Editorial
Front Page - Friday, July 2, 2010
What'll They Dream Up Next?
LiquiCool bandanna
Misty S. Brown
LiquiCool bandannas may look a bit silly to wear, but they will keep you cool for hours after a 10-minute soak in cold water to activate the crystals.
- Misty S. Brown
Our pool at the apartment has been undergoing repairs, so it sits there empty, just taunting us. With living in a big city I find that access to nearby natural bodies of water that are OK for swimming is difficult, so I have stayed inside as much as I can.
It goes without saying that it has been a hot and humid summer here in the South. Because of this, I am always looking for a way to keep cool.
When I work out at my gym, I have found that the sauna is not only great for purifying my pores, but for making the 100-plus “feels like” temperature outside seem very mild compared to the 240- to 260-degree room. Additionally, my trainer at the gym does not seem to be fazed by the heat since he has taken us outside for running bleachers and park trails a time or two in this sweltering humidity. Anticipating another day of outdoor exercise, I happened on something I have not seen since I was a child – LiquiCool bandannas – and did not hesitate to purchase one for my next outdoor adventure.
What it is/How it works
The LiquiCool bandanna looks like a plump ascot. It contains crystals that expand in water to keep your neck or forehead cool while playing sports or working in the heat.
A 10-minute soak in a bowl of cold water is all it takes to expand the crystals and keep a person cool for several hours. To make it even cooler, it can be refrigerated during the soaking time, but not frozen. The crystals will slowly dehydrate for several days, but the LiquiCool can be resoaked for reactivation.
Pros and cons
The LiquiCool bandanna is summer’s equivalent of winter’s HotHands hand warmers, except that it can be reactivated when needed instead of throwing it away.
Since it takes a few days for the crystals to dehydrate, storage is tricky – it should not be stored folded or in an airtight container, lest you want it to grow mildew. It must also be hand-washed only with mild soap, quickly rinsed and hung to dry, rather than tossing it in the washing machine.
Although the packaging claims that it contains non-toxic ingredients, it warns against bleaching or using if allergic to salt. It might lead one to wonder, “What are those mysterious little crystals made of, anyway?” (I think of those little desiccant packages that have “Do Not Eat” printed on the side.)
It will keep cool for a long time, but may need to be resoaked in cold water after several hours to make it feel cooler again, due to conductive heat transfer from your body to the crystals.
While it does a good job of keeping you cool in the heat, it is not the most fashionable thing to wear. It reminds me of the ascot-wearing Ken in Toy Story 3 when he introduces himself to Barbie. Everyone in the theater chuckled at his ridiculous get-up. Luckily, the LiquiCool bandannas are available in several colors and patterns, so you will not be stuck wearing an orange one reminiscent of Fred Jones from the Scooby-Doo cartoons. After the initial teasing, LiquiCool bandanna wearers will be the envy of their friends when they cannot find relief from the heat.
Since it ties on, it is great for people who move around a lot and spend a large portion of time outdoors, such as tennis players, golfers, fishers, hikers and construction workers.
Where to buy
The LiquiCool bandannas are difficult to spot at stores since they are small enough to fit on one of those plastic hanging displays on the edges of the aisles. I found mine at Academy Sports for $3.99 near the golf and tennis area. If you have trouble spotting them in stores, go to www.uniquesports.us and search for them in the sweatbands category where they are $4.75 each.
Submissions
Have you seen a gadget you would like me to review? Send the information to misty@dailydata.com.
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