Online: www.REI.com
URL for this product:

From the U.S. and Canada — Call 1-800-426-4840
Mon. through Sun., 4 a.m. through 11 p.m. PT.
International — Call 1-253-891-2500
Mon. through Sun., 4 a.m. through 11 p.m. PT. English language only.

$Kafka\'s Kool Tie$

TONGA RUBY

Kafka's Kool Tie

$10.00

(20)

Item # 691097

REI Members get back an estimated 10% on this item as part of their annual member refund.

The REI Member Dividend

The REI dividend is a unique benefit of membership in the REI co-op. It's comprised of your member refund—typically 10% back on eligible purchases—and/or your REI Visa® card rebates.

Each March, active REI members and REI Visa cardholders who earned a rebate receive a refund in the form of an annual dividend notice.

Only active members receive annual dividend notices. To maintain your active status as an REI member, you need to make net merchandise or shipping purchases of at least $10 per year, unless you joined that year. Member numbers are issued in one name and only that person receives the member refund. Your number can be used by others in your family, but it cannot be transferred to someone else.

Questions? Call us at 1-800-426-4840 for more about your dividend or its redemption.

Learn more

This item may be available in your local REI store.

FREE U.S. STANDARD SHIPPING Through February 20. No minimum purchase! Learn more

More videos

To view videos or use the zoom feature on REI's websites, please download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player.

NOW PLAYING

Beat the heat with a cooling tie! This lightweight scarf is filled with polymer crystals that slowly release water in a cooling action.

Soak tie in water and the crystals hydrate, then wrap around your neck and feel the evaporative cooling action--works from hours to several days
Evaporative action can cool blood flow to the brain, reducing heart rate and blood pressure
Great for most activities, Kool Tie® is soft, comfortable and easy to wear
Colorful print patterns add fun and flare to your outdoor adventure
Instructions included

Made in USA.

Item 691097

View all Kafka's products

REI Membership

REI Membership $20.00

Kafka's Kool Tie Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews

Kafka's Kool Tie

4.2

(based on 20 reviews)

90%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

Durable (13)
Good size/fit (9)
Comfortable (7)
Lightweight (6)
Stylish (5)

Cons

Heavy / bulky (4)

Best Uses

Travel (6)
Fitness (5)
Casual wear (4)
Wear to work (3)

- Sizing:
- Feels too small
  
  Feels true to size
  
  88%
  (7 reviews)
  Feels too large

- Reviewer Profile:
- Casual/ recreational (8), Casual dresser (7)
- Comfort vs Style:
- Comfort driven (7)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (5)

Reviewed by 20 customers

Sort by

Displaying reviews 1-10

Previous | Next »

May

2008

(19 of 19 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Kool Stuff

By Rebalee

from Minneapolis, MN

About Me Adventurous, Comfort-Oriented, Modern, Practical, Stylish

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Durable
Good Fit

Cons

Bulky

Best Uses

ActivityWork when Hot
Travel

Comments about Kafka's Kool Tie:

This thing is wonderful! An ingenious invention that could prevent heatstroke. I bought it right before I traveled to a tropical climate, an activity I repeat as often as I can. I was able to withstand the heat & humidity while hiking & other activities. Kept me pretty comfortable & allowed me to do more longer. I also use it in the city when I exercise walk, play sports, etc. It has been durable & the crystals show no sign of failing after 3 summers use in addition to several longer trips in hot climates. Used it one summer when my AC went out & couldn't get it fixed for several weeks! Most comfortable around neck, but can be used around head (if not very large) or as a compress on pulse points.It really works great if you put it in a bowl of water in the fridge before use. For maximum cooling, have two w/one cooling while you wear the other. I've accidently partially frozen it with no damage!Cons: Takes an hour-2 hours to reach its full size, so preplanning is necessary. Takes a few hours to dry out & return to crystal form, depending upon humidity. Looks a little weird, like a fabric sausage around your neck, but well-worth looking a little unusual, especially where & when one would use it. Definitely not for a social situation, though the fabric colors/designs do add some panache to hiking clothes!I'm buying two for my son-in-law for Father's Day. He's a carpenter & summers can be brutal, especially in a closed up environment. He can keep them in his lunch cooler, be more comfortable & avoid heat stroke! I'm also buying another for my self. [$]

Mar

2009

(16 of 16 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Kool Tie helps MS

By densa

from Hopkins MN

About Me Casual Dresser

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Durable
Good Fit
Stylish

Cons

Best Uses

Casual Wear
Wear To Work

Comments about Kafka's Kool Tie:

As a person with Multiple Sclerosis, I really appreciate any product that lessens my symptoms. This cooling scarf has made an enormous difference in helping tolerate the humid MN summer heat, as I still love to garden, and am learning to kayak. Since heat can make MS symptoms worsen, the scarf has allowed me to spend more time outside. It's also helpful inside when air conditioning isn't available. I have given lots of these to outdoor loving people, and to others with MS. These things float for awhile too, if it falls off while you are on the water.

Apr

2009

(13 of 13 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Amazing Product

By Frank1967

from San Francisco, CA

About Me Casual Dresser

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Durable
Good Fit
Stylish

Cons

Best Uses

Casual Wear
Wear To Work

Comments about Kafka's Kool Tie:

My wife and I have been wearing these Kool Ties for over 10 years. My wife, a cardiologist, recommends them to her patients all the time for their ability to help reduce blood pressure. We like to hike and bike and these are a part of our kit. They are simple to use, last for 2-3 days before you need to resoak them, and last for years. My wife talked to the creators of this product and they are correct in all of their claims about reducing blood pressure and heart rate. They will even send you proof of testing that was overseen by a cardiologist in controlled conditions that is very impressive. We have used them in all conditions and have noticed an improvement in our physical stamina while hiking and biking. Don't be without one!

