It’s July in Tucson, and it’s incredibly hot. So hot, you might be questioning your life choices.
But never fear, dutiful Tucsonans — living in the heat is possible. Equip yourself with this arsenal of 11 summer heat hacks to survive summer a little less painfully.
1. ALWAYS park in the shade
Park under the nearest Palo Verde, solar panel or other shade structure, even if it’s a mile away from where you’re going. ALWAYS. You might borderline melt traversing to and from your destination, but at least your car will be somewhat cooler than if you parked in open sunlight. Pro tip: Scientific reporting says you should keep your windows cracked too.
2. And on that note, always keep a sunshade in your car
Create your own shade if there aren’t any trees where you’re attempting to park. Cover any place light could enter your vehicle, and get creative — you don’t even need to use traditional shades. Beach towels or sheets will do just fine.
Early versions of windshield shades were made of cardboard.
3. Invest in a pair of jazzy driving gloves
So you don’t burn your hands on the steering wheel while driving. Oven mitts and hot pads will also suffice.
Little will be too hot to handle with pepper-motif oven mitts at Tohono Chul.
4. Wear an ice-water-soaked ShamWow around your neck
Remember those super-absorbent ShamWow things? If you must venture into the Great Outdoors, soak one in ice water and wrap it around your neck—it will keep your whole body feeling a little bit cooler. It’s basically a functional summer scarf. Pro tip for the ladies: Slip a gel ice pack in your bra to bring your body temp down in a jiffy.
5. Wear loose-fitting, cotton clothes
They’re more breathable than tight-fitting, synthetic fabrics, so you’ll stay cooler if you wear them.
6. Avoid places with swamp coolers after the monsoons come
Because there’s nothing worse than wasting away in a hot, humid box.
7. Eat Raspados and Eegees (and other cool things)
They’re cold and delicious and taste good with booze in them.
This spicy mango raspado is called a Mangonyada, $5.39, at Michoacán Taquería Raspados.
8. Keep a portable spray mister with you at all times
And spritz yourself as needed.
Nick Harris gets what relief he can from the mist of Troy Neiman's spray bottle as the nearly 60 riders take off from their first scheduled break at Eastmoor Park for the first BICAS Hottest Day of the Year Ride. The fifteen mile trek wound through the south central parts of the city ending with a pool party at Menlo Park.
9. Do the Ice Bucket Challenge
It was fun in 2012 and now it’s functional. Get iced.
Several dozen Sahuarita students take a mass Ice Bucket Challenge during the half time of the their game against Catalina Foothills at Sahuarita High School, Sept. 19, 2014.
10. Become nocturnal
Avoid the heat all together by sleeping through it. Tucson has mild evening temperatures anyway (and occasionally some pretty intense monsoon action), so you can actually spend time outdoors without melting. This hack works best for night owls.
LIGHT SHOW: On desolate Houghton Road just north of Corona de Tucson, a lightning storm illuminated the night sky behind a roadside saguaro on Aug. 2. The storm moved through the Tucson area for about three hours.
11. Move away
If you can’t take the heat (pun intended), get out of here. Any true Tucsonan knows it’s worth it to rough the city’s hot summer months in exchange for enjoying its majority nice-weather ones.
