A cooling towel is a towel you wet, wring out and wear around your neck or head, and the water evaporating from the fabric is what cools you. Start with how you want to wear one: draped around your neck, as a scarf, or as a headband. Then decide whether you need one towel or a pack to share.
If your main task is wiping down during a workout, our gym towel guide covers that buying decision too.
Best overall: Sukeen 4 Pack Cooling Towels
Best cooling towel overall: the Sukeen 4 Pack Cooling Towels, because the listing describes a hyper evaporative mesh you soak, wring and snap, four towels come with pouches and carabiner clips, and it has the most ratings of any pick here.
The listing describes soft, hyper evaporative mesh, activated by soaking, wringing out and snapping. Each towel measures about 101.6 by 30.5 cm, and the listed uses include running, yoga, golf and camping. Four towels give you a set to share across those activities. Sukeen holds 4.5 stars from 48,014 ratings, the largest count among these six picks.
It suits families or anyone who wants several towels with their own carrying accessories. The honest catch: the listing's cooling claim is up to three hours depending on conditions, and the rating is pooled across colours and pack sizes. It is not a rating exclusively for this four pack.
Best single towel: Frogg Toggs Chilly Pad
Best single towel: the Frogg Toggs Chilly Pad, because the listing describes a reusable hyper evaporative towel you wet, wring and cool, and a storage container comes with it.
The Chilly Pad listing describes material that retains water while remaining dry to the touch. The listing's size works out to about 83.8 by 33 cm, and it says the material can absorb up to eight times its weight in water. It names yard work, sporting events, golf, fishing and camping as uses. The towel holds 4.5 stars from 10,732 ratings.
It suits someone buying one towel for their own outings. The honest catch: this is one towel, so a family wanting separate towels may prefer Sukeen or SMALLElectric. The rating is pooled across Chilly Pad colours.
Best value 4 pack: SMALLElectric 4 Pack Cooling Towels
Best value 4 pack: the SMALLElectric 4 Pack Cooling Towels, because it gives four microfibre towels in blue, dark blue, grey and green.
The listing describes hyper evaporative, breathable microfibre that cools through water evaporation. It gives four colours: blue, dark blue, grey and green. Activation is described as soaking and wringing, with the same steps repeated to reactivate cooling. It holds 4.4 stars from 9,411 ratings, pooled across colours and pack sizes.
It suits a buyer who wants a four pack of microfibre towels. The honest catch: the title dimensions convert to about 101.6 by 30.5 cm, but the description gives about 99.1 by 27.9 cm. Confirm the selected size if those measurements decide your purchase.
Best for camping and outdoors: Tough Outdoors 3 Pack Cooling Towels
Best for camping and outdoors: the Tough Outdoors 3 Pack Cooling Towels, because its listing names camping and outdoor use and specifies the Evapocool fabric blend.
The listing describes Evapocool fabric made from 55 percent polyamide and 45 percent polyester. It calls the cloth compact and fast drying, with activation by soaking and wringing. The three pack sits between the single towels and four packs here. It holds 4.5 stars from 6,752 ratings.
It suits a camping group looking for three towels or someone comparing fabric composition. The honest catch: the rating is shared with another Tough Outdoors listing, and pack size depends on the variation selected. The listing does not state towel dimensions or a cooling duration in hours.
Best for work sites: Ergodyne Chill Its 6602
Best for work sites: the Ergodyne Chill Its 6602, because its listing names working in the heat and describes PVA material activated with water.
The listing says to run the towel under water for one minute or until saturated, then wring out excess water for drip free cooling. It gives dimensions of 33 by 75 cm and says cooling can last up to four hours on a single soak. The towel holds 4.2 stars from 14,300 ratings, pooled across colours.
It suits people who work outdoors in the heat, which is the use the listing names. The honest catch: 4.2 is the lowest rating among these picks, despite the large rating count, and it is a single towel.
Best neck and head band: Frogg Toggs Chilly Sport
Best neck and head band: the Frogg Toggs Chilly Sport, because the listing describes a hands free, nonslip design for wearing around the neck or head.
The listing's size works out to about 83.8 by 16.5 cm. The listing describes hyper evaporative material that retains water while remaining dry to the touch, with three to four hours of cooling depending on conditions. It holds 4.4 stars from 3,389 ratings, pooled across colours.
It suits someone searching for a cooling scarf or headband for golf, fishing or other listed outdoor activities. The honest catch: it is about half the width of the Chilly Pad, so choose the Pad if you want more towel width. The Sport is the pick for the band format.
How to choose a cooling towel
Compare the listing specifications
Every figure below is the listing's own. A size marked about is converted from inches, and a cooling time is what that listing claims, not a test result.
