Suncream is the undisputed king of summer essentials. We all know we should be applying SPF 30+, seeking shade, and trying not to resemble a lobster by the end of the day. But while suncream gets all the glory, there are plenty of other summer heroes quietly working behind the scenes.
Whether you're heading to the beach, enjoying a staycation, tackling (yet another) heatwave, or simply trying to survive a packed commuter train in July, here are some surprisingly useful summer essentials you didn't know you needed.
A Reusable Water Bottle You'll Actually Use
Every summer, health experts remind us to stay hydrated, yet many of us still spend half the day wondering why we have a headache before realising we've consumed nothing but coffee and regret.
The trick is finding a water bottle you genuinely like carrying around. Insulated bottles can keep drinks cool for hours, making them ideal for hot days, outdoor events and long car journeys. Bonus points if it's large enough to stop you refilling it every 20 minutes.
UK health guidance recommends drinking plenty of fluids during hot weather, as dehydration can contribute to fatigue, dizziness and heat-related illness.
We like:
3) Stanley FlowState Spring Bottle
A Portable Fan
British homes were designed to keep heat in, not out. Fantastic news in February. Less fantastic when your bedroom feels like southern Spain during the summer months.
A portable, rechargeable fan can be a game changer during heatwaves. Modern handheld and desktop models are surprisingly powerful and can provide welcome relief when you're working from home, sitting in traffic, or pretending you enjoy outdoor dining in 32°C weather.
For extra cooling, position a bowl of ice in front of your fan and enjoy what feels like the UK's closest equivalent to air conditioning.
We like:
1) John Lewis High Power Handheld
3) Marks And Spencer USB Travel Fan
A Cooling Towel
This might sound like a gimmick, but cooling towels have become increasingly popular with runners, gym-goers and festival enthusiasts.
Simply wet the towel, wring it out and place it around your neck. As the water evaporates, it helps create a cooling effect that can make hot weather feel much more manageable.
They're lightweight, inexpensive and far easier to carry around than a portable freezer.
We like:
1) Ice Towel
Sunglasses That Actually Block UV
Many people treat sunglasses like a fashion accessory. In reality, they're protective equipment.
NHS advice recommends wearing sunglasses that protect your eyes from harmful UV rays, particularly during the strongest sunshine between 11am and 3pm. Proper UV protection helps shield your eyes while reducing glare and making bright summer days more comfortable.
Plus, squinting less means fewer accidental appearances in holiday photos where you look personally offended by the sun.
We like:
1) John Lewis Polarised Sunglasses
2) Sanglasses Polarised Sunglasses
A Frozen Water Bottle For Bed
Thanks to social media, one of the summer's biggest viral hacks involves freezing a large water bottle and slipping it into bed before you go to sleep.
Surprisingly, it actually works.
Placing a frozen bottle near your feet or beside you can help cool key areas of the body and make hot nights a little more bearable. And any water bottle will do - just wrap it in a pillowcase or towel rather than placing ice directly against your skin.
Unlike many viral trends, this one costs almost nothing and doesn't involve dancing in a supermarket aisle.
A Cooling Pillow Insert
You know you've reached peak British summer when you're flipping your pillow every 30 seconds searching for the cold side.
Enter the cooling pillow insert. These slim gel-filled pads sit inside or on top of your pillow and are designed to absorb and dissipate heat throughout the night. Unlike electric cooling devices, they require no power, make no noise and can often be chilled in the fridge before bedtime for extra cooling power.
They're especially useful during when overnight temperatures seem to be staying stubbornly high and sleeping becomes a competitive endurance event. Pair one with lightweight cotton bedding and you'll significantly improve your chances of getting a decent night's sleep.
It's not quite the luxury of a five-star hotel with air conditioning, but it does make your bedroom feel less like you've chosen to sleep inside a toaster.
We like:
1) Silentnight Cooling Gel Pillow Pad
2) Laud Cooling Gel Bamboo Pillow
3) Lifemax Cool Gel Pillow Pad
A Portable Oxygen Boost
When hot weather, busy travel schedules and long days start to leave you feeling sluggish, looking for simple ways to feel a little more refreshed becomes a daily mission.
ClearO2's range of portable oxygen cans provides 99.5% pure oxygen in lightweight, convenient formats designed for everyday use. They’re easy to keep in a bag, car or desk drawer, ready whenever you need them and will support focus, recovery and overall wellbeing this summer.
Think of it as one of those summer essentials you never knew existed until you gave one a try and from that point on wondered why you'd spent years carrying around everything except oxygen.
We like:
1) ClearO2 15l Oxygen With Inhaler Cap
2) ClearO2 10l Oxygen With Spray Cap
3) ClearO2 15l Oxygen With Mask And Tube
Suncream will always deserve a place at the top of your packing list, but summer survival requires a little more planning than SPF alone.
From portable fans and cooling towels to frozen water bottles and portable oxygen, these small additions can make hot days more comfortable, whether you're exploring the coast, commuting to work or simply trying to stay cool at home.
Because if there's one thing British summers have taught us, it's that we're brilliantly prepared for rain and completely baffled by sunshine.
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