This $30 Portable Fan Was the Unexpected MVP of My Wedding Day

I first came across the Amacool fan while looking through Wirecutter’s catalog for a battery-powered fan to use while camping in my car. The small but powerful Amacool fan was perfect for keeping me cool on my overnight trips. I put it away at the end of camping season and didn’t spare it another thought — until the nervous morning of my wedding.

As I had predicted, the sweating started the moment I was zipped into my 15-pound gown. I pulled the Amacool fan out of my bag and aimed it at my armpits. For the rest of the night, the lightweight fan was never far; if it wasn’t in my hand, it was only a bridesmaid away (and probably pointed in my direction).

The Amacool fan, which is surprisingly powerful for something the size of a small grapefruit, has three speed settings. I kept my fan on the highest setting while using it throughout the day. I assumed that the battery would drain quickly, as is the case with so many other affordable and portable appliances. But the Amacool fan ran for an impressive eight (nonconsecutive) hours before it finally died minutes before the DJ played the last song of the night.

I particularly like the fan’s three flexible legs, which make it easy to use in all kinds of situations. On the bus ride from church to venue, I twisted the fan’s legs around a grab bar, keeping the fan’s breeze directed at myself and my hands free. Then, during dinner, I propped the fan’s tripod legs on the table as I ate. And as I bounced around the party, I used those collapsible legs as a long handle, carrying my portable breeze from table to table and onto the dance floor. Even my guests got bursts of cool air.

After becoming the MVP at my wedding, the Amacool fan is now a fixture in my life.

In my car, where the air conditioner doesn’t always reach my backseat passengers, I’ve kept the fan wrapped around the legs of my headrest. Its head spins 360 degrees in every direction, so my passengers can easily adjust it as needed. It also has a finger guard to prevent injuries to tiny hands, making it a safe option for parents looking for ways to keep their kids cool on long drives. Parents can also twist the flexible legs around the handle of a stroller and position the fan to help prevent babies from overheating on summer walks.

I’ve brought this fan along on plane and train rides, to poorly air-conditioned hotels, and to humid cities. I’ve used it at festivals and concerts to cool down in the middle of a crowd. It has made traveling so much more comfortable and less stressful since I no longer have to worry about the cooling situation at any given location.

And since it’s so reasonably priced, I’ve found that the Amacool fan makes a unique gift. Most people will have plenty of use for a portable fan — and be delighted by it — even if they don’t know it yet.

This article was edited by Alexander Aciman and Katie Okamoto.