If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Rolling Stone may receive an affiliate commission. Temperatures across the country (and the world) are reaching record highs this summer, with Sunday, July 21 clocking in at the hottest day in recorded history according to preliminary data from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service . At 62.
76 Fahrenheit (17.09 degrees Celsius), this record comes amidst hundred of cities across the U.S.
experiencing their hottest summer on record, which means staying cool is more important than ever. Being exposed to constant heat, especially at night, can potentially cause health issues over time. Your body simply needs time to cool down every day — and though it’s impossible to change the weather, we’ve found ways you can make your environment more comfortable when it starts getting scorching outside.
What Are the Best Products for Staying Cool In the Heat? We’ve focused on solutions that work regardless of whether you’re a homeowner or renter, and can keep you cool for long periods of time instead of short bursts (although we’ve added some of our favorite personal methods for reducing sweatiness). If you’ve already had enough of the heat this summer, the gear below can get you through the next few months as comfortably as possible. $419.
00 $449.00 7% off The most effective way to cool down a room in your home is to install an air conditioner, and I’ve found this Windmill AC powerful enough for rooms big and small (I’ve taken it through multiple NYC apartment moves). It has a digital screen that displays the temperature, and buttons that allow you to make single-degree changes.
Entry-level air conditioners require you to choose a pre-determined coolness setting, but the fine controls here are welcome (especially when it’s the quietest AC we’ve ever used on full blast). We’re also big fans of this air conditioner’s Wi-Fi connectivity, which allows you to turn it on and change the temperature with your phone. The ability to turn your air conditioner on before you get home, so you enter a comfortable home is a big deal.
$128.99 $329.99 61% off Evaporative coolers use a fan to blow evaporated water from a tank in its base to cool down your room.
This method of cooling can lower the temperature of an enclosed space (think your bedroom) by up to 10 degrees. This one from Costway has a 12-liter water tank and can cool a room up to 200 square feet while still remaining fairly unobtrusive. It has an LED screen that displays the temperature, plus an array of fan settings that let you customize how it works.
In our testing we found it won’t work as effectively as a regular air conditioner, so we recommend using the “max” mode if you’re trying to cool down a room quickly in a pinch. That being said, try out this evaporative cooler if you want a cooling system that’s a lot more energy-efficient (or if window space is a premium). $234.
99 $249.99 6% off A premium, oscillating fan is the perfect cooling system if you can’t install an air conditioner, but only need to cool down one room. Paris Rhône’s tower fan has a sleek design that will blend right into your space.
Plus, it comes with a wireless remote to adjust its four speed settings and three oscillation modes. It can quickly cool up your space, too, combining the best features of usually bulky evaporative coolers in a slim package with ice packs or cold water — I was able to feel the effects in under 30 minutes on a hot summer day. Set up was quick and easy too, and the fan’s operation is super quiet — 25dB according to the brand — so it won’t disturb you even if you have it on all night.
There are auto-off features as well, just in case you’re worried about your new fan working overtime. $399+ $619+ 36% off As its name implies, the Cocoon by Sealy Chill Mattress was designed specifically for people who run hot when they sleep. The mattress is comprised of four foam layers, which contour to your body while still providing ample support.
Sealy says its mattress is a six on the scale of soft to firm. These memory foam layers are wrapped in Sealy’s cooling cover, which is made out of a custom “phase change material,” that was designed to absorb and dispense heat. One of our editors tested the mattress for themselves and found the mattress’s materials actually worked.
If you run hot while you sleep, changing your mattress (especially if it’s old) can make a big difference. Better still, Sealy is currently running a 36% off sale on this mattress and is including a pair of pillows and a set of sheets at no extra cost. This brings a queen-sized mattress down from $1,709 to $699.
$149+ If you’re happy with your mattress, but do run hot at night, we recommend picking up a set of Regulator Sheets from MySheetsRock . They’re made of bamboo, which makes them naturally more breathable than your average cotton or polyester. The materials MySheetsRock uses also wick moisture, so you won’t wake up sweaty in the middle of the night.
We’ve had the chance to try the Regulator sheets out, and they’ve become our go-to bedding during this past (brutal) heat wave in NYC. They’re super soft, and we definitely noticed a comfort difference when using them in a warmer room. The feeling was especially stark when we woke up after a full night’s sleep — instead of feeling sticky and gross, we felt fine.
$489.00 $599.00 18% off “I have friends who can’t live without this because one of them runs hot while the other runs cold while they sleep,” says Senior Director of Commerce, Tim Chan .
If you’re unconvinced that cooling sheets can actually make any significant difference, allow us to introduce you to the BedJet 3 — the closest thing you can get to sticking your head in the freezer or warming your hands near the fireplace in your bed. Especially if you and your partner have different body temps, the powered ventilation wicks body heat and moisture out of the bed or gives deep, sauna-like heat in minutes for fast relief no matter how you sleep. Note that this isn’t a portable air conditioner, so it won’t be as effective if your room is extremely hot.
But it’s as easy as counting sheep to just slide under your bed, control your side of the duvet down to the degree on the app , and slip into sweat-free dreamland. $18.76 One of the most effective ways to cool a room is to make sure it doesn’t get too hot in the first place.
We’ve been using these blackout curtains as a temperature control measure, and it’s surprising how much of a difference it makes. This two-panel set from Rutterllow comes in two pieces that are 42-inches wide and 63-inches long. The company offers them in an assortment of sizes and colors, but their performance is the same.
As a bonus, using thick blackout curtains can also act as insulation to prevent cold air leaking from your window to enter your room. $88 It doesn’t matter how well you’ve insulated your space against a heatwave when you step out of the house — those rays of sun come for us all. While you might think that “sweat-wicking” fabrics are exclusively reserved for activewear, lululemon actually makes some amazingly airy casual threads that we’ve been tossing on all summer.
