How to survive the summer, according to the season's biggest haters
Surviving the hot, sweaty, humid summer is quite the feat, especially during this year's seemingly never-ending heat waves. Often, doing so requires you to call in the reinforcements: products that keep you as cool, hydrated and sunburn -free as possible. In the inaugural episode of For What It's Worth, NBC Select's live podcast, hosts Lauren Swanson, editorial director, and Zoe Malin, reporter, break down their summer essentials and hacks that help them cope with unbearable temperatures.
Episode transcript
ZOE: I remember my first summer moving back to the city after living in Chicago for a few years, and it was the first day we were back in office since 2020. It was right after Labor Day, and it was at least 90-something degrees. I walked out of my apartment, and I think I must have forgotten how to dress because I was walking to the office, I live 15 minutes away, drenched. I was dying. And I was walking up to the door to get into the office, and I was like, Oh my god, I'm meeting half these people for the first time in person today. This is so embarrassing. And I opened the door, and I'm like, oh my god, we all look this way. We are all sweating through our clothes. We all look dead inside. I was like, Wow, okay, this is kind of nice to know that we're in it together. Because we all feel the same way. There's no enjoying this. You're being cooked.
LAUREN: You're being cooked from the inside out. You're like the lobster in the pot.
ZOE: That's how I feel, like I'm being air fried.
LAUREN: So that's what we're going to talk about today.
ZOE: How to manage it. How to just get through it.
LAUREN: How to get through summer. This is Zoe, I'm Lauren.
ZOE: Let's chat.
LAUREN: And we're going to talk about summer. Welcome back.
ZOE: Welcome back on the hottest day on planet Earth,
Lauren: On the hottest day in 12 years in New York.
ZOE: That makes me sick. It actually makes me sick. When I looked at the weather app and I saw 98, 97, 100, I felt nauseous. I felt anxiety bubble in my whole body.
LAUREN: What's the real feel?
ZOE: The real feel is 100% at least 104.
LAUREN: 103, close.
ZOE: I really can't with it. Is this going to be a no-outside-run summer?
LAUREN: This is like a snow day.
ZOE: Right!
LAUREN: We shouldn't have had work today.
ZOE: Exactly, I feel the same way.
LAUREN: We should have all stayed inside. I had to check on my 90-year-old neighbors and be like, Do you need groceries? Please stay inside.
ZOE: Seriously.
LAUREN: Nobody should be outside right now.
ZOE: I agree. Once I realized that there's nothing I like about this, I decided that I'm just going to be a summer hater, and that's going to be part of my identity. And some people are like, you're nuts. And then other people are like, you know what? I actually agree with you. We should all just say it. But it also is very different when you're in a city versus suburb, I think. In the city –
LAUREN: You're outside, you walk everywhere.
ZOE: You have no choice but to walk and to be outdoors. Even if you're trying to limit being outdoors, you still have to do it at some point. But I was thinking back to when I was an intern at my local newspaper many years ago, and I was living in the suburbs, so I'd wake up, work out inside, then shower, then get into my air conditioned car, then go to my air conditioned office, then get back in my air conditioned car, and then go to my air conditioned home.
LAUREN: You're like, what do people complain about? This is lovely.
ZOE: The only thing I had to complain about was walking from my car in the parking lot to the office. So I was really not suffering. You're suffering here in the city.
LAUREN: You're suffering, the trash smells on the sidewalk, everything smells, everything's wrong, we're all miserable. But at least, like you said, we're miserable together.
ZOE: But I feel like the interesting thing is when you meet people who have never had a summer in the city, and they are like, What do I do? What do I wear? I love those people. Because I just feel like, let me stand on my soapbox for a moment here. And it is interesting that we all have our little tricks to just survive.
LAUREN: Great segway, Zoe. What are your tips? What are your tricks?
ZOE: Well, you have to have a neck fan. You must.
LAUREN: You got yours from Amazon?
ZOE: I literally don't even know why that was the one, but I was just like, This looks fantastic, and it is. I'm obsessed with it. I charge it every night. You don't have to do that, but I just cannot have this thing break down.
LAUREN: You can't be mid-subway commute and then have it absolutely crash.
ZOE: Absolutely not. I would die. I also think one thing for me that is so key is you need to be as cool as humanly possible before you leave your home. In my tiny little bathroom, when I'm doing my makeup, it's so hot, so I have an enormous fan blasting and I'm freezing. I feel like that prepares me well to go outside because then at least my body temperature is starting low. I'm not starting high, which I feel like is important. I also have these body wipes that I keep in my bag because you feel so disgusting. You always feel disgusting in the city, that's part of life, but especially when you're hot and disgusting, there's literally nothing worse to me than feeling that way and having to be at the office for eight hours, or go to dinner with your friends. I can't enjoy being there because I'm so uncomfortable. So I carry those everywhere, and they smell lovely, and you really feel like you just took a shower.
LAUREN: Which ones are they?
