Aqua Cool Scarf

[Bobrow]

I know these things have been mentioned before but I want to tell you they really work. I just got back from the parade in our town and it was 98 and humid,I had that thing around my neck and it kept me very comfortable. i got mine at WalMart for $5 and change. Well worth the money. I'm going to get one for everyone in my family for our Aug. WDW trip

[Minnie's Pal]

Pardon me, but...... what in the heck is that thing?

[adamak]

Where do you buy them and how to wear them?

[campingcorgi]

I got mine at Wal-Mart for $2.99. It is a tube-like scarf that has some beads (polymer?) in it. You soak it in cool water and the beads swell up. Then you put it around your neck and it cools you off without wetting you. It will take several days to dry completely. You can just re-soak it each day. Really cool--pun intended!

[IowaGirl]

You buy them at a Wal-Mart sporting good section. (2.88 plus tax) They are just a small bandana, so they are not easy to find, they hang on a peg. Come in lots of different material patterns.
They were vital to keeping us cool last May with 95 degree days. Soak in water and they swell and dehydrate on you thru the day. We soaked in ice water at hotel and carried in a plastic grocery bag till we decided to put them on, and I refreshed them throughout the day with ice water, just to stay cool.

[tink2dw]

Here is a link to a pic of the cooling scarf,at www.WorknPlayGear.com. They are only $4.12 !!


http://www.worknplaygear.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=wnpg&Product_Code=OC_940&Category_Code=personal_cooling

[DisneyHumbug]

Are they very heavy?

[Bobrow]

No,they aren't heavy. I thought it would be annoying to have something around my neck when it was hot out but it didn't bother me at all. I found them in the Sporting Good department in Wal Mart near athletic accessories(athletic supporters and such).

[DisneyHumbug]

Thanks for the info! I think I'll get some today.....sounds better than carrying around those heavy misters.

[candykisses]

I didn't see them at our Walmart. Is it called an called Aqua Cool Scarfs? I'll have to ask a clerk if it's carried in our store.

[Chance's Mom]

Yippee--I am so glad to hear that they work!

I purchased them in anticipation of our trip in Aug.

I found them at Walmart hanging up in a section of sporting goods gadgets, etc. The clerk had no clue-good luck.

[Meriweather]

They do not carry them in all Wal-Marts.
I looked at looked at the nearest one to me and finally asked the person in the sporting good department and he had no idea what I was talking about.....but I went to another one and they had them.

[Bobrow]

I just found a web site for the bandanas along with visors and caps. I might order from them. It's www.coolbandanas.com. I'm sorry but I don't know how to do the thing that you can just click on the website and you automatically go there.

[adamak]

Do they sell it anywhere in FL / WDW? We only have a Kmart in NYC, and dont' think they'll sell such a thing. And we're going in 2 weeks, too late to order online.
:(

[denecarter]

is sodium polyacrelate (sp?)... Anyway. It's pretty neat stuff. If you've accidently torn a disposable diaper in the last several years, you've probably seen the stuff. It is used in all kinds of products besides diapers. It's small crystals when dry and swells up into gel beads (think tapioca) when wet. It can hold a lot of water... more fresh water than salt water (salt seems to make it release some of the water), more warm water than cold, etc. Both the volume and the mass increase a lot due to the water.

I'm an 8th grade science teacher... the 2nd day of class each year, I give my students two disposable diapers and they have to create and perform an experiment with the diapers. Afterwards, they get to "dissect" the diapers to see the gel. It's a fun way to start the year... I get them to look at common things in a sciency way and they find out real quick that I'm a little odd. :p

[jgates]

Well, I went thru EVERY aisle in the sporting/camping area - none in my store. I get so tired of waiting for a Super WalMart - ours is small.

Shall we place bets that I forget to look when I get by a Super WM the next time?

(None on-line)

[WhitneyThePooh]

My mom and I bought some at Wal Mart a long time ago before I had ever heard of them, just because we were curious! Well we soaked them in water and they lasted for DAYS! It's definetly a good investment for WDW! :p

[LisaNJ25]

You can also make them yourself. Most garden stores sell the crystals. All you have to do is sew a few straight lines. I made one for my husband who works outside all day and they worked great.

I had the crystals on hand becasue I use them to make air freshners.

If you go to http://www.disneydollarless.com/articles/LauraB062002.shtml

you can see the directions that one member posted.

Lisa

[pixiechick]

Great idea, Lisa! :Pinkbounc I'll definately give it a try!
Thanks!:jester:

[tink2dw]

The cooling scarf at www.WorknPlayGear.com are only $4.12 !! And they come in many styles and colors. They even have cooling wrist bands!!

2 cooling wrist bands,1 neck cooling scarf = Very Cool indeed!

[JillU-DVC]

Here's a site with some really great directions on making these.

