The UK's about to get stupidly hot again - here's what you actually need to survive the next heatwave
We may only just be recovering from temperatures reaching the mid to high 30s last week, but that’s not it for the UK heatwave.
The UK is gearing up for another blast of summer weather in the coming days.
While more sunshine sounds great in theory, anyone who’s spent a British heatwave trapped on a packed train, trying to sleep in a bedroom that feels like a greenhouse, heading to the office purely for the air con, or desperately searching for the one cool spot in the house knows the reality is a little less glamorous.
Unlike countries that seem prepared for this sort of thing, the UK has a habit of treating every heatwave like a surprise.
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With temperatures expected to climb again, now is probably the time to get prepared before the weekend arrives and the heat really kicks in.
Heatwave essentials delivered for the weekend
The good news is there are still plenty of gadgets available online that can help make things a bit more bearable.
From portable air conditioners and wearable neck fans to cooling mats, insulated water bottles and viral gadgets that have been taking over social media, we've rounded up the products people are snapping up right now.
Better still, many of them are available with fast delivery, meaning you won't have to suffer through another roasting weekend waiting for stock to come back.
If the weather forecast has already got you sweating, these are the cooling essentials worth adding to your basket before everyone else has the same idea.
ITHKY Neck Fan
Forget juggling a handheld fan on a packed train, the ITHKY Neck Fan keeps your hands free while blasting cool air exactly where you need it. It's basically the cheat code for sweaty commutes, so you can get from A to B without turning into a walking puddle.
SHOP NOW: £26.99 on Amazon UK
Portable Air Conditioner 4 in 1 Air Conditioning Unit
After the recent heatwave cleared out air con stock everywhere, we've spotted this Portable Air Conditioner 4 in 1 Unit still available and ready to save your weekend. It's an investment buy, but it can cool rooms down to 16 degrees, has three fan speeds to keep the air moving, and even doubles as a dehumidifier, which is a pretty handy bonus.
SHOP NOW: £559.99 on Amazon UK
Shark ChillPill 3-in-1 Personal High-Speed Fan
You've probably seen the Shark ChillPill taking over your social feeds lately, so we're genuinely surprised it's still in stock.
It's much more than your average handheld fan, with a cooling plate attachment that can lower skin temperature by up to 9°C on contact, plus 10 fan speeds and an ultra-fine mist setting to help beat the heat.
You can wear it on the go or prop it up as a tabletop fan, making it one of the most versatile cooling gadgets around right now.
SHOP NOW: £129.99 on Amazon UK
INDUSTEX Foldable Pool, 1000L
If you've got enough space in the garden, a swimming pool is pretty much the ultimate heatwave upgrade.
This 1000L INDUSTEX Foldable Pool gives you somewhere to cool off without the hassle of a permanent setup.
When summer's over, you can simply fold it away until the next scorcher.
SHOP NOW: £199.99 on Amazon UK
FurDreams Pet Cooling Mats
If your furry friend is spending the heatwave starfished across the kitchen tiles, the FurDreams Pet Cooling Mat will help them stay cool.
It absorbs body heat to keep pets around 7-9°C cooler than their surroundings.
Some humans are even slipping it under their bed sheets for a cooler night's sleep themselves.
SHOP NOW: £39.99 on Amazon UK
Stanley 1913 Flip Straw Sports Water Bottle
When the temperature starts climbing, staying hydrated is non-negotiable, and this Stanley 1913 Flip Straw Sports Water Bottle makes it a lot easier to keep cold water close by.
With a leak-resistant lid and a design that slots neatly into your car's cup holder, it's easy to see why Stanley Cups are such a viral hit.
SHOP NOW: £40.55 on Amazon UK
La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVmune 400 Invisible Fluid SPF50+ 50ml
You should be wearing SPF every day anyway, but a heatwave is as good an excuse as any to finally get into the habit.
La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVmune 400 Invisible Fluid SPF50+ offers serious protection against UVB and UVA rays.
Its invisible, water, sweat and sand-resistant formula means you can slap it on and get on with your day.
SHOP NOW: £15.75 on Amazon UK
The reality is that there's only so much opening a window and hoping for a breeze can achieve when the UK decides to impersonate southern Europe for a few days.
Whether you're looking to cool down your home, survive your commute, keep your pets comfortable or simply make sleeping at night a little easier, the right gadget can make a surprisingly big difference.
The only catch is that heatwave shopping tends to become a national sport the second temperatures rise.
Fans, portable air conditioners and cooling gadgets have a habit of selling out quickly whenever the mercury starts climbing, so if something catches your eye, it's probably worth grabbing it while it's still available.
With many of these picks currently in stock and available for speedy delivery, there's still time to get prepared before the weekend arrives. Your future, less sweaty self will thank you for it.
Topics: Weather, Surviving Summer
Rosie Floyd