I live in Ohio and I try to run consistently year round. I’ve run in sub-zero temperatures on many occasions with no problems. My sweet spot temperature for running is around 55 degrees and when it gets over 70 degrees, I start whining like a baby. My body just does not deal well with warmer temperatures and higher humidity, and I tend to sweat like a pig.

I’ve tried many products over the years to keep sweat from soaking my sunglasses and stinging my eyes. I have a few Headsweats and SweatVac products, but the king of headbands is definitely Halo. Their headbands are made out of a soft, stretchable fabric they call DRYLINE. It’s a polyester/nylon combination that feels similar to a thin neoprene. They also use a thin rubbery strip (dubbed Sweat Block Technology) along the front, inside area of the headband so that excess sweat will be channelled to the sides of your face and not straight down into your eyes. I’ve got a pretty good-sized melon and I’ve had no problems at all with fit or comfort.

The amount of sweat that the Halo products absorb is incredible. Naturally, there is a point at which they will become completely saturated. Taking off the headband and giving it a squeeze may amaze and/or disgust you, but you’ll definitely know that it’s doing its job.

I’ve personally used the Halo II headband and the Sport Visor (which features a slightly smaller band sewn into the cap) and strongly recommend both.

The previously reviewed Buff has been been a standard part of my clothing for many years. I live in Germany usually commute by bicycle and love to hike. It keeps me warm, protects me from insects, is used as a sweatband, or, on hikes, even doubles as a towel. In winter, I also use the warmer Polar Buff. I usually wear the buff as a scarf; when cold, I fold it like a balaclava or wear it as face cover in combination with a cap. It also can be worn under a protective helmet. And last year, I upgraded to an even better product: the Wool Buff made from merino wool.

The wool version is a bit longer, some 12 g (on my kitchen scale) heavier, and a bit bulkier than the standard Buff. It also feels softer and even more flexible than the microfiber version, easily allowing to fold it into several layers and adjust it  to ones neck, face or the whole head. The fine merino wool doesn’t itch like some wools. It also has a superior dampness control; wool absorbs a fair bit of moisture and still feels warm and dry, but still dries quickly. This is very apparent when the Buff is used as a face mask in cold weather. However, the Wool Buff does not keep as warm as the Polar Buff, which is a combination of microfiber and fleece fabric.

The biggest benefit for me is the odor resistance of wool. The plastic version becomes stinky after some time, but I have worn the merino Buff daily for many days without smelling the need to wash it. Care is easy, I can machine wash it with the delicates program, preferably with a natural wool detergent. Although very fine, the cloth has been resistant so far, except for a tiny hole caused by snagging it with a zipper – though this has not caused any running.

[Note: We love hearing about better versions of previously reviewed products, especially something like the Buff which was the very first tool reviewed on Cool Tools! --OH]

I’ve been using the Izumi KT-11 electric sweater shaver for almost two years and have found it to be by far the easiest and most effective way to remove lint from my sweaters and fleeces. This is not a cheap tool, it costs $50 at Amazon, but it removes more lint than any brush I have tried and does so quickly and with little effort.

The shaver works like an electric hair shaver with a set of blades rotating behind a perforated metal foil. The cutting height is adjustable, with three settings, and the unit can be disassembled for easy cleaning. There are replacement parts available but those too are not cheap. The unit runs on two AA batteries (not included).

While I haven’t tried the previously reviewed Sweater Stone, it sounded like too much trouble and too similar to lint brushes I’ve tried in the past that haven’t worked well for me because they haven’t done a good job of removing heavy lint build-ups effectively, which is what I often have on my fleeces.

I’m embarrassed to admit that I find the KT-11 fun to use. So much so that I have started working my way through my wife’s fleece collection as well.

Normal “breathable” shells have three great failings. The worst is that they’re just not that breathable, especially in rain, and extra-especially for people who carry on high-energy activities when it rains. This is because they’re based on a pored membrane that works by letting water vapour go from dryer to wetter air, so when the air outside is wet you’re stuck with living with your own sweat. Their two other failings are that repairing rips with a needle is disastrous, because water flows through the holes the needle makes in the membrane, and that getting dry once you’re soaked – whether by your own sweat or a fall in a river – takes forever. Softshells try to get around some of these problems, but at the cost of letting in moderate to heavy rain.

A company that has found the answer is Paramo with their “Directional” shell fabrics. Instead of using a membrane they use a “pump liner” that sucks water away from the inside of their shells. So sweat is still expelled in the rain, needle holes don’t matter because water trying to enter via them is pumped back, and if you get soaked under your shell when you fall out of your kayak your baselayers will dry out faster with your Paramo on, sucking water away, than if you took it off.

