I don’t know about you, but the summers are starting to feel really hot these last few years. 2026 was another record-setting year with deadly heat waves washing over multiple countries and nights that seem to stay nearly as hot as the days.
It’s no wonder that neck fans and personal cooling devices have been gaining in popularity lately. I’m not a fan of the heat, so I was an early adopter of this sort of wearable tech and once I found the device I liked, it totally changed the game for me.
I’ve gone through a few different models, but these days I’m rocking the COOLiFY Cyber Fold by Torras. It’s a PAC (personal air conditioner), not a neck fan. There is a big difference between the two, even if they both blow air around your head and neck. A neck fan is just that, a fan that goes around your neck. No temperature control, just a nice breeze. They help a lot, don’t get me wrong, but the COOLiFY is a PAC, which adds semiconductor cooling plates to the recipe, giving your actual cold against your neck.
On the skin-side of the device are two large metal plates that the device actively cools, giving you that amazing feeling you get when you press a cool drink against your neck on a hot day. Add the multi-directional fans that blow air up to your face and down your neck and you have a seriously effective solution to the sweat and misery of these terrible summer days!
I’ve been doing a lot of hiking and trail-walking lately and this thing is such a blessing. Here in the Midwest we have been having crazy abnormal humidity, which has made the occasional breeze and shade completely ineffective, so having the PAC around my neck has made all the difference. I also take it along with me when I’m doing yard work which has saved me a lot of pain and sweat. The other devices I tried, the neck fans, did help a little, but they pale in comparison to something with a cooling plate. Getting through the front and back lawns in one shot without needing a rest on a 95 degree+ day is practically a miracle for me!
The COOLiFY is a cut about the rest in both categories. Apart from the semiconductor cooling, it’s just a nicely made product. It has two adjustable joints in the back that flex and stay where you put them, which solves one problem that most of these wearables have, size. I’ve got a pretty big neck, so most of the other devices I’ve tried have been uncomfortably tight. The models that had intakes on the inner edge struggled because they were pressed against my skin, and the ones with inflexible designs choked me pretty badly. It’s also very light weight, putting minimal pressure on your neck which makes a huge difference during longer use.
Speaking of using this thing for a long time, the battery life is pretty great! With a 6000mAh internal battery, it can last hours on the go, but it also works while plugged into a battery bank so if you’re moving with a backpack or standing still this thing can practically go all day! It’s one of those things that takes a little getting used to wearing, but once you use it on your first really hot day, you’ll be very happy you won’t have to take it off until you find some air conditioning.
“Yeah, it will help you fight the heat in summer, but is that really worth the $279 price tag? I’m only going to be wearing it for a month, maybe two months every year!” I hear you, I really do, but what if I told you that it is also a heater? Because it is! This thing is called a Portable Air Conditioner and not a Portable Cooling Device for a reason! If you have a walking commute, this thing is just as amazing in the winter as it is in the summer. While it doesn’t get super hot, much like it doesn’t get super cold, it blows enough warm air down your shirt and over your ears to save you from that horrible biting cold sensation that comes during the bitter cold.
It cools, it heats, it blows air in all the right places, but what else? While it has some nice easy-to-use on-device controls, you can also control it with an app! If you’re already looking at your phone and you feel like you need to adjust your temp or fan speed, all you have to do is tap on the app and set it right there! You can manually control the temperature of all three cooling plate zones individually, adjust the fan speed, set it to ECO mode to conserve battery or you can set it to different pattern, like alternating between active cooling plates, fan speed intervals and a relief mode which focuses on the direct back of your neck to help you with neck pain.
Outside of all that, it’s just a cool-looking wearable. It invokes the look of someone wearing their headphones around their neck, but in a really slick futuristic looking way. It comes in black or white, not the widest range of colors but the options are nice to have. The exterior is a nice glossy finish, and the aluminum and silicone materials make it look and feel very high-end.
One downside to the device is just how much the cooling plate tech affects the battery life. With all the plates turned on the 15+ hour battery drops to around 4-5 hours. It’s also a bit loud. If you’re out on a hike, trying to enjoy the serenity of nature, this will make it nearly impossible. The lower fan settings are alright, but at higher speeds the fact that it is being worn just under your ears really makes the noise hard to ignore. A small price to pay for comfort on a hot day, I say, but it’s enough to be annoying if you’re really sensitive to sound.
TL;DR Specs
- Cooling Technology: Semiconductor (Peltier) cooling with wraparound cooling plates
- Operating Modes: Cooling, Heating, Fan, and AI Auto Mode
- Airflow: Four brushless motors with 360° multi-direction airflow
- Battery Capacity: 6,000mAh rechargeable lithium-ion battery
- Battery Life: Up to 15.5 hours (fan mode); approximately 2–5 hours with active cooling or heating, depending on settings
- Charging: USB-C fast charging (20W supported)
- Controls: On-device buttons and Bluetooth companion app
- Display: Integrated LED status display
- Weight: Approximately 1.2 lbs (530 g)
- Design: Foldable, adjustable neckband for easier travel and storage
- Materials: Aluminum cooling plates with soft silicone contact surfaces
- Noise Level: Approximately 50 dB during normal operation
- Included Accessories: USB-C charging cable, protective carrying case, user manual
- Best For: Theme parks, outdoor work, travel, golf, sporting events, camping, festivals, commuting, and other activities in hot or cool weather
Is it Worth It?
I’ll admit that the price tag of $279 on their site was a tough sell for me at first. Once I broke down and bought it, though, I was not sad I spent the money. It has made this summer so much better, and I’m really looking forward to using it over the winter too. I’m even wearing it right now as I type because I’ve started to just really enjoy the feeling of the cool plates and breeze! If you can’t afford the hefty price tap, they make less feature-packed models that are also extremely good that don’t cost quite so much. For me, though, the COOLiFY Cyber Fold has been extremely worth it!
About the Author:
Ever since a young George was disappointed with a toy that did match up to the advertising, he became a tireless advocate for consumers. He’ll review anything that folks have to spend their hard-earned dollars on. George is grateful that he gets to use his skills as a writer and an artist to help connect with consumers and help them make the best decisions possible.
This article is for informational purposes only and reflects the author’s independent opinion. Readers should verify details directly with the manufacturer or retailer before making a purchase decision.
