Best Cooling Towels of 2024
Wiping yourself after a strenuous workout is rewarding - no sweat to sting your eyes and give you that unpleasant feeling we are all familiar with. But wiping yourself with a cooling towel is a whole new dimension of comfort and relaxation! They work the best when used to cool the body temp down to match the surrounding weather conditions.
In this article, we review the 10 best cooling towels on the current market. The Cooling towel is a relatively new addition to the sports/gym market. It is based on the principle of evaporative cooling and very effectively allows you to regulate your temperature in extreme weather conditions. We also provide you with a buyer’s guide and FAQ to get you up to speed on this newcomer to the market.
In a Hurry? The test winner after 6 hrs of research
Extra Thick PVA
Large - 24 x 16 Inches
Stays Cooler For Longer
Improved Packaging
Top 10 Picks
1. Chill Pal Original
Extra Thick PVA
Large - 24 x 16 Inches
Stays Cooler For Longer
Improved Packaging
Stiff When Dry
The Original Chill Pal cooling towel is a PVA construction towel that is thicker than most other PVA cooling towels on the market. This allows it to provide a larger cooling period than most competitors. This cooling tower is available in either aqua blue or sunshine yellow.
Read moreThe towel measures 24 x 16 inches. To use the cooling towel, all you need to do is to soak it in cold water, wring it out and quickly snap it and you are ready to go. However, because this is a PVA towel, it will get stiff once it dries out. This will requires you to go through the steps to activate it again. The high grade, extra thick PVA used on this towel is what propels it to our number one spot. It means that the towel will stay cool for longer and provide longer water retention. This cooling towel comes in a newly designed pouch that is more compact, so you can take it with you wherever you go.
2. Alfamo
Breathable Mesh Fabric
Waterproof Case
16 Colors
Chills Instantly
High-Quality Edge Stitching
Chemical Smell
The Alfamo Cooling Towel is a breathable mesh cooling towel made from hyper-evaporative material. This makes for very effective cooling towel activation and equally good reactivation once the towel dries. As this is not a PVC towel, it will not become stiff and rigid. This towel will retain its coolness for a full three hours.
Read moreIt will reduce your body temperature by 30 degrees and UPF 50 sun protection. This cooling towel can be rinsed in order to expel any sweat that has been absorbed into the towel. Your purchase also comes with a waterproof plastic case that matches the color of the towel. The case even has a carabiner clip to make it convenient to attach to your gym bag. This towel is available in the following colors - Orange, Blue, Dark Blue, Dark Violet, Gray, Green, Pink, Red, or Violet.
3. Frogg Toggs Chilly Pad
33 x 13 Inches
3 To 4 Hours Of Cooling
Very Durable
UPF 50+
Dyes May Run
The Frogg Toggs Chilly Pad cooling towel makes use of a tough, athletic mesh that delivers up to a 30-degree drop in your body temperature for up to 3 hours. The hyper-evaporative materials retain the water while keeping the towel dry to the external touch. This is extremely durable, including organic polyvinyl alcohol in its construction. It is also environmentally friendly.
Read moreThe Frogg Toops cooling towel comes in at an impressive 33 x 13 inches. This is larger than both the first and second-rated cooling towels above. You also get sun protection to SPF 50. This towel is available in 16 colors, which is second only to the Mission Enduracool Techknit Cooling towel in terms of color options. This towel can easily be cut to measure. It can be placed in the refrigerator but not in the freezer.
4. Chill Pal Mesh
Soft Mesh Construction
40 x 12 inches
Carry Case
Thin And Breathable
Warms Up Fast
The Chill Pal Ultimate Mesh Cooling towel is a longer towel than most cooling towels, measuring in at 40 x 12 inches. This is a mesh towel, meaning that it is softer, more comfortable and lighter on the skin than the Chill Pal PVC cooling towel. This towel uses high grade and double weave mesh with evaporative technology.
Read moreThe more water it comfortably holds, the longer it takes to evaporate, which means that it stays cool longer. The Chill Pal Mesh Cooling Towel utilizes a thinner, comfy, and amazingly breathable design to keep you cool. Your purchase comes with a convenient plastic carry case, complete with a carabiner. The towel is available in five colors.