Cooling towel specifications from the listings
| Pick | Towels | Size | Listed material | Listed cooling time |
|---|
| Sukeen | 4 | About 101.6 by 30.5 cm | Hyper evaporative mesh | Up to 3 hours, depending on conditions |
|---|
| Chilly Pad | 1 | About 83.8 by 33 cm | Hyper evaporative material | not stated |
|---|
| SMALLElectric | 4 | Title: about 101.6 by 30.5 cm; description: about 99.1 by 27.9 cm | Microfibre | Up to several hours |
|---|
| Tough Outdoors | 3 | not stated | 55 percent polyamide, 45 percent polyester | not stated |
|---|
| Ergodyne 6602 | 1 | 33 by 75 cm | PVA | Up to 4 hours on a single soak |
|---|
| Chilly Sport | 1 | About 83.8 by 16.5 cm | Hyper evaporative material | 3 to 4 hours, depending on conditions |
|---|
Choose a towel or a band
For neckwear, compare width as well as length. Chilly Sport is about 16.5 cm wide, while Chilly Pad is about 33 cm wide. Sukeen lists scarf and headband uses for its about 30.5 cm wide towel. That gives you a choice between a band shaped for the job and a towel with more width.
Fabric and how you activate it
Ergodyne names PVA, SMALLElectric names microfibre, Sukeen names a breathable mesh and Tough Outdoors gives its polyamide and polyester percentages. Activation is the same idea on every listing: wet the towel and wring it out. Sukeen adds a snap, and Ergodyne says to run it under water for one minute or until saturated. The Ergodyne listing also says its PVA dries stiff and softens again when wet, which is the one feel difference the listings describe.
How long each listing says the cooling lasts
Sukeen says up to three hours and the Chilly Sport three to four hours, both depending on conditions. Ergodyne says up to four hours on one soak, and SMALLElectric says several hours. The Chilly Pad and Tough Outdoors listings give no figure in hours. Each is the brand's own claim for its own conditions, so use them as a guide, not a ranking. For a wearable fan instead of a towel, our neck fan guide compares the options.
Count the towels and included extras
Sukeen and SMALLElectric give you four towels, while Tough Outdoors gives you three. Sukeen explicitly includes pouches and carabiner clips; Chilly Pad comes with a container. SMALLElectric says its towel folds into a pouch, which is not a clear promise that one comes in the pack. Count what is included before comparing value.
What each listing says it is for
Sukeen names sport, travel, yoga, gym, golf, football, running, camping and outdoor work. The Chilly Pad names yard work, sporting events, fitness, golf, fishing, camping and theme parks. SMALLElectric names running, cycling, golf, yoga, gardening, camping, climbing, fishing and hiking. Tough Outdoors names the beach, the gym and working or training. Ergodyne names working or playing in the heat, and the Chilly Sport names yard work, sporting events, working out, golf, fishing and camping. Every rating count on this page is pooled across colours, and for Sukeen, SMALLElectric and Tough Outdoors across pack sizes or a sibling listing.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best cooling towel in Australia?
The Sukeen 4 Pack is our top pick for most people, combining breathable mesh with pouches and carabiner clips according to its listing. Choose the Frogg Toggs Chilly Pad if you want one towel with a container, or SMALLElectric for a four pack of microfibre towels.
Do cooling towels really work?
Yes, by evaporation: you wet the towel, wring it out and the water evaporating from the fabric gives the cooling feel. The Ergodyne listing says its PVA material absorbs water and creates a cooling sensation as it evaporates, and the SMALLElectric listing describes physical cooling by the evaporation of water.
How long does a cooling towel stay cool?
The Sukeen listing says up to three hours depending on conditions, the Frogg Toggs Chilly Sport listing three to four hours depending on conditions, and the Ergodyne listing up to four hours on a single soak. When it dries out, the Ergodyne, SMALLElectric and Tough Outdoors listings say to wet it again to restart the cooling.
How do you activate a cooling towel?
The Sukeen listing says to soak, wring out and snap its towels. SMALLElectric describes soaking and wringing, then repeating those steps to reactivate cooling. Ergodyne says to run its towel under water for one minute or until saturated, then wring out excess water. The instructions differ between products.
Which cooling scarf is best for wearing around your neck?
The Frogg Toggs Chilly Sport is our neck and head band pick: its listing describes a hands free, nonslip design, about 16.5 cm wide. Sukeen also lists scarf and headband uses, with a wider towel measuring about 101.6 by 30.5 cm. The Chilly Pad is the wider Frogg Toggs option at about 33 cm.
Is one cooling towel enough, or should I buy a pack?
One towel suits one person: the Frogg Toggs Chilly Pad comes with a storage container and the Ergodyne Chill Its 6602 is a single towel. For a family or a sports bag, the Sukeen 4 Pack comes with storage pouches and carabiner clips, the SMALLElectric 4 Pack gives four microfibre towels, and the Tough Outdoors pack gives three.
Which cooling towel is best for running and the gym?
The Sukeen 4 Pack is the pick: its listing names running, yoga, gym, workouts and fitness, and four towels give you a set for the week's sessions. The SMALLElectric 4 Pack names running, cycling, yoga and the gym too. The Frogg Toggs Chilly Sport is hands free and nonslip if you do not want a towel flapping.
Is microfibre or PVA better for a cooling towel?
Neither listing claims to beat the other. The practical difference the listings describe: the Ergodyne listing says its PVA towel air dries stiff and softens again when wet, while the SMALLElectric listing calls its microfibre soft and super absorbent. Tough Outdoors uses a 55 percent polyamide, 45 percent polyester blend. Pick by the feel and format you prefer.
