Get the x-large. Double it up and put it on your head with a visor. Buy once cry once. You're welcome.

Update: This thing is awesome. So glad I got the x-large. The bigger the better. Wife loves it too. She was like, "Can I use it for a little awhile?" I'm 5'10'' and it covers most of my body. Then I just fold it a couple times and it fits nicely on my neck, or over my head. Originally bought the smaller one and returned it. It was too small, and minimal coverage.

Used it today on an 8 mile bike ride in 100F Southern California. Got it really wet and wrapped it around my head and shoulders. I felt a constant coolness the entire ride. Significantly reduced overall muscle fatigue due to dehydration. Had much more energy after my ride today, and drank a lot less water afterwards. The bike ride appeared faster because I wasn't focused on how hot it was outside. I think I made really good time as well. It's now a permanent part of my daily biking gear.

Few people know how this concept works, so I'll explain:

The material is absorbent enough to retain just enough water to keep it moist. The water molecules immediately begin evaporating into a gas by absorbing heat from the air and/or skin. Heat goes to cold. As the water continues to absorb heat, the excited water molecules leave the material as a gas (hydrogen bonds are broken, hence water vapor). As the total amount of kinetic energy decreases, the temperature decreases. As you increase the rate of evaporation (snapping the towel), the temperature decreases. This process can work with almost any fabric, but this material is a little better than others. The darker side is slightly cooler and the holes on the opposite side of the fabric allow the highly excited water molecules to move away a little easier.

It doesn't matter what temperature the water is initially. Even if it's really hot water, the excited water molecules want to break their hydrogen bonds and leave the material as a gas. It'll take a little longer to get the material to cool down using hot water, but it'll still cool down fairly quickly. The dryer the climate, the better it'll work. For those who live in hot and humid climates, the rate of evaporation will be slower, so it may not feel as cool. In a hot and dry climate like Southern California it works really well. Take other reviews with a grain of salt. You don't know where the person lives or what size towel they bought, how large/small the person is, or even if they're using it correctly (if that's even possible). I'd like to try this while hiking.

Not sure if anyone has ever explained the physics of this process but now you can tell your friends about it. It makes for a great conversation among those who like to know why.

Men sweat; women glow. Well my "glow" rolls down my back and puddles in my sweat socks, so cooling products matter to me. I live all the way south and all the way east in North Carolina. The daily weather forecast here in the summer is 90+ degrees, 95% humidity, with a chance of thunderstorms. We walk early in the morning and my husband comes home a bit damp but still clean enough to go to Walmart without taking a shower. When I get home my kneecaps are sweating and I look like I took a run through the sprinklers. My only other experience with cooling products is a chamois-like triangular scarf by Cool Togs. It is clammy rather than cool and dries stiff as a board. I thought I would try this towel instead and have been pleasantly surprised by its effectiveness. It is long enough to drape across my shoulders, leaving the ends convenient for dabbing my "glow." It does seem to cool me off some but probably any cool cloth would. The fact that it stays soft and absorbent during use is its best feature and makes its use pleasant, which cannot be said of the Cool Togs, which sell for twice the price. I waited to review this item until I had used it a dozen times or so and my opinion of it has not changed. I come home from my walk, throw it in the bottom of the shower to wash it, hang it up to drip dry, and it is ready for the next walk. I have also washed it several times in the washing machine and so far it remains fresh and free of those odors so endemic to athletic wear. This product is a winner.

I bought a couple of these towels for our honeymoon to Disney World last week and they were absolutely amazing! It was so hot during our trip but as soon as we wet the towels and put them on it made a world of difference and they stay wet for a very long time, even when they aren't as wet they still cool you down, they hold the water so well. I would definitely recommend this towel to anyone that's looking for a good quality cooling towel with fun colors. I would definitely buy this product again.

Very soft and compact. Perfect length. I ran it under water, squeezed out the excess, and my dog jumped onto my lap and layed on his back, so I put it on him. Dude fell asleep without moving for about an hour. I don't think I've seen him sleep that well all summer.

This towel is amazing!!! I love this towel. I have tried it out a couple of times and it has not let me down. I took it to the outdoor swap meet here in Hawaii and it held its cool the entire time we were there. I also took it out on our bike ride and it kept cool. It seems to stay cool for a couple hours. Some parts would come warm because of my skin contact, but I would snap it and it would come cool again. I like how long this towel is because it allows you to wear it multiple ways. I have worn it as a scarf and wrist band.

I bought a second pair for my husband and he enjoys it also. Our house can get kind of hot and he's been wearing it indoors also and he said it has helped him keep cool.