Driving in hot weather: Chillows?

[Baltothewolf]

Originally Posted by The donkey CRX

I use a beaded seat cover and a "Tornado" fan that blows a strong breeze directly at my chest and head. I got both items on Amazon, but you can also
get the fan at a Pilot Truck stop for about $25. The beaded seat cover was about $33. It allows your sweat to evaporate as the air circulates between you and the seat. I guess that's why you see so many drivers in other countries using items like this.

I also turn on the fan in the dash on outside air (no A/C) to bring in fresh air since I also have my windows rolled up for aero.

This works great up to about 90 degrees outside and I am able to tolerate it up to about 98 degrees.

Do the beaded seat cover really help? Because right now I can tolerate ~95 with the windows up drawing in outside air before I have to either turn on the A/C or roll down the windows. If the beaded seat covers really help, I could probably tolerate 105+ without an issue.

Also, can I get a link to the one you have? I already found the tornado fan, but I would like to get that exact seat cover as well since it seems to fit your seat so well (I have same seats in the HX).

[The donkey CRX]

Hey Balto I just went to Amazon and put in beaded seat covers. I don't have a part number, but I got the larger and wider type that cover the entire seat and seat back.

[jcp123]

I have never tried the "taxi driver" beaded cushions. Do those really help? Chillows is an interesting idea. It'd help on those days when I hit up work in the afternoons, useless if I go in on a morning shift.

As it is, when I'm on my own I don't even consider A/C. I used to when I was sick or had hangovers, but...even in those cases I no longer use it. I have found, as a native Californian transplanted to Texas, that it has the side bonus of helping me acclimatize to Texas' brutal summers which are both 5-15*F hotter and double to triple the humidity percentage compared to where I grew up.

If I didn't have a/c at home or wherever my destination is, though, I'd just die.

Incidentally, we had no a/c in the house I grew up in. And it worked well.

[California98Civic]

I found this little freezer pack abandoned at a schoolyard one weekend a couple years ago... glasses for scale.

Small and relatively thin and leak proof, it is easy to place around my body in the car. And it's easy to drop it inconspicuously into the freezer at work. It will get it's first use of the season tomorrow, probably.

[tyronasauras]

I just put on Window tint on today to help reduce the Air con load and make for a more comfortable ride. 20% on the sides and 5% on the rear and 5% on the header of the windshield. It looks so much better. Also
I turn the MAx Air button on only during deceleration to assist braking, then on vent to accelerate. It is amazing how long cool air will still flow.

[California98Civic]

Originally Posted by tyronasauras

... Also I turn the MAx Air button on only during deceleration to assist braking, then on vent to accelerate. It is amazing how long cool air will still flow.

This is what I always do in my wife's Subaru, and it is one of the few hypermiling techniques she has been willing to adopt herself. It works best with the AC on internal air recirculation, I think, since the inside air is initially cooler and dryer than the outside once you've been running the AC a bit.

[Baltothewolf]

Originally Posted by The donkey CRX

Hey Balto I just went to Amazon and put in beaded seat covers. I don't have a part number, but I got the larger and wider type that cover the entire seat and seat back.

I'll just go with this one along with the tornado fan, thanks!

Amazon.com: Zone Tech Natural Royal Wood Bead Seat Cover Massage Cool Premium Comfort Cushion - Reduces Fatigue the Car or Truck or your office Chair: Automotive

[Mcgiiver]

Originally Posted by The donkey CRX

I use a beaded seat cover and a "Tornado" fan that blows a strong breeze directly at my chest and head. I got both items on Amazon, but you can also
get the fan at a Pilot Truck stop for about $25. The beaded seat cover was about $33. It allows your sweat to evaporate as the air circulates between you and the seat. I guess that's why you see so many drivers in other countries using items like this.

I also turn on the fan in the dash on outside air (no A/C) to bring in fresh air since I also have my windows rolled up for aero.

This works great up to about 90 degrees outside and I am able to tolerate it up to about 98 degrees.

OK, I need to ask, what is the silver lever with the button on top next to the driver seat?

[cowmeat]

I use this thing, it's like a giant coolie. I put it in the fridge for about fifteen minutes, and it keeps my back chilled for the entire drive. It stiffens up into crystals when cooled, but if I forget it and leave it in the car all day it turns to liquid.
Got it for like twenty bucks when I was driving the Black Widow, which didn't have any AC, and I still use it in the Turtle, it's awesome!

Turtle has dark tint all around, and I also use sun shades front and rear. The rear is such a long windshield at such a low angle, what I did was get the giant size sun shade for suvs. I fold it over and shove it in the top hinge area, then pull it tight (longways) and slam the latch. This keeps the sun shade tight against the window. There is a little bit sticking outside the car in the rear, and it punched a hole in the sun shade, but it works great, and I'm sure it's keeping the battery way cooler using it. The car is barely warm when I get in, and I live dead center in the state of Florida. Between the tint, sun shades and my coolie for my back, I rarely use the AC.

I also have the rain deflectors on the doors which allow me to keep the windows cracked open all the time. They don't seem to affect the aero much, so I kept them on the car since they're so convenient.

[Baltothewolf]

Originally Posted by cowmeat

I use this thing, it's like a giant coolie. I put it in the fridge for about fifteen minutes, and it keeps my back chilled for the entire drive. It stiffens up into crystals when cooled, but if I forget it and leave it in the car all day it turns to liquid.
Got it for like twenty bucks when I was driving the Black Widow, which didn't have any AC, and I still use it in the Turtle, it's awesome!

Turtle has dark tint all around, and I also use sun shades front and rear. The rear is such a long windshield at such a low angle, what I did was get the giant size sun shade for suvs. I fold it over and shove it in the top hinge area, then pull it tight (longways) and slam the latch. This keeps the sun shade tight against the window. There is a little bit sticking outside the car in the rear, and it punched a hole in the sun shade, but it works great, and I'm sure it's keeping the battery way cooler using it. The car is barely warm when I get in, and I live dead center in the state of Florida. Between the tint, sun shades and my coolie for my back, I rarely use the AC.

I also have the rain deflectors on the doors which allow me to keep the windows cracked open all the time. They don't seem to affect the aero much, so I kept them on the car since they're so convenient.

A friend's mom makes those cooling things from scratch, she makes one that go over the head, like a do rag, bandana ones and little neck strip ones. They work freaking awesome. When you slammed the sun shade in the hatch, doesn't that make the hatch leak? Because may do this myself, because it's hotter than hell when I get in my car in the day time.