$10 portable fan
For all its technology, the Reon Pocket 5 faces stiff competition from tried-and-true household staples – a traditional fan and bottles of cold water.
Under the afternoon sun, the pocket fan kept me from sweating when pushed to its top speed. But the fan can be cumbersome as I had to prop it up and often swivelled it around. Wind generated by its blades covered a limited surface area, but enough to cool my face.
I found the $10 fan to be more effective than the $249 Neon Pocket.
That is no surprise, said Prof Lee, as the wind from fans covers a wider surface area and helps sweat to evaporate faster, which in turn cools the user.
$1 bottle of ice-cold mineral water
The two icy bottles, which cost less than $1 each at the SPH Media canteen, exceeded expectations. I was sufficiently cooled during my afternoon walk. They even dispense icy cold water – the perfect thirst-quencher – once the ice has melted.
They are, by far, the coldest items on the list – so cold that they become uncomfortable to hold for an extended period. Their intense chill can cause any part of the body to tense up upon contact.
Also, the user experience is marred by condensation, which formed rapidly on the outside of the bottle, leaving water patches on my shirt and a trail of water behind me.
