Smith, J. W., Kovacs, M. S., Strecker, E., & Pascoe, D. D. (2004). Efficacy of aluminum weave cooling capes in reducing thermal load following exercise. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 36(5), Supplement abstract 2134.

The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of aluminum weave cooling capes at reducing thermal load following exercise. Fit males (N = 8) were required to exercise four times wearing shorts and t-shirts in a controlled environment until they had attained a core temperature 1.0°C higher than their starting core temperature. After each exercise session, Ss were required to passively recover during four conditions: no cape with no wind; no cape with wind; wearing a cape with no wind; and wearing a cape with wind. During all trials core temperature, thermal sensation, and heart rate were measured.

All trials displayed a rise in core temperature above end of exercise core temperature of approximately 0.12°C during the first 2.5 minutes of recovery. After 2.5 minutes of recovery, the core temperature begin to decrease in the wearing a cape with wind trials, but continued to rise on average another 0.06°C during the other three conditions. Wind trials demonstrated lower core temperature when compared to no-wind trials. Core temperature was also reduced when a participant wore a cape compared to not wearing a cape. The combined effect of cape wear and wind resulted in a recovery end temperature approximately 0.25°C lower than in the other three conditions. Thermal sensation was reduced when wearing a cape with wind was compared to wearing a cape with no wind and no cape with wind conditions.

Implication. Aluminum weave cooling capes can aid lowering the core temperature during recovery. The aluminum cooling cape with wind significantly improved heat dissipation.

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