Sewing directions for Polymer Cool bands (http://4h.wsu.edu\clothing\quick.htm)

I'd advise to use a high quality cotton for these, the more tightly woven the better, because one poster mentioned they turn into slimy balls when the crystals are wet. I have one I bought that was made from lower quality fabric, and it does ooze jelly-like stuff when I use it.

Also, some people can be sensitive to this gel/crystal stuff, so just be aware of it; if you start to break out, take it off and don't use it!

I bought the crystals as Walmart a week or so ago; i'm going to make some myself for our next trip.

[lopo]

denecarter, you don't sound weird at all. You sound like a cool (creative, interesting, engaging, etc.) Science teacher!

[danicaw]

I know they have a version of these at REI.
There brand is Kafka's Kool Tie and they run $9.00 - a bit on the high end.

I like the idea of making your own in Disney fabric.

Cool! (no pun intended)

[MickeyMonstersMom]

jgates - I hear you about Wal-Mart! I've been to 3 (one was a Super) looking for these things. I finally tried my hometown store "one last time" and asked the manager in the sporting goods section. Sure enough, he led me right to them. They are packaged smaller than I'd expected, and are easy to overlook.

Lori

[Debbie7452]

They also make a Kool visor which works really good too. I bought mine at Academy Sports and outdoors here in TX.

[nluvwithdisney]

I purchased two yesterday at Wal-Mart for our trip next month. I'm going to do a test run to see if they work.

[BevS97]

I;m pretty sure they were selling these at WDW last month. I didn't buy one, so I'm not sure if it was exactly the same, but we saw something like this at a number of the stands in the park.

bev

[Chance's Mom]

I bet they cost more than $2.59 at Disney!;)

[Magickndm]

I saw them this past weekend at WDW, they cost $5.00 and are covered in Disney material. Not too bad, but we had gone to Wal Mart and bought ours for $2.88. I'm thinking of buying Disney material to cover mine, it would make it easier to clean if I could just slip off a cover.

[Maleficent2]

I have posted this befor, we have both the ones from Walmart and the ones from WDW.

They WDW ones are much better quailty and can be frozen the Walmart ones can not they tend to ooze out gel.



The WDW also dry out better than the walmart ones.


Although all were made by the same company.



Mal

[ColoradoBuffaloMom]

I had been looking for these everywhere in anticipation of our trip to WDW this week and have had no luck finding them. I was at a soccer tournament for my son yesterday and two venders were selling them so I bought one for $5.

[A kid at heart]

I went to Michaels yesterday and bought the crystals and I have some nice material so I am making some of my own. I have 2 that I bought, but I want to have a few extra on hand.

[tink2dw]

What is the cost to make 3 of these??

[dcfromva]

I went right out to Walmart to buy one of these scarves and test it out! (The guy at Walmart knew just what I was talking about and took me right to them!)

I used my scarf right away to go outside and weed the garden. After taking it out of the bowl of water, I did notice that the gell stuff oozing out of the seam--just a tiny bit. The scarf made me feel cooler and more comfortable.

One caution--the one I picked out (a forest green one) was not colorfast-- now my white shirt has green accents around the collar :)--you might want to be careful the first time you check it out.

I think this scarf is nice--seems to do just what they said it would.

-DC :D

[buzz2400]

If you go to the sporting goods section and can't find them, first ask an employee. If they don't know what you are talking about, look for the "cups" that men wear for sporting goods events. I don't know the exact word they use for these. That was wear they were in this Walmart. I bypassed this section and they were right under these "cups". Very hard to spot. We had looked up every aisle separately and I finally asked an employee.

[Bobrow]

At my Walmart they called that section,the athletic accessories section. Thats where I found them.

[ttfnpooh]

We make them and they are really easy to make. Just a bit of advice for anyone going to make them....they sell two different types of crystals that you can use. The one kind is a teal/green color and the other brand is kind of clear. Use the CLEAR ones. The teal/green colored ones when soaked will turn any and everything that greenish color. You also have to only use 2tbs. of the crystals. If you use more they will start to ooze out. We have been selling them at festivals around Ohio that my grandfather does. They do stay cool for a long time.

[dpaine]

We just bought our Kool scarfs. But let me ask any of you that have used them. You need to soak them in cold water for 30 minute. But it states not to put them in a plastic bag. I do not want to wear mine right away to the park (we leave in two weeks), but I want it to be ready. Does the outer material stay wet or does it dry? Any ideas?? Thanks!!:cool:

[mudd]

You can usually also find them at sporting goods stores, such as Academy sports and outdoors.

[A kid at heart]

when I went intot he park I kept mine in a baggie until I got into the park and then used it. it wasn't in there that long. just a monorail ride from the contemp to the mk.

[Maleficent2]

We kept our in baggies all day.


