ThermApparel was a vendor at Costume-Con 42, the ultimate event for costume lovers. It is a four-day extravaganza bursting with creativity, camaraderie, and friendly competition!
This internationally renowned convention brings together passionate folks from all over North America. Its ever-changing location keeps the excitement fresh as it spreads its unique magic to new places each year.
Costume-Con 42 celebrates the art of costuming, the vibrant world of cosplay, and the endless possibilities of creation. It's a showcase of the incredible imagination and talent of its attendees.
We had an absolute blast selling UnderCool 3, RallyWrap, and UltaCool Cooling Vests to the diverse crowd of costumers and cosplayers from various realms, fandoms, and eras who went home cooler and happier with their new gear!
One of the biggest questions came from women who wear corsets. "Will the ThermApparel Cooling Vests work under or over my corsets?" ...well, we put it to the test and the answer is YES!! ThermApparel Cooling Vests will work under or over a corset and keep you cool. Check out the video of Julia trying on a corset with an UnderCool 3 Cooling Vest.
Julia taught a class on "How to Stay Cool in Your Costume."
They left loaded with tips to keep cool, How To Craft a Cooling Plan, and the scoop on five different cooling vests.
Here are some of the highlights from the talk.
Did you know that the human body has a Heat Stress Threshold of 85˚F / 30˚C? Above that, our bodies can no longer dissipate the heat fast enough to keep our core temperatures stable, and doing pretty much anything becomes more difficult. When temperatures reach 95˚F / 35˚C, our work output drops by 45%.
Our own body is a massive source of heat. As your body produces energy to make your body work, the by-product is heat.
But when we put ourselves in clothing traps, all the excess heat cannot escape, creating sweat that makes a high-humidity environment.
What that means for Costumer's is that if your Fursuit does not allow your sweat to evaporate, it will make you hotter every time.
And the way many costumes are made, they can trap even more internal heat.
So the math would tell us that your body is sitting at 98.6˚F / 37˚C temperature and as you sweat, the humidity inside your Fursuit goes from 20% to 40% to 100%
At 100% humidity, there is no possibility of evaporation.
Remember - no evaporation = no cooling.
The human body is like a fine-tuned machine that needs to operate within a specific temperature range for optimal performance.
It's like a Goldilocks situation, not too hot, not too cold, but just right!
Anything outside of the 92˚F to 104˚F / 33˚C to 40˚C range can lead to some wonky or dangerous symptoms.
At 80°F, the heart and lungs cease to operate.
At 109°F, the brain shuts down.
So, if you feel like you're baking in the Sahara or freezing like a snowman, it's best to seek help to get your body back to its normal temperature.
Your Costume or Fursuit is a massive source of Internal Heat Generation, and without proper cooling, you can quickly overheat and reach Hyperthermia, otherwise known as Heat Stroke. Check out these thermal images of Fursuiters and how hot they really are in their Fursuits!
This Fursuiter is experiencing temps of 105˚F / 40.5˚C!!! - Heat Stroke begins at 104˚F / 40˚C !!!
This was taken right after a Fursuiter removed their head. The head is radiating 92.4F / 33C heat into the Fursuiter!
This costumer was starting to overheat at 101.2˚F / 38˚C. We put a ThermApparel Cooling Vest on her and.....
she immediately started to cool down.
FAQ's
What sizes do you have?
UnderCool 3 has 5 - XXS - XXL. Check our sizing page for all sizing info and a video explaining how to get the correct fit.
RallyWrap is one size fits most. Smaller waists choose six cooling packs, larger waists choose eight cooling packs.
UltraCool - M/L - has eight cooling packs, and XL/XXL has 10 cooling packs.
- Sizing is based on your natural waist, not your hips or pant size.
- You will wear a smaller size than you think.
- ThermApparel Cooling Gear needs to fit your body like a glove to give you the best cooling support.
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If you fall in between the two sizes, order the larger size.
- If you need help with sizing, give us a call at 855-232-7233. We are happy to help.
How do I order a cooling vest?
- Go to our shop , select your size and cooling pack type, enter your address and credit card information, and we will ship it to you.
- If you need help placing an order, call us at 855-232-7233. We are happy to take phone orders.
How do ThermApparel Cooling Vests keep me cool under my Costume?
Our cooling vest is a PCM Cooling Vest, not gel or ice. PCM works better than gel and ice. Why is that, and why is it important?
