Cooling Products for Multiple Sclerosis

A phase-change vest cools the body by absorbing its heat. While it doesn't initially feel as cold as some other types of vests as soon as you put it on, according to Bexfield, it works.

The cooling packs that come with a phase-change vest can be recharged in an air-conditioned room or, for faster recharging, placed in ice water, a refrigerator, or a freezer.

The lack of a strong cooling sensation can make these vests an attractive option for people who are cold sensitive.

One of Bexfield’s favorites in this category is the Standard Basic Cooling Vest from First Line Technology (shown above), which sells for $388.50. It provides an average of three hours of cooling and requires little or no preparation.

Another option is the ThermApparel UnderCool vest, which stays cool for two to three hours and costs around $200. This vest is also among Bexfield’s favorites because it's lightweight and can easily be worn under clothes, making it a good choice for people who don’t necessarily want others to know they’re wearing a cooling vest.

Another phase-change vest Bexfield recommends is the Glacier Tek Flex Vest Set, which sells for $199. While a bit heavy at just under five pounds, the vest is comfortable, and its cooling lasts over two hours after charging.

Best for Staying cool with very little prep time

Ice pack vests may feel somewhat heavy, depending on how many ice packs you use. They are not a good choice for people who are cold sensitive, who may find them too cold.

While ice pack vests may sound like the most effective type of vest because, hey, it's ice, Bexfield warns that ice pack vests can counteract their own cooling effect: Because they start out so cold on the skin, your blood vessels contract, and the body warms up to fight this phenomenon.

Furthermore, he notes that they require more maintenance. Users of these vests will need to refreeze the ice packs in a freezer and optimize the freezer temperature for the desired temperature of the ice packs.

For those who do want a very cold vest, the cooling effect of the Polar Products Adjustable Zipper Cooling Vest (shown above) lasts for about three to four hours. With its multiple pockets, the Polar Products vest, which costs about $130, allows you to customize cooling and weight with ice packs in all or only some of the pockets. (Polar Products also offers phase-change cooling packs, which don’t require freezing.)

Note that the ice packs should be frozen flat so they'll fit easily into the vest pockets and won’t dig into you while you’re wearing the vest.

Best for Icy cool when you have access to a freezer

Gel pack vests use cooling packs that first need to be soaked in water, then frozen. They generally offer about three hours of cooling before the gel packs need to be recooled. These vests are thinner than ice pack vests and can be more easily concealed under clothes. But condensation can be an issue with gel pack vests, and they do require a freezer to recharge.

For gel pack vests, Bexfield recommends those made by Oro Sports. Its full body vests sell for around $300, but the CoolSport Vestino, which covers the back and is held in place by shoulder straps and a soft “belt” around the lower chest, sells for just $110. It's lightweight and can be worn over or under clothes.

Additionally, Bexfield notes, the company’s original products were designed by a former DKNY designer, and this style-forward attitude continues in Oro Sports' products today.

Another example of a gel pack vest is the StaCool Under Vest, which sells for $190 and comes with two sets of cooling packs, so one can be stored in the freezer while the other is worn.

Best for Flexibility and mobility

Vests that use evaporative technology are a type of passive cooling vest. Evaporative vests are lightweight and easily portable.

For Spencer Schaffner, who has MS, lives in Illinois, and works primarily outside, an evaporative vest called the Techniche HyperKewl (shown above), available for about $40 at a variety of outlets, has become his favorite. The vest needs to be soaked in water for just two to three minutes before you put it on, and thanks to its water-resistant liner, it won’t leave you too damp.

According to Schaffner, “It’s easy to carry, you can take it in the car, and for me, it usually lasts for one to two hours before it needs another soak.” As he points out, you can’t wear it inside the house because it drips, so this vest works best for outdoor activities like walking and kayaking.

Schaffner has posted a few personal reviews of cooling vests on YouTube.

Bexfield cautions that evaporative cooling vests work far better in low humidity. In high humidity, little evaporation will occur, and the vest is likely to be very uncomfortable. It's primarily recommended for someone looking for a lightweight vest in a dry climate.

