The 15 Ways to Stay Cool This Summer

This is just one installment of 37 Things a Man’s Gotta Do This Summer, our annual compendium of everything worth seeing, doing, eating, drinking and generally making time for in your neck of the woods between now and September.

Yours truly was happy for all of, oh, about 15 minutes last summer.

That was during a brief foray into an ice bar — those clubs that are really just glorified igloos with overpriced vodka.

Cheesy? Yes. Blissfully cold? Definitely.

But there are better ways.

Herein: 15 cooling hacks for surviving the summer heat, whether you’re sleeping, working out or just trying to not to leave a puddle behind when you stand up from your seat at the dinner table.

Wear These
Never let them see you sweat. Mizzen + Main creates moisture-wicking, wrinkle-resistant dress shirts and chinos that require no ironing or dry cleaning. Go short-sleeve for extra ventilation.

Eat This
PandaVita sells baobab fruit powder, a raw, organic African “superfood” that lowers a person’s elevated body temperature. It’ll go great in a slushie or smoothie.

Don’t Shave
According to a 2011 Australian study, a beard can significantly reduce exposure to ultraviolet rays. Just maintain that natural shade with a cooling Fresh Mint Beard Wash.

At Music Festivals, Drink This
Alex Pollak, who runs ParaDocs — which provides event medical services for most large U.S. music festivals — suggests bringing PediaLyte packets to drop into water. His other ideas: drink a glass of water for every boozy beverage downed, and put ice (which you should have for your drink) on your forehead and back of neck for a quick cooldown.

Cycling? Ventilate.
Look for a helmet with extra venting, like the Schwinn Flash, which has 20 vents for improved air flow. And while on the bike, wear clothing specially designed for UV protection (and remember, sweaty T-shirts will allow in more UV rays).

Go Quick and Wet
If you have the right clothes, get ‘em wet. Daniel Sobhani, CEO of the workout app Freeletics, suggests soaking your clothes in cold water before a workout and wringing them out. Also, try to avoid workouts during the hot part of the day (9 a.m.-6 p.m.) and keep ‘em to 20 minutes.

Throw Shade
Get some professionally installed (yes, don’t do it DIY) window film to reduce UV exposure and decrease cooling costs. A company like 3M offers films that reject up to 97% of infrared light and up to 79% of solar energy, providing a total SPF of 1000.

Put These On Your Feet
To avoid stink and sweat, get a few pairs of no-show socks — Nice Laundry does a box of ‘em that work for dress shoes, sneakers and boat shoes. But outside of pool and beach situations, don’t wear sandals.

Make Your Home Smart
And not in a tech way. Some smart but simple cool-down tips from home improvement expert Danny Lipford (TV’s Today’s Homeowner): use paddle fans in rooms only when occupied — fans cool people, not rooms. Keep blinds and drapes closed during the heat of the day. Install cool lighting (CFL or LED bulbs). When you cook, use a crockpot, not the oven. Unplug electronic devices when not in use: plugged-in items, even in the off position, emit heat. Seal all windows and doors to retain conditioned air indoors. Save laundry for early morning and late evening; washers and dryers contribute to humidity and heat in the home. Turn your water heater down. And install additional attic insulation — 40% of conditioned air escapes through the attic.

Use Wipes
They’ll make your skin feel fresh and cool in a pinch. A few we like include ShowerPill, Every Man Jack’s Speed Shower and, from Japan, Gatsby ice deodorant body paper. If you have time for a full shower, these mint and menthol cooling soaps can help.

Towel Off
Yours truly swears by the Mission Enduracool, a towel for workouts that instantly cools to 30 degrees below average body temperature when wet (from water or sweat).

Be Jaded
For those stuck working outside, Duluth Trading’s Armachillo line of boxers, shirts, shorts and head wraps is infused with microscopic jade, which dissipates heat and wicks away moisture.

Go to Sleep
The graphite-infused memory foam in a Malouf CarbonCool pillow will keep you icy at night. For sheet and mattress pads that regulate your heat, try Slumber Cloud, which uses tech originally devised by NASA.

Leave
It’s 55 or so degrees in Australia during our summer, which is their winter. Iceland also averages about 55 degrees this time of year. Buenos Aires is about 57 in July. Doesn’t “mildly brisk” sound great right about now?

Drink This
Booze and caffeine are not your friends this season … but since you’re going to drink both of them, you might as well find the coolest way to enjoy ‘em. Suggestion: park yourself on a rooftop bar (The Skylark) and order a Cold Brew Coffee Swizzle, as served up by NYC’s finest mixologist (and most conveniently named, for this article), Johnny Swet.

1.5 oz. Sailor Jerry Rum
1.5 oz. Coconut Liqueur
1.5 oz. Cold Brew Coffee

Pour all ingredients into a tall glass. Add pellet ice swizzle. Float coconut milk. Garnish with coconut.

Finally, a few cooling hacks from our staff:

“I know I sound like a zealot, but hot yoga makes everything else feel like an ice bucket afterwards. Sixty minutes in 105-degree humidity makes 90 degrees feel like a walk in the park.”

“When you’re wearing a suit, use your damn pocket square. It’s there for a reason. Just be sure to swap out silk squares for cotton or linen in the summer. Silk won’t mop up a thimble spill.”

“Put a lightly damp T-shirt in the freezer before you wear it.”

“Seek out common cool spots if you feel like you’re about to break into an apocalyptic sweat: ATM vestibules, malls, chain stores and movie theaters.”

“Don’t wear a backpack. Straight up. That’s the no. 1 sweat-less hack. You simply must switch to a messenger or tote in the summer if you’re a man who perspires.”

“Uh, just never leave the house.”

This is the first installment of 37 Things a Man’s Gotta Do This Summer, our annual compendium of everything worth seeing, doing, eating, drinking and generally making time for in your neck of the woods between now and September.