In other good news: Paramo is rustle free, completely windproof (it’s a popular choice of Antarctic exploration teams), is easily washed and re-proofed in a washing machine, and the average hard-used shell seems to last about a decade.

The downside of Paramo shells has been that they combine a shell with a midlayer, making them too warm for many people except in winter, and slightly bulky to carry. However the latest Paramo Velez Light has fixed this problem with lighter insulation and excellent venting. You simply put it on a over a baselayer and work the venting (and roll up the sleeves – something you can’t comfortably do with a normal shell) as needed – the shell stays on all day. Because sweat transport and venting are so good this works in all but summer weather. The Velez Light also has an exceptionally good hood that keeps goggles and spectacles dry in the rain but provides more than adequate side vision even for cycling in traffic.

The bad news is that although discussed excitedly on ultra light-weight hiking lists from time to time, Paramo doesn’t seem to be stocked widely – if at all – in the US. However, ordering from the UK is hardly the adventure it was before the invention of the steamship and wireless telegraph.

How good is Paramo? Good enough so that I can crank a cyclocross bike at maximum speed cross country in heavy rain and ice cold wind and my torso is as warm and dry as it would be if I was cycling on a summer day wearing only a wicking tee shirt. In short, ***astoundingly*** good.

Sometimes you just need to go around in the muck. Since 2006, these American-made boots have kept my feet dry in snow, ice, mud and everything in between. They have excellent, deep cleats for traction, a steel shank for stability and are steel-toed for safety.

A heavy fabric liner is bonded to the inside of the boot, to make it easy to slide your feet in and out. They’re not insulated, which is a virtue for me: if water comes in over the top, a change of socks will put you back to work.

What makes this a Cool Tool is that you can get these in farm supply stores for under $30.

[Note: These are an affordable alternative to the previously reviewed neoprene and insulated Muck Boots that I recommend as winter boots. -- OH]

Everyone’s feet perspire, some more than others. It’s especially hard on your shoes if they’re made of leather and don’t get to dry properly between wearings. And so three or four years ago I bought a pair of shoes at the Harry Rosen store in Calgary, I was delighted when they recommended that I also purchase a pair of Woodlore cedar shoe trees.

The shoe trees are unfinished aromatic red cedar that smell incredibly fresh and natural. They wick moisture from my shoes, naturally inhibit bacteria, and keep my cycling shoes and my dress shoes shoes dry and odour free better than anything I’ve tried in the past. And all without any fragrances or chemicals.

I recently gave a set to my friend and his boots and shoes have been drastically improved as a result (which is more of a testimonial than you might think). I have also heard that you can sand them to renew the scent and that the wood they use is harvested from sustainable American sources.

Underwear is not a sexy topic. Well, men’s underwear isn’t. Truthfully most men pay little attention to them other than checking that they’re clean. But that’s only because many of us think all underwear is equal.

Patagonia’s Capilene silkweight boxers are light and well fitting. They keep you dry in the heat and they make a great base under the woolen long johns when it’s cold. I live in the Canadian Rockies where temperatures and conditions can swing wildly at any time of the year and these boxers are always the right ones to have on.

I’ve purchased about ten pair over the last ten years and only one pair has worn out. I’ve travelled in Africa, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, etc. for a month or two at a time, with just three pairs. Wash them in the sink, hang them up and they’re dry in an hour. They’re stylish and feel like silk, but are tough as nails. They’re built to protect modesty and in a pinch I’ve worn them into the river and the hot tub.

This $9 watch is the simplest and most utilitarian timepiece I have ever worn. It is easy to read, has an adequate (not blinding) illumination, is small, light and comfortable but also tough, and has a battery that will last up to 8 years (with many other reviewers noting that it lasts even longer).

The F91W is a distillation of a digital watch. It has three features: tells date and time, has an alarm clock, and works as a stop watch (only up to an hour before it turns over). The functions are easy to use, and aren’t distracting.

I originally purchased this watch to use while running, but found that I liked it so much that I now wear it all the time. It has replaced my larger, more expensive Citizen Eco-Drive which is now reserved for dressier occasions. After swimming and showering while wearing the watch I trust its “water resistance” and am impressed with its durability. Its also cheap enough that I don’t worry about it breaking or getting stolen.

If you are looking for a simple, capable digital watch that will last for years, this is the one to get.