Summer is nearly over, but the heat hasn't loosened its grip. As the last of the season's hot days linger on, the battle against high temperatures has moved beyond sunscreen and iced drinks. For campers trekking mountain trails, cyclists logging long rides and anglers spending hours under the sun, a new piece of wearable technology is drawing attention: the cooling vest.
"It's like wearing a small electric fan inside your clothes," said an outdoor enthusiast surnamed Luo, who shared his experience on Chinese lifestyle platform Xiaohongshu, or RedNote, after wearing one while cycling and camping.
"As long as it's below about 35 C, it works surprisingly well. It's not an air conditioner, but when you're moving around in this furnace-like weather, even a constant breeze makes a huge difference."
His experience reflects a growing market for wearable cooling technologies, as hotter summers fuel demand for products that allow people to stay outdoors longer — whether for work or recreation.
The trend is emerging alongside the country's booming outdoor economy. Since 2019, participation in hiking, camping, cycling, trail running and fishing has surged.
Chris Sheng, founder of outdoor gear retailer Nomad Union, said, "In Zhejiang province, where our company is based, outdoor activities are almost suspended for nearly two months every summer because of the heat.
"These cooling vests borrow technology originally developed for industrial workers and adapt it for outdoor recreation, making summer activities much more comfortable."
For manufacturers, wearable cooling equipment is becoming a fast-growing niche at the intersection of outdoor gear, consumer electronics and climate adaptation.
One of the latest entrants is outdoor gear maker Esguard, based in Pinghu, Zhejiang province, one of China's largest outdoor apparel manufacturing hubs.
Esguard has developed a cooling vest that combines ventilation with semiconductor cooling technology, lowering the wearer's perceived temperature by 8 to 15 C, the company said.
Unlike conventional fan vests that simply circulate ambient air, Esguard's design integrates two semiconductor cooling modules with dual fans mounted on the back of the garment. Air is drawn into the vest, cooled by the modules and then circulated around the body, delivering what the company calls an "air-conditioned" effect.
Powered by a 20,000 mAh battery pack, the vest can operate for up to 12 hours on its lowest setting, making it suitable for a full working day or extended outdoor trips.
"We wanted to move beyond simply blowing hot air around," said Fang Xiaodong, general manager of Esguard. "The goal was to create a wearable cooling system that people can genuinely rely on outdoors."
The company began developing the product in March after anticipating rising global demand for heat relief technologies. Working with university researchers, it has already begun exporting the vests to markets including Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Japan and South Korea.
The technology is also finding a growing customer base among front-line workers.
In Nanjing, Jiangsu province, where summer temperatures frequently exceed 35 C, sanitation workers were among the first to test the vests. Since mid-July, more than 20 cooling vests have been deployed across the city. The city's urban management authorities have since recommended wider adoption, with six districts planning to procure the equipment.
"It's much more comfortable," sanitation worker Zhu Wenxian told Workers' Daily. "I'm sweating much less, and I don't feel as irritable after working outside."
Another sanitation worker, Liu Fali, said the airflow has made long shifts noticeably easier.
"My back stays dry now," he said, lifting the back of his vest to show the built-in fans. "I'm even drinking two fewer bottles of water a day."
Delivery companies are also embracing the technology. In Xuchang, Henan province, local franchisees of ZTO Express have equipped more than 100 couriers with cooling vests to help them cope with the summer of prolonged extreme heat. One courier, who delivers nearly 300 parcels a day during the peak season, told Workers' Daily that the vest has made long hours on the road significantly more bearable.
