How Cyclists Use the Arctic Heat Ice Vest to Stay Cool and Race Faster

The Arctic Heat ice vest is the most widely used pre-cooling tool in Australian sport. Cyclists, runners, triathletes, footballers and tennis players wear it during warm-ups to lower core temperature before competition. It weighs under 1 kg when activated, fits under a race jersey, and stays cold for up to 2 hours. If you race or train in Australian summer heat, it is one of the most effective legal performance tools available.

How does an ice vest help cyclists perform better in heat?

Heat is one of the most significant limiters of cycling performance. When your core temperature rises, your body diverts blood from working muscles to the skin to shed heat. The result is reduced power output, higher perceived effort, and earlier fatigue. Research consistently shows that dropping core temperature by even 0.5 to 1 degree Celsius before a hard effort delays this process and allows cyclists to sustain higher power for longer.

The Arctic Heat ice vest works by absorbing body heat through crystal gel panels across the chest and back. Worn for 30 to 45 minutes before your event or hard training session, it gives you a thermal buffer that carries into the effort itself. Professional cycling teams have used this approach for over 20 years, including at multiple Tour de France editions and Olympic Games from Athens 2004 through to Paris 2024.

When should cyclists wear an ice vest?

Timing is everything. The goal is to arrive at your race start or the beginning of your hard effort with a core temperature that is lower than it would otherwise be. Here is how Australian cyclists use the Arctic Heat vest across different disciplines:

• Road racing and criteriums: Put the vest on 30 to 45 minutes before your race start. Wear it during your warm-up on the trainer or during your roll to the start line. Remove it in the final 5 minutes before the gun.
• Time trials: Pre-cooling is especially effective for TT efforts where you go into the red immediately. Wear the vest right up until you roll into the start house.
• Mountain biking XCO: The race start in XCO is one of the hardest efforts in sport. Pre-cooling with an ice vest before a mountain bike race helps manage that initial spike in core temperature.
• Sportives and gran fondos: On hot days, wear the vest at the start line for as long as possible. Even 20 minutes of cooling makes a difference over a long day in the saddle.
• Track cycling: Warm-up halls at velodromes are notoriously hot. The ice vest is standard kit for track cyclists warming up on rollers before their event.

Does the vest work in Australian humidity?

Yes. Unlike evaporative cooling vests that rely on sweat and airflow to work, the Arctic Heat ice vest uses phase-frozen crystal gel panels. It cools through direct conduction against your skin, so humidity has no effect on its performance. This makes it the preferred choice for cyclists competing in humid Australian conditions in Queensland, the Northern Territory, and coastal New South Wales during summer.

How do elite cycling teams use cooling vests?

Pre-cooling is standard practice at the professional level. At Tour de France time trials, you will see every GC contender warming up on stationary trainers wearing ice vests, removing them only as they ride to the start house. At the Olympic Games, the Australian cycling team and competitors from dozens of nations have used Arctic Heat vests since Athens 2004 as part of their official heat management protocols.

Charlotte Culver (Australian U23 MTB Champion) and the Team MTN-Qhubeka Tour de France squad are among the elite cyclists who have used Arctic Heat vests in competition. The same vest they used is available to every Australian club cyclist through Cool Down Australia.

Arctic Heat cooling vests are also available for US-based cyclists through Arctic Heat USA.

How do you activate the Arctic Heat ice vest?

1. Soak the vest in cold water for 2 to 3 minutes until fully saturated.
2. Gently squeeze out the excess water.
3. Place the vest in a freezer for a minimum of 2 hours, or overnight for best results.
4. Remove from the freezer and put on directly against your skin, or over a thin base layer.
5. Wear for 30 to 45 minutes before your event. The vest will stay cold for up to 2 hours depending on ambient temperature.

The vest can also be re-cooled during an event by placing it in an esky with ice. Many cyclists keep a spare vest in a team car or support vehicle for multi-stage events.

Frequently asked questions

Can I wear the Arctic Heat ice vest under a cycling jersey?

Yes. The vest is low-profile and form-fitting by design. The white version is particularly popular for wearing under light-coloured jerseys without showing through. Most cyclists wear it directly against the skin for maximum cooling contact.

How long does the Arctic Heat vest stay cold while cycling?

Up to 2 hours depending on ambient temperature and exertion level. In extreme heat above 38 degrees Celsius, expect 60 to 90 minutes of effective cooling. The vest is most effective as a pre-cooling tool in the 30 to 45 minutes before your event rather than during it.

What size Arctic Heat vest should a cyclist choose?

The vest should fit firmly against the body. If you are between sizes, choose the smaller size. Chest measurements: XXS (80cm), XS (85cm), S (90cm), M (95cm), L (100cm), XL (105cm), 2XL (110cm), 3XL (115cm), 4XL (120cm).

Is an ice vest legal in cycling competition?

Yes. Ice and cooling vests are legal in all cycling disciplines under UCI rules and are explicitly permitted at the Olympic Games. They are classified as thermal management equipment, not performance-enhancing drugs.

Can the vest be re-cooled during a stage race?

Yes. The vest can be re-frozen overnight or cooled in an esky with ice between stages. Many teams carry two vests per rider to allow one to be cooling while the other is in use.