Ritter v4.0

I tried a search but found nothing- has anyone tried this shirt with standard Coolshirt box and plumbing? Its already going to be 90F in Atl next w/e.
http://shop.986inc.com/products/pro-shirt-fr.html

Worth it vs. standard Coolshirt IYHO?

jrgordonsenior

They look great and I'll bet they work very efficiently but $400. is way too expensive for my blood. Cool shirts work well too and are just $140. list....

Ritter v4.0

I have a Stand21 FR coolshirt shirt which was pricey and works pretty well but in ambient +90F and for a 90 min Enduro I'm looking for better cooling. In true motorsports fashion its a diminishing returns exercise but this actually looks like its a quantum leap in cooling- at a price.

Maybe I should my helmet blower working first. Not sure if they can retro fit my Stand21 helmet though.

Juan Lopez

Ritter,

In my experience, helmet blowers don't do a lot especially if you don't have a helmet made for it and also if you don't wear a helmet skirt.

My blower is great whilst stopped at the grid or pits, once going its better to crack the helmet open. The heat exchange element of the cooling systems is not really efficient as there is not a lot of time for the air to cool off before blowing to the helmet.

YMMV

jakermc

I have both the 986 shirt and now the cooler. The product is significantly better than the tube based stiff, especially when the shirt and cooler are used together. (It's possible to use the 986 shirt with a cool shirt cooler) My cool shirts and coolers will soon be up for sale, never want to go back again after using the 986 stuff on a 90+ degree day here in TX.

Ritter v4.0

Thx for the comments. Did you try with regular coolshirt first or just get the whole system- where is the quantum gain in cooling cooling from- the shirt or the box or both?

I really want one- its going to be 95F ambient in ATL this w/e but I'm loathe to buy a non-FR shirt now and one later when the FR ones are ready (Aug I'm told).

Jerseybean

I've tried it, I prefer the 986 shirt. The bladder has more surface area on the most important parts of your body vs tubing. As for the cooler the ice seems to last about 2x longer as water is no constantly recirculated through, it also seems to keep a constant temp vs the typical cool shirt which seems to loose it's magic after 30mins.

My only issue is that the shirt makes me a look like a fat superman, it's tight. Depending on what shape your in the wife might like you in it.

Ritter v4.0

How did you find their sizing?

Ritter v4.0

Went ahead and bot the shirt and box. Looking forward to its use.

Nizer

Just wondering how you found the 986 system?

Ritter v4.0

I first used the shirt with a regular Coolbox and found it better than the old Coolshort shirt. Later I got the box and was hoping for even more dramatic results. But I think the old box worked fine- better possibly.

Hardly scientific but it seemed to me a solid block of ice would last longer in the old box/ regardless the new shirt is boss. As always YMMV.

Nizer

So you can use the 986 with either their box or the Coolshirt box?

ZSA Motorsport

you found what a lot of people have found. coolshirt box works better than the 986 box. ours had all kinds of pump issues, lines freezing, and just bad flow.
but the shirt worked much better than the coolshirt with one exception. in its current state, and material...thing will melt to your skin if you are ever in a fire. lycra is brutal. but putting that aside it fits great and yes, the flow is fantastic.

Nizer

986 website indicates fire resistant version is pending but no details yet (although it's already showing a discounted price!):

http://www.986inc.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=21

Ritter v4.0

They said August for FR shirt but not so far.