Illustration: Dana Davis; Photos: Elissa Sanci, Tim Dongho Yun

Senior staff writer Elissa Sanci did a lot of worrying in the weeks leading up to her wedding. But not about the usual things you’d expect a bride to sweat about. “I was most concerned about, well, all the actual sweating I knew I’d be doing,” she says.

A grapefruit-sized portable fan ended up being the single-most important thing she’d use on her wedding day. From the moment she zipped into her 15-pound gown up until the last dance move, this powerful little fan—with its three speed settings and grippy, flexible legs—stayed pointed in her direction, delivering cool breezes to her and her dance partners.

“If it wasn’t in my hand, it was only a bridesmaid away”→

We independently review everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more ›

Do you need a purse for your water bottle? Honestly, maybe→

The case for see-through storage They might not look like what you see on Instagram. But they might work better→

A solution for uncomfortable summer seating This legless “chair” is lightweight, portable, and provides easy back support→

Elissa is also a very hot sleeper. In an attempt to find a solution to her restless, sweat-slicked nights, she spent last month testing a new, uniquely designed pillow wrapped in a squishy, honeycomb grid that supposedly keeps cool all night long. Her verdict? It’s not a silver-bullet solution for sweaty sleepers. But it makes up for it by being exceptionally comfortable.

“It doesn’t help my night sweats. But I still love it.”→

Illustration: Dana Davis; Photo: Alexander Aciman

There’s a lot to love about the Midea U-shaped window AC unit: It’s efficient, genuinely whisper quiet, and powerful enough to turn even the muggiest New York apartment into a walk-in fridge.

But we’d be remiss not to mention that installation of the unit is a special kind of spirit-breaking hell. For some, it might even be a deal-breaker. But for editor Alexander Aciman? “No sooner did I turn on the AC that day than I began to forget what all the fuss had been about.” He’s going strong on a year of quiet, uninterrupted sleep and cool breezes. Worth it.

“The biggest quality-of-life improvement purchase ever”→

Thanks for reading.

You can reach the Wirecutter Newsletters team at newsletters@wirecutter.com. We can’t always respond, but we do love to hear from you.

Was this email kindly forwarded to you? Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox.

Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. You received this email because you signed up for The Recommendation from The New York Times. To stop receiving The Recommendation, unsubscribe. To opt out of other promotional emails from The Times, including those regarding The Athletic, manage your email settings. To opt out of updates and offers sent from The Athletic, submit a request.

Subscribe to The TimesGet The New York Times app

Connect with us on:

Change Your EmailPrivacy PolicyContact UsCalifornia Notices

The New York Times Company. 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018