The UK's about to get stupidly hot again - here's what you actually need to survive the next heatwave
It was only a few weeks ago that we were desperately battling through temperature highs of 30 degrees, and now the UK has been hit with a third heatwave.
With an amber alert in place for the weekend by the UK Health Security Agency, Brits are set to go through what could be the longest heatwave yet as temperatures climb back to 35 degrees in some parts of the UK.
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 and experts are warning us to take precautions and get prepared to survive the intense heat.
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.
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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.
SHOP NOW: ITHKY Neck Fan £21.99 on Amazon UK
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: JML Chillmax Portable Air Cooler, £39.99 on Amazon UK
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After the recent heatwave cleared out air con stock everywhere, and it's no different on Amazon. There is stock but delivery estimates are as far into August which is no use for the current heatwave. However, this mini unit that is under £40 could be an option, and it will be delivered in time for the weekend.
SHOP NOW: Shark ChillPill 3-in-1 Personal High-Speed Fan, £129.99 on Boots
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. You can also get free next day delivery on on Boots with code SHARKFNDD.
SHOP NOW: INDUSTEX Foldable Pool, 1000L, £199.99 on Amazon UK
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: FurDreams Pet Cooling Mats, £39.99 on Amazon UK
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: Stanley 1913 Flip Straw Sports Water Bottle, £39.99 on Amazon UK
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: La Roche-Posay Anthelios Invisible Fluid SPF50+ 50ml, £15.75 on Amazon UK
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.
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