FAQ

Are Narwhals real? 

Fair question. One of us had to look it up to be sure too. While they are called the unicorns of the sea, narwhals are real. These beautiful animals live year-round in the Arctic. Their distinct tusk is actually a large tooth with sensory capabilities! 

Why Narwhals? 

Well, our palm cooling devices also have a distinctive tusk made of heat pipes, which provide a constant circulating cooling effect. The resemblance is strong if you ask us! 

What happened to the XLs?

As of December 2023, we retired what were known as the "regulars" and the XLs became the standard version of our palm cooling device. The Narwhal XLs (now simply the Narwhals) have 50% more surface area to maximize the cooling effect. It turned out that the XLs were very popular, and work well for all hand sizes, so we dropped the regulars! 

Do you ship outside the U.S.? 

Currently, we are set up to ship within the U.S., Canada, and Australia. However, if you live in another country and simply can’t wait to get your hands on some Narwhals, reach out to us. International shipping gets expensive, but we can make it happen if you’re willing to cover the costs. 

Where are the Narwhals made?

The Narwhals are handbuilt in Boulder, Colorado using global components. The heatpipes are made in China and the base is made in Thailand. All other parts are from U.S. manufacturers. We strive to eventually source all parts from the U.S.A.

Can I get more Cool-Not-Cold packs? 

Each set of Narwhals comes with four Cool-Not-Cold packs so you can always have one set in the freezer. If you need or want more, you can buy them in two or four packs. 

What’s in the Cool-Not-Cold pack? 

It’s a nontoxic substance that has a freezing point higher than that of water. 

What is palm cooling?

Palm cooling is a proven method for increasing your training volume, gaining strength faster, and improving aerobic endurance.

It works by removing heat from your muscles. As you workout, your muscles heat up and this heat inhibits your ability to perform. 

Our palms, along with the soles of our feet and cheeks, have special structures called arterio-venous anastomoses (AVA) that directly connect arteries and veins, and allow you to efficiently offload heat. 

In short, cooling your palms cools your blood, your blood runs through your muscles, so it cools your muscles, thus you can workout harder, longer. 

Palm cooling has been studied on strength training, bodyweight exercises, and cardiovascular exercise. Its ability to allow us to push harder is comparable to performance enhancing drugs… but without the negative side effects! 

Feel free to geek out even more on palm cooling.

How do I get started with palm cooling?

For volume-focused work, we recommend you start with one exercise you can do with a reasonable amount of volume (ex: 6+ reps) and perform 8+ sets. This could be pushups, pullups, or dips. You’ll notice that palm cooling enables you to perform at a high level for more sets than you could otherwise. 

You can also use palm cooling in strength protocols, sprint training, and for faster recovery during activities with built in rest. 

We’re beginning to document more specific palm cooling protocols. For now, here are some ideas for improving pull-up endurance. 

Which sports and activities are best suited to palm cooling?

Palm cooling is best suited to activities with built in rest: weightlifting, climbing, combat sports, basketball, track practice, football, etc. In studies, participants cooled their palms for 3 minutes between bouts of exercise. This cooling rest period provides the greatest impact in a reasonable amount of time. However, many people report benefits with a shorter period of cooling – even as little as 30 seconds. Here are seven ways you can incorporate palm cooling into your training. 

What about palm warming?

We’re glad you asked! Yes, you can warm the body up via the palms very effectively for the same reason you can cool the body via the palms. 

One day, Evy spent too long in our factory (aka Ariel’s basement) and got cold. We filled the Narwhals with 125°F (52°C) water. In minutes, she warmed up. Even her frozen toes went back to normal! 

Are you two as quirky as you seem?

Yes. Which of us is quirkier than the other is up for debate – exhibit A and exhibit B – but overall, we are quite unconventional. 

What is your return policy?

We’re a small team of two handbuilding palm cooling devices in Boulder, Colorado. We want you to be thrilled with your Narwhals. If you have questions or concerns about your purchase, please reach out. We’ll do everything we can to make it right. We offer refunds within the first 30 days of your purchase. Please read our full refund policy.

Would anyone use these for…you know…?

Don’t even go there! The Narwhals are exclusively for external use! And since we’re here, no, they are not weapons.