Cooling towel for IM run?

Triathlon Forum
1

Anyone used a cooling towel before? Sounds like it could be good for a hot IM run drop bag or over shoulders under suit from start of run

“Mission Hydro­Active Towel
Get this towel wet, wring it, give it a snap, and then let the magic happen. Mission’s proprietary fabric technology drops 30 degrees below your body temperature. (Sounds gimmicky, but it works.) Wrap the Hydro­Active around your neck to cool off after a long run on a hot day. It’s much more effective—and attractive—than dumping a water bottle over your head.”

Learnt about it in an outside online ad article “The Best Running Accessories of 2018”

Website: https://www.mission.com/...tions/cooling-towels

Amazon reviews are solid but depends on your expectations I’d guess. https://www.amazon.com/...NAL77LE/ref=mw_dp_cr

2

In the Ryan Giuliano article, it looked like he was wearing one around his shoulders?

3

It’s worth a try but at HIM and IM races I’ve done there have been enough ice and cold sponges at aid stations to keep me from overheating. I suppose it could help performance

4

I don’t have that specific brand, but got a similar one as a give away from a health fair my company did.

I think it could be good for HIM/IM in right circumstances.

First it would need to be a hot, but dry race. These things cool through evaporative action. If it’s a zillion percent humidity, they won’t do jack. I have cooling sleeves I wear on the bike, and I quickly realized if its humid to not even bother with them.

Second is figuring out how to secure it so it’s not flopping around. I think IIRC Ben Hoffman wearing something similar in Kona. But if it was long enough you could wrap it around your neck and fold over itself to keep it in place, that could work. Then you could just undo it, douse in icy water, and put it back on your way to next aid station.

But for $4, why not give it a try??

5

even better is the headband version. I started racing in one full time last year and love it. Takes a sec to put on in T2, but i like the fact that there is enough fabric to cover my entire head and my ears, which is a big deal for me over a long event.

6

I’ve used one at Silverman and Wildflower two weeks ago, also Cozumel full . It’s funny I usually tuck it in my back trisuit pocket to start. The process of dumping water in my head seems to activate it (without snapping it) so ar some point I notice my butt is really cold.

I drape it around my neck and tuck it in front. Works fairly well and provides some relief