The 6 Best Cooling Towels, Tested by Fitness Editors and Trainers
When the heat is slowing you down, these towels are here for you.
Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. We may earn a commission through links on our site. Why Trust Us?
WHEN YOU'RE WORKING hard in the gym or in the yard, heat can make an already challenging experience even more brutal. And any regular gym-goer knows that with enough people crammed into a small area, the temperature can rise quickly while you're in the middle of your workout. No matter what the date on the calendar says, when you're feeling the heat during outdoor work or workouts, finding a way to cool down is essential. That's where cooling towels come to the rescue, offering a quick and convenient method to lower body temperature and beat the heat (and are less obstructive than a neck fan).
Made from high-tech fabrics including antimicrobial microfiber and PVA with evaporative technology that activates with water, these towels have become a must-have accessory for beachgoers, backyard enthusiasts, and fitness hounds alike. While they don't provide hydration or full-body sun protection, and don't have the same absorption as standard gym towels, cooling towels serve as a valuable tool in hot and humid weather, especially when putting in work for your summer body
Best Cooling Towels
- Best Overall: YQXCC 4-Pack Cooling Towels
- Best Mini Cooling Towels: Frogg Toggs Chilly Minis
- Best-Looking Cooling Towels: MISSION Max Plus
- Best Mesh Cooling Towels: Tough Outdoor Cooling Towels
- Best Cooling Towel Hood: MISSION Cooling Hoodie
To guide you towards the best cooling towels on the market, we conducted our own extensive research and consulted MH Fitness director Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S.
Our selection process is meticulous and comprehensive, focusing on key features including material quality, activation mechanism, cooling performance, technological features, and affordability. Each cooling towel on our list has undergone rigorous evaluation to assess its effectiveness across a range of scenarios.
Best Deal
YQXCC 4 Pack Cooling Towel
YQXCC 4 Pack Cooling Towel
Pros
- Cooling lasts 3 hours
- Great price for a 4-pack
- Comes with a carrying case
Cons
- Requires a water source to activate
These towels are subtle-looking and go with pretty much any outfit. They are made of a hyper-evaporative, breathable mesh material. Their unique cooling system uses moisture from the towel to draw sweat away from your skin, keeping you cool.
As with most towels in this guide, all you need to do to activate the towel is soak it in chilled water and wring it out. The water's cooling effect on the towel lasts for several hours, keeping you refreshed whether you are doing yard work or hitting a run.
This towel is super versatile, allowing you to use it at the gym, as a yoga towel, or out in the yard. Each towel comes with a carrying pouch and a carabiner clip. They are easy to store, carry, and hang. It can be conveniently hooked onto sports bags and travel backpacks. They can be hand-washed or machine-washed and are super easy to clean.
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| Size | 40" x 12" |
| Material | Microfiber |
| Machine Washable? | Yes |
FROGG TOGGS Chilly Mini Cooling Neck Towel
FROGG TOGGS Chilly Mini Cooling Neck Towel
Pros
- Absorbs up to 8 times its weight in water and sweat
- Gets as cold as 30 degrees fahrenheit
- Remains dry to the touch
- Individual carrying case
Cons
- Dries up quickly
Constructed from FROGG TOGGS' signature hyper-evaporative material, this towel also retains up to eight times its weight in water and sweat, according to the brand. And the best part? It's machine washable and can be used over and over again, making it a reliable cooling companion for the long run.
After removing it from the packaging, wet the towel thoroughly, wring out any excess water, and allow it to begin evaporating. After use or washing, just store it in its original storage tube, in a plastic bag, or hang it up to dry.
The brand doesn't recommend freezing these towels, but they can be refrigerated for an added chill. Plus, its internal mesh reinforcing material allows you to cut it into any shape you fancy, making it customizable and versatile. And at $10 for a 6-pack, it's an incredible value for these mini towels.
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| Size | 29" x 3" |
| Material | Synthetic |
| Machine Washable? | Yes |
MISSION Max Plus Cooling Towel
MISSION Max Plus Cooling Towel
Pros
- Won't breed bacteria
- Activates quickly (under 1 minute)
- UPF +50 sun protection
- Soft microfiber material
Cons
- Expensive for a cooling towel
Made from a smooth and durable brushed fabric, this towel combines cooling tech with ultra-soft comfort. According to the brand, its proprietary performance fabric cools the body by up to 30 degrees below average body temperature in under a minute.
