Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 21
Writers Pick 12 Heatwave Essentials as Triple-Digit US Temperatures Persist
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 21

Writers Pick 12 Heatwave Essentials as Triple-Digit US Temperatures Persist

2 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 21

Summary

  • Twelve staff-tested products were highlighted for coping with US heatwaves, spanning portable fans, reusable ice packs, cooling clothing and a dehumidifier.
  • Triple-digit temperatures and widespread heat advisories drove the recommendations, with several picks focused on direct cooling relief such as misting fans, a cooling necklace and neck-sized ice packs.
  • REI’s Sahara Shade Hoodie drew multiple endorsements for UPF 50+ sun protection and lower pricing than comparable Patagonia gear, while other apparel picks emphasized sweat-wicking, anti-chafing and quick-drying performance.
  • Home and hydration gear rounded out the list, including a Black+Decker dehumidifier that removes gallons of moisture daily and an insulated steel bottle designed to keep drinks cold longer.
  • The roundup follows other recent consumer guides on heatwave gear, underscoring how prolonged summer extremes are pushing demand for personal and household cooling products.

Insights

With cooling tech costing thousands, how can society protect its most vulnerable from increasingly deadly heatwaves?
Are personal cooling gadgets a real solution or a dangerous distraction from the need for systemic climate adaptation?
As we buy more gadgets to fight extreme heat, are we fueling the very climate change causing it?