Whether you're melting on a football field under the scorching heat or sweating it out in the gym, a cooling towel is a must-have for anyone needing a quick cool down. It's a great way to beat the heat no matter where you are. However, since cooling towels come in a lot of different styles and materials, it can be confusing to decide which one is the best fit for you. We've got you covered!
Check our list of the 10 best cooling towels out there. We loved the Chill Pal Mesh Cooling Towel since it works great for hot and dry areas, has a soft design, and includes a carrying pouch.. Look over the rest of our top picks and give our buyer's guide a read so you know how to spot the perfect cooling towel for you!
I am the manager and head personal trainer for a local fitness facility. I graduated from college with my bachelor's in Exercise Science and have been in the industry for the past 5 years since. I am super passionate about fitness and how our bodies work!
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A cooling towel may seem like a miracle product, but in fact, they're not unlike using a regular wet towel to cool off. They do have advantages over heavy bath towels, though. Let's see what they are!
Microfiber and polyvinyl acetate (PVA) are two of the most common materials cooling towels are made of. Other cooling towels may utilize hybrid materials, cooling gel beads, and even removable ice packs, so make sure to look through your options.
Some cooling towels have beads inside them that form an icy gel when frozen. Though these gel beads are tiny, when frozen, they can expand up to 100 times their original size. This type of cooling mechanism is common in cooling towels that are made to function as neckties or bandanas.
These gel bead towels tend to keep cool for quite some time. The gel pads may feel slimy after repeated use, and they do have to be frozen beforehand. These work great for outdoor use since you can put them into pieces of clothing. For example, it can keep you cooled off during a hike.
Microfiber, known for its super-soft texture, is lightweight, and much more absorbent than other types of cloth-like cotton and polyester. This quality allows it to have a better cooling effect than regular towels. However, though it’s comfortable and soft, its cooling effect is not long-lasting. These might work well for people who want to wipe their heads free from sweat after a workout.
Microfiber is the best material, in my opinion, to use for cooling towels. They are lightweight and super easy to use. You just soak the towel, wring it out, and place it on the part of the body that you wish to cool down. They are easy to wash and don't take up a lot of space when being stored.
PVA, on the other hand, is known for its high absorbency. While microfiber is more absorbent than cloths like cotton and polyester, PVA is more absorbent than microfiber. Not only is PVA lightweight, but it can also retain water up to 12 times its weight!
When it dries, PVA feels stiff and maybe uncomfortable against your skin. However, since its cooling effect is more long-lasting, it’s a good choice of material to go for if you’ll be exposed to heat for a long period of time. For example, it might work great if you plan to spend time in hot and dry climates. They can also keep you cooled off at the beach if you don't plan to go into the water.
Cooling towels made of hybrid material combine the star qualities of microfiber and PVA. Hybrid cooling towels have the comfortably soft texture of microfiber as well as the enhanced absorption and long-lasting cooling qualities of PVA.
The downside, though, is that there aren’t that many cooling towels made of this material. This means you may want to go with this one if you want to wear the towel while working out. The versatile design also makes it a good choice for people who want some versatility with their towels.
Some cooling towels have pockets with removable ice packs. Like gel bead cooling towels, these ice packs need to be taken out of the pocket and put in a freezer before being used. While the material used for these types of towels tends to be soft cotton, the frozen ice packs that are inserted into the inside pockets provide you with the most cooling since they become ice.
Though these ice packs need to be removed and re-inserted before and after use, they’re great for injuries like muscle aches, sprains, or cooling fevers. This might be a good one to keep in your home while leaving the packs in the freezer, so you can use them immediately.
These are a great product because the removable ice packs can be re-frozen while the cooling towel and be thrown in the wash to be cleaned separately. By using this product, you can ice hard-to-reach joints on the body more easily by wrapping the towel rather than setting a bulky ice pack on the injured part of the body.
Large towels are great for cooling a large portion of your body, like your neck or your back. These are perfect for outdoor events such as beach trips and pool parties, where a lot of your skin is exposed.
Body towels come in dimensions that range from 20-by-40 inches to 30-by 58-inches. They can cover you from your torso to some point on your legs. Though towels this big provide you with more coverage, they can get bulky. Cooling yoga towels tend to be longer since they go over yoga mats.
Smaller towels can be put over your head or hung around the nape of your neck without being too bulky. Some cooling towels are even shaped in such a way that makes them perfect for use on a certain part of your body. For example, a hoodie towel is shaped somewhat like a short shoulder cloak with a hood that can be pulled over your head.
Small towels are perfect and my personal go-to. While people usually wear cooling towels over their necks, there are other places on the body where they can be used. When using a small towel, it can do the job without being in the way. It can also hold just enough water that it needs to cool your body down.
Though cooling towels can be washed, make sure to check the product details before you put them in the washing machine. Some have a specific temperature range that they have to be washed in, and others might be better off being washed by hand.
Cooling towels made with gel beads or ice packs shouldn’t go in the washing machine, since doing so could damage them. These can be cleaned with a wipe-down or under running water. Cooling towels remain functional for three to five years, depending on usage and maintenance.
This is very important to me. I try to stay away from products that are hard to clean. I want a product that solves a problem in my life without giving me more work to do. You want to look for a cooling towel that you can easily throw in the wash when you are finished using it.
Many cooling towels come with extra items that help you maintain them or that make it easier to carry them around. Plastic pouches can hold moisture, so whether you’re carrying a dry or wet cooling towel, this extra will keep it separate from your other things.
