Great gear: how to beat the heat

A recent trip to Namibia with disgustingly high temperatures reaching 42-degrees, I was glad I came prepared. Let me introduce the Namibian heat-beaters.

Traipsing through the desert – sand, sun and sweat – these nifty gadgets from Cape Union Mart were a real blessing. I thought they were gimmicky at first, but after using them for the first time doubts were quickly dispelled.

The bulkiest product of the lot, this hand-held fan takes two AA batteries for fuel and you fill up the contraption with water.

Alone, the fan isn’t very helpful, but couple with the water spray it works wonders. The wide opening at the bottom (where you fill up the fan with water) allows for ice too, which is a great idea.

Not to take sides, but this bottle mister was my favourite device. It’s easy to use with a small pump spray near the mouth piece and the fine mist feels quite divine.

The water bottle is a bit hard to sip from, but the insulation keeps the water cold and it fits standard cup holders in the car.

Palm sized and perfect for the pocket, this neat little fan is a great travel companion. Snap it onto your backpack or loop it around your belt buckle. The fan doesn’t have much power, but combined with the spray action it works a dream.