The Things Strategist Staff Use to Stay Cool During a Heat Wave

My love for this fan iswell documented. My old faithful will be by my side during this heat wave and all the heat waves to come.

I’ve had quite a few portable fans over the years that have helped me through stuffy subway stations, a vacation to the Philippines, and every hot, humid situation in between. My last fan broke during a recent river trip, so I replaced it with something a little more souped-up. This is the most powerful little handheld fan I’ve ever had. It is a tad bulkier and louder than my previous fans, but the extra-strong breeze makes it well worth it. Plus the charge on it is very impressive; I used it the other weekend while at the beach and at an outdoor wedding and went through only half of its battery. I haven’t left the house without it since May.

I use thisneck fanfor my daily walk. I bought one five years ago when I camped in the Mojave in August (Alison Freerrecommendedit for desert heat waves). I would never do that again, but the neck fan helped.

I wore this hat all weekend: at the pool, then later to a park, but mostly out on walks. It looks insane but somehow comes off kind of elegant and keeps the sun off my neck and back.

I use four of thesestroller fans— three pointed at my kid, one pointed at me. On the highest setting, they are pretty strong. I strap it on the stroller handlebar, and I can feel it. Under the stroller canopy, you can definitely feel it, too. I can’t remember the last time I charged them — I think they were charged from last summer — and they have still run the couple times I’ve needed them so far this summer.

When temperatures start topping 80 degrees, I sleep only in Lake pajamas, which are so lightweight and buttery that I often forget I’m wearing them. Even in the heat, I still like to sleep under the covers, but the shorts are itty bitty enough that I don’t overheat under the blankets, while the top shields my arms from the breeze of the fan circulating air throughout my bedroom.

If I could, I would glue thisfanto my left hand (I write with my right). I’m refusing to leave the house without it this week. It’s more important than my wallet.

The next best thing to being naked (well, for decency’s sake)? These boxer shorts. They’re made of a cotton-poplin that’s as nice as a summer breeze.

I’m blasting this tower fan that toddler fingers can’t get into. It’s surprisingly strong, quiet, and not too bad-looking.

I wear these shelf-bra–camisoles when I can’t be bothered with both a bra and a tank. I love the feel of the mostly organic cotton (95 percent organic cotton, 5 percent elastane) because it’s soft, breathes well, and has a touch of stretch. This last detail means the camis give light support without actually feeling like a bra. They are cropped but not too cropped, making them cute enough to wear on their own with jean shorts but also good for layering under a slip dress or oversize button-down.

My wife and I came across these popsicle molds in the window of a kitchen-and-homeware store in Montreal calledRéuniona couple weekends back and loved the discreet design. Unlike your typical six-pack mold, which can be difficult to fit into a crowded freezer, these individual molds can be tucked away wherever they fit. I look forward to filling them with blended watermelon with a squeeze of lime and a pinch of salt.

It’s extremely refreshing to spritz this on your face while on a sweaty Tube journey (or when sitting in traffic in the car). I like to spritz, then blast my face with a pocket fan after.

Unlike handheld-device fans, folding fans don’t need charging and therefore won’t let you down if you forget to plug them in along with your phone, headphones, laptop, and whatever else. The nicest one I’ve picked up this year was from the Uffizi Shop.

Editors’ note: Uffizi Shop lists all prices in euros, so the price shown is an approximate conversion to U.S. dollars.

I use this year-round, but during heat waves I’ll just apply it more frequently. It pretty much stops me from sweating, and any sweat that does break through (like when I’m melting on the Tube) is instantly converted into a fresh scent. Double up with the brand’s spray-on deodorant if you’re nasty.

If you must wear makeup, set it with Laura Mercier’s Translucent Loose Setting Powder. It doesn’t look cakey, and it can withstand a fair bit of sweat. For the best application, I use a powder puff, tap the excess onto my hand, and then apply a thin, deliberately placed layer. I’ve never had to reapply.

On a hot day, I take the most issue with the sun. I don’t like how it feels as though it’s roasting my skin, so I generally use a couple layers of sunscreen all over and carry a parasol when I’m walking around outside. It shields my upper body really well. But because it’s small, the shadow it casts doesn’t always protect my calves and feet. I’m thinking about investing in a large one but also feel like that might be doingtoo,too much.

I love this fan and know I’m not alone! I don’t even use my air conditioner anymore — it’s so noisy and expensive to run. The sleep setting on this is perfect for drifting off in the summer heat, and I’ll sometimes blast the highest Power Cool setting beside my desk during the hottest part of the day.

I keep this in my bag all summer and spritz it on basically any time I’m feeling overheated. I’ve brought it to the beach, on a very hot trip to Athens last July, on days where I’ve walked all over the city — it’s just always very refreshing and, at $8 a mini-bottle, not terribly priced.

It’s also very important to have a number of breezy cotton tops in your closet come a heat wave, and this is my latest. It feels as if you’re wearing nothing while still being work-appropriate.

Just a solid little fan with varying speeds that can be handheld, worn around the neck, or placed on a surface.

I’ve been wearing these shoes nonstop because I simply can’t be bothered with socks in this heat, and I don’t want to be stuck wearing some skinny-strapped sandal that digs into my feet and creates weird lines when my feet inevitably swell (gross, sorry). They are admittedly very orthopedic-looking, but I think it’s a worthy trade-off because they’re so comfortable and easy to slip on and off. I have them in black, and I’m thinking about getting them in a different color. Even if they last me only the summer, they’re so cheap that it would be worth it.

I always carry a white Uniqlo linen shirt with me, even when it’s sweltering. It’s for sun protection on my arms, where I often get a photosensitivity rash, but also a cover-up when the AC is too cold.

I recently bought the micro–Hydro Flask because I hate carrying anything bulky when I leave the house, so now I have a tiny sip of cold water in my bag should I find myself in need of a drink on the subway.

There seem to be a few different versions of this fan at various price points, but the key is that it can oscillate on a pedestal or on a tabletop, and it has a rechargeable battery that makes it so conveniently portable. There’s even an optional (and, depending on the version you buy, sometimes sold separately) “misting” attachment that you can hook up to a hose when using the fan outdoors.

I have quit even trying to jockey for a chaise at the community pool, which has already posted signs that say, “During peak times, chairs are for adults only.” Now I just bring my own! It has a strap and is pretty light, so I just sling it over my shoulder and plop down wherever I can find a space.