Gear Review: Hot Dog- the RuffWear Swamp Cooler vest

For the short video version, click play!


Now for the long, detailed version:
Cody, in case you didn't know, is a 6 year old Tri-Colored Australian Shepherd. Her primary color is black. This is her preferred running environment:

Cody is at home in the clouds and snow- too bad her humans like the sun and warmth!

She grew up in Michigan, where we had approximately 10 sunny days a year. In May, we moved to Colorado, where in the last 6 months, we've seen the sun more than our entire 6 years in Michigan.

Colorado does have very warm summers, but in general, the temperature is mild. I am very careful to monitor the temperature when deciding whether or not to take Cody on my run. In Michigan, if the temperature was below 70, she was good to go. I applied a similar principle here, but found Cody struggling in temps as low as 50. There was a particular hike we did on Mt. Elbert, where the temperature was probably in the 50s, but she was hiding under any shady rock she could find. I was so concerned that I took her to the vet and shelled out $200 to get her blood checked. She was fine, of course- she had just run over 30 miles the previous week!

A few weeks later, I was petting her on another cool run, and realized her black fur was BLAZING hot- even though the outside temperature was in the 50s. It suddenly hit me- the outside temperature wasn't slowing her down- it's was the hot sun on her black fur! Add to that the fact that we now live at 5,600 feet- so the sun's UV rays are even more potent- and we frequently hike up to 14,000 feet. Poor Cody!

I immediately began researching the available products to protect Cody from the sun, and the first place I checked was with one of my favorite brands, Ruffwear. Of course they had a product for hot dogs- the Ruffwear Swamp Cooler vest! After carefully considering the technology they used and online reviews, I sent Ryan off to REI to purchase a $55 dog coat (there was a lot of eye rolling involved, from both Cody and Ryan).

When I first held the vest, I was a little unsure of my purchase- it felt like a sweater, it was so thick- and it was also really long, covering Cody from her neck to her butt. Rather than return it, I figured I should at least try it, and we had the perfect opportunity on our trip to Moab, UT. What better place than the desert to see how it works!

Our first run was in a canyon, which was cool and shady- no vest. We ran 8 miles, which is usually good enough for Cody. However, later in the day, we decided to check out another trail. As we prepared for the run, Cody was hiding in the shade, acting like she didn't want to go. I got out the SwampCooler vest, and put it on her. The instructions for the vest are to pour water on it. Usually when I put water on Cody's back, she gets mad (even though she swims every chance she gets). With the coat on, she just stood there. Almost immediately, she was reenergized, and took off running into the sun. I really didn't think it would have such an instantaneous effect, but it did- she had so much energy!

What a perfect little dog model!

The original qualms I had about the thickness were instantly resolved- the material was absorbing the water and holding it in. The length covered almost the entirety of Cody's back, protecting nearly all of her black fur from the sun. We had a wonderful 4 mile run on slick rock in the hot sun and Cody was amazing.

The next day, we ran even longer, this time in the mid-day desert sun. Cody made it 12 miles, with no shade, in temperatures that probably reached 70 degrees. Obviously, this wasn't the warmest of days- but considering how much she has struggled on a sunny 50 degree day, it was a huge improvement. I only had to reapply water 2 more times, and the SwampCooler vest stayed wet for nearly 2.5 hours. I also periodically felt her fur underneath the vest, and it was always cool to the touch, without feeling wet.

Best way to run in the desert- no clothes on the human, SwampCooler vest on the dog

Hot sun, not a hot dog!

Since then, I've had her wear the vest a few more times, mostly on sunny days in the 60's, and it has continued to work amazingly well. It doesn't hinder her movements while running, and doesn't slip off, even after swimming in ponds and rivers.

Perfect coverage of her back. Size Medium 

The SwampCooler vest stays in place on all of our runs

The vest works in both of the ways it advertises. The material reflects the UV rays, so it literally acts as a shield against the sun. From Ruffwear's website, they say that the three-layer construction uses an outer layer to facilitate evaporation, while the middle layer stores water, and the inner layer transfers the cooling power of evaporation to keep the dog cool. Perspiration off of our own, human skin keeps us cool. Dogs don't have that ability- they don't sweat. Cody has more protection against the sun than most breeds, due to her dual layer coat that traps cooler molecules closer to her skin. But the blazing sun against her black fur gets hot. The Swamp Cooler vest utilizes the same principle that keeps us humans cool, and has been harnessed for use by desert dwellers since the Ancient Egyptians. As liquid evaporates, it sheds molecules into the air. As those molecules become suspended in the air, they actually take away the heat from the surrounding air, cooling it down as the molecules find a balance between water and air. There is an added bonus that the remaining liquid also cools down, since the hotter water molecules are able to make their escape into the air (explanation adapted from HowStuffWorks.com).

Here are a few more pictures of the underside of the vest (I couldn't find too many prior to ordering it, so maybe these will help)

Swamp Cooler, upside down

The buckle is tucked into the material so it won't cause any irritation

This is the underside of the vest

The only caveat is that we live in a dry climate. I have not had the chance to test the vest in a humid environment. My feeling is that it would still be quite effective as a UV shield, and that the inner and middle layer would still be able to utilize the stored water to keep the dog cool, but just like running in a humid environment, perspiration only gets you so far- humidity is still tough!

Overall, I rank this a 10/10. The construction, design and utility are all impeccable. The only thing that I might change is to sew on a handle, so I can still use it as a harness when we're out for a run.

