Cool Wings - or other product

baprince15

I'm looking at getting the De Soto Cool Wings for IM Boulder, where it will likely be VERY hot, VERY sunny, and very dry.

Any recommendations for these?  Are there similar/better products I should consider?

GMAN 19030

Any arm coolers would suffice, IMO. I prefer Zoot or Desoto.

Very dry is the key element at work here. The whole point as to why they work is the evaporative cooling effect... which basically doesn't exist in very humid places (like where I live). I still wear them all the time for the sun protection. Maybe I get a slight cooling effect on the bike with the wind but there's zero cooling effect when running. This is my N = 1000 experience. :-)

They felt great at IM Canada last year.

Mark Maurer

I have a pair and love them. I can feel the difference when I put them on.

Paul Hough

Ditto on Bob's comments. I only wear them in Tampa for the sun protection...zero cooling effect. But they should work very well in Boulder. I prefer the arm coolers to the wings ... which I own ... because I always feel like such a Fred when I wear the wings.

AnthonyS

In the TX heat I don't care what I look like. I wear wings, and I still have a terrible triathletes tan. I imagine I will be sporting them at IMTX next year and I don't care how "Fred' they look.

GMAN 19030

The wings are meant to be worn under the jersey.

baprince15

Thanks all. I'm leaning towards the wings for the sun protection on my back and shoulders in addition to the cooling impact.

John Withrow

I've used the DeSoto Coolwings for all of my IM races so far. They're nice because you can squirt them with water on the bike through the aid stations. on the run, you can drop ice down in the sleeves and it stops at your elbow to keep you cool. They're also nice for the sun protection on your shoulders. As far as looking Fred... I'd rather be cool than worry about if I look cool. I'm 38 yrs old and am wearing spandex and peeing on myself all day during a race, so I'm long past caring how I look...

robin sarner

desoto wings good.

folks not entirely right about the cooling effect in high humidity.       if soaked with cold water, there is a very nice conduction effect for a bit of time.

GMAN 19030

That bit of time is measured in seconds.

Dave Tallo

I've been back and forth on this - at one time, I wore them (and a cooling top) for everything, and felt that arm coolers made a difference. I started to rethink that after reading studies (ntd - link) indicating bare skin will always be cooler. I was surprised - there's no doubt that the cool refreshing feeling when skin coolers are wet is nice (but as Bob points out, lasts a few seconds). However, until I have seen something that goes beyond manufacturer's claims of "keeps you cool," I'm staying with bare arms/shoulders.

(All this is run-specific ... for the bike, this year's New Product Class is the aerotop, which covers upper arms/shoulders, albeit for different purposes).

Paul Hough

Ditto on Dave's point and to reiterate what Bob and I were saying above. In hot humid conditions there is NO cooling effect by the wings/arms, none, nadda, null set. Mine are always soaked as is everything I have on because of the humidity. The only value is in sun protection. So yes, I wear them, and under the tri top, even though they look tres' Fred. However, I only do that for long rides in exceptionally sunny conditions. I am well tanned and do not burn easily and would never wear wings in an IM. For those that do, this might trump all considerations.

baprince15

I took the cool wings out for the first time yesterday on the bike. I definitely felt the cooling benefit when they were wet, but as you would expect, this is temporary. For IM Boulder, the sun protection will be valuable, even if the cooling capability is limited.

From a comfort perspective, I had no problem with them, so I don't think they'll be any issue, however, I plan to put them on in T1, and not try to wear them under a wetsuit. I think it would simply cause too much rubbing to be worth it.

GMAN 19030

I've worn arm coolers under a wetsuit numerous times. I've never had any rubbing issues.

William Jenks

Yet another fairly happy cool wings user.

For me, the sunscreen effect of them is central...on a long ride, they don't sweat off. :-)

They feel more effective cooling in less humid weather to me, but of course I've never done a ride wearing them only on one side in a series of different humidities. :-) I agree that they feel good for a few minutes with a cool splash of water even in humid weather, but I can't think of a reason why they wouldn't work less well when evaporative cooling is inherently less efficient (i.e., when it's humid).

John Schneider

I live out here in Denver, and yes it does get hot and dry, one thing I've been doing is using clif shot blocks, to keep my mouth from getting dry, otherwise as soon as I take a drink it seems like my mouth is dry again. Have a great race.
John S.