Ergodyne Chill-Its | Cooling Vests, Towels & PPE

Cooling built for the jobsite rather than the beach. Ergodyne's Chill-Its line covers cooling vests, towels, bandanas and hard hat liners — designed to work with the safety gear you're already required to wear.

About Ergodyne Chill-Its

Ergodyne is a safety company, and it shows in how Chill-Its is designed. The products assume you're wearing PPE, working a full shift, and treating heat as a hazard rather than a discomfort — which is a different design brief from consumer cooling gear.

It Has to Work Under the Gear

This is the constraint that defines the range. Hi-vis, hard hats, harnesses, coveralls — a cooling product that can't be worn with them is useless on a site. Chill-Its includes hard hat liners and low-profile vests specifically because the PPE isn't optional and the cooling has to fit around it.

PVA or Microfiber Towels

PVA towels hold more water and get colder, but feel stiff and rubbery when dry. Microfiber feels like fabric and drapes better, at some cost in cooling power. On a jobsite, the one you'll actually keep around your neck all day usually beats the one that's technically colder.

Heat Stress Is the Real Subject

Cooling gear helps crews stay ahead of heat stress. It does not treat heat illness and it doesn't replace water, rest and shade. Confusion, stopping sweating, or a stumbling worker are emergencies. Everyone on a hot crew should know those signs — that's the part that actually saves lives.

FAQs

Why buy Chill-Its rather than general cooling gear?

Because it's designed around PPE rather than despite it. Ergodyne is a safety company, and the Chill-Its range assumes you're in hi-vis, a hard hat and possibly a harness for a full shift — which is a very different design brief from consumer cooling gear. Hard hat liners and low-profile vests exist precisely because the safety equipment isn't negotiable.

Will a Chill-Its vest work under coveralls?

It depends on the type, and it's the most important thing to check. Evaporative vests need airflow and dry air to work — under sealed coveralls they have neither, and they do essentially nothing. Phase change vests cool by absorbing heat as they melt, which works regardless of airflow. For anyone in impermeable PPE, phase change is the answer.

PVA or microfiber cooling towel?

PVA holds more water and gets colder, but feels stiff and rubbery when it dries out. Microfiber feels like fabric, drapes better, and is more pleasant around your neck for eight hours — at some cost in raw cooling. On a jobsite, the towel you'll actually keep on usually beats the one that's technically colder.

What is the difference between Chill-Its PVA and Microfiber cooling towels?

Ergodyne offers two primary materials for its cooling towels. PVA (Polyvinyl Acetate) towels are highly absorbent and feel almost like a sponge; they hold a significant amount of water and provide a powerful, long-lasting chill. Microfiber towels are much lighter and softer to the touch, making them more comfortable for active use or wearing around the neck for extended periods. Both types use evaporative technology, simply soak, wring, and snap to activate.

How long does the cooling effect last on a Chill-Its vest?

A typical evaporative cooling vest from the Chill-Its line can provide relief for 4 to 10 hours, depending on the ambient temperature, humidity, and airflow. In dry, breezy conditions, the cooling effect is maximized. Once the vest begins to dry out and the cooling sensation fades, you can simply re-soak it in water to reactivate it for the remainder of your shift.

Ergodyne Chill-Its Cooling Products