Gadgets to Keep You Cool

With summer weather getting hotter every year (or so it seems), we are all looking for more ways to stay cool when we have to leave the air-conditioned comfort of home or office. There are actually a number of handy cooling gadgets that you might want to look into, besides that long-time favourite: the battery powered fan hat.

These nylon wraps are filled with gel, and can be tied loosely around your neck for instant cool. You soak the wrap in water before using, and the gel expands and absorbs. The neck wrap will stay cool to the touch for days with you having to do anything else. Once it does dry out again, you just have to soak it in water again for another half hour and you're ready to go. More on the Cool Thing Neck Wrap

This air cooler isn't worn or carried, but it's still pretty portable. This little gadget is a battery-powered fan that also blows misty moist air at the same time for a gentle cooling effect. One glass of water will keep you cool for hours. Even once the water runs out, it is still a handy little fan to bring along with you. It takes 4 C batteries. More on the Kool Down Air Cooler.

Just like the name says, it's a fan on a pen. You can choose from several different colours, in case you want to coordinate your fan pen with your outfit. Not sure how practical this tiny fan would be, but when it's hot, you'll take all the breeze you can get. It's a typical blue-ink ball point pen, and takes an M5 RIP 1.5V battery (that comes included). More on the Mini Cooling Fan Pen.

Not quite the kind of gadget to keep you cool outside, like the others, but I can still see the potential for a cool seat cushion. Not sure how it works, to be honest. It contains "natural minerals with cooling properties" that are supposed to keep your backside cool when sitting on it. Might be worth a try on those long days when you are trying to make an office deadline. More about the Self-Cooling Seat Cushion.

Definitely the most unusual so far. This plain white short-sleeved dress shirt has a small fan built into the side/back that plugs into the USB port of your computer. When in use, the fan blows air right against your body within the shirt, which can make it a little puffy looking. I really can't think of anything else to say about this one. More on the USB Powered Cooling Shirt.