ZOE: I think they're from the brain, Yuni. I'm almost positive. And I discovered them last year. I originally got them because I would wipe off after a run and then go to brunch with my friends or something. But then I was like, I need to subscribe and save — this is one of my subscribe and save items — and carry these with me all summer. Taking four or five seconds to wipe yourself off after you're in the heat, you feel like a new person. That's huge. I also think my water bottle sling is essential.
LAUREN: Calpak?
ZOE: The Calpak one. Fantastic. Oh, and a cooling towel, of course. I am a huge cooling towel person.
LAUREN: That's another Amazon one?
ZOE: The Sunkeen Amazon ones are the bomb. They come in a pack of four, and I will use them at home right before I leave, again, to lower your body temperature. But also, I always put one in a Stasher Bag and keep it in my bag because then it stays freezing, and you can use it whenever you want and carry it around.
LAUREN: That's a good tip. Okay, so rank them. What's your rank? Build your team.
ZOE: I would say neck fan first.
LAUREN: That's your non-negotiable.
ZOE: Yes, I'm not leaving the house without that this time of year.
LAUREN: And you have the one that's –
ZOE: That's around your neck. And I was like, is this going to be bulky and annoying? No.
LAUREN: You see them everywhere now. I feel like last year was the first year that I started seeing them everywhere. I don't think I've seen them in previous years.
ZOE: Me either. I honestly never heard of them. Maybe they were around, but I just didn't notice.
LAUREN: They honestly look like a pair of headphones.
ZOE: They totally do.
LAUREN: I brought mine one time on a picnic in the park, and I think I sold about four.
ZOE: I believe it.
LAUREN: I'm like, here's my Amazon link.
ZOE: People experience it one time if they try yours, and they cannot go without it again. I want to get another one, not a neck fan, but there's one that I see on TikTok that you clip to your pants and then air blows up your body.
LAUREN: Have you seen the one that's a hat? It has fans on it.
ZOE: I've seen that, too.
LAUREN: I feel like you should get it.
ZOE: I feel like I should get every fan imaginable, and then you'll hear me whirling.
LAUREN: Oh, Zoe's coming.
ZOE: Literally. So my neck fan is non-negotiable.
LAUREN: That's your starter.
ZOE: Then I would say the cooling towel.
Lauren: Number two.
ZOE: Then the body wipes, then the water bottle sling. Because the water bottle sling is a nice to have.
LAUREN: It's good for a walk.
ZOE: Right, but I don't think it's mandatory. I do love it, I will say. It's the best. It's so nice, too, because it has pockets. I put my keys in there, my AirPods, my phone — the bomb.
LAUREN: Do you go on walks a lot in the summer?
ZOE: I try to not ever go outside in the summer, but if I have to walk somewhere — for example, the grocery store, take my dog to daycare, go to an appointment — then I bring it. I don't even use a purse. I'll just use that.
LAUREN: What are your fitness roles in the summer? What do you do? Because you're a runner, and we were just talking about the joys of running in the summer.
ZOE: Oh, yes. So joyful.
LAUREN: What do you do instead? Do you do the treadmill as much as possible?
ZOE: My philosophy is to minimize suffering in the summer, so I will not run outside. If it's a cooler day and I can run really early or really late, fine, I'll do it. But it's not just the temperature, it's the humidity. Like, I cannot breathe, you know?
LAUREN: Yes, and then it's more like swimming than running.
ZOE: Exactly. And I don't know about you, but if I have a bad run, I get so depressed.
LAUREN: I'm sad, I'm angry, the rest of my day is ruined.
ZOE: I'm always like, I shouldn't have even run.
LAUREN: I might as well have walked.
ZOE: It doesn't even count. No, you literally just ran 10 miles. It counts, but you just feel so gross, so I would rather run on the treadmill. I'm fine with it. I tell myself that this is a moment in time, it's fine, I know I will have a better run. So, I'll just run inside. There are days that I'm like, it's a little overcast, the humidity is not horrible, so if I run at six AM or really late at night, it's fine. Most of the time, though, I'll just go inside. I just can't. I've had two experiences, one last summer and then one before that, where I really thought I was going to throw up. I was like, I don't know if I'm going to make it through this run. And that made me feel like, you can never do this again.
LAUREN: Especially with the hills in the park — those will kill you, plus the heat and the humidity. Last year, I was walking up the hills, and I was like, what is wrong with me? I'm not going to be able to make it through the marathon. I can't even walk up this freaking hill. I'm on mile one. I had to stop at every water station.
ZOE: I think the other thing people don't remember is how your muscles seize, and that scares me, too. My calves will hurt so badly, and that feeling is very scary to me.
LAUREN: Then it's time for a swim. That might be my game plan anytime during the heat wave. I don't think I'm going to run. I think I'm just going to go to the pool.
ZOE: So many people do that. But if you're training for a marathon, or you're just a runner or whatever, I think you need to accept that you have to go slower.
LAUREN: That's such a non-runner thing to do, though. They'll run through a broken foot. I had a broken toe, and I was like, I think I can run the Brooklyn Half.