The cooling effect lasts for up to three hours, allowing you to stay active and focused. Simply re-wet and snap the towel to reactivate it, so you can enjoy long-lasting cooling comfort. The odor-resistant material also keeps you smelling fresh, even in the heat.
Bonus: Not only does its antimicrobial material fight bacterial growth, but it also offers UPF 50 sun protection and is machine washable.
Read more:
What Does Moisture-Wicking Mean?Key Specs
| Size | 36" x 9.5" |
| Material | Polyester |
| Machine Washable? | Yes |
Tough Outdoors Cooling Towels
Tough Outdoors Cooling Towels
Pros
- UPF +50 sun protection
- Cooling lasts 2 hours
- Comes with a carrying case
Cons
- Requires a water source to activate
- Pricey for a single towel
Scorching summer temperatures can't slow you down if you're equipped with the Cooling Towel from Tough Outdoors. Two simple steps are all that's required to cool down: Soak with water and wring out. When it starts warming up again, just rinse and repeat.
This towel has also got you covered with sun protection, quite literally. Not only does it provide cooling relief, but it also blocks harmful UVA and UVB rays and is recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation.
Made from patented Evapocool performance fabric, this towel is designed to actively evaporate moisture while cooling. They are gentle on your skin, machine washable, and fast-drying, ensuring they remain a summer staple for years to come.
Key Specs
| Size | 38.5" x 12" |
| Material | 55% polyamide, 45% polyester |
| Machine Washable? | Yes |
FROGG TOGGS Chilly Pad Instant Cooling Towel
FROGG TOGGS Chilly Pad Instant Cooling Towel
Pros
- Gets as cold as 30 degrees fahrenheit
- Remains dry to the touch
- It's recyclable!
Cons
- Expensive
- Requires a water source to activate
This towel is constructed from Frogg Toggs' exclusive 100% Poly Vinyl Alcohol material, known for its hyper-evaporative properties, which allow it to absorb up to 8 times its weight in water while remaining dry to the touch.
Wetting the towel with water triggers its cooling effect, which can lower the temperature to 30 degrees. Once wet, the towel utilizes the power of simple evaporation to produce a refreshing coolness. As long as the towel is wet, exposed to the air, and allowed to "breathe," the Chilly Pad will continue to evaporate and keep you cool.
Measuring 33 x 13 inches, this towel provides generous coverage for maximum cooling relief and sun protection. You can even cut it to create smaller towels to suit your needs. Plus, the organic nature of the material means that when it's time to dispose of the towel, you can grind it up and blend it with soil to help dry soil retain moisture, according to the brand.
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| Size | 33" x 13" |
| Material | Poly vinyl alcohol |
| Machine Washable? | Yes |
MISSION Cooling Hoodie Towel
MISSION Cooling Hoodie Towel
Pros
- UPF +50 sun protection
- Snap closure
- Cools quickly (within 30 seconds)
Cons
- Runs roomy
Stay cool hands-free with this innovative Cooling Hoodie Towel. It works just like the other cooling towels on this list, requiring only water to activate, but it offers a hands-free solution for chilling out. According to the brand, it stays cool for up to two hours.
With permanent cooling properties that won't wash out, it's both reusable and machine washable. It's also UPF 50, shielding you from the sun's harmful rays.
Its versatile design allows you to wear it in multiple ways, whether tucked, shifted, or draped. One downside: It's pretty spacious and requires some securing to stay in place while moving about. Luckily, there's a snap closure to help with that
Key Specs
| Size | Not listed |
| Material | Polyester |
| Machine Washable? | Yes |
What to Consider
Cooling Technology
Different cooling towels utilize various technologies to provide cooling relief. Some towels rely solely on evaporative cooling, while others may incorporate cooling gels or advanced fabric technologies. For safety reasons, consumers with pets or small children should avoid towels made with cooling gels or alcohol-based fabrics.
