Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
Outdoor Game Day Gear That Kept Me Cool When It Was 98 Degrees
35
items Standing in direct sun for three hours watching your kid's soccer tournament while sweat pools in places you didn't know had pores. That was me every Saturday from May through September. I finally stopped suffering and started showing up prepared. If...
Sections
5
Portable Cooling Fans and Misters That Actually Work Outside
Cooling Towels and Wearables for When the Sun Won't Quit
Hydration Gear That Keeps Drinks Cold for Hours
Sun Protection That Goes Beyond Just Sunscreen
Seating and Comfort Gear for Long Days Outside
Portable Cooling Fans and Misters That Actually Work Outside
I used to fan myself with a crumpled program like it was 1952. Then I discovered handheld misting fans and my whole outdoor experience changed. These are the ones that survived a full season of weekend tournaments.
Grab this one first. I spray my face between every quarter and it's the only reason I survived my daughter's July softball doubleheader. Perfect for the parent who refuses to sit in the car with the AC running.
O2COOL, Handheld Misting Fan, 10.5 inch, Blue
Keep this clipped to your chair during tailgates. Before I had it, I was dunking paper towels in cooler water like a caveman. Three speed settings and the mist actually reaches your whole face.
Portable Handheld Misting Fan
Bring this to the team tent and suddenly you're everyone's favorite sideline parent. I set it up at a flag football game in August and six families crowded around it like a campfire.
Arctic Cove MBF0181 18" 2-Speed Bucket Top Misting Fan
Use the same battery as your drill, which I thought was hilarious until I realized how genius it is. Ran it for four hours straight at a parking lot tailgate and still had juice left.
Ryobi 18V ONE+ Misting Fan, 2 Brass Nozzles
Toss this on the bleacher seat next to you. It runs on batteries or a plug, so it works literally anywhere. I went from showing up drenched to actually watching the game instead of counting minutes until shade.
O2COOL 10 inch Battery or Electric Portable Fan
Clip it to your camp chair armrest and forget about it. My wife stole mine after one inning of our son's baseball game. Had to order a second one that same night.
SkyGenius Battery Operated Clip on Mini Desk Fan, Blue
Pair this with a cold water bottle and you've got a DIY AC unit for your face. Weighs almost nothing, so it fits in your pocket between plays. Great for anyone who walks around the stadium instead of sitting.
Customer reviews for Misting Fan Portable Handheld
Cooling Towels and Wearables for When the Sun Won't Quit
There was a track meet last June where I thought I might actually pass out on the metal bleachers. Cooling towels saved me from becoming a cautionary tale on the local news.
Snap it, wave it, drape it around your neck. I looked ridiculous and I did not care because my body temperature dropped in about ten seconds. Stock up before June because they sell out fast.
Frogg Toggs Chilly Pad Sport Cooling Towel
Soak it in your water bottle, wring it out, and wear it like a scarf. Stayed cool for over two hours at a lacrosse game. For anyone who thinks cooling towels are gimmicky, this one changed my mind completely.
MISSION Max Plus Cooling Towel - Soft Microfiber
Toss this in your gym bag and forget about it until you need it. I pulled mine out at a 95 degree tailgate and three strangers asked where I got it. Reactivates with water, no chemicals.
Ergodyne Chill-Its 6602 Evaporative Cooling Towel, Gray
Wear this under a hat and people won't even notice it. Keeps your neck from turning into a sunburned sweat river. I wore one to six straight weekend tournaments and it held up perfectly.
KOOLGATOR Cooling Neck Wrap for Neck
Get the two-pack so you can rotate them. One around your neck, one in a zip bag with ice water for halftime. My daughter's coach borrowed one and never gave it back.
Cooling Towel for Instant Cooling,Soft Breathable
Try the mesh version if regular towels feel too heavy when wet. This one breathes better and dries lighter. Perfect for the person who hates anything clingy on their skin in humidity.
Chill Pal Mesh Cooling Towel (Blue, 12 x 40 inch)
Swap your regular hat for this and skip the towel altogether. Dunk it in water and put it on. I wore it to a noon kickoff in Texas and my head stayed cooler than my iced coffee.
Customer reviews for MISSION Cooling Bucket Hat
Hydration Gear That Keeps Drinks Cold for Hours
Nothing worse than reaching for your water bottle in the third quarter and taking a sip of liquid that's basically warm soup. I fixed that problem permanently last summer.
Use the handle to carry it everywhere. My ice was still intact after four hours in direct sun at a football game. For anyone who drinks water like a camel, this is your sideline companion.
Stanley Quencher H2.0 FlowState 40oz Stainless Steel
Bring this if you want something that fits in a bag without leaking. I threw it in my backpack sideways for an entire soccer tournament. Not a single drop escaped and the water was still freezing cold.
