has anyone tried those cooling neck wraps?

[jbrnhrt]

I'm talking about the kind with a special get in them, you soak them in water and they're supposed to stay cool all day. I'm thinking about buying some for my son for our upcoming trip. Has any one tried them? the reviews on qvc are mixed, either loved them or hated them, so i'm torn. thanks!

 

[Michigan]

We have used them. The first time was years ago in Arizonia and my kids have used them at wheelchair sports camp. If you soak them in ice water they stay cold all day.

Cindy

 

[dclfun]

I have some for myself and my service dog- in matching Disney prints! Unfortunately for us, even if soaked in ice water they don't stay cool for long. Of course they can be re-soaked but they just aren't worth it, IMO.---Kathy

 

[peemagg]

We used them at the parks and like them. The only thing is, if you fly home, either pack them in your checked luggage or figure out a way to dry them out before you fly. With the gel in them, security would confiscate them. I use them at home too.

 

[locolala]

I used them both in Iraq and after my diagnosis (MS) and they do work while they stay cool. I found that the ones I got would leave my neck soaking wet though, and that wasn't very nice.

 

[PatsMom]

I used them when I did the Susan G Komen 3 Day 60 mile breast cancer walk. It was in the nineties the second and third day. The wrap helped some, especially since several homes along the route had chests of ice water out for you to refresh the wrap with. And you didn't really care about getting dripped on at that point.

I am still undecided about taking one or two to Disney with me in three weeks.

 

[karsmommie]

I have a friend that made some for my kids and they work great. You can soak them in water and then put them in the frig, or soak in ice water or freeze them also. We love using ours. My oldest has the inability to sweat and it has helped keep her cool.
Have a great time on your trip!

 

[roobug]

We got some disney ones made for our family for our last Disney trip. Our family was divided on liking them. Myself and one of my sons loved them, and DH and my other son didn't like them so much. I'm glad we go them though as it really did help me and my one son. Also DH did used it for the days when it was really hot, and my mom used hers tied around her head - for her that worked better - and sure made for a great picture

We would put them in the fridge overnight, and they stayed cool all day while in the stroller, once we put them on they lasted for a an hour or so and then needed to be wetted again (but it was also 110 with the heat index so it was REALLY hot for us!)

 

[pbrim]

You may want to check out this thread which discusses them at length. I love them. I have found they don't stay cool all day, per se, but they do help. However, I went in October, when it wasn't so humid. I don't know how well they would work at peak humidity, as they work on evaporative cooling.

 

[dmccarty]

When it is hot and humid and I have to work outside I wear a broad brimmed hat AND I take a small towel/old T Shirt which is folded up to fit under the hat and down the back of my neck. I wet the hat and the towel/shirt as required. Just keeping your head damp helps remove heat from your body since most of the heat loss is from one's head but I have found that keeping the sun off your neck is important as well.

I am sure it is not fashionable looking but it does help keep you cooled off even in humid weather. Keeping the sun off your head and neck is important.

You could try this first without spending money. If it works for you great. If not try the commercial products.

I was hoping we were done with high 90 temps. But it is going to be 99 today and in the mid to upper 90s all week. I have some outside chores to do and I do not look forward to them.

Later,
Dan

 

[Ress76]

I like the QVC ones and will be taking them on my trip in a couple weeks. I take them to our summer NASCAR race at Watkins Glen when we just sit in the stands and BAKE in the heat. They really don make a difference, but they are not a cool-all-day thing. And once they plump up, they can take a week or more to dry out. However, if you get a cup of ice water at any restaurant, and you're just going to be sitting or wandering for a few minutes, that's all it takesd to refresh them and they're good to go again.

Ress

 

[jbrnhrt]

I have a friend that made some for my kids and they work great. You can soak them in water and then put them in the frig, or soak in ice water or freeze them also. We love using ours. My oldest has the inability to sweat and it has helped keep her cool.
Have a great time on your trip!

do you know what exactly your friend uses inside them? i can sew and making one or two myself might save some money. thanks!

 

[pbrim]

do you know what exactly your friend uses inside them? i can sew and making one or two myself might save some money. thanks!

You can often get the gel crystals at garden stores. They are sold to be mixed in with potting soil to reduce how often you need to water. I have heard that you can get them at some craft stores as well.

One thing to be remember: You need to take plastic bags to carry them back in your checked luggage. They take a week to dry out all the way, and, when hydrated, count as a gel for TSA purposes.

 

[peemagg]

I found that you can "dry" them out faster if you place them in a dryer for a while without heat. It takes several cycles, but it did work so that it was safe to carry without having to put it in a baggie.

 

[jbrnhrt]

You can often get the gel crystals at garden stores. They are sold to be mixed in with potting soil to reduce how often you need to water. I have heard that you can get them at some craft stores as well.

One thing to be remember: You need to take plastic bags to carry them back in your checked luggage. They take a week to dry out all the way, and, when hydrated, count as a gel for TSA purposes.

thanks so much! i'll look into that! we're gonna have checked luggage anyway so that's no problem but it's good to know, thanks

 

[kknpj]

I got some at Walmart to take with us to the parks in June. It was terribly hot when we were there. I found that they were a pain to prepare in the hotel room, and didn't stay cold for long. Plus, the rest of my body was still so hot! I ended up throwing them away after the second day of trying them. But they were pretty cheap at Walmart if you wanted to get one and try it out before you go.

 

[dclfun]

I got some at Walmart to take with us to the parks in June. It was terribly hot when we were there. I found that they were a pain to prepare in the hotel room, and didn't stay cold for long. Plus, the rest of my body was still so hot! I ended up throwing them away after the second day of trying them. But they were pretty cheap at Walmart if you wanted to get one and try it out before you go.

I'm thinking that they may work best when it's hot w/o high humidity, which unfortunately is NOT Florida. I was really hoping they would help my service dog, but the "cool" didn't last long, even when soaked in ice water. Now we just stuff gel ice packs into her vest and have a supply in a small cooler because they don't last long either.---Kathy

 

[disneydotlee]

My husband cuts grass for a second job and uses one all the time. He loves it and it doesn't drip.

 

[Belle1962]

I can't have any weight on my neck so can't use them. What we use are the disposable ice packs found in the first aid section. They're about $1.50 for two at Wal mart. When you get really hot--squeeze toactiviate INSTANT FREEZING COLD and lasta quite awhile. We toss a few into our backpack each day. My grandson loves to pop them and then put them on under his ballcap.

 

[Melisande]

I have reynauds so I use all kinds of variations of cool towels and neck wraps. Anything to try. Most of them because they are wet can be annoying in humid weather. You need to rewet them down periodically through the day it seems. In the winter on warm days here they are not so bad.