Gadget Review: USB-C powered Semiconductor Neck Cooler
Are you too hot? Can't run an air-conditioner? Stuck on a sweaty tube train? You need a USB-C powered personal cooling device!
There are loads of personal electric fans available - but I've gone for something slightly more high-tech. A neck-wearable Peltier cooler. It looks like this:
And fits round your neck like this:
And it costs about £22 including shipping from China
Huge thanks to Naomi Wu for alerting me to these devices
Does it work?
Yes! Hold down the power button and it switches on to low mode. Press the button again and it goes into super cooling mode. Here's a quick video review:
I felt noticeably cooler while wearing it.
Downsides
Only two minor irritants. There's no built in battery - so you'll need a portable battery or to be plugged in to some other USB source. The fans make a bit of noise - not a huge amount, but noticeable.
Verdict |
---|
dwm said on twitter.com:
Oh, interesting! Might have to play with one of these..
Alan Pope 🍺🐧🐱💉💉 said on twitter.com:
Ok, couldn’t resist. Ordered one.
Naomi Wu 机械妖姬 said on twitter.com:
Yeah it works surprisingly well right? Think about a zip-tying the cable to it so that if the battery falls it doesn't rip out and damage the jack.
Jean Hébert said on twitter.com:
While I possess a deep fondness for the idea of strapping a radiator to my body, here's where I went with this: "when will humans ship with these factory-installed?" shkspr.mobi/blog/2021/07/g…
Tracy Miranda said on twitter.com:
So cool! (in more ways than one 😄)
I used peltier devices in my final university project & they were magical! ❄️ But had to have ginormous fans so looks like the technology has advanced alot since then!
Morten Grøftehauge said on twitter.com:
Can you run it off of a cell phone with a USB C port? I wonder if it would be possible to integrate it into something like a Hövding airbag helmet.
Sean Hodgins said on twitter.com:
This seems totally hackable for other uses, and not a bad deal. Very cool
Fernando Segura said on twitter.com:
Okay, so I just bought one of those. Salvador has basically two weathers, rainy hot and scorching hot, with RH never below 65%, so we’ll see in a month or so how well it performs here. Currently I have to put on a cloth over my head whenever using tools so I don’t drip sweat.
george said on twitter.com:
This would be super helpful for folks w/ MS. thanks for the pointer
Biomagitech 💙🟠 said on twitter.com:
Gonna try out one o' these, I'll let you know! Evaporative cooling makes me a bit rheumaticcy and who likes being damp and cold all day? shkspr.mobi/blog/2021/07/g…
dazinism said on social.coop:
@Edent Look kind of a bit naff/gadgety but interesting to hear these may actually work pretty goodI can find it hard to think straight in the heat & sometimes find myself struggling to stay on mission. Also tend to have lots of stuff to do outside. Wondering if they would reboot my heat frazzled brainGot friends that work in poly tunnels and glass houses (I do a bit sometimes also) these might really help them out. On hot days they get up super early and siesta, but it can still be tough.
Jon Kingsley! said on twitter.com:
Oh my god WANT
Citoyen Dangersmith said on twitter.com:
Very "Running Man" 🤣
Anthony Fox-Davies said on twitter.com:
If there was ever a smart device I could get behind it is clothing with built in cooling
Frank Exchange 😷🇪🇺🍸 said on twitter.com:
Original page no long on aliexpress. But still on Amazon amazon.co.uk/wwyy-Portable-…
Same peltier device idea but cooling fan air & with built in battery amazon.co.uk/Upgraded-Perso…
Andy Piper says:
You look VERY COOL wearing it.