Frequently Asked Questions

PCM is the abbreviation for "phase-change-material", a substance that stores cold temperature, absorbs- heat, and releases that latent heat during phase transtions....like from solid to liquid. Commonly referred to as "cold-packs", CELZEUS uses only organic bio-based PCMs engineered to have a much higher melting point (18-22C or 64-72F) which retains its frozen solid state longer to produce a cooling effect when next to the body.

A ventilated cooling vest or baselayer is a wearable cooling system that combines PCM-based cooling with breathable, moisture wicking & airflow-friendly materials. Unlike traditional solid or plastic-bag-like ice vests, the CELZEUS ventilated designs allow cool to transfer to the body (conduction) while excess heat escapes (radiation) instead of trapping it against the body.

Ice vest uses ice (plain frozen water) to stay cold. Ice melts at 0-degrees Celsius (32+ degrees F). Some PCM melts at 28C (82F)--which is not cold enough. Our bio-based Cold pack PCM gel is engineered to melt at a customized melt-point that is determined by its placement point on the body. Smaller capillary & closer-to-skin contact do not require the same cooling temperature as deep tissue blood flow.

Too cold/too close......and vasoconstriction limits blood flow which travels deep to cool your core. Too warm/too-deep, and the conduction effect never travels deep enough to reach your core.

The right temperature at the right contact points is mission-critical.

Ventilation is critical because once ice melts, non-ventilated vests can actually trap heat and moisture, reducing the effectiveness. Trapped heat/moisture has the opposite effect of cooling.

Ventilated designs allow:

• Ongoing convective and evaporative cooling (convection)
• Heat to escape rather than accumulate (radiation)
• More consistent cooling during high-intensity efforts

CELZEUS:

• Uses PCM's to provide next-to-body conduction for long-duration consistent cooling in higher heat-index conditions.
• Prioritizes airflow & ventilation to maximize convection
• Reduce heat trapping to expedite body-heat radiation
• Employs hydration-bladders/products to combine internal/external best practices cooling
• Uses only he highest quality of cooling yarns, ventilation mesh, PCMs, and materials 

Cooling vests & wearables help reduce thermal strain before & during exercise by lowering skin temperature, reducing cardiovascular stress, normalizing sweat-rate, and improving thermal comfort. This helps athletes maintain power output, pace, and focus longer durations in humid/hot high heat index conditions....& do so at a lower respiration and heart-rate.

Plenty. Peer-reviewed studies and meta-analyses over the past couple of decades show that pre-cooling with cooling vests can:

• Improve time-trial performance 
• Increase time-to-exhaustion 
• Reduce perceived exertion 
• Lower skin temperature, heart rate, and thermal-strain
• Decelerate water & electrolyte loss rates
• Increased carbohydrate absorption rate. Because ingesting a fuel is not the same as absorbing it.
• Lowered risk of heat-induced GI distress on fueling-protocols

This research is overwhelming that cooling benefits are especially relevant and effective for endurance sports performed in the heat.

• Both are effective: 
• Precooling: Wear the vest for 10–60 minutes before your race or workout to start the competition cooler. Beginning from a lower core temp gives you more time-margin until your heat up. This delays heat-accumulation and its performance draining effects.
• During: Use a cooling wearable whenever conditions deem the cooling benefit is greater than the nominal pcm-gel-weight of doing so.  [For decades, cyclist thought that lightweight bikes equated to speed. Then aerodynamics quantified the weight-to-speed ROI. Same with running. For years, minimalist thin-soled shoes were thought to be fastest. Then came along carbon-plates and rebound foam. Technology quantifies the weight-to-gain relationship.]
• The optimal timing of pre/during cooling depends on the type of event, the duration, the course (hilly or not?), the discipline (cycling, rowing, hiking, or running?), and environmental conditions (heat index, breeze or none?). 

Unlikely. Research shows that cooling vests primarily reduce skin temperature and thermal strain, not alter dangerously low core temperature. Most athletes report feeling comfortably cool, not cold. [Consider that research indicates that the optimal marathon running temperature for elite runners is 44F (6.6C)! Much cooler than we'd assume is optimal.]

External cooling (like vests/wearables) and internal cooling (like cold icy drinks) work hand-in-hand through different internal/external mechanisms. Studies suggest combining both strategies can be more effective than either approach, alone, especially in extreme heat.

This is exactly why CELZEUS implements hydration components into several products. External & internal cooling is not an “Either/or” proposition. It is “Yes….And.”

Cooling effect duration depends on: 

• Ambient temperature 
• Humidity
• Exercise or competition intensity
• Convection via Airflow & ventilation
• PCM volume & phase-change-point
• How well heat-adapted the athlete is, or is not, for the event

Ventilated designs tend to maintain effective cooling longer than solid vests because they continue dissipating heat even after the phase-change thaw. 

Cooling vests are also beneficial AFTER competitions to expedite recovery. Think 'cold-plunge' which aids in decreasing heat-induced inflammation. The recovery-effect occurs after the cooling, as new blood circulates to “flush” the body & deliver fresh healing fluids to fatigued muscles. Many athletes use cooling wearables post-race & training,  even if only moderately warm.

Your cooling vest is also a recovery device.

If heat negatively impacts your: 

• Heart rate 
• Pacing
• Power output sustainability
• Perceived exertion
• GI tract fuel absorption-rate
• Sweat rate & electrolyte loss
• Ability to finish strong

...........then cooling with a ventilated vest or wearables is effective. 

Incorporating heat-adaptation periods & training-phases into your training protocol will help you compete in higher heat-index conditions. Research confirms this over and over. 

However, more is not better. There is a temperature-duration-intensity point at which heat-adaptation training will reduce your output.....& increase the subsequent recovery that is necessary. 

Think of heat-training like training at altitude. More is not better. Just as you would "Live high. Train low." Similarly, we recommend: "Train warm. (Not hot.) Race cool."

Modern ventilated ice vests are designed to be: 

• Lightweight 
• Low-profile 
• Non-restrictive

They are typically worn before, between, & even during efforts. CELZEUS designs ensure exact placement of PCMs to maximize heat while maintaining range-of-motion.

Rules vary by sport and governing body. Cooling vests are generally allowed before competition and during periods of recovery (halftime, between heats, etc). Athletes should check event & sport-specific regulations. Generally, running and triathlon events allow in-competition cooling protocols (ice-hats, sweat-bands, liquids at aid-stations, etc....) However, cycling events may vary by discipline (MTB vs Road vs Gravel, etc...)

No. While elite athletes commonly use cooling strategies to marginal-gain every competitive advantage, recreational/youth/age-group/masters endurance athletes will also benefit. 

In fact, the less heat-adapted an athlete is, the MORE difference cooling wearables can make.

**{In this way, performance cooling is akin to aerodynamics. In the past, it was assumed that aerodynamics was only relevant to the fast folks. However, as it turns out, the fast-folks are on the course for a shorter duration. So, the biggest difference was for those competing for longer durations. Same thing with cooling wearables. The less adapted an athlete is, the more potential difference it will make. Further, this difference will be realized at even lower ambient temperatures.}

Omius uses a patented graphite to pull heat from a surface via evaporation. This is another form of "phase-change", turning liquid sweat into a gas-vapor to dissipate heat. 

Omius achieves this through body contact at a critical heat-dissipation point....the head.....driving water/sweat evaporation to cool the skin where it touches. 

Omius headbands and hats work well to produce a cooling effect. {We, at CELZEUS, highly recommend!} However, CELZEUS performance cooling wearables reduce body-temperature via 4 mechanisms: 1-Conduction. 2-Radiation. 3-Evaporation. 4-Convection.