5. SYOURSELF
Soft Mesh Feel
Anti-bacterial Treatment
Quick Drying
Eco-Friendly
May Have An Odor
The SYourself cooling towel is a mesh towel that provides you with a soft cool extreme material. It makes use of a unique adopt core technology fitted with a special structure of "sweat-absorbent circulation, evaporation" to provide an enhanced physical cooling effect.
Read moreThis towel is amazingly soft to the touch. It is also lightweight, durable, compact, portable, and multifunctional. In addition, the towel has been treated to be anti-bacterial, anti-mite, anti-UV, no-static, no-chemical and breathable. The SYourself is one of the cooling towels that is quick drying. It will provide you with 3 hours of cooling. Your purchase comes with a waterproof portable couch with a carabiner. The towel is available in the following color: Blue, Dark Blue, Dark Purple, Green, Grey, Hot pink, Orange and Red.
6. Mission Enduracool
21 Color Options
Chemical Free
Soft And Absorbent
Machine Washable
Unravels Fast
The Mission Enduracool Techknit Cooling towel is one of the best priced cooling towels that we have come across. It provides that great value without losing its quality, thanks to its comfortable soft mesh fabric and long-lasting cooling technology.
Read moreThis towel comes in a truly impressive 21 color options, making it the most color versatile cooling towel of all cooling towels on this review page. This towel will not give you any of the stiffness or dryness that you will experience with PVC cooling towels. This cooling towel is completely chemical-free and is equipped with a proprietary technology that will cool you down by 30 degrees. The towel is reusable, machine washable and will even provide you with sun protection to an SPF 50 level.
7. NoApollo
4-pack
Soft And Breathable
Great Value
Knitted Microfiber
Color Bleeds
The No Apollo Instant Cooling towel set provides you with a compact set of four towels. These cooling towels are made from a soft breathable microfiber polyester/polyamide mesh fabric that creates a hyper-evaporative funnel that pulls heat away from the body and delivers an instant chilling effect.
Read moreAll four cooling towels measures 36 x 12 inches and your bundle is available in one of two options as follows: Option 1: 4 x Instant Cooling Towels (36"x12") – 1 Blue, 1 Red, 1 Green, 1 Violet Option 2: 4 x Instant Cooling Towels (36"x12") – 1 Bright Blue, 1 Orange, 1 Charcoal Black, 1 White. All four cooling towels have a 50 UPF rating to keep you protected for long hours in the sun. These cooling towels are made from 80% Polyester and 20% Polyamide. Your purchase is backed by a money-back guarantee. This bundle represents extremely good value for money.
8. Mission Enduracool Microfiber
Polyester And Nylon Blend
Lab Tested
Athlete Engineered
Thermo-Regulating Technology
Not Very Wide
The Mission Endurance Microfiber Cooling Towel is an athletic training towel that is made from 90% polyester and 10% nylon. It incorporates a proprietary technology that will cool you by as much as 30 degrees. It is both re-usable and machine washable. The dimensions of this towel are 33 x 12 inches, making it one of the smaller cooling towels in our review.
Read moreThis towel is chemical-free and provides you with SPF 50 protection. The Mission Enduracool Cooling Towel is athlete engineered and made from proprietary performance fabric that instantly cools when soaked with water, wrung out and is snapped in the air to activate its cooling properties. The thermo-regulating technology works by absorbing moisture and perspiration into the fabric where the unique radiator-like fiber construction circulates water molecules and regulates the rate of evaporation to create a prolonged cooling effect.
9. Way 2 Cool Mesh
Soft And Pliable
Chemical Free
Money-back Guarantee
Unique Mesh Design
Colors May Bleed
The Way 2 Cool cooling towel is an extremely soft and pliable mesh towel that features a unique mesh design that makes it very breathable. It’s chemical-free, lightweight and very versatile with dimensions of 12” x 38”. Using this cooling towel is a piece of cake.
Read moreJust soak it, wring out any excess water, and wear it! To reactivate it just re-wet it and use it over and over! You also get SPF 50 sun protection with this cooling towel. There is a wide range of colors to choose from with this towel and it comes in at an attractive price point.
10. Tough Outdoors Instant
Cushy And Soft
Can Be Worn As Bandana
Comes With Carry Bag
Hyper-evaporative
Lifetime Warranty
Too Thin
The Tough Outdoors Instant Cooling Towel is made from a soft, durable material. It will provide you with up to two hours of cooling relief. Just run it under water for one minute, wring the excess water out, place it around your neck, and you're all set!
