Macao’s summer months can be excruciatingly uncomfortable. The city’s subtropical climate results in an intensely warm and humid climate that can leave those who spend too much time outdoors a hot and sticky mess. On the hottest days, the mercury can reach upwards of 36°C or higher.
Unfortunately, the scorching weather doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon. Last year, multiple heat records were smashed, with the average temperature for that year coming to a total of 23.6°C or 0.8°C over the global average. The local weather forecaster also predicts the number of hot days in the city to more than double by the middle of this century due to the impact of climate change.
[See more: What are the best travel destinations in Asia for a summer coolcation?]
Of course, one solution would be to take a “coolcation” in China or overseas. For a more affordable and permanent workaround, why not consider getting your hands on the various gadgets that can help you stay cool this summer? Here’s a list of eight “cool” ones that you might enjoy.
Macao News has not road-tested these items, nor do we endorse them. We’re writing about them only because they strike us as quirky, interesting or fun, and none of these links are affiliate links.
Gulaki Neck fan
Once upon a time, neck fans were regarded as gimmicky and tasteless devices worn only by the socially awkward. Nowadays, these wearable gadgets have gone the way of airpods and smartwatches, acquiring greater cultural and social acceptance, thanks to their comfort, stylish designs and practicality.
One example is the Gulaki portable neck fan, which earned recommendations from CNN, the New York Times and Today. Offering three wind speeds, the makers of this wearable device say it can be used for 17 hours of battery life at low setting and 5 hours on full power.
[See more: Here are China’s best travel destinations for beating the heat this summer]
The fan is relatively quiet, durable and very stylish – so much so that it could easily be mistaken for a pair of headphones. To top it all off, there are multiple colours to choose from and you can personalise the lights on either side by swapping them with 64 different colours.
You can purchase a Gulaki neck fan for a very affordable US$30.
Solar fan cap
Admittedly, this solar fan cap is far from the most aesthetically pleasing accessory for staying cool – physically and socially. But when you’re melting in heat that’s intense enough to fry an egg, fashion should be the least of your worries.
With a solar-powered fan built into its brim, this hat will directly blow cool, blissful air into your face whenever you’re exposed to sunlight. If you find yourself indoors, you can simply top it up with juice via a USB cable.
[See more: High temperatures in Macao have been causing at least 10 heatstroke cases a day]
Best of all, the angle of the fan and its wind speed can be adjusted to suit your needs. At full speed, makers claim the fan can be powered for 2 hours, while at high and medium speed, you can expect to get 8 and 16 hours of battery life respectively.
The solar fan can be removed as well, so there’s no danger of electrical hazard when washing the cap. Nor will you be able to hurt yourself when operating it, as the blades are made of a soft material. A grill is also fitted into place to prevent the fan from jamming against long hair.
The solar fan cap sells for US$40.
Mission Cooling Hat
Don’t be fooled by the fact that the Cooling Hats by Mission look no different from a typical cap or broad brim hat. These headwear actually come equipped with water cooling technology that purport to keep your head cooler by several degrees for up to two hours at a time.
Details are scant on how the fabric technology works, but the process to activate it is relatively easy. First dampen the hat with water, the manufacturer says, and then wring, wave and wear. According to the company, the cooling effect starts to set in within less than 60 seconds.
[See more: Climate change: Cities are trying innovative techniques to beat the heat]
Aside from its cooling feature, the hat is also perfect for keeping you protected from the sun, thanks to its UPF50 label, which will keep you shielded from 98 percent of UV light.
The lightweight material and adjustable design of the cap and broad brim hat means it’ll always fit snugly on top of your head. Wearers can also select from a wide array of designs that fit their style, with 11 different colours available for the caps, including black, classic camo safari, honey dew and navy.
Prices vary, depending on the type of hat selected. Caps cost between US$25 to US$30, while broad brim hats range between US$20 to US$35. Click here for more.
GoMist misting and drinking water bottle
Sometimes the simplest ideas can be the most ingenious. The GoMist water bottle by ExtremeMist is a perfect example of this. As the name suggests, this 2-in-1 device fuses a water bottle with a mister, ensuring that you stay hydrated internally and externally.
