5 Best Running Accessories to Stay Cool During Summer Training and Racing (Expert Picks)
Running in the summer can be incredibly rewarding but it also comes with unique challenges. As temperatures rise, your body has to work much harder to regulate its core temperature. Once you begin to overheat, your pace slows, your heart rate climbs, and your perceived effort skyrockets.
Fortunately, a few simple pieces of gear can make a huge difference.
Many of the same cooling strategies used by elite marathoners and ultrarunners are available to everyday runners. By keeping your skin cooler and reducing your body's heat storage, these accessories can help you stay comfortable, maintain your pace longer, and lower your risk of heat-related illness.
Here are five of the best running accessories for staying cool during summer training and racing.
1. Ice Bandana
Best Recommendation: The Feed Ice Bandana
An ice bandana is one of the most effective, and surprisingly simple, ways to stay cool during a hot run.
These bandanas are designed with pockets that hold crushed ice around the neck. As the ice melts, it cools the blood flowing through the major blood vessels in your neck before it's circulated throughout the body.
Because the neck contains several large arteries close to the skin, cooling this area can reduce how hot you feel while helping slow the rise in core body temperature.
The The Feed Ice Bandana is specifically designed for endurance athletes. It's lightweight, comfortable, easy to refill at aid stations, and stays securely in place while running.
Why it works
- Cools blood flowing through the neck
- Reduces perceived exertion
- Helps delay overheating
- Easy to refill during long races
2. Cooling Arm Sleeves
Best Recommendation: Orange Mud Cooling Arm Sleeves
Arm sleeves have become a staple among ultrarunners and marathoners, but the Orange Mud Cooling Arm Sleeves offer an advantage many others don't; they're designed so you can stuff them full of ice.
As the ice melts, it cools the blood flowing near the surface of your forearms while also creating evaporative cooling across your skin.
Aid stations often have ice available, making it easy to refill the sleeves throughout a race.
This combination of conductive and evaporative cooling can make a noticeable difference during long climbs or exposed sections of a course.
Why they work
- Hold ice directly against the skin
- Increase evaporative cooling
- Protect arms from direct sunlight
- Easy to refill at aid stations
3. Bucket Hat with Ice Pocket
Best Recommendation: Outdoor Research Bucket Hat
Your head receives a tremendous amount of solar radiation during a summer run. Keeping it shaded, and cooled, can dramatically improve comfort.
The Outdoor Research Bucket Hat features a built-in pocket that allows you to add ice directly into the top of the hat.
As the ice melts, it cools the scalp while the wide brim shades your face, ears, and neck from direct sunlight.
This combination helps reduce radiant heat gain while giving you continuous cooling throughout your run.
Why it works
- Shades the head, face, and neck
- Built-in ice pocket provides continuous cooling
- Reduces heat from direct sun exposure
- Comfortable for long training runs and ultramarathons
4. UPF Long Sleeve Technical Shirt
Best Recommendation: Rabbit Sun Deflector 2.0
Many runners assume wearing less clothing is always cooler.
In reality, a lightweight UPF technical shirt can often keep you cooler than a sleeveless top.
Direct sunlight continuously heats exposed skin. A highly breathable UPF shirt blocks much of that solar radiation while allowing sweat to evaporate efficiently.
The Rabbit Sun Deflector 2.0 is one of the best options available. It's incredibly lightweight, moisture-wicking, and designed specifically for hot-weather running.
The added sun protection also reduces your risk of sunburn during long races.
Why it works
- Blocks solar radiation
- Promotes efficient sweat evaporation
- Provides UPF sun protection
- Helps maintain a lower skin temperature
5. Frozen HydraPak SkyFlasks
Hydration is essential, but your fluids can also serve as portable cooling packs.
Before your run or race, partially fill your HydraPak SkyFlasks with water and freeze them overnight. Top them off with cold fluid before heading out.
During the early miles, the frozen flask sits against your hand, chest, or running vest, providing external cooling while gradually melting into an ice-cold drink.
As the run progresses, you get both cold hydration and a convenient cooling source.
Many ultrarunners freeze multiple flasks before race day and swap them out at crew stations or drop bags.
Why they work
- Keeps drinks cold for longer
- Provides cooling against the hands or torso
- Encourages better hydration
- Doubles as a portable ice pack
Putting It All Together
Each accessory helps cool your body in a slightly different way.
| Accessory | Cooling Method |
|---|---|
| Ice Bandana | Cools blood flow through the neck |
| Arm Sleeves | Ice plus evaporative cooling on the arms |
| Bucket Hat | Shades the head and cools with ice |
| UPF Shirt | Blocks solar heat while allowing evaporation |
| Frozen SkyFlasks | Cold hydration and portable cooling |
Using multiple cooling strategies together often provides the greatest benefit. For example, combining an ice bandana, cooling sleeves, and frozen flasks can significantly improve comfort during long summer runs or races.
Additional Tips for Running in the Heat
Even the best gear can't replace smart heat management. Remember to:
- Start your runs early in the morning when possible.
- Slow your pace as temperatures rise.
- Stay well hydrated before, during, and after your run.
- Replace electrolytes during longer workouts, especially in hot and humid conditions.
- Practice your cooling strategy during training so nothing is new on race day.
Final Thoughts
Summer running doesn't have to feel miserable.
The right cooling accessories can help you stay more comfortable, reduce heat stress, and perform better when temperatures climb. Whether you're training for your first 10K or tackling a 100-mile ultramarathon, investing in a few proven cooling tools can make every hot-weather run more enjoyable.
If you're expecting high temperatures on race day, don't wait until the starting line to test your gear. Experiment during training, find the combination that works best for you, and head into your next race with a plan to beat the heat.
