ICEVENTS® FAQ: Ventilated Padding is the Future
Traditional foam padding is a relic of the past; it traps heat and absorbs sweat. At Qore Performance®, we replaced outdated foam with ICEVENTS® aerospace-grade honeycomb technology to facilitate convective and evaporative cooling. Trusted by hundreds of thousands of users, ICEVENTS® can be applied to plate carriers, chest rigs, gun belts, and holster setups. Below is our exhaustive FAQ. Click each topic to expand for detailed answers, setup guides, and technical videos.
ICEVENTS® were originally launched in November 2018 to make plate carrier shoulder pads more breathable and cool the body when wearing body armor. ICEVENTS® Classic Plate Carrier Shoulder Pads were a near-overnight success. The unique combination of lightweight ventilation and load-dispersion made them ideal for applications far beyond just plate carrier shoulder pads. Unlike traditional foam that traps heat and odor, ICEVENTS® use advanced honeycomb technology to facilitate convective and evaporative cooling. We put this quick guide together to help you figure out which ICEVENTS® ventilated load-bearing pads are best for your application.
If you are in a hurry, here is a quick video showing just SOME of the ways to integrate ICEVENTS®:
ICEVENTS® Vented Shoulder Pads for Minimalist Plate Carriers
Products: ICEVENTS® Aero Minimalist Plate Carrier Shoulder Pads
Best for: Plate carriers, backpacks, or rucks, who prioritize efficiency, speed, and agility.
Markets: Military, law enforcement, security contractors, prepared citizens, and competition athletes.
Ergonomically optimized to deliver maximum mobility for overhead movement and prone positions, ICEVENTS® Aero Plate Carrier Shoulder Pads bring load carriage and ventilation to the next level at an impossibly light weight.
ICEVENTS® Aero shoulder pads are ideal for minimalist plate carriers including, but not limited to the Crye Precision JPC 2.0 and SPC, Spiritus Systems LV119 Overt and LV119 Covert, Ferro Concepts Slickster and FCPC v5, ICEPLATE EXO® Gen 3, etc.
Above: ICEVENTS® Aero Shoulder Pads on ICEPLATE EXO®
ICEVENTS® Crye Precision AVS Plate Carrier Harness Pads
Products: ICEVENTS® Classic Ventilated AVS Harness Pad Set
Best for: Crye Precision AVS Plate Carrier
ICEVENTS® Classic Ventilated AVS Harness Pad Set is a set of four or six upgraded ICEVENTS® Classic Ventilation Pontoons that directly replace the six foam pads that come standard with every Crye Precision AVS.
Built on the venerable ICEVENTS® Classic platform, these provide stand-off ventilation and padding under the Crye Precision AVS Harness to dramatically improve air flow and long-term wear comfort.
ICEVENTS® Plate Carrier Ventilation Pontoons
Products: ICEVENTS® Classic Plate Carrier Ventilation Pontoons (hook backing, set of two)
ICEVENTS® Classic Plate Carrier Ventilation Pontoons provide stand-off ventilation and padding against hard body armor inside your plate carrier or under your soft body armor vest for your chest and back.
ICEVENTS® connect directly to the inside of all body armor equipped with body-facing loop fields/pontoon strips like our ICEPLATE EXO® Gen 3 Ultralight Ventilated Plate Carrier.
CATAMARAN Gen 3 (Universal MOLLE Plate Carrier Ventilation Adapter for ICEVENTS®)
Products: CATAMARAN Gen 3 Combo
Meet CATAMARAN Gen 3: the ultimate tool to mount our renowned ICEVENTS® Classic Ventilation Pontoons onto any MOLLE-equipped plate carrier in today’s market.
ICEVENTS® High Mobility Ventilated Duty Belt Pads
Products: ICEVENTS® Aero High Mobility Ventilated Duty Belt Pads
ICEVENTS® distributes load evenly across your waist, eliminates hotspots, and makes wearing a duty belt more comfortable than ever before. The unique honeycomb matrix disperses loads up to 5,000 pounds.
Holster Adapter Compatibility Table*
| Holster Adapter | ICEVENTS® Holster Pad Best Fit |
|---|---|
| Safariland UBL/CUBL | ICEVENTS® Aero Holster Pad |
| True North Concepts MHA/RHPP | ICEVENTS® Classic Holster Pad |
| Guardian Warrior Solutions Bang Hanger | ICEVENTS® Classic Holster Pad |
ICEVENTS® are high-performance ventilated padding designed to replace traditional foam. They are made from a proprietary honeycomb thermoplastic elastomer (TPE). Unlike foam, which acts as an insulator, ICEVENTS® are 90% air by volume. This creates a physical stand-off gap between your body and your gear to facilitate omnidirectional airflow, providing primary convective cooling as well as evaporative cooling.
Unlike foam and spacer mesh, which compress and trap heat, ICEVENTS® maintain their structure under load. This ventilated padding allows heat to escape rather than absorbing it. Additionally, while spacer mesh can become a "sweat sponge" over time, ICEVENTS® remain hydrophobic and antimicrobial.
ICEVENTS® are an aerospace-grade honeycomb material used in the cockpits of the F/A-18 Hornet and V-22 Osprey. It outperforms traditional foam in three critical areas:
- Thermal Regulation: Facilitates convective cooling by allowing air to move freely.
- Hydrophobic: This padding cannot absorb water or sweat, so it never gains weight.
- Antimicrobial: Resistance to bacteria is baked in at the molecular level to prevent gear funk and skin irritation.
Understanding the difference between different cooling methods is key to staying mission ready:
| Product | Primary Cooling | Physical Form | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICEVENTS® | Convective/Evaporative | Flexible Honeycomb | General ventilated padding; arid/temperate climates. |
| ICEPLATE® | Conductive (Active) | Hard-cell Water Plate | Extreme heat/humidity; direct skin contact. |
| ICEFLASK® | Conductive (Active) | Hard-cell Bottle | Everyday carry; handheld conductive cooling. |
While both share the same technology, the shape is optimized for specific gear interfaces:
- ICEVENTS® Classic: Features a wider profile optimized for heavy load bearing. Designed to be worn with collared uniforms or combat shirts.
- ICEVENTS® Aero: Features a contoured shape optimized for minimalist setups. Designed to be worn with T-shirts or low-collar shirts to prevent neck chafing.
Mounting ventilated padding is straightforward. Below are setup guides for the most common configurations:
Yes. If your plate carrier has a "slick" interior and lacks loop Velcro fields, you can use the CATAMARAN Gen 3 to create a secure mounting surface.
Absolutely. ICEVENTS® are modular ventilated padding. Users frequently repurpose them for backpack strap padding, vehicle seat cushions, or heavy equipment straps to eliminate hot spots.
ICEVENTS® are brand agnostic. They work with almost any plate carrier, chest rig, or belt system including Crye Precision, Spiritus Systems, Ferro Concepts, Safariland, Blue Force Gear, and Mystery Ranch.
Cleaning is simple because the material is hydrophobic. Rinse with fresh water and a mild soap then shake them out. They dry almost instantly. Do not use a machine dryer.
ICEVENTS® are built for extreme environments. This ventilated padding remains effective and flexible from -40°F to 198°F.
0 Kommentare