Oct

2008

(11 of 11 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Buy it if you do anything in the sun!

By Deb the tennis net queen

from San Diego

About Me Casual Dresser

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Durable
Good Fit
Keeps you cool
Stylish

Cons

Best Uses

Exercise
outdoor wear

Comments about Kafka's Kool Tie:

I use this when I exercise outdoors: hiking, tennis.

Just soak for 20 minutes to hydrate and wear it around your neck. It keeps me cool in the sun. Everyone on our tennis team has purchased one.

Jul

2008

(11 of 20 customers found this review helpful)

3.0

Not all that I had hoped.

By like2hike

from Apex, NC

See all my reviews

Pros

Durable

Cons

Bulky

Best Uses

Comments about Kafka's Kool Tie:

This is an ingenious and well-made product, but I was a little disappointed with it's performance, particularly when used outdoors in humid weather. Evaporative cooling just doesn't work all that well in the typical damp summer weather where I live (North Carolina). I think it is more suited to dry climates such as the desert Southwest. I found that it quickly feels hot against my skin. Frequently rolling over the tie helps, but overall it is probably more fuss than it is worth. The previous reviewer mentioned rotating two through the refrigerator and that may be an effective method, but not always convenient when out and about. It is also not the way the product is promoted to work. The only way I have found to get effective evaporative cooling where I live is by wetting a polyester jogging tank-top shirt and wearing that as it dries. It provides a much greater surface area for evaporation and heat transfer from the body.

The Kool Tie works better and feels more consistently cool indoors with air conditioning. The drier indoor air allows the evaporative cooling process to work better and the moderate relief this product provides seems more noticeable in a more comfortable environment. This would provide some benefit indoors for people with hot flashes or who are just hot-natured. However, running an electric fan may be more effective. Also, remember that cooling a narrow band around your neck will help, but it is not the same thing as cooling your entire body. Note that in use, the tie does not look like the picture or like the product in it's packaging at the store. It swells up considerably and looks like an Italian sausage. Not fashionable.

Overall, I am unenthusiastic about the Kool Tie, but it does have its uses. I would recommend it, but only for certain situations, and given realistic expectations. It is helpful to understand this product's limitations (which are not explained in the product literature). I am down-rating it because it does not live up to it's hype for me. However, if you live in a climate that is both hot and very dry, I think it would work well and could be very nice to have.

Jun

2008

(10 of 11 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Little Correction to Above

By Rebalee

from Minneapolis area

See all my reviews

Comments about Kafka's Kool Tie:

Correction! Above I said it needed a couple of hours to reach full size. BUT--the instructions say to leave it in water about 45 minutes or so and NOT to leave longer because the full size can damage the fabric/seams. The one I bought a few years ago had no instructions.
I'm buying two more for Father's Day gifts.

Service and delivery comments:

FAST! Got this by Priority Mail in two days. Very satisfied.

Oct

2010

(4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

4.0

A 'kool' travel addition for the tropics

By kamaaina

from Honolulu, Hawaii

About Me Casual/ Recreational

See all my reviews

Pros

Durable
Effective

Cons

Best Uses

Travel

Comments about Kafka's Kool Tie:

Have used the Kool-tie on several extended trips through sultry southeast Asia. It does help cut the heat. While on a Thai field trip I loaned my Kool-tie to a WHO colleague sweltering in a long sleeve shirt. He immediately asked where he could find one upon return to Geneva.

Service and delivery comments:

REI is ALWAYS prompt

Jul

2010

(4 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Wonderful

By Hot Chef

from Birmingham, AL

About Me Avid Adventurer

See all my reviews

Pros

Durable
Good Fit
Lightweight
Versatile

Cons

Best Uses

Fitness
Hot kitchen
Humid Weather

Comments about Kafka's Kool Tie:

Discovered this on a a rafting trip in the Smokies. Great for trails, running and in my hot restaurants kitchen. I have purchased one for the entire staff to help us get throught he rough southern 120 degree kitchen temps of the summer.

Has made all of our staff...Happy!!!

May

2009

(4 of 5 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Kool Tie

By beanerboon

from Truckee, CA

About Me Casual Dresser

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Durable

Cons

Best Uses

Comments about Kafka's Kool Tie:

I got this for myself, as I am menopausal and have hot flashes all day long at work. However, I haven't used it yet, since my teen-aged daughter immediately commandeered it for a cooling headwrap. Last saw it heading for a soccer match on her head, and her friend was asking where we got it. I think it's a hit!

Jul

2009

(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

PERFECT for the Desert Southwest

By GC Cheryl

from Las Vegas

About Me Casual Dresser

See all my reviews

Pros

Comfortable
Cooling
Durable
Stylish

Cons

Best Uses

Desert Southwest Hiking

Comments about Kafka's Kool Tie:

I hike often in the Desert Southwest (especially Zion, Bryce, Grand Canyon, Escalante area) and wouldn't be caught without this. Temps during the summer can be brutal, and, along with the other obvious means (i.e., drinking plenty of water), this Kool Tie works wonders to help keep heat from becoming an issue too quickly. I wouldn't hike without it!