Best for Staying cool in a dry climate at a moderate price

The most expensive and technologically advanced cooling vests are active cooling vests. The majority work by pumping chilled fluid around the body through tubing built into the vest. This type of vest is very effective at lowering the body’s temperature and can keep you cool for an hour or two even after you take it off.

While they can be effective in certain circumstances, Bexfield notes that active vests are very specialized because of their weight and limited portability, as they require a pump, cooler, and power source. Thus, they are most suitable for heat-sensitive folks who need to stay cool at home, or wherever a power source is accessible and portability is less of a concern.

Some newer active cooling products package their pump and reservoir of cooled liquid in a tote bag or backpack, along with a battery, for more mobile applications of the technology.

The Active Aqua Vest, sold by CoolShirt Systems, has approximately 50 feet of tubing sewn into the vest, and ranges in cost from $311 to $354. The 2Cool Water Shirt has similar tubing sewn into the torso and shoulder area of a T-shirt and costs $272. Both must be connected to a cooling unit containing ice, water, and an internal pump via insulated hoses. Note that the various components of these systems are sold separately, and the entire system costs close to $700.

Best for Maximum cooling when money isn’t an issue and portability is not a priority

Since overheating is an important health concern for people with MS, your cooling vest may qualify for insurance coverage as durable medical equipment, or DME. DME is medically necessary equipment that your doctor prescribes for you and that can be used repeatedly.

To submit a claim for a cooling vest, first ask your doctor for a prescription or “letter of medical necessity” for a cooling vest. Then send a reimbursement request to your insurance provider with a copy of your prescription and a copy of your receipt for the vest you’ve purchased. Polar Products includes some helpful sample physician and insurance company letters that you can use as templates.

If your health insurer denies your reimbursement request, you can appeal the decision. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) offers advice and instructions on how to file a health insurance appeal and also provides a sample appeal letter for cooling vests. If necessary, enlist your physician’s help in making your appeal, and keep detailed records of all claims and bills.

What if you're a veteran? The VA Hospital system provides Polar Products Cooling Systems for veterans with MS, which means you can receive a vest at no cost. The Polar Products website has information on how to make this request.

For those who can’t afford to buy cooling products, the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) and the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation (MSF) have programs to provide cooling products for free.

The MSAA application requires personal and financial information, and you will need to submit a prescription letter from your doctor that verifies your diagnosis of MS. If you qualify, MSAA allows you to choose between a vest or torso wrap that fits under clothing or a vest that’s worn over clothing. Some of the vest options include neck wraps, wrist wraps, or ankle coolers.

The application for the MSF’s cooling program is available from February 1 to June 1 each year, so if you’ve missed the deadline this year, keep it in mind for next year. Similar to the MSAA’s program, the MSF offers a variety of products, including vests, neck wraps, wristbands, and hats.

Cooling wraps work to cool a specific area of the body. Wraps are made for the head, neck, wrist, ankle, and torso and are usually lightweight, portable, and concealable under clothing or footwear.

Some cooling wraps rely on evaporation for their cooling effects, while others require the use of ice packs or frozen gel packs. Evaporative wraps, like this neck wrap from Ergodyne Chill-Its ($5), need only cold water to work. Just soak the wrap in water for a few minutes, apply it to the chosen area, and when your body temperature begins to rise, the water evaporates. The process of evaporation draws heat away from your body.

Although evaporative wraps can continue cooling for an hour or so, they work better in drier climates, which means their effectiveness depends on your location to some extent. And if you want to keep your clothes dry, a wet wrap isn’t the best option.

For wraps that require ice packs or chemical coolant packs, like this cooling neck wrap from Polar Products ($33), freeze the packs in your freezer, insert them into the insulated pockets in the wrap, and put it on. These wraps last for at least an hour and are usually colder than evaporative wraps. To use the wrap for longer than an hour, you will need to have a second set of cooling packs so you can wear one while chilling the other.

While they're versatile and easy to transport, Bexfield warns that cooling wraps don’t always fulfill all your cooling needs, and are used mostly on a few areas, like the neck or torso. Yet for temporary relief, especially after overheating, they can be useful for quick comfort. Consider them a supplemental product to cool off briefly.

