Its baking hot in the US right now...and trending toward hotter. What is your favorite staying cool tip?

my Summer shooting attire is heavy duty nylon fishing shorts, boxers, nylon long or short sleeved cape back (open) flats fishing shirt (short sleeved if the range has shade) open weave top brimmed hat, sunscreen on my face and arms (with the short sleeved shirt)... one of the water absorbing gel bandanas in my cooler if needed...I find a tremendous difference in evaporative cooling with the nylon compared to cotton....wool blend socks, synthetic New Balance shoes

for casual wear, the nylon shorts, and polypropylene (UnderArmor type) moisture wicking shirt

for EGR, I've been using a sports drink formula from the internet using lite salt (potassium chloride source), regular salt, and sugar, but with the amounts reduced for the .5L water bottles I find convenient to use

a golf sized umbrella on a PVC pipe is a tremendous help

I am not venturing outside until past 8 p.m. I am a person who has intense negative emotions when it comes to heat (hate is such a strong word). This coming from a guy who spent 8 months in Biloxi, MS during hurricane season; over 4 years in Tucson, AZ; 3 years in the Republic of Panama; and over 6 years in Oklahoma. Alaska and northern Maine are much more suitable for me. But, alas, I am stuck in central NY.

MoBOB... it was 90F and raining the day I got to the Philippines, and 90F and raining the day I left the Philippines...I had a bed made from bamboo slats with air space between them, as well as a bamboo slat pillow.... the original open weave... wish I had brought them home with me

I can always warm up, cooling is a problem. Staying in the shade. Plan outdoor stuff early or late. Drink lots of cool water. Wear light reflective clothing, sunscreen, a hat.

Way back when, the young PFC and his company went to Alaska in January for a month. Got to -69 degrees, not with wind chill. We returned to Ft Bragg, turned in our cold gear, drew our hot gear, and 2 weeks later deployed to Panama for a month. Never got below 70 degrees. How's that for a temp swing?

JBMat, I always tell people that I can always put on another layer of clothes. Regarding hot weather, I tell there is only so much of me that should be seen; if you get my drift.

Many people seem to think that having as minimal clothing as possible makes you feel cool. That is not the case.

Look what people living in sahara wears. Loose fitting garments with minimal skin exposure.

So for the western individual a loose fitting cotton or linen shirt and trousers or shorts and a hat is the way to go.

When it´s 30°C here I felt quite comfortable in a 50/50 NyCo t-shirt, safari-type vest, boonie, shorts and sandals.

I'm thinking that humidity plays a major role in how one would dress for hot weather.

What year was that? I had almost the identical experience, Alaska and then Panama in short order. B/2/505 '80-83.

Jan/Feb/Mar 80 A/2/508. And I was the CO's RTO, so my ruck in Alaska was somewhere in the 100 lbs range. In Panama it was lighter, maybe 40ish. Stupid PRC 77.

My favorite way to cool down quickly is to soak a bandanna or Buff in cool water before tying it on my head. The cool water is quick relief and the evaporative cooling effect is very noticeable.

When I was in Arizona, I learned a lesson from the Hispanic community - long-sleeved guayabara or similar lightweight shirts. The long-sleeves keep the vapor next to your skin and help with evap cooling. Also, it slows down dehydration a little. Also, the old wet bandana around the neck routine is helpful.

I was a '60 gunner without an ammo bearer, so I feel your pain.

quietly Learning- How do you tie a banana on your head?

You could use the nylon cord from your PSP. Your question begs another, how does tying a piece of fruit to your head help keep you cool?

Jeanette Isabelle

This is how I do it every morning before I leave for work:


Soak the banana in cool water
Peel the banana skin into three strips leaving the last 2" of the peel connected
Eat 1/2 the banana. -The potassium is good for you
Mash the remainder of the banana against the top of your head. -The banana prevents sunburn
Cut (2) 18" lengths of paracord (I know you have paracord)
Tie one end of each length of paracord to a separate banana skin strip.
Arrange the skin so that the point of the skin is centered sticking up from the top of your head and each cord hangs in front of your ears. -The loose skin strip should hang free behind your head to protect your neck.
Tie the paracord into a nice big bow under your neck to keep it secure.

Spelling fixed

Hmmm...sounds like a lot of monkeying around to me.

Staying cool has been a huge priority around here this year. Heat waves + kiddos, especially babies, make it an extra challenge for me.

Rule number one for us is that we simply don't go out if it's too hot or humid.
There's nothing so urgent out there that requires the risk.

When we do go out, we start with full tanks, by drinking well the night and morning before we leave. We wear lightweight clothing and hats, take extra water and water making supplies, a tarp and paracord for shelter, and bandanas for soaking. We also slow down our pace and take lots of hydration breaks.

Mom tip: I add juice crystals to my son's water bottle, and throw a koolaid jammer or two into his pack, to encourage him to drink more.

A route by the water, where we can stop for a dip is also helpful. (And fun.)

I sip ice water.

We get about 4 weeks a year when high temps and humidity are an issue. We were in the 40Cs with humidity last week, and that seems to be an increasing trend. We had three or four of those heat waves last year in that little July to August window.

I think it's something that a lot of people here underestimate. Most folks here love the summer weather and do everything they can to get out in it. We actually lost someone here in our housing complex last week, who succumbed to it at our little swimming pool. Even the CPR didn't seem to make an impression on the sunbathers, who wrote it off to her age and/or weight. They're probably right that those were a factor, but lack of shade, water, etc... might have made a difference.

We often hike the local trails, and it amazes me how many people we see without hats, water bottles, or even a bag of some sort that might be carrying them, even down at the beaches where the sun and heat are unrelenting. Even in Scouts, when we give kids and parents lots of reminds, the kids will show up without water bottles or hats. Drives me nuts!!

I always have a water bottle with me. I was drinking so much my doctor said I was loosing salt. That's unusual in America, a doctor telling his patient to consume more salt.

At the store, I bought my favorite chips: Chili Cheese Fritos. Lucky for me, they were on sale.

Jeanette Isabelle