The Holy Land has a long hot season, so I am always mindful of staying cool and hydrated when we take groups there, especially between April and September. With summer upon us, I thought this might be a good time to share some of our favorite products for staying cool on your summer travels. All the products below are items that Eric and I use personally. We do not get paid for these reviews. We did not even get free samples. We just really like this stuff and think you will, too. (We do earn a small incentive if you purchase any of these products through Amazon.com by clicking on the images below.)

Pistil Designs | Women’s Marisa Hat

I wanted a sun hat that was lightweight, fast-drying, good for packing, and fashionable. That seems like a reasonable request, but it turns out getting all four in one is tough. This hat fits the bill, and the cute tie in the back makes it adjustable, too. There’s no UV protection added to the fabric, but for me the head coverage and wide brim provides plenty of protection.

Hydro Flask | Wide Mouth Bottle with Straw Lid

Is it really possible for a water bottle to keep drinks cold for 24 hours? With Hydro Flask, the answer is, “Yes!” It really is amazing. Fill this baby with ice and water, leave it in your hot car all day, come back and you still have cold water. We love the straw lid because it makes it easy to take a drink while your while walking, hiking, etc. With all that insulation, these bottles are a little heavy to carry, but we think it’s worth it. Bottles come in a variety of sizes and awesome colors.

Columbia | Men’s Silver Ridge Long Sleeve Shirt

It may seem counter-intuitive to wear long sleeves in the summer, but if you have extended sun exposure, this provides a great deal of protection and is designed to keep you cool and dry. Columbia’s Omni-Shade fabric gives you UPF 50 sun protection, and the Omni-wick technology pulls moisture away from the body so sweat can evaporate quickly. Plus, it is a little dressier than a t-shirt, so you feel cool and look collected. The fabric is lightweight and fast drying, which is great if you’re doing laundry in your hotel sink or at a campsite.

Ergodyne | Chill-Its Evaporative Cooling Towel

Get the towel wet, ring it out, wrap it around your neck and presto! you’re cooling off. I don’t know how the magic works. Maybe any wet towel will do the same thing. This one, though, is light and stays damp without feeling soggy. We think it’s pretty cool . . .