I purchased this item to wear under a mascot costume and I've found it works very well, and pretty much counteracts the extra heat caused by wearing a full body covering in thick synthetic fur. It still gets stuffy with my head covered but this vest makes an impressive difference.

As other users have mentioned, the velcro adjustments on the sides leave a little to be desired, I'm 5'9", 150lbs and I needed to double up the velcro leaving some tabs sticking out to get the snug fit the vest requires but it works. I plan on modifying the straps to better fit me.

The previous reviewer is right but there is a simple way around it. Initially, the velcro straps seemed too long and did not provide enough room to grip properly but as I gave it more thought I realized that there is a solution. Simply fold the velcro so it grips onto itself, which shortens its overall length leaving just enough on the end to grip properly and the vest becomes highly adjustable making it fit nice and snug. There is a little flap left over but it easily folds down. Otherwise the vest would be pretty much useless because as the previous reviewer said you would not be able to get good body contact and therefore no cooling. It is definately information that might have been better coming with the vest.

The vest will certainly cool your core and make work more bearable but you must be realistic. Hot is hot! If you are doing hard sweaty work you will still feel the heat and get sweaty but you will also be as comfortable as you can be under the circumstances. The product itself is well built and works as described.

The zipper failed after two weeks of use. The velcro straps don't offer enough adjustment.

The vest needs to be in contact with the body in order to transfer coolness to the wearer, and the vest cannot be tightened enough for smaller or even average-sized humanoids.