Best hand-luggage heat-busters

1. Neck fan

The one thing I swear by is a JisuLife hands-free neck fan. It’s not glamorous, but it just works. Once I was at Florida’s EPCOT when both the heat and humidity were doing their worst, and people starting to struggle by mid-afternoon. Meanwhile, I was still going into the evening without needing to bail out early!
Ian Pugh, UK-based accessible travel advisor and co-founder of Wheels and Wings Accessible Travel

2. Lightweight compression sleeves

Inspired by cyclists, I wear compression sleeves in hot destinations, which keep the sun off my arms. They feel tight but paradoxically keep you cooler by optimising how your body manages temperature. It also means I don’t need to apply suncream to my arms, which helps avoid that sticky feeling.
Matt Smith

3. Peppermint cooling stick 

I like to apply a peppermint oil or menthol cooling stick to my wrists, temples and neck to create an instant sensation of coolness. One small stick weighs almost nothing – plus it smells really nice. 
Amelia 

4. Panama hat

I spend a lot of time in warmer climates for business and for those occasional few precious moments outside of an airconditioned office, hotel or restaurant I want to feel the sun on my face, but I don’t want burn. My go-to brand is London’s finest, Lock & Co. I love the way it immediately adds sartorial flavour to any outfit from swim shorts to a Savile Row suit. 
David Collyer, global senior vice president of Aspire Executive, the airport lounge branch of Swissport

5. Rose quartz face roller

My eyes can swell up on long-haul flights or with severe changes in weather, such as suddenly being hot, dry and dehydrated. I often have to go straight from the plane into filming, so I never travel without my rose quartz roller. It stays cool even in warm climates, and it helps me sooth my eyes, depuff my face and find those contours once more. 
Libby Brodie, food and travel writer and founder of Bacchus & Brodie

6. Swimming trunks

I live in Zürich. Swimming trunks are a mandatory accessory, and everyone carries a pair with them throughout summer. A lunchtime dip into the lake or after work in the river can happen every day. It’s become my obsession to find the watering holes in any destination I visit to cool down. A pool in the park in Manhattan or Bangkok? Danube river swimming in Vienna? The 1936 Olympic swim stadium in Berlin? I know them all. There is a permanent place for my Budgy Smugglers in my suitcase. 
Bruno Marti, executive vice president of brand marketing at 25hours and SO/

7. Cooling bandana

A cooling bandana works through evaporative technology. You wet them, they stay cool for hours, and they’re incredibly lightweight and packable. Unlike ice packs, they don't need refreezing – just rewet them. You can even get bandanas for your dog, too!
Jason T

8. Sun umbrella

One item I swear by when travelling in hot places is an umbrella for shade. It sounds simple, but when there’s no shade, it becomes your shade. Even if it’s not a UV umbrella, any umbrella is better than none. I remember exploring a park in the American Southwest in 43°C heat. My umbrella allowed me to actually enjoy the experience instead of just trying to get back inside.
Ashley Lyn Olson, founder of wheelchairtraveling.com

9. Altberg Desert Microlite boot

In hot environments, you need breathability but also support and durability. These boots strike that balance. On a recent trip to Kenya, we spent long days on foot between camps in dry, uneven terrain. They were comfortable immediately, kept feet cool, and provided consistent support. 
Geordie Mackay-Lewis, co-founder of Pelorus

10. Linen suit

I learned the hard way after stepping off a long-haul flight to Costa Rica in a cotton T-shirt and jeans and into 35°C heat. In just minutes I felt completely overdressed and very uncomfortable and then had to navigate through an unfamiliar airport and get to my hotel. Linen looks relaxed but is smart enough for nice restaurants or meetings, too.
Mfazo Hove, consultant ophthalmic surgeon and founder of Blue Fin Vision

11. Gel shoe insoles

Feet regulate body temperature, so I like to pop a pair of cooling gel insoles into my shoes to keep my feet cool and prevent that sticky, swollen feeling. 
Mrs R Adams

12. Yeti water bottle

When it comes to battling the hot weather, as someone with a spinal cord injury who struggles with temperature regulation, there are two things I’ll always have close to hand - my Yeti insulated water bottle so I always have cold water, and my Google Translate app so I can quickly ask someone for their best recommendation about the nearest cold water source or place to cool down (with a cold beer if the time is right!).
Ollie Thorn, vice chair of Humanity & Inclusion UK

13. Magicool spray mist

This is a lovely cooling spray that does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s lightweight and comes everywhere with me.
Christine

14. Folding fan

When I’m travelling during extra-hot periods, the one item I always keep in my bag is a folding hand fan. They’re so effective, from keeping cool on cultural city tours to sticky concerts. The best part is you don’t have to faff around with batteries! My favourite place to buy them is Duvelleroy in Paris.
Helen Sunderland-Cohen, director of The Sunderland Collection