Beat the heat with hot weather walking items that will help you walk cooler. I start at the top - a good hat to keep the sun off my head, and a neck cooler. I use an anti-chafing product on my underarms and I'm prepared for foot blisters. Then I dress in fabrics that wick sweat away from my body. And I carry enough water and/or sports drink to stay hydrated.
1. Neck Cooler
Crystals inside these stylish bandannas absorb water and keep your neck cool through evaporation. A real walk-saver on hot weather walks.
2. Sunday Afternoon Hat
Wendy Bumgardner ©
Keep your head happy - cool, dry, and shielded from the sun - with the perfect hat for long hot walking days. The neck drape keeps you from becoming a redneck, and it is sporty enough for both men and women.
3. Camelbak Pixie
Wendy Bumgardner ©
This versatile hydration pack may end up being your everyday sling bag or mini-backpack. Perfect for walks of two hours or less, or keeping handy to sip all day at work or school, its one liter/35 oz. Omega hydration bladder carries as much water as you would with 1-2 water bottles. The Omega hydration bladder has a wide mouth, making it easy to fill and clean. The two zippered compartments are great for organizing and carrying essentials for your walk, or use in place of a purse.
4. Blister Medic Kit
The essentials you need to deal with the blisters, all packed up nice and small and ready to use.5. BodyGlide
Use BodyGlide anywhere you are likely to chafe - underarms, thighs, crotch, bra, chest, nipples. Chafing occurs when you sweat and then skin or clothing rubs against the area. It is extremely painful. It goes on like a deodorant stick and is petroleum-free.6. Champion Double Dry Women's Shirts
Stay cool and dry with tops that wick away the sweat. The Champion double dry line includes short sleeve, v-neck and sleeveless shirts and tanks. Go single-layered with the tank racer-back top that has a fully constructed motion-control bra built in. The nylon/spandex construction will wick away the sweat and keep you dry.7. L.L. Bean Men's Short Sleeved Coolmax T-Shirt
The CoolMax fabric wicks sweat away from the body.8. New Balance Tempo Shirts - Men
Sleeveless and short-sleeved shirts in a soft sweat-wicking fabric to keep you cool.9. Zoot RUNfit All Sport Shorts
Photo Courtesy of Pricegrabber
I really like the look and design of these shorts. They have a beefier waistband than most sports shorts, with contrasting lacing. The back zip pocket is very useful for small essentials, and you won't risk hooking your thumbs on side pockets when you are using good arm motion while walking. It has a liner so you can choose to wear additional undies or not.
10. Brooks Revelation Pacer Shorts
Quick-drying and ultralight. They have a 3-1/2-inch inseam and a notch on each leg to allow free leg motion. Sizes small to XL.