Whether you’re hanging at the beach, tackling yard work, or powering through an outdoor workout, the best cooling towels offer a quick way to lower your body temperature and freshen up. Crafted from high-tech fabrics, these towels activate with water—simply dampen, wring, and snap for instant cooling relief. While they don’t replace proper hydration or sun protection—two other hot-weather essentials—they do prove invaluable for combating hot and humid conditions, especially during vigorous physical activity.
To find the best cooling towels, we first spoke with a fitness expert to learn more about what key features to look for when shopping. Then, using the expert guidance, we researched dozens of options from reputable brands. While comparing products, we consider their cooling power, material, size, care instructions, and overall value to narrow down our picks. Another reason to trust us? We also had an emergency physician from our Review Board review this article for accuracy surrounding how and when to safely use cooling towels, and what to look for when shopping for one.
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Longer than most
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Antimicrobial
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UPF 50+ sun protection
Key Specs
Size: 36 x 9.5 inches | Material: Polyester, nylon, spandex | Care: Machine washable
Who It’s For
Best for on-the-go users who want a towel that stays put during activities.
Why We Love It
Mission’s Max Plus Cooling Towel begins cooling within 30 seconds of immersion in cold water. Simply soak, wring, and it’s ready to drape around your neck. It maintains its cooling effect for two hours, and when warmth sets in, just rinse and repeat to restore its refreshment.
This soft, durable, antimicrobial towel is chemical-free, machine washable, and offers UPF 50 sun protection. Longer than typical towels, it will stay in place when worn around your neck. Plus, we love that it’s available in four color options—you may just want more than one.
Potential Flaws
- This towel dries faster than others, but it quickly cools down again with a brief dip in cold water.
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Key Specs
Size: 29.5 x 13 inches | Material: Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) | Care: Machine washable
Who It’s For
Best for people who sweat a lot, since this has a grippy feel to it.
Why We Love It
Stay cool and refreshed even in the most sweltering conditions with Ergodyne’s Chill Its 6602 Cooling Towel. This budget-friendly yet highly effective option is perfect for combating heat and humidity. Simply saturate the towel under water, wring it out for drip-free comfort, and enjoy up to four hours of refreshing coolness.
Crafted from advanced PVA material, this towel not only absorbs water but also creates a cooling sensation as it evaporates. Measuring a generous 29 by 13 inches, it’s thicker than most other cooling towels, ensuring maximum water absorption and prolonged cooling. Plus, we love that the slightly rubbery texture prevents excessive movement while you’re sweating, providing added comfort and convenience.
Potential Flaws
- Given its thickness, this towel may also weigh more compared to other cooling towels we found.
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Key Specs
Size: 6 x 4 inches | Material: Not listed | Care: Machine washable
Who It’s For
Best for runners, bikers, and speed-walkers who need a towel that stays put.
Why We Love It
For running in hot weather, what could be more convenient than having a cooling towel that stays securely in place around your neck? Chill Pal’s Cooling Band offers versatility with up to 12 different ways to wear it. Use it as a neck gaiter, balaclava, headband, bandana, face cover, hair cover, and more.
Simply soak the band in cold water, wring it out, and it’s ready to wear. If it starts to warm up, simply repeat the steps to stay cool while working up a sweat during your run. We can almost feel the revitalizing sensation of wiping your face with the cool fabric in the mid-sweat session.
Potential Flaws
- While some may find the snug fit restrictive, others appreciate the sensation of the cool fabric directly against their skin.
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Key Specs
Size: 33 x 11 inches | Material: Microfiber | Care: Machine washable
Who It’s For
Best for hikers, backpackers, and travelers who need a compact cooling towel for their next adventure.
Why We Love It
Whether you’re embarking on a week-long hiking expedition or simply exploring your local park for an hour, a few sips from your favorite water bottle may not be enough to cool you down. For refreshing relief, consider wrapping Frogg Togg’s Chilly Pad Cooling Towel around your neck. Use it to wipe down between sips of water or while you take in the scenic views.
Crafted from durable materials, this towel stays dry as you drape it around yourself, regardless of how long you wear it. Plus, it’s rated UPF 50+ for added sun protection. We love that it stays cool for up to four hours and that you can simply keep water on hand to soak it in for re-cooling.
Potential Flaws
- Some of the colors can bleed, so you may want to opt for a more neutral shade to alleviate any worries.
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Stays in place
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Longer than most
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Easy to wear
Key Specs
Size: 31 x 6 inches | Material: Microfiber | Care: Machine washable
Who It’s For
Best for court sport players who want a towel that will stay in place as they ace their game.
Why We Love It
When you’re dominating the game on a scorching hot tennis court, staying refreshed is essential. Keep your cool between sets with the Frogg Toggs Chilly Pad. Crafted from hyper-evaporative material, it retains water while remaining dry to the touch.
What sets this choice apart for court sports is its innovative neck-headband hybrid design, allowing versatile use around your neck or forehead. We also appreciate the convenient loop closure that keeps it securely in place. Plus, it stays cold for up to four hours, ensuring lasting relief during intense matches—perfect for avid picklers and newbies just learning the rules alike.
Potential Flaws
- To prevent it from sticking to other clothing items, we recommend storing this separately if it’s still wet or allowing it to dry before carrying it around.
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Key Specs
Size: 24 x 17 inches | Material: Polyester | Care: Machine washable
Who It’s For
Best for golfers or other on-the-go users who need a highly effective, portable towel.
