I first found a similar product several years ago in my local CVS pharmacy for about $10 each, and invested in a couple prior to attending a NASCAR race weekend. Since, I've been grateful to find them here on Amazon for an even better price. Let me tell you, I won't attend outdoor events in the heat of summer without them!!

I have attended many races in the south and Midwest in the summer, and lemme tell ya, these babies have saved me and my friends in 100+ degree heat more than once...I put them in the ice chest, and rotate them, cold one on the neck (or around the head like a headband, as my boyfriend likes them), the other back into the ice to chill...only takes 5 or 10 minutes for it to get plenty cool, and they stay cool on you for about the same amount of time... but that chill on your neck, one of the places I as a nurse know you are supposed to apply cold in overheated/feverish people to bring the temperature down, is amazingly restorative, and prevents overheating...and I have seen people on the verge of heat stroke revived with these. But personally, I start using them early to PREVENT heat stroke.

My advice: have at least 2 per person, so one can be soaking in the ice water in the cooler while the other is on your neck. AND invest in extras, because the gel inside them will continue to expand as long as they are in water, so after a day, they really need to be hung up to dry back out (takes a couple of days) and new ones used if you are going to be out in the heat more than one day, and want to use them. If allowed to continue to expand, I have had the gel start to seep out of seams, making a mess of the cooler.

Once they have hung to completely dry, they are very flat and easy to fold up and store for your next hot outing. The gel shrinks right down to flakes.

Honestly, having seen people passed out and sick from heat stroke (a life-threatening condition), as a nurse, I highly recommend these. They are lifesavers in the heat.