Designed for sportsmen and athletes, the Mission Enduracool Cooling Techknit Towel serves another purpose entirely for me. Its original design is meant to provide cooling relief instantly by adding water and giving the towel a quick snap. This makes it ideal for business travelers that like to jog or work out in hotel fitness centers.
I have found another use for it, too. Often, when traveling overseas, I encounter airports and other public spaces that lack air conditioning or are cooled to a balmy 80 degrees. My mind reverts back to Lusaka airport in Zambia (or stagnant air terminals in Germany after running to catch a flight).
All it takes is to add some water to the towel and it provides instant on-the-spot cooling relief. It may not look exactly professional, but it is better than fanning yourself as fast as you can.
The towel is damp after you wring out the excess water, but it is not wet enough to ruin your clothes if you wrap it around your neck or wrists. It has saved me multiple times in hot situations. The towel absorbs sweat while also drying easily and quickly. Once you are cool, the towel can be washed easily in a sink when traveling, and since it dries quickly, it can be packed in your bag.
Best of all, the towel is machine-washable and features UPF 50 protection from the sun.
Back to its original intention, it is an ideal addition to any gym bag because it can allow people to work out longer and harder since it makes you feel more comfortable. Don’t ask me the science behind the towel (it’s the company’s own proprietary knit fabric), but as long as it works well (and it does), then I am happy.
It retails for about $18 on the Mission website or on Amazon.