Read moreWhen it warms up, just rewet to reactivate. This towel can also be worn as a neck wrap or a bandana. You get SPF 50 sun protection with this cooling towel as well as a lifetime guarantee. Your purchase also comes with a handy carry bag.
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Effectiveness
You might wonder just how well a cooling towel will work because after all, it’s just a simple towel, there’s no difference between it and a regular towel, right? Well, that isn’t all so true, because the secret lies in how the towels are made. They are made from a special kind of fabric that makes the towel cool for a long time after it’s been submerged in water and waved around in the air. These cooling towels will absorb all the heat and sweat from your body, helping you regulate your temps very well.
As we said, the major benefit of cooling towels is that it will enable you to regulate your temperature in hot weather. This is especially important when you are working out but is equally necessary when you are working in the backyard or if your job involves working outdoors.
Cooling towels will keep you dry while still being dry to the touch<. In fact, it is softer to the touch than a normal towel and will last longer than an off the rack towel. It will retain a sufficient level of moisture to be able to keep you comfortably cool in the heat. All in all, the cooling towels are quite effective when it comes to keeping you safe from a heat stroke.
Use
Cooling towels are a great idea - but why how do you use it, and even better, why should you use it? For starters, you need it to keep your body temperature stable, which is very important when you exercise, because otherwise, you might faint or even get a heat stroke!
All you have to do in order to cool yourself down with one of these cooling towels is to first wet it, either with tap water, in a pool, or even in the sea. Then you have to wring it - you must get most of the excess water out of the towel for it to work the best! And then simply wave it around in the air to activate that lovely cooling property, and you’re good to go!
Keeping cool while working out isn’t just going to make you more comfortable - it is a potential lifesaver. Getting overheated while working out in extreme temperatures could lead to heat exhaustion, heatstroke or heat cramps. Many runners have experienced this, citing that they suddenly feel great and relaxed when they run, only to faint a few seconds after that, overcome by heatstroke.
Heat rash and muscle cramps are early signs of the body being overcome by heat. They need to be dealt with in order to prevent more serious heat-related issues from developing. When your skin turns red and dry, you know that you are being negatively impacted by heat.
Here are some things you can do in addition to using cooling towels, in order to deal with the heat. You can always try wearing lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothing, that covers your limbs completely. Do not opt for shorts or t-shirts if you are very sensitive to the sun, even if you are wearing sunscreen! Also, you should always have a hat on your head or carry a parasol that will give you plenty of shade. And speaking of sunscreen, make sure that you are covered in it. Do not be shy from using quite a lot of it - but don’t overdo it, because it won’t be absorbed into your skin. The sunscreen has to have a factor of at least 15 SPF, but the more it has the better.
Of course, make sure to drink plenty of water if you are going to be staying in the sun. You should always drink plenty of fluids, but increase your uptake of water when you spend time in the heat. Ayran is a great source of salt - this is a popular Arabic drink that you can easily make, and it will keep you safe in the heat. After all, Arabic countries have the most sun, and they know the best fix for unbearing heat. And, abstain from drinking caffeinated drinks, such as coffee or soda, or alcohol, because they dehydrate your body, which is the last thing you want when you’re sweating like crazy.
The heat can cause a lot of things, ranging from blisters to headaches, and some more serious consequences. Heat exhaustion is a common reaction to the heat, and a heat stroke is a very serious reaction to the heat. Here is what you need to look out for if you think you have heat exhaustion.
Firstly, you will probably start to sweat a lot, as your body tries to fight off the overbearing warmth. You also might feel weak and confused, thanks to your increased body temperature. Dizziness and even fainting are a possibility - when you start to feel lightheaded and dizzy, quickly find a place to sit down in order to escape the fainting spell! Your heart may speed up as well, making it hard to breathe. As the day goes on, you will likely feel nauseated, and might even have diarrhea, which will dehydrate you even more, so it’s very important to drink a lot of water! If your urine is dark-colored, dehydration already started to take place, and try your best to keep down as many fluids as you can - but don’t drink too much all at once, as you may vomit, rendering your effort worthless.
If you think that you have heatstroke you should stop exercising immediately. Be sure that you are drinking plenty of water. Stay away from alcohol or caffeinated drinks, which have a dehydrating effect. Take a cool shower and apply cooling towels on your skin. If your symptoms do not subside within thirty minutes, you should consult your medical professional.
