Frequently Asked Questions

Our prices are shown excluding Value-Added-Tax (VAT) This is because we sell our products to various countries within and outside of the European Union, each of which has different rules regarding VAT. At check-out, a VAT of 21% will be added to orders with a shipping address within the European Union. Orders with a destination outside of the EU will not be taxed. Tax and customs fees may be charged to the customer when receiving the order. Check with your local tax authority for more information.

Orders are shipped from the Netherlands. Depending on your country of residence, you may be charged for tax and customs fees by your local tax authority.

For US customers: Import duties and taxes are not charged if the value of your order is under US$800.

We ship to: USA, Canada, most countries in Europe, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, Macao, Malaysia, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand.Please contact us for other shipping destinations: info@ezcooldown.com

Please contact us via our Contact Us page

The amount of time the PCM inserts stay active depends on a lot of things:

• How active are you?
• What are you wearing under and over the vest?
• What is the ambient temperature?

We hear of people for whom a set of six-cell 59 ºF PCM lasts less than an hour. Others can use them for two hours and the PCM will still be active.
If you need maximum cooling for a short amount of time, choose the 15 ºC (59 ºF) PCM. If you prefer less cooling but for a longer amount of time, go for the 21 ºC (70 ºF). That may seem like a high temperature, but if you are in a sauna or similarly hot temperatures, 70 ºF feels very cool!



As well as different temperatures, we offer PCM inserts in two different configurations: thinner six-cell inserts and thicker four-cell inserts. The exact dimensions of these inserts can be found here.
The four-cell inserts contain more PCM so they’ll keep you cooler for longer. They’re a bit thicker though, so they might be less suitable for some cosplayers.

We have now phased in a new and improved PCM pack to replace the 6 cell variant; 8-cell PCM packs.

These packs are identical in dimensions, weight and contain the same amount of PCM as our 6 cell packs, however the flexibility of the pack has been greatly improved.

No. Our PCM is made with respect for the environment. That means no petrochemical process is involved during production. Our PCM is based on vegetable oils and has an expected life span of at least 10 years, based on average use. In theory, wear and tear or damaging might be the only reason to replace them. After disposal, the impact on the environment of our bio-based PCM is negligible.

You can safely take PCM inserts with you on planes. Just be sure to pack them with your checked luggage, not your hand luggage.So far we haven’t heard of customers experiencing problems with airlines or border security. We don’t recommend traveling with PCM inserts in your carry-on luggage.If you travel with carry-on luggage only, be sure your inserts are fully activated and keep them in a cooler bag or wrapped in a towel. The liquid inside the inserts will be solid as long as the inserts are activated.Most airlines don’t allow you to carry liquids, so don’t bring de-activated PCM inserts with you in your carry-on luggage.Expect security officials to ask you questions about your PCM inserts. Just explain what they are and what you use them for. When asked, you can inform officials that the inserts contain a solid vegetable oil. If needed you can direct officials to our website.

PCM inserts tend to “sweat” a little. This is not a leak. The sweating is actually a good thing, because it keeps the casings soft and prevents them from becoming brittle. They’re designed to do this. They sweat.

We sell individual inserts here so there is no need to buy a complete new set.

Yes, you can! First order a Performers vest without inserts here. Then choose your individual PCM inserts here.

Yes, you can! First order a Performers vest without inserts here. Then choose your individual PCM inserts here.

You can mix and match temperatures and cell configuration as you like.

You can activate the PCM inserts by exposing them to any temperature lower than their target temperature:

For the blue inserts this is 15 °C (59 °F). and for the yellow inserts it’s 21 °C (70 °F)

The time needed to fully activate the PCM depends on your cooling method: Ice water: 20 minutes, freezer: 40 minutes, refrigerator: 60 minutes.

The 15 °C (59 °F) inserts take a bit longer to activate compared to the 21 °C (70 °F).

Regardless of your cooling method, you can shorten the activation time by laying the inserts flat in a single layer instead of stacking them. If you use the inserts straight out of a freezer, they might feel uncomfortably cold to wear. That is why we recommend waiting at least five minutes to give the inserts time to warm up to their target temperature of 15 °C (59 °F) or 21 °C (70 °F). Once the PCM has reached this temperature, it will stay at that temperature for hours. Inserts that have been activated in a refrigerator or cold water can be used instantly.

