Beat the heat and stay safe with these 7 cooling travel products

Recently updated on August 3rd, 2023 at 02:01 pm

Summer vacation is one of life’s greatest pleasures, with days at the pool or beach, and long, balmy nights with al fresco dining. But it doesn’t come without its challenges. Summer can be sweltering, as we’ve seen recently with the heatwave in Europe, where temperatures have soared over 104F (40C) in southern Europe. If you don’t want to spend your whole vacation huddling under the air-con, you’ll need to come equipped with the right gear to stay cool on the move. From portable fans to cooling towels and hats, here’s how to stay safe in the heat with these 7 cooling travel products.

1. Portable fan

Never underestimate the cooling effect of even a gentle breeze. Portable fans may be small, but they offer serious relief when you’re on the go outside in summer. They’re also lightweight, rechargeable, and surprisingly powerful, so they’re one of the most convenient cooling travel products to carry around. Whether you’re waiting in line at an amusement park, exploring bustling markets, going on a hike, or waiting at a train station, you’ll be glad you brought your portable fan.

The Jisulife Handheld Mini Fan is just under 5 inches long and has up to 21 hours of battery life on a single charge, depending on which speed setting you use. It’s also easily recharged with a USB charger, and even has a flashlight!

Jisulife also has a Portable Neck Fan that sits comfortably around your neck for instant cooling relief. Or check out the Wasserstein Dartwood Portable Neck Fan – a lifesaver for heat-sensitive travelers.

2. Cooling towels

Hands up if you ever tried to cool down by wrapping yourself in a wet towel, but found that the cool relief barely lasts? These Sukeen Cooling Towels are the product for you. The towel is made from hyper-evaporative microfibre material. To activate the towel, you simply wet it, wring it out, shake it… And the towel stays cold for up to 3 hours and wicks sweat away from your skin. You can throw it over your shoulders, spread it over your legs or tie it around your head, and you can take it everywhere since the towel weighs less than 2 ounces and rolls up tightly.

3. Insulated water bottle

Staying hydrated is crucial while traveling, especially in hot climates. But who wants to sip on lukewarm water that’s been sitting in your water bottle all day? Stay refreshed with an insulated stainless steel water bottle. They’re made with material that keeps your water cool for up to 24 hours, so you can fill it up before a day of sightseeing and know that you’ll enjoy cool water all day. As an added bonus, these bottles are a great eco-friendly alternative to single-use plastic bottles.

One of the most popular insulated water bottles is the Thermoflask Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle. It’s vacuum insulated and keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours (or hot for up to 12). It’s also double-walled to prevent condensation from forming on the outside, has a leak-proof lid, is BPA-free, and doesn’t rust. Perfect!

4. Cooling sheet masks

Have you ever noticed your face heats up faster than the rest of your body? This happens because the heat causes your body to circulate more blood to your skin’s surface, so you get warmer and start to sweat. Since the blood is already closer to the skin surface in your face, it’s essential to keep it cool.

If you want instant on-the-go relief, without dumping water over your head, try these Cooling Sheet Masks. The sheets are saturated in a hydrogel that creates a cooling effect without irritating the skin. Even better, the sheets also moisturise your skin while cooling it down, using calming, non-menthol ingredients that are suitable for sensitive skin. The cooling effect lasts for up to 30 minutes, and it’s beautifully refreshing.

5. Mission Cooling Bucket Hat

If you love to tie your cooling towels around your head, a cooling hat may be up your alley. The Mission Cooling Bucket Hat chills to 30 degrees below average body temperature in under 1 minute. All you need to do to activate it is wet it, wring it, shake it out, and the hat stays cool for up to 2 hours. It also offers fantastic sun protection with its 3-inch brim and UPF 50 fabric. If you’re not into bucket hats, Mission also makes other cooling travel products, like caps made from the same HydroActive cooling fabric technology.

6. After sun cooling lotion

We all know you’ve got to slather on sunscreen when you’re outdoors in summer. But even if you’re extremely vigilant with your sun protection, your skin is going to need some extra love after being exposed. UV rays deplete your skin of moisture, so if know you’ll be spending lots of time in the sun, come prepared with a bottle of after-sun cooling lotion. When choosing a lotion, make sure it’s got aloe vera, as that’s the most effective cooling and soothing ingredient. Any lotion with aloe vera will do, as aloe vera is the most effective cooling and soothing ingredient. The Sun Bum After Sun Cool Down Lotion is a crowd favorite and is available at your local drugstore.

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7. Travel-sized spray bottles

You’ve probably seen a lot of face mists in stores, but they’re usually quite expensive. They’re also not a great eco-friendly option, as you can’t refill the bottles once they’re done. For a cheaper and greener option, get some travel-sized, refillable spray bottles. You can fill them with water (and a spritz of essential oils like eucalyptus or peppermint), and you’ve got essentially the same product, for far less. Keep them in your fridge, carry them around in your bag, and mist away whenever you’re breaking a sweat.

What are your favorite cooling travel products? Let us know in the comments below!

Europe's sizzling. Beat the heat and stay safe with these 7 cooling travel products