ZOE: I've done that, too.
LAUREN: Like, no. You're crazy.
ZOE: But you have to accept it because it does not have anything to do with you. It's your circumstances. But it's such a hard thing to accept and it sucks.
LAUREN: All right, so, what do you do for beauty in the heat?
ZOE: I try not to wear makeup.
LAUREN: What are your starting players for beauty in the heat? Do you use spritzes, sprays?
ZOE: I'll use a hypochlorous acid spray if I'm really sweaty, but I really try not to wear makeup. I can't handle the feeling of it on my face.
LAUREN: Do you ever go in with a tinted moisturizer?
ZOE: Yes, I'll do tinted sunscreen, and that's it. I can't do anything else. I physically cannot do it. If it's really, really hot, I won't even do a tinted sunscreen. I'll just do sunscreen, period, done, move on, because I know that I'm going to be so insanely hot. I also will carry around those little wipes since you can use them on your face, too. And I'll wipe my face off so I feel clean. I would rather not wear makeup. I can't handle it.
LAUREN: What about hair? Because you have curly hair.
ZOE: Yes, my hair expands.
LAUREN: What's your curl type?
ZOE: I have no idea.
LAUREN: We'll figure out.
ZOE: I will walk outside and feel my hair growing, just expanding. So if it's a day that I need to wear my hair down for something, I'll just kind of accept that it's going to be larger than life. Then, other days, I will slick it back. I have a hair wax stick, and I don't know what brand it is, but I love it. I'll put my hair in a braid and call it a day. I can't deal with it.
LAUREN: That's what I do, too. On these hot days, it's a banana clip, it's a claw clip, it's hair up. Don't even worry about it.
ZOE: It's not worth it.
LAUREN: But my hair isn't curly so that makes it a little easier.
ZOE: I feel like that's part of the reason I hate the summer. Curly hair is not built for the summer. It's simply not. People are always like, Your hair is curlier, and it looks more defined in the humidity. That's great, but I feel like my head is 17 times its average size. I just feel it.
LAUREN: Like a bobble head.
ZOE: Yes! I once took a video, I have to find it, of me right before I left the house and what my hair looked like. And then, after 10 minutes outside, it looked like I'd been electrocuted. It grows that much. It's not a good time.
LAUREN: Crazy, I hate it. I have a good hack, though. I used to use this a lot. In my first apartment in the city, I was too cheap to run the air conditioner, but I had one, so I'd sometimes use it. In my second apartment, I only had an air conditioner in the living room, and I was too cheap to buy one for the bedroom. So I would run a fan with a bowl of ice near it because I was thinking, oh, let me DIY this. It did not work. I would be nice and cold in the shower, but the second I stepped out, I was instantly warm. The second I took the ice out of the freezer, it instantly melted. It did not work. But I learned this one hack that when you're outside and it's really hot, if you put a little peppermint oil behind your neck, then every time any little bit of wind catches it, it sends shivers down your spine.
ZOE: I love this.
LAUREN: You have to reapply it every 15 or 20 minutes, and some people are sensitive to peppermint oil, so it can cause a little rash, but who cares? It's in the back.
ZOE: I feel the same way.
LAUREN: And it works.
ZOE: I want to do this. I'll try anything.
LAUREN: We were just talking about this. I feel like I'm bleeding money right now with the air conditioning unit, trying to keep my little Bombay cat nice and cool. And he has no idea it's 104 degrees outside. He's in a perfect, air-conditioned, 68-degree apartment, nice and cozy, sleeping, no worries in the world, and I'm over here dreading the ConEd bill. So I've got a lot of cheap little hacks.
ZOE: I love that. I love little hacks. I bought multiple fans for my dog. One to put in front of her crate, one to carry with us because I won't let her go on the ground in this heat. Even with booties, the whole thing makes me so nervous.
LAUREN: Can I tell you what happened to me the other day? I was walking, and I know flip-flops are not good for New York, but I've been wearing them because they're in right now. And I was walking on the street, and I thought somebody stepped on the back of my flip-flop because I was in the middle of the street crossing and my foot was stuck, like I had gotten stuck on gum, or like somebody had stepped on my shoe. It was stuck on hot tar because it was melting. And I got stuck on it, and I was like, I'm going to get hit.
ZOE: That is my fear about my dog's paws. Even with the booties, I don't like the whole thing. It makes me so nervous. And she's eight pounds, she's tiny, so I carry her in her bag everywhere, and I got a fan to clip onto the bag to give her a little breeze. She's an indoor dog. She loves to be indoors. She's wee-wee pad trained. She loves her indoor life. But when we walk to my family's apartment, or we go to daycare, or I have to take her to the vet, she has to be outside for however long. So for that little amount of time, I try to make her as comfortable as possible. I'm dying, but she's happy, so that's what matters. And then my cats, again, like you said, are so crisp and cool in the apartment all day long. But they bake in the sun.
LAUREN: Yes! Mine is sunning on the windowsill.