Material and Comfort
The material of a cooling towel plays a crucial role in its effectiveness and comfort. Look for towels made of fabrics like microfiber or PVA (Polyvinyl acetate) that are soft against the skin and provide optimal moisture absorption.
Size
Consider the cooling towel's size and whether it provides sufficient coverage for your intended application. Larger towels may be more versatile, allowing you to drape them around your neck, wrap them around your head, or use them on larger areas of the body (which is especially great for sun protection). Some towels, like those from FROGG TOGGS, may even be cut to size based on your specific preferences.
Durability and Reusability
A high-quality towel should be reusable and withstand multiple uses and washes without losing its cooling properties or falling apart.
Ease of Use
Look for towels that are easy to activate and require minimal maintenance. Consider whether the towel can be easily reactivated by simple steps like wetting, wringing, or snapping. Similarly, you'll likely want a machine-washable towel to ensure cleaning is low-maintenance.
Additional Features
Some cooling towels may offer extra features such as UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) sun protection, antimicrobial properties, carrying cases, or the ability to cut or customize the towel's size to fit your needs.
How We Selected
Being the Fitness and Commerce Editor of Men's Health means I get my hands on every new piece of gym gear as soon as it's released, sometimes before it is. To build this guide to the best cooling towels, I took the existing best-selling towels on the market and put them up against any previously overlooked classics and newly released options. I used these to cool down after my summer workouts, using each towel across multiple modalities to assess their effectiveness.
Other editors on the team were consulted, including our fitness director, Ebenezer Samuel, C.S.C.S., and we put countless cooling towels through the paces and evaluated their effectiveness, durability, comfort, and cooling technology. We also considered the price point, as some cooling towels provide a better overall value than others. Our team tested these towels in the gym, on the track, and during group classes. So, whether you're a dedicated runner, outdoor CrossFit fitness enthusiast, or someone who simply enjoys spending time in the sun, read on to discover the best cooling towels to keep you comfortable when things heat up.
How Do Cooling Towels Work?
Cooling towels work by leveraging evaporative cooling to produce their chilly sensation. The mechanism involves interactions among the towel, water, and air. Here's how it works:
- When the towel is soaked or wetted, it absorbs water and retains it within its fibers.
- As the wet towel is exposed to air, the water trapped within its fibers starts to evaporate.
- During evaporation, the water molecules gain energy from the surrounding environment, including body heat and ambient air. This energy transfer results in cooling of the towel's surface.
- As water evaporates from the towel, it removes heat from its surface, making it feel cooler to the touch.
- The evaporative cooling process continues as long as the towel remains wet and exposed to air. When the cooling sensation diminishes, the towel can be re-wetted to reactivate the evaporation and restore its cooling properties.
How to Clean Cooling Towels
For the cooling towels on our list, cleaning and maintaining them is no different from how you'd care for a traditional sweat towel. If the towel becomes soiled, simply pop it into a washing machine with standard clothing detergent and rinse thoroughly. If you don't have access to a washing machine, hand washing works well, too. In case of mildew or odor development, soak the towel in a mixture of 1 tablespoon of baking soda to 1 gallon of warm water for an hour or two before washing.
When it comes to drying, we recommend checking the specific towel's instructions. While some can be machine-dried, some indicate hanging to dry. For storage, place it in its original storage tube, in a plastic bag, or simply hang it.
More Ways to Stay Cool: Best Cooling Sheets| Best Cooling Mattress Toppers| Best Moisture-Wicking Underwear| Best Hydration Running Vests | Best Waffle Towels
Charles Thorp is the Fitness and Reviews Editor at Men’s Health, where he shares the best product recommendations in gym equipment, recovery tools, supplements, and more. Following an early life in athletics, Charles became a NASM-certified trainer and began writing programs alongside the most respected coaches in the world. Since entering the world of fitness content, Charles has had the opportunity to learn from and train alongside high performance individuals from the NFL, UFC, NBA, Formula 1, CrossFit, US Olympics, and Navy SEALs. When he’s not writing about training programs or gear, he can be seen at the gym or in the wild, putting them to the test.
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