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Reviews > Animal Companion Gear > Dog Wear > Ruff Wear Jet Stream Cooling Vest > Test Report by Michael Pearl
RUFFWEAR JET STREAM COOLING VEST
INITIAL REPORT - June 25, 2018
TESTER INFORMATION
I have a great appreciation for the outdoors and get out at every opportunity. I am a three-season, learning to be a four-season backpacker and year-round hiker. Currently, my trips are two to three days long as well as an annual week-long trip. I utilize the abundant trail shelters in my locale and pack a backup tarp-tent. I like to cover big distances while still taking in the views. I have lightweight leanings but function and reliability are the priority. I mostly travel woodland mountain terrain but enjoy hiking beautiful trails anywhere. PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS
Manufacturer: Ruffwear INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
The Jet Stream vest arrived inside a plastic shipping bag. Upon removing the vest I noticed that it is rather light. The spandex section that makes up the top of the vest is soft, smooth, stretchy and very bright. The Ruffwear logo is found near the neck area and a full length plastic zipper runs down the left side. The underside section is a grey, textured and lightly padded material. Inside the vest is a small loop of fabric for hanging the vest and two tags. The first tag shows the vest size and has an area to write the owner's name and phone number on the front. On the back of this first tag are materials and washing instructions. The second tag shows use instructions in four pictures that are easily understood. Picture one shows a container labeled H2O pouring water on the vest. The vest turns blues. Picture two shows a blue vest in the shape of a wrung towel. Picture three shows a dog wearing a blue vest. Picture four shows a dog wearing a vest no longer blue with arrow pointing to picture one. I take this to mean repeat. READING THE INSTRUCTIONS
I found care and use instructions on the Ruffwear website, product hang tag and tag inside the vest. All are clear and easy to understand. Use instructions were mentioned in the previous section. Care instructions are as follows. TRYING IT OUT
The vest unzips easily, there is a small loop of cord attached to the zipper acting as a pull. The openings for the legs are large and easy to pass paws through. After pulling the vest up toward Oscar's body I wrapped the orange spandex portion over his back. I then lifted the other section to attach the zipper. There is a zipper garage making it kind of hard to pull the spandex section, lift the grey section and attach zipper. The garage while providing protection to the zipper also hides it. I found if I held the zipper pull between my thumb and index finger while applying pressure with my middle finger to the back of the zipper I could match it up. I then can pull the zipper closing the vest. However the vest fits close and is a bit tight. I need to pull and stretch the spandex toward the zipper. Then holding the two sides of the zipper close to each other I can move the zipper pull to fully close the vest. SUMMARY I always feel bad when it's really hot and Oscar is uncomfortably panting. The ability to help him more effectively lower his temperature would be great. Thus far I can say the Jet Stream Cooling Vest is well made and designed. It fits nicely and looks good. I really like the bold color for keeping track of Oscar in the woods. While I don't mind hot weather I usually don't welcome it. However with the Jet Stream in our kit I am more encouraged. FIELD LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS
PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD
Oscar and I saw some really unseasonably high temperatures during field testing. We avoided any exertion on the hottest days and hung out by the river or in the basement. On days that hiking was feasible Oscar and I made several short hikes to our neighborhood trails. It was still hot enough to produce shirt soaking sweat and visions of jumping into cool waters. Seeing Oscar sporting his bright orange and potentially cooling vest I wondered if it would fit me too. Then he dropped and rolled himself in a rather gross puddle. Any ideas of sharing were quickly dissolved. After the heat broke and the clouds blew out we made a trip to the higher mountains for a longer and cooler hike. SUMMARY
The Jet Stream Cooling Vest has worked quite well during field testing. It is compatible with the harness collar Oscar uses. He does not mind wearing the vest at all. In fact when Oscar sees it he becomes excited knowing a hike is in the near future. When the vest is moist it seems to assist in temperature regulation. The only down side is needing to be close to water to wet it again when it dries out. I have become more proficient with the zipper the more we have used it. The vest itself and all parts have held up to Oscar's spontaneous bushwhack off trail adventures. As well as his joyous habit of rolling in grass, leaves, puddles and jumping into the pond. LONG-TERM TEST LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS
PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD
The temperatures cooled into the fall range and held throughout this period of testing. The Jet Stream played less of a cooling role and more of a sight and safety role. The bright orange color makes Oscar easier to keep tabs on while hiking off leash. Additionally now that it is hunting season it makes us both safer in the woods wearing blaze orange. SUMMARY
The Ruffwear Jet Stream Cooling Vest is a great addition to Oscar's outdoor gear. It makes hiking with him in high temps more bearable. Any help cooling a warm Oscar on a hot day is welcomed by us both. He's more comfortable and I can worry less about him in the heat. I also like the added bonus of acting as a safety vest. Hiking in our usual areas requires additional awareness during hunting season. The Jet Stream does this well with its bright color. Oscar and Iwill continue using the vest through the remainder of hunting season. Though now it seems very far away: when summer returns we will soak the Jet Stream welcoming the return of the sweating and panting season. Read more reviews of Ruff Wear gear Read more gear reviews by Michael Pearl Reviews > Animal Companion Gear > Dog Wear > Ruff Wear Jet Stream Cooling Vest > Test Report by Michael Pearl |