Best for Cooling a specific area of the body, and fast relief on the go

Another product that can be particularly useful come summertime is a sun protective umbrella. According to Bexfield, a UV-blocking umbrella can keep you up to 10 degrees cooler than a standard black umbrella.

Some sun umbrellas, such as these hiking umbrellas from Gossamer Gear ($39) and Six Moon Designs ($45), have silver material on the exterior surface to reflect UV rays, while others, such as the travel umbrella from Coolibar ($49), have silver material on the underside of the umbrella.

Sun protective umbrellas come in larger sizes, too, such as the golf umbrella from UV-Blocker ($55).

The best choice for you will depend in part on the activity you intend to use it for — walking, outdoor sports like hiking or golf, or outdoor events like concerts. Note the weight of the umbrella before you order one, as well as the canopy size, to make sure you’re getting an umbrella that meets your needs.

Best for Shading yourself from the sun while spending time outdoors

Another way to keep from overheating is to use a cooling towel. These evaporative towels are designed to provide immediate cooling relief — great for when you're on the go or exercising.

The Chilly Pad, about $15 from Frogg Toggs, is slightly longer than a hand towel and made of evaporative material. After being soaked in water, the towel instantly begins to cool. According to the Frogg Toggs website, the Chilly Pad stays cold for two hours before another soak is needed, and the material feels dry to the touch, even after you wet it.

Mission Cooling Towels, designed for athletes and available starting at about $15, work similarly. The user simply soaks the towel in water, wrings it out, and snaps it a few times. The brand's Original Cooling Towel purportedly cools to 30 degrees below average body temperature in under 30 seconds and stays cool for up to two hours.

Most cooling towels can be machine-washed and air-dried, but check the label or packaging materials to make sure.

Best for Cooling off during exercise and other physical activities, particularly in dry climates

You don’t have to be physically active to overheat. During a heat wave, even resting and sleeping can be challenging.

If you have trouble getting some comfortable shut-eye, check out Polar Products’ Soft Ice Cooling Pillow Case for just under $30. The cooling pack fits into a pocket in the pillowcase and keeps cool for about an hour. While this pillow won’t stay cold all night, it can help you fall asleep or nap with greater ease.

One useful item for cooling down while stationary, according to Bexfield, is the Glacier Tek Stadium Pad, which sells for $79. The pad is ideal for keeping cool when you have to sit for several hours.

Another item recommended by Schaffner is a self-cooling dog bed or mat, sold by a number of companies, including Arf Pets. While designed for pets, the bed does not require refrigeration and can act as a cooling pad that fits comfortably under the torso, making for more comfortable sleep in summer months. Prices vary depending on pad size.

Polar Products sells a Cooling Seat Cushion With Kool Max Packs for around $60. Similar to the cooling pillow case, the cooling seat cushion has pockets into which chilled packs are inserted. You can use the seat cushion on a deck chair, in the car, on your seat at a ball game, in a wheelchair seat, or anywhere else you need to sit.

If you’re sitting outside, you might also try a misting fan, which manufacturers claim will decrease the surrounding temperature by as much as 20 degrees. While full misting cooling systems come with a hefty price tag — usually starting around $1,000 — an individual misting fan can sell for as low as $25, providing more affordable relief. Check out Cool-Off for a range of higher-end misting fans, and look in big-box stores such as Walmart for lower-priced models. While these are effective in dry climates, Bexfield warns that misting fans will not suffice in high humidity.

Best for Getting to sleep or beating the heat while relaxing

Commercial cooling products are not the only way to beat the summer heat and keep your MS symptoms at bay.

Simple, time-tested methods for keeping your cool include staying hydrated with cool water, wearing sunglasses and a broad-brimmed sun hat, wearing light, loose-fitting clothing, taking a cool shower (or a few cool showers!), going swimming, and focusing activity during the cooler parts of the day.

You can try making your own cooling vest at home by filling the pockets of a fishing vest with reusable ice packs. Or fill a bottle with water and freeze it, then take your homemade cold pack to bed with you.