Air-conditioned pants are a type of clothing designed to actively cool down the wearer, primarily used by workers in areas where air conditioning systems cannot be easily installed, such as tunnels and underground construction sites[1]. They do not cool the air like a room AC unit; instead, they increase the wearer’s natural body cooling by blowing air and sometimes water vapor around the body, decreasing skin temperature through the evaporation of sweat and vapor[1].
There are various brands and designs of air-conditioned pants available in the market. For example, Octocool offers air-conditioned cooling pants with two lightweight fans attached to the back of the clothing near the waist[1]. These fans, about 10 cm wide, run on rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that last between 8.5 and 59 hours, depending on the fan speed[1].
Another example is the Kuchofuku Cooling Pants Z-500K, which features an effective fan unit integrated into each leg to keep the body temperature down[2]. The fans are powered by regular household batteries stored in the side pocket of the pants, allowing the wearer to walk, sit, and stand without discomfort[2]. The cooling can be adjusted to a high or low setting depending on the wearer’s needs[2].
Air-conditioned pants work by maximizing the body’s natural cooling mechanism, which involves the evaporation of sweat[3]. The pants are fitted with tiny fans that draw air inside, blowing it across the body surface to instantaneously evaporate sweat, thus providing a cooling effect[3].
In summary, air-conditioned pants are designed to provide active cooling for the wearer by enhancing the body’s natural cooling mechanism. They typically feature fans that blow air around the body, promoting the evaporation of sweat and vapor, which in turn decreases skin temperature and provides a cooling effect.
Citations:
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_conditioned_clothing
[2] https://www.japantrendshop.com/kuchofuku-cooling-pants-z500k-p-2396.html
[3] https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/g02207/
