As we swelter through the the record heat this summer, options for keeping cool abound. Cooling mattresses pad systems, portable fans, towels and apparel promise relief from hot or muggy weather. These options are especially attractive to me, a woman in her 40’s stating to experience temperature changes that come with age. Yes, although I feel 35, chronologically I have reached that stage of life when hot flashes have been introduced to my life. I am determined to either ignore or alleviate them. I will admit, earlier this summer, I even invested nearly $800 in the fancy Ooler cooling mattress pad that is so highly recommended on consumer sites. However, when I unboxed and set it up, I was dismayed that the tube and apparatus that make cold water circulate were rather unsightly and reminded me of a hospital bed. So, back it went, and now I have some cooling sheets that seem to work pretty well, especially when my air conditioning is blasting and fan is whirring above. I also have a Luna cooling weighted blanket. Not sure how much it actually cools, but I do fall asleep almost immediately when it is covering my body.
Bedding and sleep systems can help immensely at night, and I still need help to endure the intense daytime heat. So, I was eager to try the items offered by Fieldsheer’s Mobile cooling when a friend there mentioned them. I was lucky to try a tank top, long sleeved UV-protectant hoodie, face mask, and towel. While all of the items had benefits, my favorite by for was the cooling towel. I’ll discuss each here in turn.
1) Towel!! This was my favorite item out of the bunch. I love how I could run this under the tap for a few minutes, then, when I was working out, just snap it and enjoy the water activated cooling. I can see how Fieldsheer®’s Mobile Cooling® towel would work in many different situations, whether you are working out at home, outside, in the gym, hiking, attending an outdoor music festival, or just about any other sport or activity. I don’t quite understand the how the Hydrologic® fabric absorbs moisture to result in a cool and dry feeling, but it does! I am definitely keeping this nearby for any future home or outdoor workouts.
2) Apparel. Both the tank and hoodie promise to cool your body via the Drirelease ® Moisture Wicking Cooling system. That system is supposed to “pull sweat away and dry the garment quickly (up to 4x faster than traditional clothing).” The materials on these items also tout “regulation of skin temperature up to 7 degrees cooler.” Happily, the items are also eco friendly, made of 92% recycled polyester fabric with no chemical coating. They feature Sunsheer™ Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) of 50+ to block 98 % of harmful UV rays. Both items feature ventilated mesh on back, sides, and underarms.
So, did they work? In reality, these felt like any other workout tops with venting. I didn’t feel cooler when working out in them than I do when wearing other workout tops. I feel like most athletic apparel these days is made with some sort of wicking technology, and venting certainly helps with airflow.
3) Face mask. Like the apparel, the face mask also features cooling, moisture-wicking, and sun protection. I’ve been vaccinated for a few months and live in Colorado, so have not worn a mask as frequently lately as I used to. When I did wear this mask for a few hours, it felt like other facial masks I have tried. The only success I have had in not feeling suffocated by a mask was with Primal’s x-frame system, which actually lifts the fabric off of your face via patented technology.
Certainly the items from Fieldsheer’s Mobile Cooling line are worth trying if you are suffering from the hot flashes that come with perimenopause or menopause. If you do check them out, drop me a line to let me know what you thought! Hope you stay cool, calm and collected out there…..