If you live in the South like me, you must work at keeping cool when running in the summer.
If you get overheated, you can end up in big trouble like I did at my last race.
Running in high humidity makes this even more difficult.
The ice bandana to the rescue! I wear mine every day in the summer.
You can make an ice bandana by simply wrapping a baggie full of ice inside a bandana and tying it around your neck.
But it’s even nicer if you sew a small pocket into the middle of your bandana to hold the ice.
INSTRUCTIONS
Simply use a regular sized bandana and sew or fabric glue a 7 by 7 inch (approximately) square of cloth or chamois into the middle of the bandana, leaving one side open. This size will accommodate a sandwich size baggie. Then if desired you can also sew the bottom triangle of the bandana to the bottom of the square , just to make it easier to fold. Then simply tie it around your neck , not too tight, but tight enough so it doesn’t bounce. You may have to adjust it.
1) Put your ice in a baggie if you don’t like cold water running down your neck.
2) You could also add a pocket to a Buff.
3) The ice will eventually melt so remember to bring more ice for longer runs and refill the baggie.
Here are some photos of my bandana. I bought the batik bandana at REI in Denver .
At the aid stations of hot summer races where I would refill my ice bandana, many competitors and aid station volunteers would ask about it- where I got it, how does it work, where can they get one, etc. Well, after looking for something that would work for ultra running races a couple of years ago I realized that there was nothing on the market so I designed my own with some input from others who have done the same. This post outlines how to make an ice bandana. Note: This is a prototype. It worked sufficiently well in the first iteration that I never modified it. But I am sure that it can be (and certainly has been) improved upon.
If you do a quick search, it is clear that there is not much available out there on either buying or constructing an ice bandana. I have seen no…
Here in Kentucky, we’ve had lots of days of cooler weather than normal, but a few days of very warm ‘normal’ temps. Sometimes I wonder if Father still uses weather like He did in the Old Testament to get some of His points across? 😉
Blue Skies and Green Pastures 
I’d never heard of such a thing. Cool 😎
Going to add some pics of my own bandana. It’s not as well done , but it works.
My daughter does something like this when she does her Ragnar runs – she runs in the heat and loves being cooled off. Great way to make your own!
Awesome idea! I wonder if I could make a version of this for my dog and the other greyhounds for the outdoor events we go to!
I don’t see why not. Just remember to add ice because it does melt after awhile.
Here in Kentucky, we’ve had lots of days of cooler weather than normal, but a few days of very warm ‘normal’ temps. Sometimes I wonder if Father still uses weather like He did in the Old Testament to get some of His points across? 😉
Thanks for posting this! I’m gonna make one and try it out! Great idea!
Ah, just in time. It’s getting hot here in Michigan, and we don’t have AC here, because, you know, it’s Michigan. 😉
What a great idea!!