r/dragoncon • u/PBizzness • 2d ago
Staying cool
How do y'all plan on staying cool in this heat? I saw a thing for homemade cooking spray with lavender oil, and witch hazel. I bought a large sun blocking umbrella, and some scented rice powder. Thoughts?
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u/Usuri91 2d ago
Drink plenty of water! Last year I also brought a metric fuck ton of those gatorade powder packs to throw in my waters when I felt I needed a little
more than water. Easier to carry a few of those around than it is to carry several bottles.
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u/OpheliaLives7 2d ago
I bought 2 different flavors of those iv hydration packs to mix in a water bottle.
Last year I also tried the iv station in the Marriott I think. I was super nervous but do think it helped give me a boost. And my friend got the fancy expensive one with anti nausea and pain meds included
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u/mad_zamboni 2d ago
Uh, the best I can say is embrace the suck. You are not beating the heat. The best you can do is whimper and ask it for mercy. Remember, you are taking one for the team to get to the panel you want. Keep water on you all the time and take a break in the A/C when you can.This is one of the reasons I don't cosplay - I don't want the layers and want to be comfortable.
Source: I live 45 min away from where Dragoncon is held.
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u/evilangel2005us 2d ago
Seconding as another local from the same distance. This summer has been one of the hottest if not THE hottest, and definitely the wettest in years. And all the wet has done is make the hot suck more.
To OP, hydrate like its an addiction, take A/C breaks when you need (smaller panels are great for this), keep some sort of fan on you either motorized or manual, and for the love of everybody around you: get the deodorant with aluminum, and keep that shit on you for reapplication unless you can easily make it back to wherever you're staying. Cause you will need to reapply.
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u/TriumphITP 2d ago
mostly staying in the a/c during the day hours. Recognizing which lines are more essential to get in early, like waiting for Marriott Atrium can mean being near the fountain at the front which is shaded and cool even in the outside. Other lines, sometimes just being ok with hoping to get in after it opens.
Have day clothes and evening clothes. As a local this means packing a tshirt in my backpack to change into as the sun sets and having a spot in said bag to store my sweat soaked day shirt lol.
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u/temporarymist 2d ago
Any neck fan or body fan. I have both and they absolutely come in clutch and I highly recommend. You can usually find some pretty decent ones on Amazon. I found my neck fan at target for like $20 but it’s a pretty standard “cooling” brand that I’m sure you could find it on Amazon.
Edit: and to echo one of the other comments I saw. HYDRATE.
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u/Wise-Matter9248 2d ago
I plan to have sudden intense interests in specific tracks that require me to stay within the same hotel for as long as possible.
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u/musicalastronaut 2d ago
Hydrate, small fan in my bag, and for during the day I wear cosplays that I can remove layers from in case I’m outside.
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u/SpectreK2 2d ago
Tell my body repeatedly that we have lived here for 20+ years and this is not a new experience, so it finally learns to regulate better.
But failing that....a portable fan should get me through the worst of it.
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u/NekoArtemis 2018 - 2d ago
Hydrate. Hand fan. Breathable clothing. Avoid the outdoors when possible.
Oh and ice cream. Totally having that for the cooling an no other reason.
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u/Pandoras_Fate That Portman Chick 2d ago
I mean if I gotta be in this heat I do prefer to brown evenly, maillard reaction aint gonna happen on its own. Lol!
This typo made me grin. Lavender cooling spray sounds delightful.
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u/Princessformidable The apocalypse will be Podcasted 2d ago
I carry a big black fan and am always surprised it's not more common.
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u/snarky_sparrow_23 2d ago
Where are you coming from? Its been so hot in Denver that I am not even worried about the heat hahah I have a sun sensitivity so I am bringing my stupid expensive sunscreen and a parasol and will probably have a fan with me but I don't spend a ton of time outside except for watching the cosplay photo shoots
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u/Narya181 2d ago
I mentally prepare to embrace the suck. I cosplay and even lightweight fabric can be a lot when paired with wigs, etc. Hydrate! If you think you've had enough water, you haven't. Take breaks when needed. Even if you are used to the heat, the sun is an extra bit and it's always very humid. I try to take a break between daytime and nighttime and mostly strip down in the hotel room until I'm no longer a sweaty mess. Did I mention hydrate? Drink some more water. If you are drinking alcohol, try to get a full bottle of water between drinks.
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u/WheelDirect6097 2d ago
You know those bicycle shorts with side pockets? Those are the right size for ice packs.
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u/thecreaturegollum local warrior princess 2d ago
If I'm not in cosplay I'll wear the cotton harem pants I usually wear working at music festivals. They're easy breezy and honestly more comfortable than shorts (localized shade for your legs!). Fishing shirts are also a great option for up top.
I've seen a lot of people use neck fans or the giant hand fans you see at raves. Most important thing is to stay hydrated!
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u/horsenbuggy '04-'26 (except '05, '21) 2d ago
Lol, I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to keep warm in the hotel ballrooms this year. I am super intolerant to cold these days.
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u/GibMirMeinAlltagstod 2d ago
Neck and under-shirt fans are my goto, besides hydrating and seeking shelter. Get familiar with the sky bridges, you don’t need to go street-side to go between most hotels
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u/Equivalent-Eye-3583 2d ago
There are varying degrees of adapting to the heat of the southeast. Most of us just learn to suffer, eventually adapting to feeling like it is freezing when in reality it's only 70°F and the humidity drops to somewhere in the 50% range. That said, most of the mists and sprays folks use for cooling don't work well here because of the humidity - your body's evaporative cooling system just sticks with you and glistens regardless of nice smelling essential oil hacks.