Activated inserts can be stored in a cooler or cool box to keep them cool and ready to use for up to twelve hours. If you plan to store PCM inserts in a cooler and/or cool box, we recommend activating them in a freezer.

You can keep the inserts in your freezer or refrigerator so they’re always ready to use.Or, if you want to save space in your freezer for other things, they can be stored at room temperature.

When placing inserts in a freezer, make sure they are dry so they don't stick to the inside of your freezer.

That would be very unlikely. Our PCM inserts are extremely robust and can stand immense pressure without bursting.

We have put our PCM inserts through some very extreme tests. See the results for yourself!

The only way to destroy an insert is by puncturing it with a very sharp object.

If PCM gets in contact with your skin or clothing, simply wash your skin with a mild soap. EZCooldown bio-based PCM is made of vegetable oils and is absolutely harmless when spilled.

We have taken special care to make sure the EZCD Performers vest is not bulky. It only uses segmented inserts, which allow maximum freedom of movement. The inserts are placed in a clever configuration that preserves your outfit’s natural anatomy.

Many ordinary cooling vests have an insulated outer shell to protect the inserts from external heat sources like the sun or hot industrial environments.

This extra insulation is of course not desirable when used under a costume.

EZCooldown Performers vests are made of breathable mesh, adding no thermo-insulating layer to your outfit and keeping you nice and cool.

Many other vests are difficult or impossible to adjust. Our performers vests come in three different sizes and have six cleverly placed Velcro straps, allowing a perfectly snug fit for any body type or build.

In the majority of cases, no.

The pockets for the inserts in the vest are placed in a very clever way. When wearing the vest, the inserts on the back are positioned in the natural curve of your lower back. This makes the inserts virtually invisible. The inserts on the front are located at your chest. If you have an average body shape the inserts will make you look a little more ”buff” or “busty.” 

A vest with six-cell PCM inserts adds only 5cm or 2” to your chest circumference. For most people, this is hardly noticeable.

Our evaporation vests are meant for general use and need some airflow to make them work efficiently. Since airflow under a costume is in most cases not possible, evaporation vests will not provide any cooling at all. On the contrary, they’ll make you feel warm and clammy when worn under a costume. Evaporation vests are designed to wear with a minimum of covering clothing.

All of our vests can be washed by hand or by machine. We recommend washing the vest separately, as the Velcro straps might catch lint, dust, or fibers from other items of laundry.

• When washing your vest, be sure the zipper is pulled up and fully closed.
• Make sure to remove all inserts before washing.
• Use a mild detergent and DO NOT use fabric softener. Do not wash at temperatures above 30 °C (86 °F).
• Spin dry or drip dry. DO NOT tumble dry.

You will probably need to shorten the Velcro straps of the vest before you can use the vest comfortably. We have deliberately made these straps longer than the average wearer will need, to accommodate people with a larger chest or waist circumference and/or a bigger build.

Follow these simple steps to adjust the length of the Velcro straps. IMPORTANT: You cannot return the vest once the straps have been shortened, so make sure that your vest is the right size before you trim any excess Velcro.

1. Put on the undergarment you normally wear under your costume. We recommend a comfortable cotton or Lycra shirt or Under Armour HeatGear.
2. Place the four ACTIVATED inserts into the vest's inside pockets.
3. Put on the vest and pull up the zipper. The vest is designed to fit snugly around your torso. To create a snug fit, adjust the four Velcro straps on the front of the vest and the two straps on the shoulders. Be sure that the inserts fit closely against your body.
4. If the four straps on your chest and stomach area are longer than required, first check to make sure that the left and right sides are pulled evenly and have the same amount of excess strap. This will make sure that the tension on the vest is distributed evenly across the left and right sides.
5. You can now cut off any excess length with sharp scissors. It’s best if you cut close to the zipper. The straps will still be long enough to allow the fit of the vest to be loosened if need be.