I had never even heard of 'cooling towels' before our last trip to Disney World where they are sold in the gift shops. They are expensive to purchase at the park but when I returned home I found one locally for about $11. I was skeptical but thought it sounded like a useful item if it worked...and at that price, was worth a gamble.
theraWell is the brand of cooling towel I found. It is a reusable towel that lasts up to 4 hours. It offers instant cooling and doesn't need to be refrigerated to work. This particular one is 6.5" x 33"...so long and narrow. To use the towel you simply soak it with water, squeeze out the excess and then shake the towel to activate. When it is no longer cool you just repeat the steps to re-activate.
It was quite surprising when I tried the towel for the first time. It feels like what I imagine a dolphin fin would be, cold and rubbery! My daughter said it felt like a mushroom! I must say, it really IS cold! After a sweaty bike ride it instantly cooled me off. I dabbed it on my arms and then wrapped it around my neck. It is a strange feeling but I am really impressed with how it works. I can see many times when it will be a wonderful item to use: camping, exercising, sports events, amusement parks, or even when returning to a hot car after a day of shopping.
The towel is machine washable on the gentle cycle and air dried. It needs to be stored in an airtight container or bag. Mine came in a tube bottle with a convenient clip top to hang on a backpack, belt, bike bag, etc. Have you ever tried one of these towels?