Chill Towels sponsored our fun run on Tuesday night, providing everyone who participated with a free Chill Towel. Even though it was well over 100° that night, I elected to hold off on using mine because I wanted to save it until Saturday’s long run, when I could really put it to the test.
Here is a description of what the product is from the Chill Towels web site:
A soft all natural 100% cotton terry cloth towel pre-moistened with a unique formula that instantly cools and refreshes on contact.
On Saturday morning, as we were starting our warm-up walk to the beginning point for the run, I opened the package and shook the towel out to activate the cooling agents, which consist of plant essential oils, aloe vera, purified water and denatured alcohol. The towel is a nice size, longer than it is wide so it drapes around your neck. You can tuck the ends into your shirt, or if you run in a tank/singlet there is a loop at one end so you can feed the other end through to secure around your neck.
The initial smell is a little strong, but it’s a pretty refreshing smell. It actually smells really clean and soothing, a little like being in an organic spa-like environment. Not a bad way to start a run, except everyone around you makes jokes about being able to smell you. But then, it’s better to smell like plants than to have everyone complain they can smell your B.O.
Supposedly if you keep shaking the towel, it is supposed to last several hours. I found that my towel dried out after about an hour. Of course, I didn’t unwind it all the way from around my neck to vigorously shake it since that would have been slightly awkward for me while running, instead I just tried a gentle loosening/shaking.
After an hour, when my towel was completely dried out I was more annoyed by it’s presence than appreciative. It was still pretty impressive the way the towel felt instantly cool when I opened it even though the package was warm from being in my bag of running gear. I think a better application for my personal use would be to open one right at the end of a long run and use it to rub down my arms and legs, then drape it around my neck. You would have to be careful about rubbing it on your face, as the cooling agents may irritate your eyes. But the cooling effect on my neck while driving home would definitely be welcome!
I think it’s a great product and I definitely wouldn’t mind having some more to use at the end of our really long (18 and 20 mile) runs. But for me, personally, using it during a run wasn’t very effective.
Edited 08/06/08: I got my Chill Towel at the Tuesday night fun run sponsored by Fleet Feet Sports of Las Vegas held earlier in the week.
Jill Will Run 
Thanks for the review! Actually had never come across these but may consider taking one in case the heat picks up for the Chicago Distance Classic (Half) on Sunday.
Sounds like the concept has merit. I think pulling one of those out about halfway through the run sounds pretty good. Thanks for the review!
Just curious, was your mom a first-time marathoner when you ran together? How’d she do?
Jenn: That sounds like a great plan. Especially since Chicago can have more humidity than we experience here, I think the Chill Towel would be pretty refreshing.
Karen: You’re idea about pulling it out halfway through the run is a good one too, definitely better than using it from the start like I did!
The Phoenix RnR was both my mom’s and my first marathon. She totally rocked during it! I finished about a half-hour before her, but I think she actually completed it feeling better than I did!
I liked them at the end of the Running with the Devil run! But I thought they smelled like a KFC hand wipe 😉
Jill,
Very well done review! You should do that kind of thing more often.
How about letting people know where you got them.
Thanks.
Jim: Good point, I edited the post to mention that the towels were provided during the Fleet Feet sponsored fun run that week. I had mentioned it on an earlier post in the week, but I definitely want you guys to get your kudos that you deserve so much!
Received via e-mail from Garry at Chill Towels:
Hey folks,
I found a solution to the Chill towel problem and it’s called a Frosty Towel. http://www.frostytowels.com. Same concept, nicer towel, better features, similar price. (and if you call and order a few, they’ll work with you on the price)
Frosty Towels last twice as long, all 100% natural ingredients and have natural insect repellent in them. I used one on while doing community clean up a couple weeks ago and it lasted 4 hours. I did add a touch of cold water at the very end but I was super impressed and the bugs never got near me. Everyone else was bitten up.
The towels are also ten times nicer than the Chill towels after you wash them. I mean almost nice enough to leave in my guest bath but I use them for golf, tennis, the boat and walking.
I had a similar problem with the Chill Towels and I later came to find out that, while traveling in Key West, some of the product they had been selling stores was expired. Additionally, the fact that their towels are ao thin, they dry out super quick in many environments. also, the Chill towels smell alot like Pledge furniture polish while the Frosty Towels have a very nice light citrus smell.
Hope that gives everyone a decent option. http://www.frostytowels.com. Check it out.
Cheers,
Dr. Ian Norton
Hey Jill,
Thanks for the review on Chill and I tried one after a 10k two weeks ago. It helped me cool down a bit after the race and it’s a neat idea. I also saw the posting about the Frosty Towels, bought a couple and they totally rock. Nicer smell, lasts longer, same cost.
Thanks for the info all around !
Mike
Hey Jill- great review and I agree with you that it is kinda messy and more of a hassle. I found the towel at http://www.CompetiTowel.com much better since it clips to your clothes or hydration belt. You just wipe your face and then drop it. The retracting cords keeps on at your side so you have your hands free.
Hope that helps and keep up the great running!
Jay
Jill:
I find it very interesting that when you click on Dr. Ian Norton’s contact it goes directly to the Frosty Towel website which is run by Jason Wolf, could it be that Dr. Ian Norton and Jason Wolf are one in the same. I find the review very self serving and if Frosty is so sure of their superiority then they should send their towels to you for your next race and let the runners decide. CHILL is not afraid of competition but does look down on the sales pitch Frosty provided.
Thanks,
Allan H. Wimer
CHILL Towels
It is also interesting that the Mike Reed comments connect back to the Frosty Towel website.
It appears that Jason Wolf is now three people Jason Wolf, Frosty Towels sales representative, Dr. Ian Norton and now Mike Reed!
Allan H. Wimer
Jill:
It appears that Jay is promoting his product, you may want to start selling space on your site.
Glad you and the other runners enjoyed the CHILL Towels it was an honor to participate with you.
Thanks,
Allan H. Wimer
CHILL Towels
[…] Have a Throwdown Posted on October 1, 2008 by Jill If you recall, on August 3 I had a post where I reviewed Chill Towels, since the company sponsored our Tuesday Night run at Fleet Feet […]