While summer doesn’t technically start until June 21, for most of us, the heat is already here. With news reports citing extreme heat waves already, including record-breaking temperatures in Europe right now, USA Today says this summer is expected to be hotter than average. If you’re looking for a cooling tool that’s easy to pack and doesn’t need to be charged, we spotted a $10 handy, reusable cooling neck wrap that one reviewer says works better than neck fans, “even in 100 degree Texas heat!”
Unlike neck towels that can leave your shirt wet, reviewers say this cooling neck wrap doesn’t drip or leave you soaked and can be worn under a collar.
The wrap is essentially a tube filled with absorbent beads that, per the brand, can soak up hundreds of times their weight. After soaking the tube and shaking off the excess water, snap it around your neck and enjoy the instant cooling.
“This gator is almost magical — it’s so lightweight and doesn’t look stupid like a wet towel does,” shopper Deanna R. wrote, saying the wraps keep them from getting nauseous in the heat. “This gator doesn’t drip — it just cools me off. You can turn it around all day, receiving a renewed cooling off with each turn, and it keeps working.”
The brand recommends soaking the wrap in water for 5 minutes to “activate” it, pushing on the wrap to spread the beads out, then soaking it again for 15-20 minutes. Fans say they get a solid couple of hours of cooling on the go, with many mentioning keeping a couple of the wraps in a cooler to swap out during long days of golf or travel. Plus, they come in over a dozen great colors and patterns, making it easy to buy more than one.
“I presoaked in ice water, then took another buyer’s advice and kept it in a thermos till I needed to get outside,” one wrote. “I like that you can flip it over and turn it around every so often, so that as your body warms an area, you can apply a different section that’s still cool, or has cooled off.”
Several reviewers call this product both a life and an “attitude saver,” making travel, golf and gardening actually bearable in the heat.
Shopper Scott B, who spent a week in New Orleans with 95 degrees and 89% humidity, called the wraps “perfect” for “hot and humid sightseeing.” “These neck wraps saved us over and over from getting overheated,” they wrote.
Others love the wraps for playing sports outdoors (or watching little ones play sports) as the snap feature makes them hands-free and easy to wear. Ideal for theme parks, yard work or just quick cooling, shoppers like the wraps better than other methods they’ve tried. Reviewer Star got the wrap for her husband, noting “they keep my husband much cooler than those neck fans that don’t do anything but blow hot air.”
Folks who hate the heat and just want to stay indoors say the wrap is helping them actually enjoy the summer.
“I was finding it so hard to get out and do anything, until I found this product,” J.O. wrote. “I used to it do yard work, gardening, anything outside.” In fact, the wrap has helped them so much, J.O. says they actually find themselves making more summer plans, knowing the wrap will keep them comfortable.
Another shopper who says they “don’t handle heat well” calls the wraps “a godsend during an excruciatingly hot summer.”
“After two serious incidents of heat exhaustion, I have been terrified of having to run errands in this heat,” they wrote. “This item was easy to use and really helped me manage my body temperature to a bearable level...It kept my temperature under control for a good four or five hours.”
If you’re stressed about summer heat, don’t sweat it! These $10 cooling neck towels can bring quick relief on the go. Read more 5-star reviews and grab one for yourself.
“Perfect for Hot and Humid Sightseeing. We recently took a week in New Orleans where the days were 95 degrees and 89% humidity when it wasn’t raining. These neck wraps saved us over and over from getting overheated. My husband filled them with water and placed in the fridge the night before. Then we packed them into ziploc bags next to a frozen ice pack into the insulated pocked of our back pack to keep the extras cold. We would put 1 on for each of us and when we felt it was getting too warm, changed out for a cooler one from the back pack. Then later on, we would switch again as the 1st set were now cool again. We rotated them this way all day, until finally our ice pack had thawed, but luckily it was sundown and started to cool off all over. Great addition for those hot days if you only need for a short time or have a way to rotate them like we did, but don’t expect them to last all day or even more than 2 hours alone.” —scott b.
“I have 2 of these for 18 holes of golf in Florida. They keep me cool for about 3 or 4 holes and then I switch to an another keeping them in an ice water bottle for optimal cooling temperatures. They definitely help with the high temperature heat and humidity of southern FL” — Florida guy
“They actually work! Even in 100 degree Texas heat! Came 3 to a pack. Super easy to use. They keep my husband much cooler than those neck fans that don’t do anything but blow hot air. Doesn’t leave your shirt soaking wet. Flexible & Comfortable to wear around the neck. Exterior material feels a little like swimsuit material. The interior squishy stuff (cooling technology) stays pregnant with water for days. Drying them out takes awhile, BUT that is a positive because he’s not having to stop what he’s doing to go re-soak them. I pack one in a thermos with a lid until he’s ready to use it when it gets hot. Would buy these again!” — Star
“When I got the package I thought I got ripped off. They felt like there was nothing in there. After soaking them in the golf cart ice chest I was shocked how they expanded. I live in Vegas and these were a welcome addition to the golf bag this summer. Record breaking heat and keeping 2 in the ice chest in rotation helped me get through many rounds. Highly recommended.” — Jmac
Looking for more ways to keep the heat from souring your summer? Check out these three, on-sale finds, courtesey of HuffPost Shopping.
A cooling neck fan (15% off list price)
There's no shortage of options for portable fans, yet if you're looking for something hands-free, this baby is sleek, effective and, dare we say, even stylish. Most importantly, it's designed to give you instant relief from this punishing hot weather and humidity. It's easy to use, charge and is designed to cool you down quickly with three different speeds and a quiet, blade-free construction. Grab it for 15% off.
A mini handheld fan you'll keep reaching for ($2 off)
Tech doesn't have to be about phones or laptops. In fact, this handy, folding, rechargeable “gold-star turbo” fan from PlayHot may be the best tech you buy this summer, especially when it's $2 off. You can hold it, wear it, or rest it on a nightstand, desk, or table to enjoy sweet heat relief. Most importantly, it blows out a cool breeze so strong, one reviewer says it’s enough to rival a floor fan. Now that’s power.
A cooling blanket
If you’re used to waking up with your sheets drenched in sweat, it’s time to make a simple swap that can bring major relief. Cooling blankets that are thin, breathable and designed for folks who run hot or get night sweats can be a major game-changer. And in fact, that’s exactly what reviewers call this on-sale blanket that starts at just under $14 right now. That’s right — a throw is $13.99 right now, while a queen size bed blanket will run you $30. The blanket comes in eight colros and four sizes, so you can choose the one that best works for your bedding setup. But what makes this blanket so great?
The Real Deal: We use deal trackers and commerce experience to sift through “fake” hike-and-drop deals and other deceptive sales tactics. Products will usually be rated at least 4 stars with a minimum 15% discount. (And when there’s an exception, we’ll tell you why.)