Thomas Lojek
Article
Review by Ricardo McClain
Founder and Head Instructor
Ibero First Responders, España
Body Armor Vent’s I.C.E. Retro Fit Kit
Ricardo McClain is the founder of Ibero First Responders in Spain.
He is an active SWAT operator and a TCCC instructor.
Thanks to Thomas Lojek, I’ve received Body Armor Vent’s I.C.E. Retro Fit Kit—an innovative product made with a lightweight textile and manufacturing process that adds barely any extra weight to daily gear.
It’s a device equipped with everything needed for its placement inside a bulletproof vest, plate carrier, etc.
The system basically consists of a pair of panels designed to be placed on both the front and back of the torso, with the purpose of allowing airflow and volume.
This cools the upper body of the operator by a few degrees, making it easier to manage stress and avoid heatstroke caused by lack of perspiration.
This device is placed over a standard-issue bulletproof vest with flexible ballistic packages.
It’s ideal for this type of garment since it “hugs” the user’s torso completely, making heat management and perspiration more difficult.
Its ease of placement is one of its strongest advantages.
Available in various sizes or fits for different body types, it is simple to use and fully adaptable to any vest, plate carrier, etc.
This is made possible through the adhesive Velcro strip already included in the pack.
Another advantage of the Body Armor Vent’s I.C.E.
Another advantage of the Body Armor Vent’s I.C.E. device over similar products is that there is no need to inflate it.
Let me explain.
Other devices include a “filling port” to inflate the cooling channels.
This requires additional product checks and reevaluation during daily and continuous use.
If not considered, this becomes just another added layer that may fail to serve its purpose.
The Body Armor Vent’s I.C.E. Retro Fit Kit solves that problem by creating semi-rigid and comfortable channels that don’t require inflation or ongoing reevaluation, maintaining continuous cooling performance.
Cleaning the cooling packs is very simple.
Just clean them with a damp cloth or a touch of neutral soap solution for the best maintenance of the product’s textile.
Now, all that’s left is to put on the med-carrier vest along with the bulletproof vest and the Body Armor Vent’s I.C.E. Retro Fit Kit to enjoy a cooler sensation and greater comfort during operational service.