- When your body is hot, blood vessels open up to release heat. In other words, you sweat, and when the air hits your sweat, it cools your body.
- Ice and Gel Packs cause blood vessels to constrict, preventing cooled blood from reaching your core. Ice is excellent for cooling down a specific part of your body or bringing down swelling, but it doesn't cool your entire body. There is a reason doctors say 20 minutes on and 20 minutes off with ice packs. You need your blood vessels to open back up to allow the blood to start flowing again.
- ThermApparel PCM Cooling Packs cool the blood without constricting blood vessels. As your blood flows past the PCM Cooling Packs, it cools, and your body keeps pumping cool blood through your system, keeping your whole body cool.
Will it be comfortable while seated?
- YES! Pilots, race car drivers, and Santa wear our product with excellent results. It's so comfortable that most people forget they have it on.
Will it interfere with the sizing of my Costume?
Nope! Our cooling packs are worn directly against the skin. The garment has a low-profile design so that it won't require a larger suit size due to placement on the lower back or lower stomach. - Now, considering that. If you wear a tailored costume, it will add about 1 inch.
Will anyone know I am wearing it?
Unless you are wearing something super skin-tight, nope. ThermApparel Cooling Gear has a Velcro closure in front, and with its low-profile design, it won't add any bulk to your suit.
Can I dance in it?
Yes! Dance, shimmy, shake your groove thang. ThermApparel Cooling Gear moves with you.
How long will it keep me cool?
ThermApparel Cooling Gear will last 2-4 hours, depending on Vest Garment and Cooling Packs. If you're wearing a full-body costume, full Fursuit, Plush Suit, Poodle Suit, or Partial Suit, we highly recommend the ExtendedCool Packs. SlimCool isn't going to last long enough for you.
Cooling Packs
SlimCool Packs last 45 min - 1 hour
ExtendedCool Packs last 2-4 hours
UltraCool - Maximum Cooling
3-4 hours of Cooling Time
8-10 ExtendedCool Cooling Packs
Cooling Packs in the back and front of the Vest Garment
RallyWrap - Easy on / Easy off
2-3 hours of Cooling Time
6-8 ExtendedCool Cooling Packs
Cooling Packs in the back and front of the Vest Garment
UnderCool - Lightest
1-2 hours of Cooling Time with SlimCool Cooling Packs
2-3 hours of Cooling Time with ExtendedCool Cooling Packs
4-6 SlimCool or ExtendedCool Cooling Packs
Cooling Packs are all in the back of the Vest Garment
CoolSleeve - Cooling Booster
45 minutes of targeted cooling on your radial artery for a fast cool down. Use for pre- or post-cooling
Comes with 2 Sleeve Garments and 2 CoolSleeve66 Cooling Packs. CoolSleeve66 freezes at 66°F (19 °C), so it's safe for contact with the skin. These are slightly colder than our regular packs, providing more cooling power to the limited surface area.
If you need it to last longer, the packs can be refrozen and placed back in the vest, or you can purchase additional cooling packs and swap them when needed.
The cooling packs can be doubled up in the vest to make them last longer, but this will add more weight and bulk to the vest.
The unique thing about our packs is their recharging time and ability. Check out our tech.
- 30 min - ice water
- 45 min - freezer
- 60 min - fridge
The frozen Cooling Packs can be placed in an insulated cooler and stay cold for a few hours until you need to switch. For refreezing on the go, use a 3-gallon Ziplock-type plastic bag filled with ice and water.
What do you recommend for Costumer's and Furries?
We have three different Garments for you to choose from, and the Cooling Packs will fit into each.
We recommend going with the UltraCool and an extra set of Cooling Packs (note: you will get a significant discount if you order an additional set of Cooling Packs at the time you order your UltraCool)
Option 1
• UltraCool M/L Fits a natural waist of 31"-45" and comes with 8 ExtendedCool Cooling Packs - 4 in the back and 4 in the front
• Extra set of ExtendedCool Cooling Packs
Option 2
• UltraCool XL/XXL - Fits a natural waist of 45"-64" and comes with 10 ExtendedCool Cooling Packs - 4 in the back and 6 in the front
• Extra set of ExtendedCool Cooling Packs
Do you sell cooling vests for Santa?
Yes! Check out our Santa Page for more info.