ZOE: They're so happy because they're cold and selectively warm. I'm like, you don't even understand what we go through as human beings.
LAUREN: Oh, he has no idea that it's hot outside. He's sitting on the windowsill, just living his best life.
ZOE: He's like, Wow, this is amazing. I'm cool, but I get the sun.
LAUREN: The amount of money I do pay, and I will pay, so that he is as naive to the outside circumstances as possible.
ZOE: In his little bubble. Yes, I feel the same about mine — whatever you need. Whenever I go away in the summer, I tell my pet sitter, Please keep it at this temperature. If you're cold, I put blankets out for you. You cannot make it warmer. Don't do it. I'm that person.
LAUREN: The things we do. So, I have 'would you rathers' for summer.
ZOE: For summer? I'd rather be in Antarctica.
LAUREN: Would you rather be hot and glowy or cold and pale?
ZOE: Cold and pale.
LAUREN: Me too. That's pretty much my resting state.
ZOE: Me too.
LAUREN: Would you rather walk 20 minutes in New York City summer or do a treadmill run at noon?
ZOE: Treadmill run.
LAUREN: Treadmill run anytime.
ZOE: I will not run in this. I refuse to do it.
LAUREN: Exercising in this heat it's just non-negotiable. Marathon training season for the New York City Marathon just started. We're at the beginning of it and everybody's running in the park. It's 100 degrees in the park.
ZOE: It's horrible.
LAUREN: You can't run in the park. It's crazy. Would you rather wear jeans in 95-degree heat or a sundress in an arctic air-conditioned office?
ZOE: A sundress in the office because if you hold a hot cup of coffee or something, there's ways to get your temperature up a little bit. That's why I hate summer so much. In the winter, you can do things to make yourself warmer, and then you can reach a middle ground. In the summer, you're stuck.
LAUREN: Right, you can't shed your skin.
ZOE: There's only so much you can do to stay cool, and then at some point, you're just suffering.
LAUREN: I would rather be cold, too, and then layer. I am a habitual blanket user in any season, so I need the air around me to be cold enough to use a blanket. Which blanket I use will change based on the environment outside. Like I had my little knit one that has holes in it yesterday even though it was also 95 degrees, so I was blasting the air and then I was like, I'm just going to be with my little blanket. Would you rather never use SPF again or never use deodorant again?
ZOE: I mean, I don't want cancer, so I guess I'd have to just smell.
LAUREN: There are other things you could use instead of deodorant. I feel like you could just rinse off.
ZOE: But have you ever gone on a run and forgotten to reapply deodorant? It feels uncomfortable. It's not even just about the scent. It's that the feeling is uncomfortable. But that would be a really tough life.
LAUREN: To not wear sunscreen?
ZOE: To not wear deodorant. Well, I guess I could never wear SPF again and just stay inside. And as an indoor cat, I wouldn't be upset about that.
LAUREN: I guess that's an option. But would you even need deodorant at that point, because you're also not outside?
ZOE: I would.
LAUREN: You would? Inside?
ZOE: Yes. The no-deodorant life is not one that I subscribe to. It's just not for me.
LAUREN: Good for you.
ZOE: Even if I never saw human beings again, I would still need deodorant. I couldn't do it.
LAUREN: You couldn't be stinky?
ZOE: No.
LAUREN: I'm okay with a little stink. I would like on my tombstone to be: Lauren, she always smelled good.
ZOE: Isn't that the best compliment?
LAUREN: But I can never get there. I'm chasing that constantly.
ZOE: It's so funny.
LAUREN: Would you rather have sweaty bangs or a sticky sunscreen face? I feel like sweaty bangs means congested pores on your forehead.
ZOE: I agree with you. I think I'd rather have a sticky sunscreen face.
LAUREN: Would you rather be stuck outside without water or without sunglasses?
ZOE: Without sunglasses.
LAUREN: I cannot go without sunglasses. My poor little eyes are so sensitive. I need to have sunglasses.
ZOE: I do too, because our eyes are very light, that makes sense. But if I don't have water, I will perish.
LAUREN: Like, an emotional support one?
ZOE: Yes, for sure. I have a water bottle sling, which, I was like, am I really going to do it? And then I was like, I'm never not doing it again. It's the best thing ever because I have to have water.
LAUREN: I'm okay without water. I'm a little bit of a camel, and I also have anxi-pee. If I drink too much water, and then I get anxious when I'm outdoors, I'm going to have to pee while I'm outside. And in New York, where are you going to find a bathroom? So, I know where all the bathrooms are.
ZOE: Oh, yes, of course.
LAUREN: Go to a hotel. Go to a restaurant, pretend you're ordering something, and be like, I changed my mind, and walk out. I have to have sunglasses, though. I also don't want little wrinkles.
ZOE: I know, but I would rather have no sunglasses.
LAUREN: The thing that changed my life was prescription sunglasses.
ZOE: The best, I agree for sure.
ZOE: Yes.
LAUREN: Me too.
