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When I was younger and quite a bit stupider, my idea of summer training was simple: show up at the range, sweat through the whole session, drink the warm bottle of water I left in the truck, and call it a day.
I know better now. Being ready for the heat doesn't just make the day more comfortable. It makes me sharper, safer, and it means I actually get something out of my time on the range instead of just surviving it.
None of the five things below are tactical. Every one of them solves a specific problem the heat creates. Here is what I actually run, with links to grab your own.
1. An Insulated Bottle and Some Electrolytes
Dehydration does not announce itself. By the time you feel thirsty, you are already behind, and the heat is already slowing your reaction time. Cold water gets consumed and warm water gets ignored, so an insulated bottle earns its keep. A lot of folks swear by the Owala bottles; I run a Zulu myself. Then add electrolytes, because plain water alone will not replace what you sweat out. Ultima Replenisher is my pick since it is not loaded with sugar.
2. A UPF Sun Shirt Beats Bare Skin
This sounds backwards until you try it: a lightweight long-sleeve sun shirt is usually cooler than baking your bare arms all day. The fabric blocks the sun and lets your sweat actually cool you instead of frying your skin. I like the hooded versions because they cover the back of my neck and ears and still fit under my muffs. We carry sun shirts here, and there are plenty of solid hooded options on Amazon too.
3. A Cooling Towel Is the Cheapest Upgrade Here
The cheapest upgrade on this list by a mile. Soak it in cold water, wring it out, and drape it around your neck while you reload or wait your turn. The evaporation pulls your core temperature back down, and for a few dollars it works surprisingly well. Grab a cooling towel here.
4. A Hat That Works With Your Ear Protection
Everybody says wear a hat. Almost nobody warns you that most sun hats fight with over-the-ear muffs. My hooded sun shirt already handles my neck and ears, so I just wear a ball cap and the muffs sit right over it. If you would rather have a real sun hat and keep your muffs, there is a specialized version with fold-back flaps that makes room for them.
5. A Pop-Up Canopy Is the Biggest Comfort Jump
Probably the single biggest comfort jump here. Plenty of public ranges have zero shade, so you and everything you brought bake all day. A pop-up canopy gives you somewhere to cool off between strings, keeps your optics and ammo out of the sun, and turns an all-day class from something you survive into something you can think clearly through. One honest warning: you get what you pay for, so if your range gets windy, spend up for something built heavier.
That last one matters more than it looks. If you are going to invest a full day in getting better, protect your ability to absorb it. Do not skip good classes or events just because the weather is inconvenient.
I break down each item in more detail, including exactly why I run what I run, in the full article.
Stay cool out there,
Jacob Paulsen
President, ConcealedCarry.com
P.S. Got a hot-weather range hack of your own? Drop it in the comments at the bottom of the article. I want to hear what actually works for you.
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