chest-rig-ventilation · icevents · law-enforcement · military · plate-carrier-ventilation · 2 comments ·

Body Armor and Plate Carrier Ventilation Comparison: IceVents®, MaxxDri, TacVent, Body ArmorVent, SKD PIG Pontoons

by Justin Li
body armor ventilation comparison
Body armor is hot and miserable, but it can be a necessity. Conductive cooling, the most powerful way to cool your body under armor, relies on physical contact to extract heat from your body. Working in every climate, IcePlate® Curve is the lightest and most powerful conductive cooling tool for body armor/PPE users. If you work or operate in humid climates, conductive cooling is the only practical method to remove heat from your body.
Arid climates, however, present more options.
body armor cooling with plate carrier hydration
Above: Conduction is by far the most effective body armor/PPE cooling. Conductive cooling with hydration is even better.
body armor ventilation IceVents by Qore Performance 221B Tactical Body Armor Vent
Above: Convective cooling is highly effective in arid climates for body armor ventilation.
But sometimes conductive cooling is not an option; we know there are mission critical situations where IcePlate's® powerful cooling may not be readily available due to a lack of infrastructure (freezers). Or maybe you are looking for every last ounce of cooling. This is when tools for evaporative cooling become key.

IceVents can be fitted to any plate carrier on the market

Evaporative cooling works when the sweat your body generates absorbs heat and evaporates from the surface of your skin. It is not effective in humid climates because the air is already saturated with water; high humidity inhibits the ability of sweat (or any liquid) to phase change into a gas and remove heat from your body in the process. But in less humid situations, or when the air is less stagnant, evaporative cooling is a natural process and can be very effective.
There are a number of choices when it comes to body armor ventilation systems that provide enhanced evaporative cooling. We’ve assembled a comparison chart to help you make the best purchasing decision for your specific requirements.
Evaporative Cooling Options for Body Armor
Product Weight Placement Universal? Multi-Purpose? Conductive? Air by Volume Price
IceVents® <1 oz. Front, Back, Shoulders Yes Yes Yes 90% $70
MaxxDri Vest 3.0 9 oz. Over the Shoulders and Torso Yes No No N/A $100
Body Armor Vent N/A Front and Back Panel Yes No No N/A $85
TacVent 9 oz. Front and Back Panel Yes No No N/A $35
SKD Tactical Pontoons 1.4 oz. Front, Back Yes No No 0% $20

221B Tactical MaxxDri Vest: Good solution, full torso, easy to use. Universal. Solid product with a proven track record and not built from foam or rubber. Can have a visible profile, depending on vest model, but MaxxDri will deliver for you on the job. What we would wear if we didn't invent IceVents.

IceVents® Classic Ventilation Pontoons: The lightest, most versatile option available. Simple. No moving parts. Invisible profile. Anti-microbial at the molecular level.

Body Armor Vent: First design had moving parts and air bladder can fail/rupture. Complex. New design is simpler as moving parts have been removed, but it is made out of foam. Foam is used in coolers and Koozies because it is an excellent insulator and retains energy well.

TacVent: Heavy, made from rubber which is a material that insulates and traps heat. Adequate stand-off, but very dense. Old technology. Cheap, affordable price point. Rotary dial in the iPhone age.

SKD Tactical Pontoons: Made from foam and nylon which can trap heat and absorb moisture/water. No internal ventilation capability. Not hydrophobic. Old technology. Inexpensive.

2 comments

  • Qore Performance

    RE: Actual Cop
    Guess you missed the whole drinking part…as for IcePlate “poking that bear:” +4,500,000 hours working hours without a single minute lost to a heat injury +3,000 locations across the country +50 of America’s largest and most respected enterprises +25,000 Daily Active Users in Safety alone If that is “nonsense,” sign us up!

  • Actual Cop

    You are pathetic, as is your silly ice plate nonsense. TacVent is the only thing that works, allowing real airflow with actual separation. You say it’s heavy?? What’s heavier than a plastic box full of hot water after the ice melts? Of course you fuck with TacVent because it’s the only thing that works. I wouldn’t keep poking that bear, though.

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