Cooling neck towels - I don't get it

[HopperFan]

First off you don't wet them in your room and carry wet!!

We put in a ziploc bag each, compressed so no air. Later in day when we are heating up THEN we take to bathroom and get wet and put on. Cooling your neck does help with overall temperature.

After a few years of having wet shirts (we have the Disney scarf style ones) I opted to get the gaiter style. Get them wet and pull over and they are only on our necks. DS also has fan that hangs on string around neck blowing up. That blowing on wet neck gaiter creates a bit of air conditioning.

When we stop wearing we put back in ziploc compressing down. Takes up little room in bag and very lightweight. That night we hand wash them and they dry by morning.

We drink the water, freeze bottles if we have a freezer in lodging. Try to dress light. DS wears a hat that is wide brimmed floppy and has air holes.

Personally I think they're kinda disgusting. YMMV

Fans too - I don't get it. Just seems like one more thing you have to carry around and keep track of. Hard pass.

I carry a CamelBak so I have a constant source of water. That has worked better than anything else I've ever tried.

Made me chuckle if you are talking the original wearable CamelBak. I can't imagine anything more uncomfortable. If just a bottle, we do at times bring in water bottles but if it's not part frozen or cold it is of no help to us. We just go in a quick serve and ask for free ice water.

 

[Lumpy1106]

First off you don't wet them in your room and carry wet!!

We put in a ziploc bag each, compressed so no air. Later in day when we are heating up THEN we take to bathroom and get wet and put on. Cooling your neck does help with overall temperature.

After a few years of having wet shirts (we have the Disney scarf style ones) I opted to get the gaiter style. Get them wet and pull over and they are only on our necks. DS also has fan that hangs on string around neck blowing up. That blowing on wet neck gaiter creates a bit of air conditioning.

When we stop wearing we put back in ziploc compressing down. Takes up little room in bag and very lightweight. That night we hand wash them and they dry by morning.

We drink the water, freeze bottles if we have a freezer in lodging. Try to dress light. DS wears a hat that is wide brimmed floppy and has air holes.


Made me chuckle if you are talking the original wearable CamelBak. I can't imagine anything more uncomfortable. If just a bottle, we do at times bring in water bottles but if it's not part frozen or cold it is of no help to us. We just go in a quick serve and ask for free ice water.

The newest Camelbaks are form-fitting, made for doing things like mountain biking or trail running. I often forget I even have it - except for the handy tube. I carry one religiously when I go snowboarding. You can put it on under your jacket and the water never freezes. I always take one to weekend lacrosse tournaments. In WDW, since I usually carry the rest of my families' stuff too, I usually remove the bladder and put it in the regular backpack I am carrying anyway. It goes right through security - you don't need to remove it like you would a Hydroflask or Stanley.

We have used cooling towels before. They are OK at the start of the day, but then they warm up, and get sweaty and you have to rinse them out and re-wet them (at least I do). NMW, it's still a wet - thing you are carrying around. Ew. Once they dry out they are stiff and while you can re-wet them they are never really the same. Can you use them for more than one trip? I would think not - but I suppose others have.

 

[HopperFan]

The newest Camelbaks are form-fitting, made for doing things like mountain biking or trail running. I often forget I even have it - except for the handy tube. I carry one religiously when I go snowboarding. You can put it on under your jacket and the water never freezes. I always take one to weekend lacrosse tournaments. In WDW, since I usually carry the rest of my families' stuff too, I usually remove the bladder and put it in the regular backpack I am carrying anyway. It goes right through security - you don't need to remove it like you would a Hydroflask or Stanley.

We have used cooling towels before. They are OK at the start of the day, but then they warm up, and get sweaty and you have to rinse them out and re-wet them (at least I do). NMW, it's still a wet - thing you are carrying around. Ew. Once they dry out they are stiff and while you can re-wet them they are never really the same. Can you use them for more than one trip? I would think not - but I suppose others have.

Yeah one of those would be a for sure no go for me. I want nothing on my back. Even when I carried a large backpack with DS gear I would sling carry it. We have worked hard to downsize his needs and now I carry a smaller sling bag - in front.

 

[katyjeka]

Towels did little for our group. We find it easier to alternate our attractions. One inside ride followed by an outside. We also like to make reservations for a midday break and enjoy a cool dessert Nothing cools off our kids quicker than diving into the "kitchen sink"!

 

[Dave006]

Can you use them for more than one trip? I would think not - but I suppose others have.

Sure you can just toss them in the washer at home. Yes they dry very hard so we just drape them over a plastic hanger. They last for multiple years.

Dave

 

[Anna131517]

I keep hearing about these cooling neck towels and everyone who swears by them swears by them. Then there are plenty of other people who don't. My problem is, I just don't get it.

Here's what I imagine: I dip this thing in cold water, and head out of my resort room into the parks. By the time I get to the park, a lot of the water has probably already evaporated or is all over my shirt and then evaporated. It's 96° in the park so 20 minutes later, the cooling towel is dry. I now have to search around for a place to wet the towel again in order for it to keep me cool. Rinse, lather, repeat.

So help me understand. Why are these things worth it?

You wet them in the park. I fill a gallon ziplock bag with ice and a little water and a few neck towels. I keep that in a small soft sided cooler. Then I change out the ice cold neck towels as needed. A neck fan can also really help.

 

[imbelle]

I have used a UV umbrella while walking around Greek and Roman ruins in 100+ temperatures with no shade. It was a lifesaver.