Heatstroke occurs when the internal body temperature of a person reaches 104 degrees Fahrenheit. This can happen when you are pushing too hard during strenuous exercise in high temperatures. Heatstroke is more serious than heat exhaustion. It can cause permanent damage to your internal organs and in extreme cases, death.
The symptoms of a heat stroke are similar to the ones of heat exhaustion, but they will be severe. Your regular headache will be super strong and severe, with blinding pain that is seemingly unrelenting. When you have a heat stroke, your body will actually stop sweating in order to conserve the little fluid it has left. You will also feel dizzy and lightheaded, and may often faint. Your skin will appear flushed or red, thanks to the increased body temperature, and possible sunburns. Your muscles will feel very weak, and they may even cramp up.
Nausea will turn into vomiting, and again you must make sure you drink water, as much as you can keep down without throwing up. Your breathing and heart rate will increase, and you may feel confused or disoriented. And the most serious symptom is seizures, so if you think that you or someone you are with has a heat stroke, get to a doctor immediately. On the way, try to cool the person as best you can. Use cooling towels, as well as ice packs to the armpits, groin, neck, and back.
Water Capacity
Your cooling tower needs to be able to absorb enough water in order to work properly. Truth be told, you can do this with a regular towel as well, it will absorb the same amount of water as a cooling towel would. People have been staying safe from the heat for decades by wrapping a wet towel around their heads, sometimes even urinating on the towels to stay safe! Whatever works to keep you safe from the heat. But, the new cooling towels take cooling you down a step further from regular towels, and it’s all thanks to that water they absorbed.
The fabric that is used to create the cooling towels is much lighter, releases water in a more controlled matter, and holds water very well, so it will have enough water to release to keep you cool for a very long time. The towel also won’t get heavy when it gets wet, which makes the cooling tower superior here as well. It works by absorbing the heat from your body and transporting it into the moisture present in the towel, and when that moisture evaporates, you are left with a chill, cool towel that will save you from the warmth. Also, you won’t be lugging a few extra wet pounds when you use the cooling towels! They do absorb water very well, and you won’t even know it before actually trying it out.
Versatility
Cooling towels will definitely cool down your body, but what else can these handy towels do? If you ever stayed too long in the sun, chances are that you have been burned, lightly or even worse. You might not even notice how severe the burn is, and you will only realize it long after you got out of the sun. Once you settle down, your skin will start to heat up and sting really badly, and what do you need to help soothe down all of those bad symptoms? A cooling towel!
Most cooling towel producers make sure that the cooling towels make their users less prone to sunburns, as the surface of the towel actually has UPF sunscreen protection. This is a very helpful feature that will keep you safe from the harmful rays of the sun, as they block most of the spectrum that can hurt us. Of course, you can’t use the towel instead of a good sunscreen - you will still need to protect yourself in addition to the towel.
Some producers are even aware that their buyers want to look cool and express themselves with their Cooling towels, which is why they exist in many colors besides white. Also, the cooling towels must be washable, either by hand or in a machine - a dirty towel is a bad towel! Before you throw your towel in a machine, check whether or not you can do so. If not, wash it by hand in a sink with a mild soap ad in lukewarm water, and your towel will be as good as new.
Also, do not wash anything else with the towel, because they are prone to leaking their color, and they might stain your clothes. Lastly, many manufacturers include a bag or a pouch of sorts with the towel which you can pack it in. The pouch is small and convenient, and you can take it with you wherever you go so you can stay cool and well protected all the time.
Materials
Basically, the prime consideration comes down to the choice of material that the Cooling towels are constructed from. The four main fabric types are PVA, Microfiber, a hybrid of these two materials and pre-soaked terry cloth cotton towels. No matter what you choose, the towel will keep you cool effectively, but some of their properties may not be the same, for example, PVA towels tend to stiffen up when they dry, and the other cooling towels may have a chemical smell that will linger for a while.
