Cool and Comfortable Hikes

This review was originally written in May 2019 and has been reposted here (with small modifications) because I still like the product two years later.

I am an avid hiker, camper, and wilderness backpacker, and primarily take these kinds of trips in California, Utah, and Arizona weather where it can get quite hot. For a long time, I had been dipping my hat into the cold, running streams or lakes to keep myself momentarily cool, and that also meant having the water drip onto my shirt for additional cooling. However, this relief would usually subside in 30 minutes after the hat had completely dried up in the sun.

On many of my hikes, I had also seen many wear a towel around the neck (a popular practice in Korea and Japan), and one day — I do not remember how — this Chill Pal towel caught my attention. The overwhelming number of positive reviews further piqued my interest, particularly at a time when my toddler son was having a 100F fever the night before. I thought that I would give one a try to not only help cool him down, but to also use as a hiking/traveling towel. I liked it so much, I bought 3 of these Mesh towels and 1 of the PVA ones.

Wearing a towel around the neck is a popular practice in Korea and Japan.

What’s Good? What’s Bad?

Pros

• Kept my neck and face cool and made the hot weather much more bearable
• Maintained moisture (and cooling effect) for 30-75 mins
• Did not feel drenched, though drippings did wet the top of the shirt a bit
• GREAT customer service
  • I had an issue with a wrong (and discontinued) Mesh towel that was sent, and the owner of this small business responded right away and mailed a replacement. The incorrect one did not need to be returned
• Came with a plastic carry pouch and carabiner, though I had never used the pouch itself
• Good length and width
  • At 1′ x 3.3′ (12″ x 40″), it hangs like a scarf and not a towel
• Helped cool down my son’s fever when wrapped around his legs, arms, and forehead
• Material felt comfortable and had been durable
  • Did not cause any allergic reaction for my son, wife, best friend, and myself
• Towel, like microfiber cloths, can be folded easily
• Pleasant colors (I bought the Blue, Nimbus Cloud, and Serenity)

Mesh tucked under cap for full-face cooling in Joshua Tree National Park. Son loved it!

Cons

• Holds less water than their PVA Cooling Towel
• Some may consider it overpriced
• No metal grommet for clipping to a backpack with a carabiner

Mesh Cooling Towels /Chill Pal

Notes

Comparison: Chill Pal PVA Cooling Towel

The company’s PVA version (Polyvinyl Alcohol) holds more water than this Mesh one, providing longer cooling times. However, I do not see why some people prefer the PVA because its material is reminiscent to the chamois cloth I wash my car with. It would feel odd to have it wrapped around the neck, but once it did, the lowered temperature made me forgot about that. I still prefer the Mesh model, however.

PVA Cooling Towels /Chill Pal

PVA Pros

• Held more water than the Mesh version
• Cooled longer

PVA Cons

• Odd feeling towel
• Could cause allergies
• No longer foldable once dry
  • Tip: Fold into the shape you want before it dries
• Could tear faster over time
• Bulk would make it less suitable for wilderness backpacking

To Use

• Soak towel wet
• Wring out the water
• Put around the neck

Final Thoughts

Mesh Towel /Chill Pal

Both the Mesh and PVA towels accomplished their cooling purpose VERY well. However, I preferred the Mesh version because it could be folded easily to a compact size even when dry, was suitable for wilderness backpacking, and felt more comfortable — but all at the expense of having to wet it more often to maintain the lower temperature around the neck.

I had been using the Mesh towels for the past, two years to cool my family and I down during hot hikes, bedridden fevers, and scorching Arizona and Joshua Tree desert heat. What felt unbearably hot became chillingly cool and each time, I see an immediate lift in moods for both my son and I. I could not imagine going on trips without having one or two available in the backpack or car. How it would perform in very humid, tropical climates, however, we will see when that opportunity presents itself.

Check it out!
EcoFlow Wave Portable Air Conditioner is one of the ways we keep ourselves cool while camping. Pair it with a Canopy Tent (Clam / Axa) to keep the chilled air in.

Where To Buy

• Chill Pal Cooling Towel: Mesh / PVA
• EcoFlow Wave Portable Air Conditioner
  • EF Wave Add-On Battery
• Canopy Tent with Side Panels
  • Built-in Panels: Clam Quick-Set Pavilion / Axa AxplorOutdoor
  • Separate Panels: MasterCanopy + five panels (not available for door)

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