Gear Review: Brooks LSD Jacket

An essential article of clothing for every trail runner

Our awesome jackets. And the awesome mountains. The wind was gusting at 30-40mph in this picture- check out my arm!

Within a month of moving to Colorado, I experienced first hand the craziness of mountain weather. In July, I left my house when it was sunny and 70, and by the time I was halfway up North Table Mountain, a storm blasted in, dropping the temps 30 degrees and pelting me with hail. Although the storm was brief, it reminded me that layering is critical out here, as well as leaving the house prepared. Since I didn't own a good lightweight jacket at the time, I started looking around. I remembered that a friend of mine in Michigan used to wear her Brooks LSD jacket on the coldest of our frigid early morning runs, so when I found out the jacket also weighs in at 4.3 ounces (size medium), and packs into its own pocket, I knew this was the one for me.

Jon loves his Brooks LSD jacket as well at 14,000+ feet

The old adage "there is no such thing as bad weather, just poor clothing choices" comes to mind whenever I'm getting ready to head out for a run. The Brooks LSD jacket's lightweight portability gives you something most jackets don't have -- the ability to take it off and stow it away, or to bring it for a run, just in case. With proper layering (something like UnderArmor cold gear), this would even make a great winter jacket, cutting down on the windchill effect while not causing you to overheat. I've worn this jacket in 40mph wind gusts, and wind chill temps in the low 20s, with only a light long sleeve running shirt underneath.

After living here and wearing this jacket for 3 months, I can say that this is the most useful article of clothing I own. Whenever I head out for a run with a storm brewing on the front range, I shove this little jacket into my waist belt, and if the temperature drops or it starts raining I can get it out and put it on without breaking stride.

It packs down so small! In it's own little pocket, too!

My little jacket-pouch inside my Salomon waist belt

On every 14er we've climbed this summer, this was the crucial piece of warm clothing on which I've relied. I often wear a sleeveless tank with shorts or capris, and then when we break treeline I put on my Brooks LSD jacket and stay warm on the summit, even on the windiest days.

I have an additional shirt around my waist, since my jacket is so warm. I'm only wearing a tank top underneath, and it was probably 35 degrees on the summit

This was the coldest hike we've done. Ryan is wearing sweatpants over his running tights. He didn't yet own his jacket, or else he'd be wearing it

Before purchasing this jacket, it's helpful to know that there are no side pockets. The only pocket is the one the jacket packs into. I believe the logic behind this is that if there was more material for pockets, it would no longer be lightweight. Personally, I don't use side pockets while running. I have other ways of carrying my phone, gels, and water that don't jostle as much as they would in a pocket. For my use, the pack-ability and lightweight qualities far outweigh the utility of additional pockets.

The Brooks LSD Jacket is considered water-resistant. I've only worn it in the pouring rain once (when Colorado was flooding) so maybe that weather was a bit extreme, but it only kept water out for about 5 minutes. Despite owning the jacket for over 3 months, I haven't had the opportunity to test it in a light rain. I did not get it to function as a rain jacket, though, because it is almost impossible to have a breathable, yet water proof jacket, since those two qualities are opposites. I choose breathe-ability.

I have also found that due to its superior abilities at stopping the wind, it is quite warm- especially compared to how lightweight the material is. For me, since I heat up really quickly, I don't put it on until the temperature drops below 40, or the wind picks up a lot, because it is just that warm! Ryan can wear it in temps up to 50 degrees, but he is always colder than I am when running in the cold. For reference, when we hiked Bierstadt- everyone else (aside from Ryan and Jon) had on pants and winter jackets, while I was running around in tiny shorts, a tank top, and this jacket.

Everyone else on the mountain thought I was nuts….I was warm!

Hood: The jacket also has a really nice hood that adjusts in the back, so you don't have any strings in your face. The only negative about the entire jacket is that the hood doesn't have a pocket or any way to tuck it away when not in use. Occasionally it will flap around in the wind, but it usually stays in place when just running.

Ryan unwittingly demonstrating the hood of his Brooks Jacket

Sizing: I bought a women's medium (5'6", 110lbs, long legs). I have extremely long arms with a thin frame, and I have only a few running clothes that have sleeves long enough to cover my wrists. The medium actually fits quite well, and is only a little bit baggy, but since the jacket has a waist-cinch, I can adjust it to fit nearly perfectly. On the windiest days, it will occasionally balloon (see the first picture), but I would much rather have it fit over my long sleeve running shirts, and cover my entire torso down to my butt. Until I can find a tailor to make clothes for my freakish body, I've learned how to deal with funky fits.

Ryan (5'10", 135lbs, long torso)  has a men's medium, due to the fact that his torso starts at his ears and ends at his ankles. Happily, it covers his entire torso, and is only slightly baggy. He may have been able to get a small, but I'm still convinced it would've been too short on him.

This snazzy jacket….

…fits into this tiny pouch

And finally, here is the Brooks LSD jacket in use, on an extremely windy day in Rocky Mountain National Park:


Pros:
- Lightweight
- Packs into its own pocket for easy portability
- Great warmth to weight ratio
- Wind resistant
- Great for layering
- It has a hood for additional protection against the elements

Cons:
- The fit is slightly baggy (but this also means it may fit over more clothing in colder weather)
- The hood should either be removable, or have a way to tuck it in
- Probably wouldn't do to well in heavy rain- it is only water resistant

Overall rating: 9.5/10 (If the hood were stow-able, it would be a 10)