It’s hot outside. The sun beats down as you work during the hot day. The heat is sucking up all your energy. How is it supposed to work under these conditions? Taking multiple breaks to be in the shade? For anyone looking to stay cool in the heat of summer, there is an alternative. Occunomix security company manufactures a brand of products known as MiraCool.

What is MiraCool?

MiraCool products come in the form of headbands, tie caps, ranger hats, and most popular bandanas. All MiraCool products are designed to keep you cool during evaporation. After soaking a MiraCool product in water for some time, it can absorb enough to keep you fresh all day.

How does it work?

MiraCool and similar brands of cooling products are very simple. Each MiraCool product has a small sealed bag filled with what feels like grainy rocks or sand. Occunomix uses the term “cooling crystals” to describe them, but they are actually polymer crystals. These polymer crystals are capable of holding many times their weight in water. For example, a pound of polymer crystals can hold up to fifty gallons of water! This is why the polymer bag is so small. If there were too many crystals embedded in a MiraCool product, it would be heavy and cumbersome for the user to use.

To activate the polymer crystals, you simply need to soak the product in water for an extended period of time. According to Occunomix, it only needs to soak for ten to twenty minutes before it is ready to go. Actual users, however, have stated that it can take up to 45 minutes for the entire absorption process to occur. Once the product has absorbed enough water, it is ready to begin cooling. The MiraCool Cooling Scarf, Tie Hat or Headband is worn just as you would use a no-chill headband, bandana or tie hat. As the water-filled product is exposed to heat, the water inside the crystals will begin to evaporate, keeping it cool.

How long do they last?

The duration of the cooling depends on several factors. It depends on how many polymer crystals are in the specific product, how long the product has been immersed in water, and how hot it is outside. Occunomix claims that MiraCool products work all day or even longer, but those are most likely the best conditions. If used outdoors on a hot summer day, you should probably expect to use only several hours. It’s also worth noting that while Occunomix claims the product doesn’t need to be frozen or chilled, the product will keep it fresh longer if you do. MiraCool products do not need to be cooled, they just extend the cooling period.

In terms of product longevity, MiraCool products themselves can be reused thousands of times. Once the water has completely evaporated from the polymer crystals, the product can easily be submerged and used over and over again.