How to Cool Off Without a Swimming Pool

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Summer isn't all blue skies and ocean breezes. It's also when the sun shines very brightly and shows no mercy. But not everyone is lucky enough to own a pool to wade in when it's scorching hot outside. Thankfully, there are a few alternative ways to stay cool at home, on the road, and on vacation.

Whether you don't have access to, the money for, or the desire to deal with the upkeep of a pool, we've come up with a list of products and best practices to help keep you cool, calm, and collected all season long. From fixtures you'd normally find in a waterpark to wearable tech that alters your perception of temperature, here are some of the best and quickest ways to beat the heat. And don't forget to stock up on sun-protective clothing and sunscreen, too.

Think of splash pads as oversized lily pads designed to keep you cool and your family entertained on hot summer days. The pad comes features 68 inches of space to play on, has three different levels of how high the water can spray, and is easy to hook up to a nearby hose.

The pad itself is made of durable plastic that's features a tear-resistant coating, and it's easy to fold up and store when not in use. Although it's designed to allow people to frolic through the spray like they would a sprinkler, the bottom can get a little slippery.

At a price point of around $23 (though often a little cheaper when it's on sale via Amazon), this splash pad provides an excellent solution for keeping cool when temperatures rise during the summer.

If you (or someone you know) drives a pickup, you can easily alter your ride to include a pool in the cargo bed. Pick-up Pools came to fruition after founder and airforce pilot Tommy Prestella's daughter wanted to go swimming in a big pool. His first thought was to lay down a tarp and fill the back of his truck with water. When that didn't work, he got to work and created the PuP.

Available in short, standard, and long beds, the patent pool liner transforms your ride into an above-ground pool and the best part is, it's portable. So whether you're getting together with friends, staying home for the weekend, or tailgating at a concert, you can beat the heat in your backseat.

The Embr Wave Bracelet is not your average piece of wearable tech. Backed by years of scientific research, the device activates your thermal senses through dynamic waves that can either pull heat away from the body when you feel hot or apply heat to the body when you feel cold.

The bracelet is designed to be worn around your wrist and requires just a simple press of the left button to cool down or the right button to warm up on demand. By changing the temperature around your wrist, the Wave activates a mind-body response that alters how you perceive the temperature of your environment. It doesn't adjust your internal temperature but rather your overall sense of comfort.

For trips to the amusement park, hikes, outdoor barbeques, or anything else active, you'll be glad you packed a Frogg Toggs Chilly Pad Cooling Towel. It's made from an exclusive hyper-evaporative material that retains water, yet remains dry to the touch, for up to four hours at a time.

As soon as you notice it's stopped cooling, simply wet the towel under cold water and wring it out. Within minutes the towel reactivates and cools down up to 30 degrees.

Whether you're opting to stay cool inside this summer or are on the hunt for outdoor circulation, Dyson's cooling tower has you covered. The state-of-the-art fan features 10 airflow settings, oscillation control that directs airflow around the room, and a sleep timer that automatically turns the device off after preset intervals (ranging from 15 minutes to nine hours).

It's controlled via remote and, because it doesn't feature a fan grille or blades, is incredibly easy to keep clean.

Misting systems are a lifesaver when your patio is situated directly under the summer sun. HomeNote's system comes with everything you need to cool down your space including a solid brass hose and faucet connecting adapter, flexible and UV-resistant black PU tubing, brass misting nozzles, and a sealing tube connector.

It can be hooked up to spray around the garden, on your patio, or wherever the hose is able to reach.

If you're willing to get your hands dirty, do we have a project for you. Backyard streams, waterfalls, and other water fixtures provide a quick fix when you need to cool down on a hot summer's day. Just run your fingers through the spring or dip your toes in the water.

You can build your own water fixture if you have the time and desire. If not, you could always hire a pro to put in the elbow grease for you.

When you sweat, you lose fluid and your body needs to be replenished. Ergo, Samantha Cassetty, MS, RD, nutrition and wellness expert with a virtual counseling practice based in New York City, says that the more time you spend in the sun and get sweaty, the more you need to hydrate.

To do this, Cassetty says to not just make sure you drink water but to eat water-rich foods like watermelon, cucumber, and strawberries, as well.

"Another easy and fun way to keep hydrated is to pour 100% orange juice, which most people have in their fridge, into an ice cube container," Cassetty told Insider. "You can either insert sticks to eat as popsicles when frozen or use the frozen cubes to perk up seltzer or plain water."

While we're on the subject of hydrating food and beverages, ice-cold beers and sugary cocktails don't qualify. In fact, they can even have the opposite effect of keeping you hydrated, especially when it's hot.

"A lot of people find a cold beer or a cocktail refreshing, but the reality is that alcohol dilates your blood vessels, which causes your skin to flush," Cassetty said. "When this happens, you might temporarily feel hotter. Alcohol is also dehydrating, so it's best to stick with no more than a drink a day for women or two drinks per day for men."

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