The 14 Best Cooling Products For College Students Moving Into Their Dorm Rooms

As many college freshmen move into their dorms this season, they are hit by the staggering end-of-summer heat. Now, the problem is lots of universities across the nation quarter their students in historic buildings on campus which often have insufficient air conditioning. Moving away from home to attend college is already a bit uncomfortable, and the high temperatures certainly don't help. Those who didn't prepare for these conditions may have trouble sleeping and be downright miserable during their first few weeks on campus until fall arrives.

Yet, it doesn't have to be like this. There are a multitude of cooling products fit for dorm rooms that will keep students feeling comfortable while they settle into a new routine. From powerful fans to inconspicuous cooling blankets, we've gathered appliances, bedding, and home accents at a range of prices for you to consider before the big move. Here is our collection of products that will keep you chill while the temperatures rise.

Fans can help improve air circulation, cool down your room, and sometimes double as a white noise machine when you're trying to focus. Two fans that have impressed college students for some time are the Vornado 630 Mid-Size Fan available on Amazon for $70, and the much cheaper Dreo Fox One at Walmart for $40. They have very similar designs, and they claim to have nearly identical abilities including simple controls, 70-foot air flow, and three wind speeds. Still, some will want to choose the Vornado 630 for its 5-year limited warranty and its company's long-standing positive track record.

Curtains that block out hot sunlight are essential to keeping your room at a comfortable temperature. And, you'll be even better off if you can get your hands on some that are insulated to keep out heat. Our pick is currently the best seller for curtains on Amazon. NICETOWN Thermal Insulated Blackout Curtains check these boxes and more. They can reduce noise from outside your window, and they come in 42 different color options to decorate your dorm. For about $16 for a 2-piece set, these are definitely the best blackout curtains at an affordable price.

While you're moving into the dorms it's important to stay hydrated. Hiking up multiple flights of stairs and trekking through parking lots across campus in the hottest part of the day can make you sweat. This is why you'll need a high-quality insulated water bottle that will stay cold throughout the day, even if it's sitting in direct sunlight. A popular choice for students is Hydroflask's 32oz Travel Tumbler that's nearly $40 on their website. This reusable water bottle should last you multiple years as you carry it to classes and cover it in your favorite stickers.

During the move to your new college town, you'll be considered lucky if the water doesn't taste like the very old and probably poorly maintained pipes in your dorm building. Most students turn to water filter pitchers or dispensers stored in their mini fridges to keep their bottles full of cold water. However, you can't just choose any water filter for this job. Most dispensers and many pitchers are much too big to fit in a mini fridge, but not the PUR 11-Cup Pitcher found at Walmart for about $40.

While a lot of universities provide on-campus students with mini-fridges in their dorm rooms, not all do. For those who have to purchase their own, the Frigidaire Mini Fridge with Top Freezer is a great pick for $220 at Best Buy. You can keep your snacks and drinks cold while also making ice or chilling some of the cooling products we have yet to cover. Additionally, even if you do have a complimentary fridge in your room, sharing with a roommate can be tricky. The Cooluli Infinity mini fridge is a smaller option from Best Buy for $80.

Move-in day and the following weeks require college students to exert a lot of energy. After walking all over campus, staying up late with friends, attending campus events, and preparing for the semester ahead, it's normal to feel a bit drained. Coffee helps. The Bodum Bistro Nouveau French Press Coffee Maker makes 8 cups of hot or cold brewed coffee, and you can store it in your mini fridge with ease. The coffee maker, which is currently almost $30, comes with a fridge lid making cooling down with an iced drink in the morning even easier.

Those who aren't fans of coffee or cold brew might consider a personal blender to make refreshing smoothies and other blended drinks. You can store ice, frozen fruit, or ice cream in your freezer box for frozen juice, slushies, and milkshakes whenever you like. The Ninja Fit Personal Blender is the best-selling countertop blender on Amazon with more than 36,000 five-star ratings. For $60, it appears to deliver on many of its promises including being easy to use, store, and clean.

Lots of products claim to be cooling, but they're just thin and breathable. Found on Amazon, the Guohaoi Cooling Throw Blanket is not one of these products. It's created with mica nylon and Japanese silk cooling fibers which make it cold to the touch and buttery soft. Whether you're trying to stay cool while studying, watching a movie, or sleeping on an extra-hot night, a cooling throw blanket can do wonders for keeping you comfortable during heat waves.

When your dorm room doesn't have an air conditioning unit or doesn't allow them, an evaporative cooler can be a good alternative. Evaporative coolers, also known as swamp coolers, force warm outdoor air through a filter soaked with cold water. During this, the fan evaporates the water into the air which lowers the temperature. Keep in mind this makes swamp coolers a poor choice for humid areas. Among the most affordable, efficient, and popular evaporative coolers for sale is the Hessaire MC18M Portable Evaporative Cooling Fan available for around $170 on Amazon.

For humid dorm rooms, we'd recommend buying a dehumidifier to suck moisture out of the air. A dehumidifier won't necessarily cool down your room temperature-wise, but it can make it feel more comfortable as it evaporates the excess moisture on your skin that is trapping your body heat. There are a bunch of small and reasonably priced dehumidifiers online that could get the job done, but the one people seem to love is this TABYIK 35oz Dehumidifier on Amazon for approximately $40.

Ice is the simplest answer to staying cool. Even one tray can make the ice to fill your water bottle, chill your evaporative cooler's water tank, add to your cold brew, and more. Our favorite option is DOQAUS Ice Cube Trays from Amazon. You get four flexible ice trays that can be stacked, thanks to their removable lids, for about $15. Made from silicone, the ice molds are designed for durability and ease of use.

Among the best things to invest in for your dorm room is good bedding. Your new bed is where you'll be recuperating after long nights of studying or resting between events and classes. For your bottom layer, you'll need a quality mattress protector that'll keep the bed cool and your mattress in great shape throughout the year. We'd recommend the Twin XL Serta Arctic Cooling Mattress Protector available for approximately $180 at Serta. The 230-thread count product is made with a cooling nylon and polyester blend to give you a restful night's sleep.

Once you've purchased a great mattress protector, you can move on to the fun part of choosing the ideal sheets for your bed. One of the best-reviewed options is Bedsure's Cooling Sheet Set in Twin XL on Amazon. Currently on sale for nearly $45, the set comes with one pillowcase, a top sheet, and a fitted sheet to outfit your bed. Even better, Bedsure allows you to choose from 19 color options. All of which are temperature-regulating, moisture-wicking, and silky smooth.

A cooling pillow can make a huge difference in the quality of your sleep. For $150, the Arctic Cooling Memory Foam Pillow from Serta is a five-star option with the ability to chill you out the second you lay your head down. Between its cold feel and comfortable memory foam construction, it could become your favorite part of each night as you lay down for sleep. Additionally, you might consider picking up one of Brooklinen's Classic Percale Pillowcases priced at $49 each, which can enhance your sleep even further with their breathable and soft classic weave.