This everyday button-up is made with their naturally breathable “WovenAir” fabric, and it’s great for on-the-go, running-errands-in-90-degree-heat days. Its got a roomy fit and four-way stretch too, so you can pair it with a white tank underneath for an extra sweat barrier (or for style reasons). Wear it on vacation, to happy hour, or just if you run naturally hot.
$17.99 If you’ve been seeing this viral mini fan everywhere lately, trust us when we say it’s because it’s the best. Not only is the two-speed fan powerful enough to generate a cooling breeze on a hot day, it’s super compact and portable at just under five inches tall, which makes it incredibly packable for travel.
The Jisulife Handheld Mini Fan — which comes in five colors — single-handedly got me through the heat and humidity of both New Orleans Jazz Fest and trip to Disney World in Orlando. We love that it folds back in on itself, conveniently storing away in a pocket or belt bag. But don’t be fooled by it’s size — the device is like the Swiss Army knife of fans, as it doubles as a flashlight function and an external power bank to charge your phone.
It’s also USB rechargeable and has a super long battery life of up to 21 hours on a full charge. Just speaking from personal experience, though — don’t drop it down the shaft of the Tower of Terror, or you will regret it. $23.
59 Liquid I.V.’s best-selling Hydration Multiplier delivers quick hydration to your bloodstream, which is great if you feel yourself dehydrating fast in the heat.
To use, just mix one stick of this electrolyte powder into 16oz of water (you may want to use more water if you find the taste or powder too strong). Liquid I.V.
says their packets contain three times the electrolytes of traditional sports drinks, plus potassium, vitamin C, B3, B5, B6, and B12 (it’s also GMO-free and contains no artificial ingredients). Individually wrapped packets make this easy to take with you on-the-go, and we’ve been known to stash several of these in our carry-ons while traveling on cross-country flights. (Pro trip: order these through FreshDirect if you also want to avoid stepping out in the heat to go grocery shopping!) Staying hydrated is critical during the summer, and having quick access to a beverage that’s actually cold is even more important.
The Stanley IceFlow Bottle is our favorite vessel for drinking ice-cold water on the go. This featherweight alternative from the viral brand keeps drinks cold for up to eight hours, while ice cubes can remain frozen for as long as 40 hours. We were equally impressed by the fact that Stanley’s bottles don’t impart a metallic taste into the water, even after several hours.
We particularly love the soft, comfort-grip handle, which makes it easy to carry while sightseeing and hiking (not to mention, it’s available in a number of signature shades to start your collection). Stanley may be best known for its travel cups, but this water bottle is the latest Stanley product to put on the top of your shopping list for the summer. $149.
00 $179.00 17% off We’ve sung the praises before of Torras’ Coolify line of personal “neck air conditioners,” but their latest model for 2024 is one of the best new neck fans you could get. This portable, wearable fan cools down to 27 degrees Fahrenheit in seconds thanks to a built in semiconductor radiator plate on the back curve.
Since the blood vessels and nerves at the back of the neck have the closest connection to the brain, this is supposed to help cool you down more effectively than just blowing air alone. If you’re planning a long hike or an intense workout, it serves as solid accessory to have on hand to help manage your body temperature, and it felt slightly more effective than a hand fan when I was standing for hours in the sun during NYC’s Pride Parade. It lasts 2-4 hours in cooling mode and 3.
5-8 hours in fan mode, so it’s able to keep up with you on even your busiest days. And, when the cold months set in, you can even use it as a portable heater . $13.
99 If you’re the kind of person who likes to run through those park-style water misters, one way to take that instant cooling relief with you is with a good face mist. We love to spritz this Avène Thermal Spring Water spray on our skin whenever we’re in need of a quick refresh. It doesn’t have any heavy fragrances, so you won’t get a headache from spraying it directly over your face, and the unique mineral-rich composition means it won’t dry out your skin the more you apply it on.
Thankfully, it’s also small enough to toss in a purse or backpack so you can get that ‘ aaaaah’ feeling wherever you go. $52.49 If you have the luxury of a backyard, you can make the most of it by setting up an inflatable pool .
This one from Intex is just large enough at 120-inches long, 72-inches wide, and 22-inches deep. That’s enough room to accommodate you and a couple of friends, and can hold about 264 gallons of water. Spending time outdoors during a heatwave is always going to be slightly uncomfortable, but Intex’s inflatable pool gives you a comfortable place to hang out with friends, especially in the shade.
$96.80 $129 25% off The pillow you use can make a big impact on the quality of your sleep, and that’s doubly true if you tend to overheat at night. Brooklyn Bedding’s Luxury Cooling Pillow is made out of memory foam that promotes airflow through pinhole-sized openings.
The pillow has also been treated with a cooling gel that can actually draw out heat from your head and neck. This is a big departure from traditional pillows, which tend to insulate your head and neck, trapping heat. If you prefer memory foam bedding, this Luxury Cooling Pillow is an excellent choice year-round.
Its unique design simply makes it an even better choice when you’re hot. $289 $349 17% off Layla Sleep’s Gel Mattress Topper is infused with a copper gel, which the company says absorbs heat from your entire body. The topper is two inches thick and uses the same memory foam as Layla Sleep’s popular mattress.
While it’s designed to work best with a Layla Sleep mattress, we’ve used this mattress topper on a basic Ikea mattress and found it works well and isn’t stuffy to sleep on. We’re also happy to report this mattress topper is available in sizes ranging from Twin to California King, which means you could even use it in a dorm room. Layla Sleep’s Gel Mattress Topper is an excellent bedding accessory to help keep you cool this summer, and that’s especially true if you pair it with a set of breathable sheets .
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