Hydro-Cool Apparel

[firetruckred]

I saw this at the convention. Anyone ever used this? Even if you have not used it. What do you think about the product?

https://www.hydro-cool.com

[Schwaa]

Sounds/looks like "under armor", which has caused serious problems with our soldiers in the desert. Underarmor(materials in it, polyester I think), when subjected to intense heat(IED attacks etc) melts :-(, often melting to the skin and making what could have been minor burns more serious.

What material are the products made from?

[firetruckred]

I am reading more about it right now on the website. I was a little sketchy about it myself.... for a few reasons. What are the pros and cons? I have a few thoughts floating around in my head. I hope to hear first hand experience, instead of making assumptions that it could help because of this or it could hurt because of that.

Has anyone actually used this at a fire?

Thanks for your input. Funny they are using testimonials of guys in Iraq and one FF, and car racers.

[firetruckred]

Made of a non-toxic polymer incased in a tear resistant material.

[FTMPTB15]

Sounds/looks like "under armor", which has caused serious problems with our soldiers in the desert. Underarmor(materials in it, polyester I think), when subjected to intense heat(IED attacks etc) melts :-(, often melting to the skin and making what could have been minor burns more serious.

What material are the products made from?

Although I have never used "Under Armour" or the Hydro-Cool thing, I have heard about UA melting. I had forgotten about seeing this "disclaimer" on the UA website and your comment refreshed my memory...

Do not wear Under Armour when exposed to extreme radiant heat or open flames. Under Armour products may melt in extreme heat that exceeds 350*F. Never use Under Armour products as a substitute for flame-retardant or ballistic protective equipment.

Personally, I just want to know who the hero was that thought UA was flame-retardant... "Forget that crap bunker gear, I have my Under Armour shirt on. We must protect this HOUSE!"

[firetruckred]

FTM PTB

You kill me. : )

I passed by this booth more than a few times. The ONLY reason I stopped by was because I was like...are you serious?! I asked them if they were Firefighters, the answer was no ofcourse. I thought to myself who is representing them, who is approving this....well can't be all bad if they allowed them at the convention, right? I am sorting thru the articles/pamphlets and business cards from the convention.... and I came upon this one and I thought I would post it on FH and see what the brothers and sisters think.

[ogomez]

Nomex clothing line

I have contacted UA last year and they said that a fire/melting resistant product was being looked at. I have come across this web site for Massif mountian Gear Products. They started with nomex fleece product and now have a shirt like UA with a nomex blend. Looks like what your looking for/ Here is the link

https://www.massif.com/nomex_clothing/cool_knit_t-shirt.php

[firetruckred]

Hey.... that looks like one of the shirts the guys in the Competition were wearing. Cool.

I wasn't really interested in buying it. I may change my mind if it can withstand the heat of a structure fire though....or....for use in the heat of the summer down here in the South.

[DaSharkie]

Hey.... that looks like one of the shirts the guys in the Competition were wearing. Cool.

I wasn't really interested in buying it. I may change my mind if it can withstand the heat of a structure fire though....or....for use in the heat of the summer down here in the South.

This stuff is made from polyester. Polyester is what class? That's right it is essentially plastic.

And lets all recall why the NFPA (say of them what you will) recommends a cotton garment to be worn as a station uniform? That is right, so we don't become one with our clothing.

The Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) has banned outright the use of these types of clothing for the very reason mentioned - the scumbag muslim terrorists have made their IEDs very hot so you melt and cook troops. Why help them?

And if you think that it will make you cooler here in the South (myself living in North Carolina) don't come whining when/if you or one of your coworkers is burned seriously and forced to retire.

This stuff is great when running or for high intensity work outs, I wear it myself for that purpose. But when you are working at the station, use your head.

[firetruckred]

This stuff is made from polyester. Polyester is what class? That's right it is essentially plastic.

And lets all recall why the NFPA (say of them what you will) recommends a cotton garment to be worn as a station uniform? That is right, so we don't become one with our clothing.

The Commandant of the Marine Corps (CMC) has banned outright the use of these types of clothing for the very reason mentioned - the scumbag muslim terrorists have made their IEDs very hot so you melt and cook troops. Why help them?

And if you think that it will make you cooler here in the South (myself living in North Carolina) don't come whining when/if you or one of your coworkers is burned seriously and forced to retire.

This stuff is great when running or for high intensity work outs, I wear it myself for that purpose. But when you are working at the station, use your head.

Da Sharkie. I can what appreciate what you have to say.

As far as the heat of the summer...my thought were along the lines of training...since I saw the FF's wear this in the competition I thought it may be good for such activities. Sorry if I was misunderstood. I personally like to run and when it get's very humid that makes things a little sticky. Although I am a Yank, I have lived in South FL for 17 yrs and humid VA for 15. I know about heat. I would not come whining to you or anyone else. I simply would suck it up as usual. I am not for changing things that have worked for the last fifty years but being in the health field as my profession, I simply wondered if this could help me with hydration/cooling and if anyone had experience with this at a fire. It would be kind of hard if I was wearing this ( a hydro-cool shirt) at the station and a call came thru and then I had to change into a cotton shirt. Not a smart move.