ZOE: The thing about me is that I think I've always hated summer, but I was resistant to say it because everyone's like, I can't wait till summer. So I was like, in the corner being like, really? But whatever, I'm not going to ruffle feathers. I'll just go along with the crowd.
LAUREN: And everyone's like, summer's almost over.
ZOE: I know, and everyone gets upset. And then I realized a couple years ago that I am my worst self in the summer. I'm miserable. I don't want to do anything. I can't get comfortable. I hate every single part of it. I don't like the beach. I don't like the pool. There's nothing enjoyable for me.
LAUREN: I hate the beach.
ZOE: Me too. I'm sorry! I hate the beach.
LAUREN: You get sand everywhere. My feet are disgusting. Here's the thing — I just was at the beach on Sunday. I hate the beach because they have those clean-off water stations still on the sand. And then you have to walk up the sand. There's no point.
ZOE: Such poor design.
LAUREN: I hate sand. I think oceans are scary.
ZOE: Me too, none of our business.
LAUREN: I get way too much sun. I hate being hot. There's the risk of umbrellas flying in your face at any moment.
ZOE: Danger. I agree, it's miserable.
LAUREN: All right, final thoughts on summer — what's your top tip?
ZOE: To stay indoors. And I know it sucks about the air conditioning bill if you have to pay one, but remember, it's a couple months. That's what I tell myself.
LAUREN: Hopefully, a couple days with this heat wave, and then it's over.
ZOE: And hydrate.
LAUREN: Hydrate, electrolyte power…
ZOE: Drink your water, salt your food, all the things.
LAUREN: Have some watermelon, something that cools your insides down.
ZOE: Have a popsicle.
LAUREN: Oh, those are my favorite.
ZOE: Just visit Mr. Softie. We need something to get through.
LAUREN: I have a couple of races on Saturday and Sunday, and sometimes during the summer, they'll give an after-race treat and it's a popsicle. And I'm like, you get me.
ZOE: They understand. I also feel like, in the summer, there's no Diet Coke limit. There's no iced coffee limit. Do whatever you need to get through.
LAUREN: It's like airport calories and airport food. Those don't count. Those aren't real. Summer ice cream is just –
ZOE: It's infinite. There is no limit. Froyo –
LAUREN: The limit does not exist.
ZOE: Whatever you need to do, I completely agree with you.
LAUREN: All right, well, thanks for joining. Thanks for watching… until next time. Hopefully it's cooler!
LAUREN: Fingers crossed.
Why trust NBC Select?
I'm a reporter at NBC Select and I co-host our live podcast, For What It's Worth, with editorial director Lauren Swanson. In this article, I summarize Episode 1: I hate summer. I included a summary of the episode, a transcript, products we recommend during the podcast and related articles.
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And a set of extra soft "hotel" bedsheets with so many 5-star reviews (almost 250,000!) you'd think they were capable of permanently curing insomnia. No promises, but some people are saying they never want to get out of bed. Girlfriend Collective high-rise compression leggings made from recycled water bottles, which apparently make for excellent loungewear material — everyone I know who has tried a pair is completely obsessed. If you plan on leaving your room today, you can wear these from bed to grocery store. A pair of horizontal glasses — don't laugh! — that let you read a book or watch TV while lounging in bed. Sometimes even lifting your head is an effort, you know? An affordable sunrise alarm clock you'll really appreciate when you have to wake up before the sun. The device has seven natural sounds and will gradually brighten to simulate a sunrise so you can pretend you're not waking up at an ungodly hour. A faux-sheepskin area rug ensuring the first thing your feet feel in the morning is fuzzy heaven. You can use this next to your bed, flung over a couch, or as an auxiliary pet bed. A set of three remote-control flameless flickering candles so you can pretend to be Bonnie Bennett lighting fires with *magic*. You can choose a steady glow or a flicker effect to really sell the cozy ambience as you hunker down for the rainy season. A 100% cotton Schoolhouse quilt that yes, is pricey, but unfortunately very much worth it. I got this for my birthday and OMGGG it's heaven in the summer when you need to stay cool but still want to be covered. A northern lights projector for anyone who wants to treat themself to a North Pole-style light show without having to endure arctic temperatures. It also plays soothing noises and doubles as a Bluetooth speaker! A pair of energy-efficient stained-glass lightbulbs ready to wash your home in a kaleidoscope of colors. Guests will wonder if your bedroom is in the Sagrada Familia. A wiggly table lamp to properly illuminate your amazing room and all the cool stuff in it (this light included). The wireless lamp charges with USB-C and comes with a cute linen lampshade. A cult-favorite luxury-scented candle reviewers love for its intoxicating and long-lasting smell. It has an impressive throw, meaning you can actually fill your bedroom with its calming jasmine, oud, and sandalwood scent instead of having to stick your nose right up to the flame. And a rechargeable lighter with an extra long neck so you can light candles that are getting a little long in the teeth (jar). It doesn't need lighter fluid or a flame, making it a safe and mess-free option when you're trying to set the mood. Decorative mirrors to add some extra charm to your gallery wall when you have enough rectangles and need some more unusual shapes up there. Bonus: Mirrors, no matter how small, make the bedroom look bigger! Maybe! A Vintage Bookshelf Edition of Candy Land packaged in a book-like box so it fits right in on your bedroom's bookcase. While you may not have a secret passage behind a bookcase yet, this is like, the second best bookshelf surprise I can