason for the improved ease of putting on and taking off.
It’s used in exactly the same way as the bib-type cooling vest. Fill a bucket with water and soak the cooling vest for about 3 to 5 minutes. If you don’t have a tool to fill it with water, you can wash it in a large bathroom (it’s difficult to do this in the small sinks at convenience stores) or in a large sink. You can also run water from the tap and soak the vest directly.
After absorbing the water, lightly squeeze the entire bag so that excess water does not drip. However, in hot and humid construction sites, it may be better to squeeze it so that the water drips.
It weighs 250g (packaged/catalog value) when adequately saturated with water. Its unique feature is that it feels almost weightless even when fully saturated with water.
The colder the water, the greater the cooling effect. However, be careful not to use ice water that is too cold, as it can cause the material to shrink and reduce its absorbency.
The moment you put on a cooling vest soaked in water, you feel a distinct coolness. This is not only due to the cooling and evaporative effects of the water, but also to its breathability, which allows moisture and heat from the body to escape.
The surface of the cooling vest is like a sponge, and gets wet with water. Therefore, it is best to wear quick-drying underwear underneath the vest. In this case, I wore the short-sleeved shirt shown in the photo, and long-sleeved shirts when riding a motorcycle, along with mesh sportswear that dries quickly. Clothes made of cotton, which are hard to dry, can become sticky and make the cooling vest uncomfortable to wear.
Thinking it might be cooler, I tried wearing the cooling vest directly on my bare skin, but it felt sticky and quite uncomfortable, probably because the surface of the cooling vest was wet. The most comfortable and cool way to wear the vest would be to wear quick-drying sportswear or quick-drying underwear underneath.
When used while walking outdoors, without riding a bike, the cooling effect lasted for about two hours. The cooling vest is designed to withstand more aggressive movements than the “Cooling Poncho” introduced in the “Third Bullet of 2025.” This vest can easily handle intense movements and exercise, making it ideal for a variety of situations, including sports like soccer and baseball, working in the kitchen in the middle of summer, and heavy labor.
The wind from riding passes through the water-soaked vest, cooling your torso!
This time, I rode my bike wearing a cooling vest filled with water over a long-sleeved sportswear (mesh fabric) that is highly breathable and quick-drying.
To put it bluntly, it’s super cool! The wind from riding passes through the cooling vest, which is saturated with water, and the cooled air reaches your torso. The cooling vest also gives the impression of releasing moisture and heat from your body, making it much more comfortable than not wearing it.
The maximum temperature during the test was 35°C (as reported by the Japan Meteorological Agency), a scorching hot day. Due to the strong sunlight and intense heat, the water absorbed in the cooling vest quickly rose in temperature and evaporated, and it only felt “cool” for about 20 to 30 minutes while riding the bike.
However, the cooling vest can be reused for several hours if re-wetted with water. What’s more, it can be reused, so as long as there is water, you can instantly increase the cooling effect anytime, anywhere.
One drawback is the three buttons on the front. They are hook-type buttons similar to the traditional Chinese clothing worn by Jackie Chan in kung fu movies, but they come off easily in the wind when riding.
The cooling vest we tested this time would be nearly perfect if it could improve this point. Following on from the 2024 model, we were surprised by the ease of use and high potential of the 2025 model.
*Note: The above is merely the author’s opinion. Your experience may vary depending on your personal sense, constitution, health condition, weather conditions, etc.
Does it look like a bib? Or a number plate? This vest is made of absorbent towel-like material. It was surprisingly cool! | [Scorching Heat and Motorcycles]The heatwave season, described as dangerously hot and even disaster-level, has arrived. Temperatures have been hitting 35°C or higher every day, and recently, temperatures exceeding 40°C are not uncommon in some areas. Japanese summers are also characterized by high humidity and muggy conditions. For riders, the heat and humidity can be likened to a harsh, ascetic practice, as they ride in the hot, humid conditions, wearing helmets that turn riders into natural saunas. This article is part of our annual feature, exploring “are there any items that can help riders cope with the heat?” For our third installment of 2024, we introduce a “cooling vest” that cools the upper body simply by wetting it with water. Perhaps using this cooling vest while riding a motorcycle can make even the hottest days a little more comfortable? With great expectations, we set out to test the product on a relentlessly blazing sun in early July, with a clear sky and an outside temperature of 36°C (according to the Japan Meteorological Agency), shivering profusely outdoors in the middle of summer. PHOTO: YAMADA Shunsuke TESTER/REPORT: KITA Hideaki *Note: All data in this article is current as of July 2024.
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A midsummer savior that cools riders’ bodies. “RS Taichi Liquid Wind” | Cools the surface temperature of undershirts by -5.2℃RS Taichi’s “LIQUIDWIND” delivers a specially designed cooling liquid from a spray bottle attached to the waist to various parts of a special undershirt. It is an innovative system that cools the chest and back intensively as the cooling liquid catches the wind while riding. The special cooling liquid, “LIQUIDWIND WATER,” was jointly developed by RS Taichi and Mandom, a manufacturer of men’s cosmetics. Also exhibited at the Tokyo Motorcycle Show 2022, this popular item that makes riding in the middle of summer more comfortable is worth checking out. PHOTO/REPORT●KITA Hideaki RS Taichi https://www.rs-taichi.com/
[Preventing heatstroke on motorcycles] Fan-equipped work clothes are a standard item at construction sites, but when used on a motorcycle…they don’t provide much cooling.A scorching summer has arrived, with temperatures described as dangerously hot and even disaster-level. Temperatures have been hitting 35°C or higher every day, with some areas even reaching 40°C recently. Japanese summers are also characterized by high humidity and muggy conditions. For riders, the heat and humidity can be like a penance or austerity, as they ride in the hot, humid conditions while wearing helmets that turn the bike into a natural sauna. This article is an annual feature exploring “are there any items that can help riders cope with the heat?” For our fifth installment of 2024, we introduce “fan-equipped workwear,” a staple at construction sites. Perhaps using fan-equipped workwear while riding a motorcycle could make the heat a little more comfortable? With relentless sunshine and a clear, sweltering 36°C (according to the Japan Meteorological Agency), we set out to test the bike outdoors in the middle of summer, shivering with anticipation. PHOTO: YAMADA Shunsuke TESTER/REPORT: KITA Hideaki *Note: All data in this article is current as of June 2024.
