Summer means all sorts of good things to most people — vacations, ice cream, days at the beach. But for those of us without air conditioning, summer in the city leaves us sweaty and swearing at the thermometer. Though June’s been pretty cool this year, you can expect the dog days to really kick in during July and August.

Once again, Boston retailers aren’t going to leave us out in the cold ... I mean heat. They know that when the mercury really rises, a fan doesn’t always do the trick. So when the heat is on, head over to the Sharper Image, which sells a Personal Cooling System ($49.95) for just that purpose. You wear the device — which is about the size of large headphones — around your neck, and it promises to keep you cool and comfortable for up to four hours. How does it work? Fill it with water before each use; the system evaporates the water and directs the cool moisture toward you by way of a quiet motor fan. Hand-held fans with spray bottles attached ($15) at Brookstone also offer a little mist mixed into your breeze.

For those days when it’s just too hot to move your butt off the couch, Walgreens sells a cool and cooling remote-control fan ($59.99). Brookstone’s Coldmate desktop refrigerator ($100) also makes it easy to stay in one place. This very mini fridge (about the size of a bread box) can keep a six-pack cool, and it fits perfectly just about anywhere.

Though some of us blame the heat for not moving a single muscle, others can’t seem to keep their feet, bicycles, and rollerblades away from the Esplanade once the winter cloud cover lifts. For those crazy enough to pick up the pace when the sun picks up the temps, City Sports sells workout gear that promises to "wick away" moisture from the skin and keep you cool, including women’s CoolMax tank tops and shorts ($26.99) and men’s Sport Hill T-shirts and shorts ($29.99–$34.99). Athletes can also find Hydro Neck Wraps and Headbands ($12.50) at Brookstone. After the bands are dipped in cool water, crystal pellets in the material retain the moisture and keep it cold next to your skin.

If all else fails (and you’re lucky enough to have a yard), you can always revert to the ways of childhood and run around barefoot in a sprinkler ($20) from Brookstone or slippity-slide down an original Wham-O Slip ’N Slide ($24.99) from City Sports.

• Brookstone, various locations, www.brookstone.com.

• City Sports, various locations, www.citysports.com.

• Sharper Image, various locations, www.sharperimage.com.

• Walgreens, various locations, www.walgreens.com.

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