think of. There are 12 classic games converted into "books" in this vintage collection, including Scrabble, and Clue. A heart-stoppingly adorable night-light offering a soft glow at bedtime. It comes with eight different color modes so when people come over, you can say, "oh yeah, that's just my glowing wall puppy." A shaggy faux-fur duvet cover lined with soft velvet on the bottom, so no matter what side you touch, you'll be in fuzzy heaven. The set comes with matching pom-pom pillowcases so, yes, your bed is gonna be even more inviting. A chenille tufted pillow perfect for when you're trying to enjoy some pillow fort time or just wanna sit on the floor (me). It'll come in handy when you have more guests than chairs for movie night. A scrunchie or hair claw holder because I KNOW you turn the whole house upside down looking for one of those suckers every other morning. Now you'll know where to put/find them AND it'll look really cute if you have a fun collection to show off in your room. A pack of 12 shoe storage boxes that snap together so you can finally take care of Shoe Mountain. Your guests will appreciate not having to climb over your pile of sneakers to get to your room, your boots will appreciate not being squished into pancakes, and you'll appreciate actually being able to see all the pairs in your collection. A digital alarm clock so beautiful, you may finally use an actual clock over your phone. Best of all, it has three USB ports so you can charge said phone. A three-blade blinds cleaner with five removable microfiber sleeves so you can clean twice as fast. Now you can stop dusting and go back to snooping on your neighbors from your bedroom. A gooseneck tablet and phone stand you can attach to your bed frame or nightstand so you can achieve triple-screen relax mode. While I don't condone watching TV, scrolling on Twitter, and online shopping all at once, it IS something I'm guilty of. A six-outlet wall charger with two USB fast-charging ports *and* a night-light. Battles over the last open outlet (and spooky dark rooms) are a thing of the past. A fleece blanket sporting a puffy checkered pattern for anyone who loves a good chunky throw. Wrap yourself up like a marshmallow and hunker down for a movie marathon.
CNN
10 hours ago
- CNN
Amazon shoppers love this inflatable lounger. I put it to the test in the summer heat
Every summer seems even hotter, sweatier and stickier than the last. If you don't live near the beach or have access to a pool, you might find yourself with limited options for a reprieve from the stifling heat. But creating an at-home oasis doesn't have to be complicated or costly. Highly rated on Amazon, the Sloosh Inflatable Lounger is an under-$30 find that promises to give you personal, cooling bliss in just a few simple steps. I went hands-on with the Sloosh lounger for an afternoon to see if it was worthy of becoming a summertime staple. Sloosh Inflatable Tanning Pool Lounger Float A versatile inflatable best suited for at-home use, the Sloosh lounger can pull double duty as both a tanning bed or splash pad and a roomy pool float. Even when it's on sale for $25, it's still more expensive than other inflatables, but its comfy design and durable build are sure to elevate your outdoor relaxation experience. It's more versatile than other pool floats One of the main selling points of the Sloosh lounger is that it can be used both as a pool float and a pool itself. Unlike other floats, the Sloosh can be filled with water to create a personal pool of relaxation for tanning or keeping cool. The high, four-wall design helps keep water in, so even if you get in and out of the lounger multiple times, you won't be dumping loads of water out with each trip. Though it might not seem like much, a few inches of water can make a huge difference in helping cool you off on scorching days, especially if you're miles from the nearest pool or beach. Plus, if you've got small kiddos, you could use the Sloosh as a makeshift kiddie pool or splash pad for them to play in. With some help, I was able to fill up the lounger by carrying buckets of water from the sink (city life!), but ideally, you'd want an outdoor garden hose on hand to make things go faster. This design not only keeps water in when on land but it also helps keep water out once you decide to take the Sloosh into the pool. Surrounded by those high walls on all sides, you can stay relatively dry atop the water while lounging in the Sloosh. As long as the drain hole on the float's bottom remains tightly closed, you're free to gently roll or change positions without fear that one wrong move will dump you into the water. And if you get a little hot, you can always add water to the Sloosh while it floats, but we'd recommend being conservative with the amount to ensure it maintains its buoyancy. Related article The 18 best aboveground pools to cool off in this summer, according to experts It's comfortable The Sloosh lounger was very comfortable. I'd even go as far as to say it could rival some of the air mattresses I've slept on. The inflatable base lifts your legs, bottom and back off the ground, keeping them cushioned from whatever hard surface might be underneath you. For me, the Sloosh lounger was just the right mix of cushion, bounce and support. I didn't feel like I was sinking into the ground, but it also wasn't so firm that I couldn't relax my weight into it. Plus, because it's inflatable, you can always add or release air until you find the most comfortable fill for you. The roomy rectangular design of the Sloosh gave me plenty of room to shift around too. Whether I was lying on my back, stomach or side, I never felt cramped. Though there was room to spare, it was never so vast that I felt the Sloosh was cumbersome or unnecessarily empty; essentially, it gave me the perfect amount of personalized lounging space. Unlike with other floats and inflatables I've tried, the Sloosh lounger didn't have any rigid seams