Everything Under $50 You Need to Stay Cool This Summer
Unpopular opinion: Summer is the worst season. I loathe being hot and sweaty. I burn easily. I sleep hot, so I need at least two fans trained on me at night. I also live in a building without air-conditioning, and it’s often hotter inside than outside. But I refuse to be beaten: After much trial and error, I’ve created an elite cooling system made up of products that are all less than $50 each.
“Heat has a tremendous impact on health,” says Allison Edwards, MD, a board-certified family physician, medical director at Sesame Care, and founder of Kansas City Direct Primary Care in Kansas City, Kansas. “Heat can cause relatively simple, short-lived problems like heat rash and irritability [or] more complex issues like worsening of heart and lung problems.”
It’s always a good idea to be able to recognize the signs of heat-related illness in yourself and others. “The signs of heat exhaustion include dizziness and sweating. [You] may have a headache, feel extremely thirsty and fatigued, and even experience a little confusion,” explains Lauren Hughes, MD, a board-certified pediatrician and founder of Bloom Pediatrics in Kansas City, Kansas.
Long before summer starts, I make a plan for super hot days and drag all my cooling doodads out of storage. Keep reading to see what budget-friendly products you can incorporate into your life, so that you can keep cool and carry on this summer.
Fans


For a Personal Breeze
Jisulife Neck Fan Life 3

For a Big Breeze
Hurricane Classic Floor Mount Box Fan

For Just a Wee Breeze
Vornado Flippi V6 Personal Air Circulator

For Keeping the Kiddos Cool Too
Momcozy USB Rechargeable Handheld Cooling Fan
Beat the Heat Outside


The Sun? Don’t Know Her
G4Free UPF 50+ UV Protection Large Travel Umbrella

To Protect Your Whole Head From the Sun
Columbia Bora Bora Booney Sun Hat

For the All-Weather Runners
Lululemon Fast and Free Running Hat
I’m definitely not a runner, but I do love wearing running hats when I’m outside in the summer, no matter what I’m doing. The fabric is lightweight, stretchy, and moisture wicking, and there’s a built-in sweatband to keep my forehead dry while I’m walking my dog (and dodging actual runners). The Fast and Free Running Hat comes in six colors and two sizes (S/M and L/XL). It has an adjustable closure in the back, which is ideal if your noggin is between sizes like mine.
For all the real runners out there, check out our guide to warm-weather running gear.

For Keepin’ It Breezy
Quince 100% European Linen Short Sleeve Shirt
Quince has a wide range of elegant, expensive-looking linen apparel for women and men, including shorts, pants, and shirts. My favorite top to wear when it’s hot outside is this 100 percent linen short-sleeve shirt. It’s slightly cropped, with a boxy shape that you can dress up or down. I have it in three colors, and I can’t promise I’m not going to get more. It’s lightweight, airy, and goes with everything from cutoff jean shorts to skirts. It comes in 14 colors, including some patterns, in size XS to XL.

For Hard-Core Wearable Cooling
AlphaCool Evaporative Cooling Vest

The Car Water Bottle
Owala FreeSip 32 oz

For a Post-Workout Cooling Cleanse
The Nobleman Cooling Face + Body Cleansing Wipes

When a Hat Is Not Enough
Mission Cooling Headband
The Mission company makes cooling products and apparel for both athletes and regular people, from sun hats and neck gaiters to sunsleeves and underwear. (Fun fact: The company was cofounded by professional athletes Dwyane Wade and Serena Williams.) I love the Mission Cooling Headband because it keeps my hair out of my face and keeps me cool when it’s “activated” by sweat or water. All you have to do is run it under cold water and snap it a few times, and the fabric stays cool for up to two hours. I also have the cooling towel, which comes in 12 colors and patterns.
Beat the Heat Inside


For Hot Summer Nights
Mellanni King Sheets Set
As a hot sleeper, I can say with certainty that there’s nothing worse than tossing and turning on hot bedsheets. While you can buy pricey cooling sheet sets, these breathable and moisture-wicking bedsheets from Mellanni are a great budget option. The set comes with a flat sheet, a fitted sheet, and two pillowcases. They’re available in a wide array of sizes, from twin XL through split king, with extra-deep pocket options. They also come in a whopping 24-plus color options, so you’re sure to find a shade that you like.
Got a bigger budget? Check out the best cooling sheets and cooling pillows for sweaty sleepers.

For When You Actually Want a Head Freeze
BruMate Era 30 oz Straw Tumbler
When it’s hot in my apartment, chugging room temperature water from a glass isn’t my jam, so my BruMate Era Straw Tumbler is my partner in hydration. The Era tumbler comes in three sizes: 20, 30, or 40 ounces, and in 24 fun, saturated colors (which vary depending on where you buy it). Having a pretty, eye-catching water bottle sitting on my desk reminds me to drink water throughout the day, and it keeps that water refreshingly ice cold. If you want to know more about how much water to drink, use this hydration calculator.
Pro tip: Check out the 23 best water bottles we tested and recommend.

For Keeping Cool in the Sheets
Uncommon Goods Floral Dreams Pajama Short Set
Cooling Tools


For a Quick Cooldown
Skin Gym Cryogel Ice Roller

For When You Need a Hug, But It’s Too Hot
Sharper Image Neck & Shoulder Aromatherapy Wrap
If you’re a fan of aromatherapy, add this cooling neck and shoulder wrap filled with soothing lavender, chamomile, lemongrass, and peppermint to your cart. This is actually a weighted hot and cold neck and shoulder wrap: You can heat it in the microwave on chilly days or chill it in the freezer for an hour or two when you need to cool down. It features a plush fleece cover, so there’s no risk of freezer burn. It’s basically a cool hug.

When You Need to Get Cool, STAT
Core Products Vinyl Intense Cold Pack
This vinyl cold pack lets you get right to the intense cooling. It’s meant for pain relief from sprains and other minor injuries, but there’s no law saying you can’t use this for relief from summer heat. The exterior is vinyl, so you’ll need to wrap it in a dish towel or other covering to protect your skin. It also stays soft and flexible even when it’s frozen, so you can wrap it around your neck for that sweet, sweet cooling effect.
Why Trust Everyday Health

Lili Ladaga
Author

Sabrina Rojas Weiss
Editor
Sabrina Rojas Weiss has been a writer and editor for more than 25 years, 12 of which she's spent in the health and parenting space. Her work has appeared in Parents, Verywell, Yaho...
- Global Climate Highlights 2024. Copernicus Climate Change Service. January 10, 2025.
- January temperature marks new global milestone. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. February 12, 2025.
- Meade R et al. A critical review of the effectiveness of electric fans as a personal cooling intervention in hot weather and heatwaves. The Lancet. April 2024.
- Protect Yourself From the Dangers of Extreme Heat. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control. June 25, 2024.
- Gillis D et al. The influence of menthol dose on human temperature regulation and perception. Journal of Thermal Biology. August 2020.
- Shiekh RA et al. Therapeutic applications of eucalyptus essential oils. Inflammopharmacology. November 2024.
- How Much Water You Should Drink Every Day. Cleveland Clinic. October 3, 2024.
- Gordon B et al. How Much Water Do You Need? Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. June 23, 2022.