YETI Rambler 26 oz Bottle, Vacuum Insulated
Grab the wide mouth so you can shove ice cubes in without a funnel. I used to bring disposable bottles that went warm in twenty minutes. This thing keeps water cold long enough to outlast a rain delay.
Hydro Flask Wide Mouth Water Bottle with Flex Cap Olive
Try the bite valve if you hate unscrewing caps with sweaty hands. One hand, one bite, cold water. I use this during games where I'm standing and clapping and can't fumble with a lid.
Camelbak Eddy+ Vacuum Stainless 32oz Water Bottle
Keep this under your chair as a refill station. I fill it with ice water in the morning and it lasts the entire day. Saved me from buying five dollar water bottles at the concession stand.
Igloo 1/2 Gallon Sports Beverage Plastic Jug, Red, Hooks
Toss this in the wagon with the chairs. It's smaller than a full gallon but holds enough for two people through a three hour game. The spout pours clean without splashing all over your shirt.
RTIC Outback Half Gallon Insulated Ceramic Lined Water
Pair this with a cooling towel and you're basically carrying your own climate system. Spout lid makes it easy to pour water on your towel too. I refill it twice per game day and never feel dehydrated.
Takeya Actives Stainless Steel Water Bottle w/Straw lid
Sun Protection That Goes Beyond Just Sunscreen
I got a sunburn through my shirt once. Through my actual shirt. That's when I stopped messing around and started treating sun protection like a real strategy instead of just slapping on SPF 30.
Wear this instead of a cotton tee and you'll feel the difference in five minutes. It breathes, it blocks UV, and it dries fast when you sweat through it. I own three and rotate them all summer.
Columbia Men's PFG Bahama II Long Sleeve Shirt
Try this if you fish or sit in open bleachers with zero shade. The vents on the back actually let air through. I wore it to an all day track meet and didn't have a single red spot afterward.
Huk Huk Pursuit Vented Long Sleeve Shirt for Men
Slather this on before you leave the house, not when you get there. I learned that lesson the hard way after arriving at a noon game already pink. Stays on through sweat better than most brands I've tried.
Coppertone Sport Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50
Spray this on your arms and legs for quick reapplication between quarters. No rubbing, no greasy hands on your phone. For anyone who forgets to reapply, the spray format removes every excuse.
Sun Bum Refreshing Face Mist Sunscreen, Original
Get the one with the neck drape if you burn behind your ears. I used to get this weird sunburn stripe on the back of my neck every single game. This hat eliminated it completely.
Outdoor Research Kid's Sun Runner Cap, Fig, M
Swap your old hat for this if you want something that wicks sweat away from your forehead. I stopped getting that gross sweat drip in my eyes around the second inning. Fits snug without squeezing.
Under Armour Women's Blitzing Adjustable Cap
Clip this to your camp chair and create your own shade. I watched an entire double header without moving seats to chase shadows. Neighbors in the bleachers were jealous and I was not sorry about it.
Universal Clamp Clip On Chair Umbrella, 47 Inch Large
Seating and Comfort Gear for Long Days Outside
Metal bleachers at 2pm in July feel like sitting on a panini press. I finally invested in actual comfort and stopped limping to my car after every game with grill marks on my legs.
Sit in this and keep a cold drink in the built-in cooler pocket right next to your arm. I parked in this thing for six hours at a tournament and my back felt fine. The cup holder fits a full sized tumbler too.
Coleman Cooler Quad Chair
Recline all the way back between games if you're at an all day event. I napped during the lunch break at my kid's swim meet and woke up feeling human again. Folds flat for easy carrying.
Rio Beach Classic 5-Position Lay-Flat Folding Beach Chair
Use this if you're a fidgeter who can't sit still. The rocking motion kept me sane during a three hour rain delay. Springs work on grass, dirt, concrete, basically any surface you'd find at a field.
GCI Outdoor Freestyle Rocker XL Chair Black
Throw your chairs, cooler, misting fan, and towels in this and pull it across the parking lot. I used to make four trips from the car. Now I make one. Changed my entire pregame routine.
Mac Sports Folding Wagon with Tailgate and Table
Toss this on metal bleachers and your back gets actual support. Before I had this, I was hunched over like a question mark by halftime. The cushion also keeps the hot metal from scorching your legs.
Cascade Mountain Tech Ultralight Steel Stadium Seat With Strap
Clamp this to any chair and angle it wherever the sun moves. I repositioned it twice during a game and stayed shaded the entire time. For the person who shows up early just to grab the one shady spot.
Sport-Brella Versa-Brella SPF 50+ Umbrella
Bring this if you want a chair that locks open AND locked closed so it doesn't collapse in your trunk. Happened to me twice with cheap chairs. This one stays put when you sit and stays folded when you carry it.
Kijaro, Camping Chair, Maldives Blue, Dual Lock Portable