Some containers resemble water bottles with hooks, making it easy to take your cooling towel with you. With this, you can simply clip your towel case onto your bag or belt loop. Some cooling towels are even equipped with ultraviolet protection (UPF), giving you extra shielding when you’re under the sun.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Chill Pal Mesh Cooling Towel | ![]() | Best for Hot or Dry Areas | |
2 | Futone | ![]() | Best Lightweight Cooling Towel Option | |
3 | Tough Outfitters Cooling Towel | ![]() | Best as an Absorbent Towel | |
4 | Ideatech Microfiber Cooling Towel 3 Pack | ![]() | Best Low-Maintenance Towel | |
5 | Chill Pal | ![]() | Best for Quick Use | |
6 | Mission | ![]() | Best for Protecting Your Head While Outside | |
7 | Bogi | ![]() | Best for Safe, Easy, and Hygienic Transportation | |
8 | Newgo Neck Cold Pack | ![]() | Best for Treating Neck or Shoulder Pain | |
9 | Mission Cooling Neck Gaiter | ![]() | Best for Neck and Face Use | |
10 | Thrive | ![]() | Best for Those Looking for Gel Beads |
Pros:
Cons:
This towel uses a mesh design to keep it dry even after it gets soaked. It also has a thinner design that doesn't add extra weight when you wear it over your shoulders and take it with you to the gym or on a hike.
A couple of reviewers noticed they had to re-wet the towel every couple of minutes since it would dry out. On the bright side, many reviewers found the towel a great size for workouts and wrapping around the neck. They also felt the towel worked great outdoors in the heat.
Pros:
Cons:
This set comes with microfiber towels designed to hold cold water, so you can cool yourself off. It also has a lightweight and compact design to make it easy to transport to the gym.
A couple of reviewers didn't like how these towels weren't the best at absorbing sweat. Nevertheless, loads of reviewers appreciated the lightweight design of the towels. They also loved how the smaller size made it easy to carry around.
Pros:
Cons:
This is a smaller cooling towel designed to cool off the neck, face, and other areas of your body. It also quickly dries off and absorbs water, so you can use it to cool off and dry yourself.
Some reviewers noticed the towel would dry up quicker than they would prefer. Despite that point, plenty of reviewers pointed out the towel did a great job of keeping them cooled off when they used it. They also said it worked great when they used it while outside.
Pros:
Cons:
This option comes with six towels, so you can switch between them and assign colors based on what you need. It's also machine-washable and has a lightweight design, making it perfect for someone that wants a low-maintenance towel.
A couple of reviewers pointed out how the towel would dry out quicker than they expected. On the other hand, many reviewers felt it made up for it by cooling them down quickly. They also appreciated how it was lightweight, so they could easily take it anywhere.
Pros:
Cons:
This towel is designed for you to use for a short amount of time (leaving it on too long could cause excess absorption of oil and moisture from the skin). It's also easy to transport due to the lightweight design and carrying case, and you can even put it around your neck.
Some reviewers reported issues with them developing rashes after they used the towel for a while. Despite that point, plenty of people felt the towel kept them cooled off even in hot weather. They also loved the size since they could use it as a scarf.
Pros:
Cons:
This towel works as a hoodie, so you can wear it on your head to keep yourself cooled off. It also works great for outdoor use since it has 50 UPF to protect your head from the sun.
Some reviewers said they had a hard time getting the hoodie to stay on their heads. However, a handful of reviewers said the hoodie did a great job of blocking the sun's rays. They also said it helped them remain cooled off for hours at a time.
Pros:
Cons:
These towels come with their carrying cases and handles, so you can easily transport them. They also have a unique bamboo fiber material along with a mesh design, so they can dry off easily.
A few reviewers had issues with the carrying cases breaking easily. Despite that point, quite a few reviewers noticed the towels would stay cold whenever they used them. The reviewers also loved how they could snap the towels to cool them off when they started to warm up.
Pros:
Cons:
This gel pack comes with two sides, so you can get two options for cooling. One side will have more intense cooling while the other might feel more comfortable against the skin, so you can switch between them.
A couple of reviewers said the gel pack broke open after they used it for a while. Nevertheless, a fair portion of reviewers said the pack did a great job of treating neck pain and discomfort. They also noticed it remained cold for hours at a time.
Pros:
Cons:
This gaiter lets you wear it in a variety of ways including as a face covering, a headband, and more. It also retains water well, so it can keep you cooled off for longer than expected.
A few reviewers had issues with the fabric ripping after a few uses. On the other hand, many reviewers pointed out the gaiter remained wet whenever they used it. They also felt it helped them remove the sweat from their bodies.
Pros:
Cons:
This option comes with two gel pads and their own covers to use whenever you need them. The towel comes with a carrying case as well, so you can take the cooling towel wherever you may need it.
A few reviewers had problems with the seams along the gel pads breaking after a couple of months. However, plenty of reviewers loved the covers since they offer some protection from the gel beads. They also appreciated how the beads conformed to the area they were applied to.
In addition to reviewing our buying guide, Gentry also answered a commonly asked question on the Internet.
"Cooling towels are super easy to use," Gentry explains. "They are water-activated, so all you have to do is soak the towel in water for a couple of minutes, wring it out, and then place it on the part of the body that you wish to cool down. There are many cooling towels on the market, so you can purchase the product or material that works best for you."
Sure, air conditioners are great, but we have some suggestions so you can beat the heat whether you're out and about or relaxing at home.
No. 1: Chill Pal|Mesh Cooling Towel
No. 2: Futone|
No. 3: Tough Outfitters|Cooling Towel
No. 4: Ideatech|Microfiber Cooling Towel 3 Pack
No. 5: Chill Pal|
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