Why We Love It
Stay cool when you’re hitting the golf course with this convenient and dependable Callaway Cooling Towel. Measuring 24 x 17 inches, it’s the perfect size to stash in your golf bag (or gym bag) for cooling relief out on the course.
Simply soak the towel in cold water and place it on your head or neck. When you’re not using it, you can keep it in the included sealable container for repeated use throughout your game. We love that it’s ultra durable, so you can confidently carry it with you wherever you go without worry.
Potential Flaws
- We wish that this came in more than one color option to suit various style preferences.
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Key Specs
Size: 38 x 12 inches | Material: Polyamide, polyester | Care: Machine washable
Who It’s For
Best for people who plan their travel around active adventures.
Why We Love It
Tough Outdoors’ Cooling Towel can be activated in seconds by soaking it in water and wringing it out. Made of a polyamide and polyester blend, the breathable fabric is soft, lightweight, and absorbent. It even has UPF 50+ sun protection, which is great if you plan on being in the sun.
The towel is available in 15 colors and even comes with a small mesh pouch for convenient storage. It’s easy to take on the road for your next adventure—tuck it into your carry-on, running backpack, or even your pants pocket.
Potential Flaws
- This doesn’t stay cool for as long as others, so it’s ideal for short outings or indoor workouts.
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Dries stiff
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Only one color option
Key Specs
Size: 32 x 12 inches | Material: PVA | Care: Machine washable
Who It’s For
Best for anyone who prefers their workouts in the great indoors.
Why We Love It
If you practice yoga daily, especially hot yoga, a cooling towel is an essential yoga accessory. Chill Pal’s Cooling Towel remains cold for your entire mat workout, thanks to its thicker-than-most design. We also love its plush feel, which provides cushiony support for your joints if needed.
Just wet it before class, wring it out, and put it around your neck for cooling relief. It even comes with a convenient pouch that can be attached to your gym bag using the included carabiner clip.
Potential Flaws
- We wish that this towel came in more than one color option.
- The towel dries quite stiff, so it’s not comfortable to keep using after it’s dry.
What to Look for When Shopping for Cooling Towels
- Cooling Power: Most cooling towels can be used immediately after you wet them. However, think about the kind of activity you want to use this for. If you’ll be outside and working out in humid weather, choose a towel with a higher level of cooling power than if you’ll be indoors or close to your home doing an activity like gardening or indoor biking.
- Materials: Towels made of PVA are extremely absorbent and remain cool for several hours. The advanced fabric won’t soak your clothing or weigh you down because it feels dry to the touch even when it’s wet. Microfiber towels provide reliable cooling, and they feel soft and comfortable against your skin. However, they won’t stay cool for as long as a PVA towel, and they’re not dry to the touch when wet.
- Size: Extra small and small towels are usually up to 35 inches in length and are ideal to use around your neck or head. Towels around 40 inches in length can be hung around your neck or tied around your waist. Extra-large towels are 50 inches or longer and big enough for full-body use.
- Care: Most cooling towels are machine washable, but be sure to double-check the care instructions before buying. You definitely don’t want to have to hand-wash your towel after each sweaty use.
How We Selected the Cooling Towels
After researching dozens of products, we selected the top eight cooling towels based on their ease of use, lasting power, and durability. To curate our recommendations, we first spoke with a personal trainer to learn more about what key features to look for. Then, we spent hours reading customer reviews and examining product details to find the most effective options on the market for cooling you down in the heat. When assessing each cooling towel, we paid close attention to the following key criteria:
- Ease of Use: Being able to use your cooling towel in seconds is key for optimal refreshing relief. We assessed each towel’s design for its activation process, compactness, and portability. We only recommend towels that start cooling immediately after getting wet.
- Lasting Power: Next, we analyzed product descriptions and customer reviews to determine how long each towel stays cool before needing to re-activate it. We prioritize towels that not only cool rapidly but also maintain their cooling effect for an extended period, ideally lasting for several hours.
- Durability: Anne Reuss, NASM-CPT, highlights the significance of durability in choosing a cooling towel, noting that quality options exist across various price ranges. We examined the materials of each towel, favoring reputable brands or those recommended by experts.
Our Experts
We spoke to a personal trainer for an expert opinion on which key features to look for when shopping for cooling towels. While we choose products independently, expert guidance helps inform our recommendations.
- Anne Reuss, NASM-CPT, certified personal trainer
Frequently Asked Questions
How do cooling towels work?
Cooling towels are made with high-tech fabrics that, when activated with water, draw sweat and moisture away from the body via evaporation to cool the skin. Simply get your towel wet, wring it out, and apply it to your neck, head, back, or waist.
What’s the best way to use a cooling towel?
A cooling towel is designed to reduce your body temperature and absorb sweat in the process. You can use one to cool down during intense workouts, when you have a fever, while traveling, anytime you’re out in the hot sun, and more.
How long do cooling towels last?
If you take proper care of your cooling towel, it can last for several years, and you can easily reuse it many times. The lifetime of a cooling towel also depends on the quality of the materials, but usually, you can expect it to last for up to five years.
How do you keep cooling towels cool?
Cooling towels maintain their effects for about two hours after activation. If the towel is still moist, you can reactivate the cooling effects by circulating air through it.
Why Trust Verywell Fit
Neha Tandon is a beauty, style, health, and wellness writer—she’s an expert in discovering the best product recommendations. She has also taught yoga for the past 16 years, so she’s passionate about selecting quality products that can improve the physical and mental health of her readers. To write this article, Neha interviewed an expert to better understand cooling towels and thoroughly researched each product to recommend only the best.