that poke and prod you as you're trying to relax. The UV-resistant PVC build felt smooth to the touch wherever it made contact with my skin, and the lounger was also free from any harsh synthetic or plasticky smells. I also liked the included headrest, which you can detach and use elsewhere as a pillow if you decide to change positions. With my lower back on the headrest, my feet and legs fit comfortably inside the lounger. When I wanted to recline back more, I set my feet on top of the outer edge of the float, which was just as comfortable a position. I tested Sloosh's large-sized lounger, which was roomy enough to support my almost 5-foot-7-inch frame, but the brand does offer an extra-large size that will give you 15 more inches of length and 11 extra inches of width. The Sloosh is also designed with some thoughtful features that increase the overall lounging experience, like the aforementioned inflatable headrest for added support, two cup holders for your favorite beverages and an attached exterior rope to tether yourself to other floats or dock yourself to something stationary. Since it's currently on sale for $25, you'll be lucky to find a more affordable pool float or tanning lounger that offers the same level of versatility, comfort and quality design as the Sloosh. Related article The 16 best pool lounge chairs, according to design experts Setting it up was simple Though the Sloosh lounger didn't come with any assembly instructions, it was pretty straightforward to figure out what goes where. For the main lounger, there are two points for inflation: one on the outside that inflates the exterior sides and one on the inside that inflates the ribbed base. The Sloosh lounger also comes with an inflatable headrest, which you can clip to the back of the lounger to hold it in place. The only pain point is that all these sections have to be inflated separately. This entire inflation process took just over five minutes, though I did make use of an electric air pump to speed things up. When you're done lounging, you can release any water from inside the float using the interior drain hole. From there, you'll pull out and pinch the inflation nozzles to release air from the lounger. This job is best suited for two people: one to keep the inflation nozzles held open and the other to help press down on and roll up the body of the lounger. With the air out, I was able to get the float and headrest back into the original box, but I'd recommend finding a separate bag or storage option for long-term or frequent use, since the cardboard box is bound to get soggy or damaged over time. It feels durable Pool floats don't have a reputation for being crafted with the highest quality materials; they lose air, rip or pop seemingly out of the blue. I even tried to use a brand-new pool float instead of an air mattress once and woke up with my head on the floor and a deflated sheet of plastic beneath me. Needless to say, I had pretty low expectations for the Sloosh lounger. While it's difficult to simulate a whole summer of use in an afternoon of testing, I did my best to test the lounger's durability by jumping on it, throwing it around, dragging it across grass and concrete with a person inside it, and leaving it to sit in direct sunlight for over four hours. To my pleasant surprise, the Sloosh lounger held up well against the roughhousing. The only real signs of wear were some scuff marks on the bottom of the lounger, which you could wipe clean if you desired. Most impressively, the lounger consistently held its air throughout the day. After leaving it sitting in the hot sun, I expected it to feel slightly less bouncy when I returned a few hours later, but it still felt as if I had just inflated it. Even after jumping and flopping around on it, the Sloosh didn't appear to suffer any major air loss. The PVC material is thick enough to withstand scratches and compression without making the lounger feel heavy. Plus, all the small parts on the Sloosh, like the inflation nozzles, clasps for the headrest and docking rope felt just as soundly made. I also appreciated that the box for the Sloosh included two vinyl repair patches, so you can easily fix up your lounger if it does get a small hole. There are lots of color options Maybe you couldn't care less about what your inflatable lounger looks like. But if you do, you'll be happy to hear that Sloosh's lounger comes in an array of colors and prints, including nine iterations of the tropical leaf print one I tested, nine solid color options and nine other patterns. You can also grab the Sloosh lounger in an oval design. While the color won't affect the performance of the lounger, it's still nice to be able to choose something that matches your preferred relaxation aesthetic. You need a pump to inflate it My main gripe with the Sloosh lounger was that, despite the box claiming that it was 'easy to inflate,' it didn't come with any sort of air pump. It also didn't come with directions for how to inflate or assemble it properly. Granted, if you've ever inflated anything before — like another pool float, an air mattress or even a bike tire — you'd be able to figure out the relatively simple process. I ended up using an electric air mattress pump to get the Sloosh set up. You could also probably use a manual air pump for quick inflation, but I would not recommend blowing this up by mouth, unless you want to feel severely lightheaded. It's not great for taking on the go While the pump immensely sped up the process and had the main lounger inflated in just over a minute, having to depend on it for inflation is inconvenient. This method works fine if you're planning to use the lounger within a few feet of your own home, but if you want to take it the beach, park or local pool, you'll have to bring it already inflated or pack the pump in your bag and hunt down a place to plug it in — both of which are incredibly awkward options. This severely limits the lounger's