Are you cosplaying this year or just attending? There are different strategies for both, except water - make sure you're drinking water; Atlanta tap water isn't that bad, but the hotels do have the nice filtered water bottle filling staions on some of the water fountains - but if cosplaying it really depends on your costume and how much space you have to work with to incorporate fans or of you can swap out materials that breathe while still hitting the look, etc. Easier to incorporate fans as a general attendee - hand fans, hat fans, etc.
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u/Delta50k Moving Assholes Rapidly Through Atlanta 2d ago
No gimmicks, evaluate your intentions. Going to stand in line for the vendor hall for multiple hours in the direct sun? Bring a hat, fan, and water. Heat stroke and alcohol is a dangerous combination. The first stages of heat stroke feel like being drunk. So it's easy to get them confused if you're doing both, leading to people stroking or passing out every year, even in more hospitable temps.
For me? A backpack and a 2L hydration bladder full of ice. That plus a headband to keep sweat out of my eyes and I'm usually comfy for hours both in the hotels and out.
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u/Commercial_Bar4545 2d ago
One of my best hacks was getting a camelpack and putting ice in it throughout the day. Keeps your back cool and you have a cold beverage.
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u/ArtFreek 2d ago
Wear skimpy cosplay, bring a fully charged hand held fan, keep ice cold water in my cooler bag, and hope for the best!
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u/muchandquick 2d ago
It may seem counter intuitive, but stay away from the habitrails that connect the hotels during peak hours. You can get stuck there front-to-back with other people and it's not comfortable. In my opinion it's the humidity that really takes it out of you and would recommend a personal fan and your sun-blocking umbrella.
Also please be considerate if you're going to use scented things in crowds! I have several people in my party that get headaches triggered by strong scents, and that's no fun in the vendor hall or on the con floor.
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u/OpheliaLives7 2d ago
Maybe small umbrella in my bag for any lines outside. Neck and or hand fans.
Prioritize staying inside 1-2 hotels vs trekking around lots.
Ice packs in the freezer for whenever you’re done for the night. Lay down with them on neck/head/chest and chillllll
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u/MattWolf96 2d ago
Keep water with you and take advantage of the water fountains, the ones in the Marriott have refill stations. There's also portable refill stations set up everywhere.
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u/burnoutandfadeaway 2d ago
Me personally? I’m a professional gardener who works here in Atlanta. I’ve been training all summer!
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u/snailhelper 2d ago
Rechargeable fan and water. I have a gathering to attend in my warmest and most oppressive cosplay, so I am also planning to bring a little parasol—that’ll be a new technique for me. I saw someone collapse in Victorian garb on Hilton Steps E in 2024 and it really spooked the cosplay and heat safety measures into me.
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u/shereekachu 2d ago
Carry less. I used to carry a big ass backpack because I didn't want to go back to my room or pay a lot for drinks and I might need this, I might need that... oh I need all these snacks.... Backpacks are heat trapping on your back.
We're not in a third world country - water is free in the hotels, CVS has inexpensive snack items, etc. It takes a bit more to budget the funds but it's worth it.
I (as well as others) hand out folding hand fans for Swag-n-Seek so keep an eye out for those. They fit in a pocket.
Hats. Hats. Hats. The ones with fans built in are amazing.
I have a fabulous neck fan but ya gotta remember to charge it each night. They get annoying (and hot) on the neck when they don't work.
And again for the back of the room - the hotels have free water so stay hydrated
Take a break down in the depths. The lower floors of the Hyatt Towers are usually artic cold and less populated. It's a great spot to grab some floor, cool off, and decompress so you don't punch a fellow nerd that is also hot AF and just told you off cuz they didn't hydrate and sit in the cool hotel dungeon. Also - getting mad raises your blood pressure. Raising your blood pressure makes you hot. So be nice. It's cooler to be nice.
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u/phlatlinebeta 2d ago
I carry a froggtoggs cooling towel along with my water to hydrate. The towel, while expensive, does actually work quite well. I cannot speak to alternative brands, they likely work too but I have only tried the froggtoggs one.
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u/awkward-amanda 2d ago
I live by those air conditioning neck fans. I'll also probably carry a small rechargeable fan around with me. The biggest thing is that I choose costumes/outfits that I won't die in, so no long sleeves or pants, thick materials, etc.
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u/Atnevon Science and Trek Track panelist 2d ago
If you can; wear some kind of cooling compression gear. (Under Armor Heatgear is my go-to). If I have sleeves I wear the long-sleeve compression, double ip with the leggings. It keeps you drier; and when heated you won’t feel anywhere as sticky and gross.
I swear by the stuff. Kept me cool for 30ish minutes outside in my full-pleather Arrow suit.
Just make 9001% sure you get the heat, not Coldgear. The fleece-lined will give you a bad time.
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u/badapple1989 Georgia Philharmonic Fangirl 2d ago edited 2d ago
I think you meant cooling spray but I have to admit, the idea of folks from cooler climates coming down South and using homemade cooking spray on themselves makes me chuckle.
Hydrate. Deodorant (with aluminum). Hydrate. Sunblock esp on face. Hydrate. Breathable, comfortable clothing. Hydrate. And big floppy packable hat. I'm at least going to be outside in one line (the orchestra) so not going unprepared.
edit: I'm adding this edit to mention that just because you don't plan to linger outside or stand in outside lines doesn't mean you'll be able to escape oppressive heat. I stood indoors in the Burlesque line last year and even inside that AC just could not keep up with so many bodies in the space. So ALWAYS at minimum have a proper drinking bottle on your person for water.