I haven't carried a cooling towel in the parks but I will rinse some paper towels in the bathroom to wipe down my neck and wrists for a quick cool down.

 

[bklynblue]

We had one cooling towel for the 4 of us. I had no interest and thought the same thing that you wrote above. Wow, was I wrong! This towel was amazing and definitely worth getting and best of all, they work! You wet it with any temperature water and ring out the excess and trow it around your neck. It stays wet and cool for awhile and when it does dry up you just wet it with any water you are closest too, bathroom, water fountain, a cup of water, etc. Definitely worth bringing to the parks with you.

What brand did you use?

 

[Miffy]

I was there last July and brought both a UV umbrella and cooling cloths with me. The umbrella made a huge difference and even though it added weight to my backpack, it was well worth it, especially since it's an umbrella and I used it in the rain a couple of times.

As for the cooling towels--no. They did zero for me after about 5 minutes. It's possible I had the wrong brand but I'd never use them again.

 

[Justrose]

We love the Frog Togg cooling towels. We don't have a freezer at POP, so I normally bring them into the park dry, then wet them with ice water from a QS. After they warm up I add more ice water OR I just fling it around to cool it off. LOL.

In the evening after we get back to POP, I rinse them in the sink and dry them on the shower clothesline.

I do think keeping hydrated is the most important thing to stay cool.

 

[MinnieMSue]

I use a random cooling towel I got off Amazon and it does help - if I have it on and it warms up I just briefly open it up and give it a little shake and that cools it down. I wet it occasionally during the day. I only use it on the hottest of days. Also use a iv umbrella which helps in both sun and rain

 

[Kingoglow]

It's 96° in the park so 20 minutes later, the cooling towel is dry. I now have to search around for a place to wet the towel again in order for it to keep me cool. Rinse, lather, repeat.

Use them or don't, but it is not difficult to find a bathroom sink or water fountain to wet the towel. Also, the towel will stay damp and be effective for longer than 20 minutes.

 

[miksicnarf]

Just checked, the towels I got from Amazon 2 years ago (which are still good as new, washing does not affect them) are on sale for Prime Day, 8 for $10.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B083FWXPN7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

 

[StarCruzer]

We are going Aug 21-28. I'm not sure when you are going, but I'd love to get your feedback on the umbrellas once you try them.

I used a UV umbrella when we went to Japan and it was a lifesaver--it's extremely common and lots of people walk around with them in the summer/early fall. I used it at Disney and got LOTS of stares from people I felt it made a difference though.

 

[team bradfield]

cooling towels are another way to get your money, we fell for it once, they don't work, and watching people dunk theirs in the ice where they keep the bottled water is beyond disgusting, hillbilly crackers

 

[NashvilleMama]

We use both frozen water bottles and cooling towels. We also wear wide brim hats. This year I am bringing a UV umbrella to see if that has any benefit.

the UV umbrella is a game changer - I almost can't walk in Epcot without one anymore.

 

[Duck143]

What brand did you use?

Frogg Togg

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I keep hearing about these cooling neck towels and everyone who swears by them swears by them. Then there are plenty of other people who don't. My problem is, I just don't get it.

Here's what I imagine: I dip this thing in cold water, and head out of my resort room into the parks. By the time I get to the park, a lot of the water has probably already evaporated or is all over my shirt and then evaporated. It's 96° in the park so 20 minutes later, the cooling towel is dry. I now have to search around for a place to wet the towel again in order for it to keep me cool. Rinse, lather, repeat.

So help me understand. Why are these things worth it?

If they don't appeal to you, then I agree, you probably won't like them all that much. They aren't for everyone.

They do stay wet for longer than 20 minutes, but I don't see where they would stay icy cool for more than a minute or two.

I tried them last year, and they were okay. On very hot days they helped some, but the tradeoff is that you feel a bit wet/clammy while also looking wet/clammy. They also need to be washed/rinsed at some point, especially if they fall off. Yes, if they drip or touch your shirt, your shirt gets wet.

Re-wetting them is super easy. Any sink, water fountain, ice of cup of water will do. Since they stay wet for hours, and we only used them a few hours of the day, wetting them was a non-issue. Washing them took a minute or two, but also was mostly a non-issue.

Last summer I also bought 1 neck fan, but I didn't end up bringing it. 1. the neck fan was not that comfortable to wear 2. It would have taken up space in my luggage. 3. they make some noise. A plus of the towels is that they are very compact.

4. A downside of anything you bring is that you have to carry it around with you, and (often) figure out what to do with it while riding rides. This is why we don't often even wear sunglasses in the parks. Of the options listed in this thread, the cooling towels are comparatively easy carry, and can be worn on most rides. I ended up bringing them with us most days, but only wore them some days, and usually only for a few hours in the heat of the day.

If you don't think you want one, then they probably aren't for you. A four pack only cost about $20, so I thought it was worth trying them.

 

[StarCruzer]

Frogg Togg

I personally like the Frogg Toggs. As a heads up to those who have never used one, they are more like a large, thin sponge than a towel, which is how they tend to absorb and retain water a little better than a regular towel. (in my opinion, anyway)

 

[StarCruzer]

Our next cooling solution to try is Biore cooling wipes. DH brought some back at my request from a business trip in Japan, but you can also find them on eBay. Super popular in Japan for the humid summers, so I bet they'd be great for Disney.