portability, and though it might not be a deal breaker for at-home users, for those looking to lounge elsewhere, a complicated setup is the last thing you want when you're trying to relax. Even on sale for $25, the Sloosh lounger is still more expensive than some other run-of-the-mill pool floats, but what you're paying for is superior quality, comfort and versatility — all of which are bound to improve your precious relaxation time. While I didn't love that there's no pump included, you can grab one for less than $15 on Amazon to significantly speed up the setup process. Though it might not be the perfect option for travel, the Sloosh Inflatable Lounger is a handy at-home aid for those without easy access to a pool or beach. It's also something that kids, teens and adults can all make use of. Let's just say, you'll be glad you have it in your home the next time a heat wave rolls through. Can you tan on a pool float? Can you tan on a pool float? Being in any direct sunlight — whether on a pool float or not — increases your exposure to UV radiation and increases the likelihood that your skin might burn. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen on your face and body to prevent skin damage. You should reapply at least every two hours, as well as directly after swimming. Do you tan faster in a pool? Do you tan faster in a pool? According to The University of Iowa Health Care Medical Center, surfaces like water, snow and even sand can reflect UV rays from the sun. This means you're getting direct UV exposure from the sun as well as indirect exposure scattered from the surrounding surfaces. UV rays can also reach below the surface of water, so whether you're swimming or sitting poolside, you should be dutiful about applying and reapplying sunscreen to keep your skin protected. CNN Underscored has a team of skilled writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when applicable to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item. For this story, associate editor Jillian Tracy tested the Sloosh Inflatable Tanning Pool Lounger Float, assessing it for comfort, durability and overall value.
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Travel + Leisure
14 hours ago
- Travel + Leisure
These Podiatrist-loved New Balance Shoes Are a Favorite Among Nurses and Travelers
New Balance sneakers are the stylish 'dad shoes' that non-dads can't get enough of—and they're often the first walking shoe brand podiatrists recommend to patients with foot issues. It's partly because of those doctor referrals that New Balance shoes are some of the most-bought and widely loved on Amazon, several boasting tens of thousands of ratings. Take a look at the retailer's list of the best-selling road running shoes, and you'll find New Balance styles sprinkled in amid Brooks sneakers that cost nearly twice as much. According to reviewers, these Fresh Foam Roav V1s aren't just 'a dream for runners'—they're also great for frequent travelers, avid walkers, nurses on their feet for hours each day, and folks who deal with chronic foot pain. They happen to be up to 25 percent off right now, too, so go ahead and buy yourself a new pair of comfy shoes that'll make your doctor proud and your feet happy. These Roav V1 sneakers hail from New Balance's Fresh Foam collection. These shoes boast cushioned, shock-absorbing midsoles meant for long-distance running, trails, and other high-impact activities. The Fresh Foam also provides high rebound, a feature that promotes energy return, making it beneficial for marathon running and even American Ninja Warrior training. The Roav V1 style combines peak road running performance and casual aesthetics, making it the perfect option for an everyday sneaker. These sneakers also feature New Balance's signature Ndurance rubber outsole technology, ensuring they're extra secure in high-wear areas that would normally start ripping at the seams. They also have a unique wavy heel (named the Ultra Heel) that softly hugs your ankle, improving the fit and adding additional support. While they aren't billed as slip-on sneakers, reviewers say that this special heel design makes them easy to slide into hands-free. A testament to how comfortable they are, one customer said they were able to cover 30 miles over a three-day period while wearing them. This included 'climbing stairs, running through subways, walking along cobblestone paths, through wet grassy areas, and more.' They described the feeling as cloudlike: 'Never once did my feet, knees, or back ache.' Another shopper echoed this, writing, 'I walked hundreds of miles in one pair over the summer, and only retired them because they got really dirty and gross in the rain in Ireland. I am on my feet all day for work and my feet are never sore or tired.' Of the more than 17,000 Amazon shoppers who have given these New Balance shoes a five-star rating, many report that they've dealt with foot pain issues previously, including plantar fasciitis. One reviewer who's had three bunion surgeries and received a diagnosis of Morton's neuroma wrote that they bought the Fresh Foam Roav V1 sneakers at the recommendation of their podiatrist. They report that they love them for physical therapy appointments—especially because they don't look like typical orthopedic shoes. On the contrary, these podiatrist-recommended sneakers are actually quite cute. The mix of textures—including the mesh panels, ribbed banding, and wavy heel—adds tons of visual interest. Plus, there are more than a dozen different color combinations to choose from, some with watercolor outsoles or vibrant hues throughout the upper. Several styles are currently marked down by up to 25 percent off, with prices as low as $64. But they aren't the only New Balance sneakers on sale at Amazon right now—we found more podiatrist-loved styles starting at just $53, below. At the time of publishing, the price started at $52. Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week.