Again let me reinforce that the ones we bought at WDW were much better quailty than the ones we bought at Walmart. They cost a little less than dbl of the Walmart ones.But well worth the money spent because the Disney ones accidently got frozen in the frig and never oozed anything.


Mal

[dcfromva]

Mal,
I bought one of the walmart specials just to test out the technology :) I do plan to buy the ones at Disney, too. I was wondering---at WDW, where did you find yours? Also, do the directions on the Disney scarves say it is okay to freeze them--or was it an accident?
-DC

[dcfromva]

dpaine,
I do not want to wear mine right away to the park (we leave in two weeks), but I want it to be ready. Does the outer material stay wet or does it dry?

I have an aqua cool scarf which I activated (I wanted to see how it worked before we left) I soaked for about 5 mins and it was activated. It was soaking wet when I first took it out, but after about 2 hours, it was pretty much dry to the touch.
My directions say: Do not STORE in a closed bag or airtight container. With the high water content, I would worry about the whole thing getting moldy if it were stored in a plastic bag for more than a short time.
-DC

[ShariB]

We bought the ones at WDW and I wet them and put them in a plastic bag overnight in the fridge for the next morning. When we took them out to wear them they had quite a "rotten egg" odor to them. My DD had been wearing one of them for two days prior and never noticed this odor so we think it was from being kept in plastic. I don't remember if we used Florida water or filtered but it wasn't very pleasant! After they had been out of plastic awhile we could stand to use them again.

[pinhopper]

To Malificent2 or anyone else who bought this at WDW,

Do you remember what patterns/colors the WDW scarves came in? And which store(s) could you buy them in?

Thanks for any info you can offer...

[ShariB]

The only pattern I saw anywhere was a royal blue background with the words "Walt Disney World" and Disneyland" and Mickey Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Pluto on it. We saw them at many of the streetcart vendors and also in some of the shops. They were pretty easy to find. :D

[Colleen A.]

This things sound great!!:) My HD works in a warehouse all day (the company decided to cut the budget when building and not install ANY ceiling fans!:mad: ) and we have had such a HOT summer (already over 25 days over 90!!). We won't be in Disney til Dec and I really don't anticipate needing one then, but he would love it for work. He has one of those misty fans but it doesn't offer constant relief. I'll have to call our local Walmart to see if they sell them here, if not, I'll order the one from the internet!! Thanks for the great tip!!

Colleen

[suzimar57]

i recently bought one of these neck scarves & tried it out this past monday for the first time - i only soaked it once (in cold water, for 30 minutes) early monday morning - today is wednesday, and it is STILL cool & a little bit damp!! (i hadn't re-soaked it since monday)

how long does it take until this neck scarf is finally dry enough to put away?! (i don't want to store it until it is absolutely bone-dry, to prevent mold & mildew)

[Kid at heart]

:bounce: I just purchased 3 for our WDW trip -$9.95 in Vancouver, Canada. Im sooo glad we have those.:bounce:

[Colleen A.]

I bought 2 for my DH today at the local Walmart. I do have a question for those of you out there who have them. I read on a reply that they soaked it for 30 minutes...the instructions say 3 - 5 minutes...which works better? I think I will soak it tonight, then place it in the refrigerator for him tomorrow. Supposed to be another scortcher!:earseek:

Colleen

[dcfromva]

suzimar57
how long does it take until this neck scarf is finally dry enough to put away?!
I activated my scarf once on the 22nd of July (two weeks ago) and then I hung it up to dry. The crystals have almost completely dried out--but not quite.

-DC

[dcfromva]

Colleen,
the instructions say 3 - 5 minutes...which works better?
I would follow the directions on the package. It only took about 4 minutes for the crystals in my scarf to become saturated (scarf expanded like a sausage!). I don't know why it is different for other brands--perhaps they are using a different type of crystal?
I think the magic that keeps you cool is the miracle of evaporative cooling--(as the water evaporates from the crystals). If the cyrstals still contain moisture, the scarf will feel cool. I think I actually liked the scarf a little bit better on the second day when it wasn't quite so saturated.--but I am kind of fussy about scarves around my neck, so I don't know if most people would agree with that...
I hope your DH likes his scarves.

-DC

[Maleficent2]

sorry just saw the questions directed to me.

Like ShariB said that is the only pattern we saw atthis time at WDW.They cost around $5

We only kept them in ziplocs when in the park.

Yes they froze on accident but the WDW did not leak anything after freezing the Walmart ones did.

Also the WDW one completely dry out alot quicker than the walmart ones.WDW one took about 3 days to dry the Walmart ones over a week.

I found mine at Mombasa Marketplace and Ziwani Traders across from Tuskers facing Fast pass station for the Safari ride.

But I did see them later at several carts thru out the AK.


Mal