With a capacity of 740 millilitres, the GoMist bottle ensures that your body stays hydrated throughout the day. The insulated stainless steel design also keeps your drink cold during a sweltering day – and the bottle also keeps you cool and refreshed by blowing a fine spray of water around you. According to the manufacturer, this mist function is rechargeable via USB-C and can dramatically lower the air temperature around you.
[See more: Europe swelters under its first major heatwave of the summer]
Users can choose from two misting speeds and have the option to conserve water through the bottle’s auto 1 minute shut-off button. Four colours are also available for purchase, including desert flower, marine teal, midnight black and polar white.
The Extreme Mist water bottle costs US$69.
Chill-O-Matic
Ever found yourself wishing you could magically turn your lukewarm can of drink into an icy cold one in minutes? The Chill-O-Matic says it can do this to any standard-sized 355 millilitre can in just one minute – 240 times faster than a fridge.
The manufacturer says you simply need to load your can into the beverage chiller, add ice, shut the lid and hit the button. After spinning around the ice for 60 seconds, your room temperature drink will come out as though it had been in the fridge for hours.
[See more: China struggles with heatwaves in the north and flooding in the south]
This portable machine, coupled with a ziplock sized bag of ice, is more than enough to chill 12 cans. The only downside is this device isn’t rechargeable, so you’ll need to carry two AA batteries.
The Chill-O-Matic is available for US$28.
CamelBak Hydration backpack
The CamelBak Hydration backpack is perfect for those who go cycling, hiking or running, as it allows you to keep your focus on these activities without the hassle of holding a water bottle.
This drink bag is fitted with a reservoir that can be filled up with three litres of water. Users can drink out of it by biting on the valve of the attached hose. To prevent the drinking tube from dangling everywhere, CamelBak has included a magnetic tube strap to keep it secure.
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Aside from keeping you hydrated, this bag also has a decent amount of storage space, despite its small size. All in all, there are four pockets, including three that can be zipped up. The size of these pouches range from small to large, allowing you to fit items such as your keys, books, phone, tablet and snacks. To put it off, the backpack is also designed to carry one helmet on its exterior, making it ideal for cyclists.
The CamelBak Hydration backpack is available for US$83.
Cooling vest
On paper, the cooling vest sounds more ridiculous than useful, with its 2 mini fans attached to the waist that blast cool air around your body. But fans of this product say its inventor is a misunderstood genius.
The vest’s two fans have six adjustable speeds to ensure that the temperature fits with your needs. At low speed, wearers can expect the fans to operate for a full day. Full speed, on the other hand, will give you about 9 hours of cool air.
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Both the fans and the 20,000mAh rechargeable battery pack are removable, making it easy to give a good scrubbing after prolonged use.
The vest is only available in black, although there are a wide selection of size options. Overall, it could appeal to outdoor workers or those who find themselves in a hot environment, including cooks, warehouse workers, construction staff and landscapers.
It costs US$80. See more here.
28W BigBlue USB solar charger
While not a cooling gadget per se, this solar-powered charger will come in handy for powering all the devices that you’ll need to beat the heat – and you might as well make productive use of all that glaring sun.
Operating this device is as simple as finding a space with direct sunlight, spreading out the solar panels and then charging up to three devices by connecting them to the two USB-C ports or the one USB-A port. Supported devices include cellphones, power banks, camping lights, bluetooth speakers, tablets and GPS trackers.
The 28w BigBlue USB solar charger is also highly portable, weighing 680 grams and covering an area of 32.9 inch by 11 inch, which can be folded down to 11 inch by 6 inch.
[See more: It is ‘virtually certain’ that Earth has breached the 1.5°C climate change threshold]
According to a road test conducted by the New York Times, the 28W BigBlue charger was able to power up its 10,000 mAh power bank after five hours and most phones within a couple of hours. Be aware, though, that this solar charger cannot store energy, meaning you won’t be able to use it like a power bank.
The BigBlue USB solar charger costs US$75.