Also, I said "if" it could withstand a structure fire, talking about the Nomex T shirt.

Yes, we are told to wear a cotton t-shirt. This is for safety. Do all people abide by the rules. I wish!

If you look at the website I was referred to it says...Cool Knit T-shirt by Nomex.


Here is what I read on the website:


Everyone knows that Nomex® is sweaty, itchy, and uncomfortable when it's hot outside.

Not anymore!

We developed the world's first Nomex® fabric designed to keep you cool and comfortable when it's hot. Massif Nomex® Cool Knit.

Cool knit is extremely light weight, stretchy, soft, and highly wicking to keep you comfortable when the heat is on. Plus, Cool Knit passes the strict ASTM D 6413 standard for flame resistance to maximize safety during at-risk operations.

Does buying one of these look like I am using my head? Yes I think so.

Now do I call this company Hydro-Cool and say...are you aware of this info? Why are you selling this at a FF convention before it is tested and approved. Why I was concerned in the first place and stopped by the booth. Loop holes at the convention? Do they care that a company is trying to sell this product? I should hope so, but they may just want the money for the booth site. Who knows.

Do I just assume that all probie FF's and their Volunteer or Paid Depts will know this is not acceptable? Can someone show up in a POV in a small town wearing this and think he has found the cure all? I would hope that in training they would learn to only wear cotton t-shirts and abide by this, but if a company can be approved to sell a product like this at a State Firefighting Convention and the Military once ok'ed it to be worn in Iraq, I can hardly assume that Bubba and the boys will know any better. We all count. I would not like to read later about even one FF who suffered because he thought this may help.

It is FF's like yourself who have common sense and experience that I look to for bold honest answers.

I will be calling this company today. It may or may not help. All I can do is try and inform them, hope that they care not to put BS testimonies of FF's and show up at a convention where there is no profit. I am not into scare tactics but maybe a little visual of what has happened in Iraq would help.

[firetruckred]

By the way... Thank you Ogomez for that site : )

[LuckyThirteen]

This stuff is great when running or for high intensity work outs, I wear it myself for that purpose. But when you are working at the station, use your head.

Exactly. For working out their great. Now, I do wear them also with my uniform while I'm stateside, but the times I've gone to the sandbox, I stuck with regular old cotton tees.

And forget wearing them under bunker gear. There's been a couple of documented cases in the Sumter Fire Department where some people did wear them and they had to have large patches of melted polyester pulled from their skin. A painful experience to say the least. A fire is going to be hot no matter what you are wearing so its best to stick with cotton or nomex.

[firetruckred]

Exactly. For working out their great. Now, I do wear them also with my uniform while I'm stateside, but the times I've gone to the sandbox, I stuck with regular old cotton tees.

And forget wearing them under bunker gear. There's been a couple of documented cases in the Sumter Fire Department where some people did wear them and they had to have large patches of melted polyester pulled from their skin. A painful experience to say the least. A fire is going to be hot no matter what you are wearing so its best to stick with cotton or nomex.

Well there ya go... I am sorry to hear about that.

Can you tell me when this happened? Do you know the company that sold these FF's the shirts? I would like to read the documentation and forward this to the Hydro-cool company. Thank you.

[LuckyThirteen]

IIRC, this was last year or '04. Well before I joined. Also these weren't full timers (city). They were vollies (county stations) who purchased UA shirts on their own. I will see if I can find the documentation of the incidents (no promises), but since it was UA, I'm not sure how sucessful that would be in trying to inform Hydro-Cool. Looking at the hydro-cool site, I could see any listing of what type of fabric it is actually made from, but if its any form of polyester or nylon its going to melt that's been proven many times over. That would be the biggest arguement right there.

Here's an article on why the Marines told their folks its a no-no to use UA, Cool-Max, etc. in the sandbox.

[firetruckred]

IIRC, this was last year or '04. Well before I joined. Also these weren't full timers (city). They were vollies (county stations) who purchased UA shirts on their own. I will see if I can find the documentation of the incidents (no promises), but since it was UA, I'm not sure how sucessful that would be in trying to inform Hydro-Cool. Looking at the hydro-cool site, I could see any listing of what type of fabric it is actually made from, but if its any form of polyester or nylon its going to melt that's been proven many times over. That would be the biggest arguement right there.

Here's an article on why the Marines told their folks its a no-no to use UA, Cool-Max, etc. in the sandbox.

Hey Thanks, no worries.

Hydro-cool listes the material as :

Made of a non-toxic polymer incased in a tear resistant material.

It just didn't sit well with me that they were trying to sell this by saying "Oh you will be cool in a structure fire." I just looked at them cocked eyed.

It was an awesome convention and all the booths were amazing... but each time I past this booth I justed wanted to say..."Oh yeah.. Prove it!." I am new so I am not sure. I was very leary of it.

I came across it yesterday and had a chance to look it up. I am not a happy camper today. It just burns me when people put people in harms way and more so when you mess with Firefighters and safety, god I got ****ED! People are trusting you and your product and your trying to make a profit that's normal but not when it comes to life and death. That's heartless.