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spinnaker
08-20-12, 07:59 PM
A runner friend of mine told me about Kool Ties. A tie filled with beads that you soak goes around your neck. Has anyone tried these? I am thinking of picking one up for my tour of Maine next week. Yeah it is going to be hot at least one or two days in the 80s' But I'm thinking they only work in dryer environments. Same principal as my brothers swamp cooler. But he lived in AZ, it would never work here.
Anyone tried these ties in the north east?
Artkansas
08-20-12, 09:45 PM
A runner friend of mine told me about Kool Ties. A tie filled with beads that you soak goes around your neck. Has anyone tried these? I am thinking of picking one up for my tour of Maine next week. Yeah it is going to be hot at least one or two days in the 80s' But I'm thinking they only work in dryer environments. Same principal as my brothers swamp cooler. But he lived in AZ, it would never work here.
Anyone tried these ties in the north east?
Or you can just use a bandana soaked in water.
Unlike a house, you will be moving enough on your bike that evaporation will happen even if it's a bit humid.
Blinkie
08-20-12, 10:07 PM
I just poked around a bit, and found that the beads used actually are, as I suspected, the same as the clear beads used in flower decorations (also some kids' toys but the name escapes me, and even some active humidification systems though more often home-build systems replacing more common foams). They're REALLY cheap, and if you're interested it would be very easy to make your own 'kool tie.' Basically just sew the beads (if dry, with enough room to expand when fully hydrated) with a tight enough seam that the dehydrated pearls cannot fall through. But there are some slight concerns:
If the beads degrade when dehydrated, avoid any ingestion of the dust (or gel). They may not be silicate based, but they're not that good for you. Also, I recommend distilled water, as anything dissolved in the water will remain behind, eventually clogging the absorptive properties. But that shouldn't be too fast so it's not a GREAT concern, as I doubt the beads will remain intact with very frequent use.
The big advantage of the beads, over just wetting a bandanna, is that they hold a lot more water than just the cotton cloth, which provides prolonged evaporative cooling.