18 Cool Items to Help You Beat the Heat

The Ninja Slushi functions without ice, and instead, a cylinder evaporator in the center of the vessel provides the cold temperatures necessary to turn liquids into slushies. To make frozen drinks, add ingredients into the vessel, select the mode, and adjust the temperature control (each mode begins at a unique preset temperature setting). A beep alerts you when the drink is ready. Our evaluator found that the preset temperature setting almost always made the drinks too thick or too runny for her liking, but adjusting this setting with the temperature knob was easy and actually improved the texture of the frozen drinks.

For more options: Best Slushie Machines

It was the bomb pop shape of this popsicle mold that won our evaluators over. Filling them can get tricky because of the small, round opening of the molds, so grab a kitchen funnel for a neater experience. After a 5-hour freezing time, the pop-shaped treats were easily removed after running the molds under warm water. The instructions warn not to do this for too long because the ice pops might slip out too fast, and they could break. A generously sized drip catcher helps prevent spills while the bamboo sticks—included in the set—though durable, will need to be replaced after frequent use. 

For more options: Best Popsicle Molds

The benefit of a plastic ice cube tray vs. a silicone one is that the plastic doesn’t impart its flavor on the ice, a flaw we noticed with all the silicone trays we tried. This Oxo tray produces ice that’s rounded on the bottom for easier removal. A blue lid slides over the white tray relatively smoothly, making it easy to stack in a freezer while preventing any crumbs, dust, or fridge odors from infiltrating the cubes.

For more options: Best Ice Cube Trays

The Whynter is simple to operate and makes the smoothest sorbet and ice cream of all the units we evaluated. The ice cream was well-aerated and, unlike the product made by some other machines, stayed that way even after being stored in the freezer overnight. This model comes with a number of very handy modes. One cools the unit and your mix before production so that it’s the right temperature to yield the proper consistency. Another lets you keep ice cream cold in the machine after making it. And it will keep the paddle churning to maintain the same smooth consistency and ultra-creamy texture you get right when the machine has finished producing a batch, even when you scoop later.

For more options: Best Ice Cream Makers

If you love cold coffee but dislike the flavor when ice waters it down, consider this a fix. Fill two of the HyperChiller’s three separate inner chambers with water, freeze, then pour your hot coffee into the third for nonwatery cold coffee 60 seconds later.

Read our full review of the HyperChiller.

If you’re looking for a small fan that rests on top of your desk or table and delivers a personal gust of cool air, the Vornado Flippi V6 Personal Air Circulator came out on top in our tests in this category. The Vornado delivered modest wind speeds ranging between 2.7 and 3.7 meters per second. It has two speed settings, but keep in mind that you will be sitting close to it, so these numbers should be judged in that context. It consumed the least amount of energy of the fans tested. The Vornado’s head can pivot 180 degrees on the vertical plane, and you can easily adjust this by hand.

For more options: Best Room Fans

When entertaining outdoors, a stylish cooler is one easy way to keep beverages close by. In our evaluations, the Permasteel cooler still contained some solid ice after 26 hours. The temperature of the cans of seltzer inside held steady, and we found condensation around the drain plug, but no noticeable water dripped off any other parts. Similar to another cooler we evaluated, this one also had a quarter-inch of water inside the cooler post-draining, so it, too, had to be tipped over to get all the water out. It took us about 24 minutes to assemble the cooler. The instructions stated that the wheels needed to be attached to the legs of the cooler, but the wheels actually arrived already attached.

For more options: Best Patio Coolers

A portable cooler is the way to go for an icebox that’s a bit more travel-friendly. This no-frills version was a standout in our evaluations. With about 1 inch of insulation, the Coleman Chiller Cooler is great at maintaining a cool temperature. A large bail handle makes it easy to tote, but the hard-sided cooler weighs almost 3 pounds before you even put anything in it.

For more options: Best Small Coolers

When temperatures start to soar, you’ll want the Torras Coolify Air, which launches a strong force of air to keep you cool. It cools with a fan that blows air up as well as down. It also has an air conditioning function that uses thermoelectric technology (often found in portable fridges, wine coolers, and small air conditioners) to cool a pad that presses against the back of the neck. This AC function is cooler than cold. It also comes with a heating function, useful in chillier weather.

For more options: Best Neck Fans

The Owala FreeSip was one of the easiest to open, with its unique tab that you push to pop open the lid. Inside, there’s a large spout, and within that, a smaller spout connected to a straw. If you’re not a fan of a straw, you can remove it from the bottle and drink from it chug-style, making this bottle the most versatile one we tried. The handle tucks flat into the lid and unfolds 90 degrees for carrying, although the handle itself is marginally less comfortable than the Takeya’s and Yeti’s. The underside isn’t rounded or softly textured like theirs, though this is a very minor complaint.

It had mixed results in our durability tests. When dropped down the stairs, it sustained several scuffs, scratches, and dents, making it one of the least durable bottles in our lineup. Ice remained after 24 hours, though, so you can trust that it’ll keep your water cold.

For more options: Best Water Bottles

The Elegear Revolutionary Cooling Blanket was CR’s top pick because it kept us the coolest in our tests and was comfortable, soft, and well-made. It features smooth Arc-Chill 3.0 Cool Fabric on one side and Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified cotton on the other side.

This blanket is machine washable, but it is recommended that you place it inside a laundry net bag to prevent it from getting tangled and damaged. Do not dry-clean, tumble dry, or iron this blanket. The company advises not to hang it in the sun and that the best way to dry it is to hang it in the shade.

For more options: Best Cooling Blankets

No gel shenanigans in this topper. The Chilipad actively cools (and, for those who are always cold, actively heats) your mattress by sending cold or warm water via a network of flat tubes from a reservoir that sits near your bed, or under it if your bed has the 8-inch clearance. You can program it to pre-cool your bed via a remote so that it’s nice and frosty by bedtime. In addition to king, California king, and queen sizes, it also comes in half-queen and half-king sizes so that you and your sleep partner can customize your own side of the bed. 

For more options: Best Cooling Mattress Toppers