Comparison, updated April 2026

Clema vs evaporative vest

Humidity-proof. Works where evaporative cooling fails.

By Clément Messeri, CTO, Materials engineer, UC Berkeley

Clema solid-state cooling vest

At a glance

Side-by-side comparison.

SpecEvaporative vestClema (solid-state)
Runtime per cycle2–4 hr (dry climate)8–12 hr (one swap)
Works in humidityNo, performance drops above 60% RHYes, unaffected by dew point
Works in radiant heatLimited, needs ambient evaporationYes, works in foundries, steel mills
Refresh requirementRe-soak in water every cycleNone, hot-swap battery
Worn weight1–2 lbs (when wet)<3 lbs
Indoor / non-AC usePoor (humid indoor air)Designed for indoor non-AC warehouses

Pick an evaporative vest if…

Evaporative still works for dry-climate outdoor work.

Evaporative vests are simple and effective in low-humidity environments: Phoenix in July, parts of Nevada, high-desert utility work, Australia outback ag. If you're below 40% relative humidity and outdoors, evaporative is a lightweight, low-maintenance option worth considering.

  • Pick evapOutdoor work in dry desert climates (AZ, NV high desert).
  • Pick evapBudget-constrained crews where partial cooling is better than none.
  • Pick evapOutdoor sports, hiking, recreation in dry air.

Pick Clema if…

Anywhere humidity matters.

Gulf Coast refineries. Southeast US construction. Memphis warehouses. Indoor manufacturing. Anywhere humidity climbs above 60%, evaporative cooling stops working because the water can't evaporate. Solid-state cooling doesn't care.

  • Pick ClemaGulf Coast / Southeast / humid coastal work.
  • Pick ClemaIndoor warehouses (always humid, no airflow).
  • Pick ClemaRadiant-heat environments (foundries, steel mills).
  • Pick ClemaRefinery turnarounds (humid, long shifts).
  • Pick ClemaAny 8+ hour industrial shift.

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Summer 2026, 500-unit first batch

Cooling that works in humidity.

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