Let’s consider the pros and cons of each type:
PVA Fabric:
PROS
-Super-absorbent material retains water for long periods
-Long lasting cool
-Reusable
-Machine Washable
-Customization with logos possible
CONS
-Cooling towels become rigid when they dry out
-Color selections are more limited in most brands
Microfiber:
PROS
-Ultra-soft fabric
-Provides cooling longer than standard fabrics
-Reusable
-Machine Washable
-Customization with logos possible
CONS
-Cooling doesn't last as long as some other options
Hybrid:
PROS
-Soft AND long lasting cool
-A new and innovative concept
-Reusable
-Machine Washable
CONS
-Few options currently available
-Limited color selection
Pre-soaked Terry Cloth Cotton Towels:
PROS
-Soft
-A new and innovative concept
-Reusable towel
-Resealable packaging
-Machine Washable
-Pre-moistened
CONS
-Few options currently available
-Limited color selection
-Cooling ends after the all-natural additives have run out
Expert Interviews & Opinions
These cooling towels are special towels, and as such, they require special care. When you first get your towel, you will likely find it wrapped in plastic. Open the plastic and take out your brand new towel, and then simply rinse it in warm water before you actually use it for the first time. This will loosen the fibers that make up the towel and help you use it easier once you decide to do so.
Then, wet the towel with cool water - the colder the water, the cooler the towel will be, and the more water you leave in the towel, the longer it will stay cool! When it starts to become warm, simply wet it again and it will cool down. After you’ve used your towel if you notice that it is dirty, first rinse it in warm water, and then either hand wash it or put it in a machine. Do not use a dryer!
If you want your towel to be ready at any time, simply wet it and put it in a bag, then place the bag in your fridge and the towel will be ready whenever you need it to be. When you stop using the towel, it will become stiff. This is normal and is no cause for concern. Once you re ready to use it again, simply wet it again and it’s ready to go!
Other Factors to Consider
Bottom Line
Cooling towels are a cool new addition to the gym market. It provides you with a means to regulate your temperature regardless of how hot it gets. It’s a really useful tool that you can take with you and use whenever and wherever you want, making it both convenient and reliable. We hope our comprehensive guide has helped you understand the towels better, and that you have managed to find your new cooling towel from our list of 10 best cooling towels with ease.
Frequently Asked Questions
q: What’s better - a PVA or a soft cooling towel?
Choosing which material you want your towel to be made out of might be a tough task, especially if you do not have any previous experience with the materials. You should know that no matter what you choose, you will make a good choice because they both have their advantages. A PVA towel will hold more water and will, therefore, keep you cooler for longer, but it will become stiff when dry because that’s simply how PVA behaves. However, the soft cooling towels will require more frequent re-wetting but will stay softer for longer.
q: What do I do when the towel stops keeping me cool?
Once the towel starts to lose the amount of water it has absorbed, it will start to gradually warm-up. A warm towel will not keep you cool, and you will want it to start cooling you down again. All you need to do is simply re-wet the towel, wring it and snap it and it will continue to keep you cool. It’s as easy as that!
q: Can I put a PVA towel in the refrigerator or freezer
This is a great idea when you want to have your towel ready without needing to activate it first! A PVA towel can be placed in the refrigerator but not in the freezer. If you put it in the freezer, the water that is contained within it will freeze, causing the towel to become brittle. You should put the cooling towel in a resealable plastic bag before placing it in the fridge.
q: Can I wear my towel at night to keep me cool?
Many people tend to overheat when they sleep, waking up as wet as never before. Night sweats are one of the most common complaints and can sometimes lead us to believe that something serious is going on, but it’s usually just that we sleep in a room that is too hot. A cooling towel while you sleep might seem like a great idea. But sadly it is not recommended that you use it while you sleep.
Cooling towels need to be exposed to air in order to work properly because the water needs to evaporate in order to cool you down. If you put the towel under yourself you will prevent it from doing so, and might even feel hotter than before. You also need to turn the towel when you use it, which is something that you probably won’t do when you sleep!
q: Why does a cooling towel make me break out in a rash?
The materials that are used in cooling towels are made out of having been deemed as medically safe, and they have been tested to be non-allergenic. But if you use it all the time, without giving your skin a break, you might develop a rash, especially if your skin is very sensitive. The material is so absorptive that it will actually start to soak up the moisture from your skin, leaving it dry and cracked.
This results in a skin rash and irritation. Your best bet to avoid this is to use cooling towels that have plenty of moisture and makes sure to take a break after one hour of use, more or less. If you still experience reacting, stop using the towel immediately as you might be allergic to it!