The human body is a magnificent machine, especially when it comes to processing and transferring heat. However, an extremely hot day can cause extreme discomfort, dehydration, and lots of sweating. Most doctors and health enthusiasts recommend at least eight glasses of water throughout the day. This may conquer the dehydration on a hot day, but it does not usually get rid of the discomfort.

The concept behind body coolers is to use man-made tools to further the evaporation or heat transference process. The hand fan is perhaps the oldest body cooling tool in history; as the air passes over the hot skin, it evaporates any moisture and lowers the surface temperature. During hot days, ancient people also washed themselves with cool water using washcloths and misting sprays to keep their skin temperature lower.

When trying to cool the body through unnatural methods, it is best to concentrate on areas of the head and neck. Because the head is one of the parts of the body that allows heat to escape the most, many body coolers are shaped like hats or headbands to suck heat from the body. The mind also responds well when the back of the neck is cooled off by a cold bandana or frozen ice pack.

Body Coolers that Truly Beat the Heat

Today, there are many modern body-cooling products to choose from, including small personal fans that can either be hand-held or hung around the neck. Others take the form of cylindrical fabric tubes filled with freezable chemical packs that can be worn around the neck or around the head for more than a couple of hours. These can be worn underneath sports outfits without the worry of excessive moisture due to condensation and can be frozen and defrosted over and over throughout the day.