It can be hard to find relief when the temperature rises (Image: Getty)
As the UK faces another spell of vvery hot weather, finding ways to stay cool feels like it’s getting tougher. Record-high temperatures can make both working from home and trying to sleep feel completely unbearable.
Writer Talya Honebeek, a self-described ‘sun-starved Brit’ is one of many Brits finding that the extreme heat brings its own distinct set of challenges. She explained: “As a redhead with skin that lightly burns at best and comes out in a painful heat rash at worst (even with factor 50 on), I have the warm-weather survival skills of a newborn baby.”
Luckily for her and many of us too, Talya has discovered an unconventional solution to her temperature troubles: freezable ice pack slippers. Instead of relying on fans or cold showers, she found that targeting her feet was a highly effective way to lower her core body temperature.
“The relief is instant and I can feel my body cooling down in real time.” (Image: Talya Honebeek)
Using the Newgo Foot Ice Pack Slippers, which are typically designed for foot injuries and swelling, Talya found the ultimate relief. “I work from home, so during the day I pop them on while at my desk and then put them back in the fridge so they have time to firm back up before I go to bed,” she explains. “The relief is instant and I can feel my body cooling down in real time.”
An unusual buy at £17.99, the slippers are filled with gel and covered in a soft knitted fabric and they have been designed to stay cool for long periods of time.
While the retailer advises wearing them for no more than 20 minutes at a time, Talya has a clever trick for when her feet get too chilly. “When in bed, if I reach 20 minutes, or if the cold of the ice pack gets too much, I can just slide them off my feet and use them to cool down the bed itself,” she says.
By freezing them before bed or keeping them in the fridge during the day, this single item has completely transformed her summer experience. Thanks to the cooling slippers, Talya insists she has “never been too hot at home or in bed since.”
There are other types of cooling accessories helping boiling Brits get through the heatwave. These cooling towels for example, come with sealed packs for keeping cool on the go, and are perfect for use at the gym and when commuting. Available as a pack of four the Stay Cool towel set is £21.99 on Amazon.
Elsewhere at Argos, the Silentnight Restore Cooling Blanket has been specially designed to help regulate your temperature. Currently available for £40, one shopper said the blanket ‘works like magic.’ For those preferring a traditional fan, B&Q stocks the Schallen 3 speed electric fan for £34.99.
Shoppers who have also snapped up the NEWGO Foot Ice Packs Slippers from Amazon, have used them in a variety of situations. Of those that have shared Tayla’s need to feel cooler from the feet up, another buyer said: “I had read great reviews about these and as my feet were so hot in the heatwave thought I’d give them a try. Best thing ever on a hot day, leave them in the freezer for a good few hours and then slip your feet into them.
“Heaven after a day in your feet. Highly recommend if you someone who spends a lot of time on your feet and/or suffer from hot feet in the warmer weather.”
Another called them “lifesavers” adding: “I am very heat sensitive and these have been amazing at helping me sleep and keeping me cool in the hot weather. The one size fits most means they’re a bit big for me but the cold lasts a good while and they come with a bag for freezing and storage which is super helpful. Definitely worth it if you’re struggling to stay cool!”
Tayla said: “This simple product keeps me cool all summer – even in heatwaves” (Image: Talya Honebeek)
One buyer was less impressed however, with one three-star review noting: “Product has design flaws. Was painful and doesn’t stay cold long. Can’t fit foot properly because of way it’s made.”
One user described them as “bliss” explaining: “I’ve been struggling with swollen feet since starting meds for high blood pressure and it’s much worse in hot weather. These slipper-shaped ice packs are just WODERFUL. I keep them in their bag in the fridge for instant relief when I get home from a long day on my feet. Immediate blissful effect.”