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Travel + Leisure
22-07-2025
- Travel + Leisure
Campers Say This $33 Powerful Portable Mini Air Conditioner Is a 'Must-have for Summer'
Listening to the TikTok horror stories of Coachella campers waking up in near triple-digit temperatures reminded me how miserable it is to be stuck inside the stuffy nylon walls of a tent during the summer. I've camped in some seriously sweltering places—including Death Valley and the Australian Outback, both of which are subject to oven-like conditions, even in the spring—so I know this discomfort all too well. Unfortunately, I was ill-prepared for hot weather during those camping trips, but if I were to do it over again, a portable air conditioner would be the first thing I'd pack. Specifically, I'd bring along this Vorago Portable Air Conditioner from Amazon; it uses ice and water to generate cool air and circulate it throughout your tent or RV. This cordless, compact AC unit is small, easy to use, and requires no hookups. If you'd think a gadget like this must cost a fortune, you're wrong—it's on sale for just $33 at Amazon. The Vorago Portable Air Conditioner unit uses a system called evaporative cooling—a natural process where cold or icy water evaporates in the air, cooling the surrounding area it's in. It's a little different than your average home AC unit, which circulates a substance called refrigerant that actually removes heat from a space, thus lowering the temperature. In this case, the Vorago portable air conditioner does not remove hot air, but rather acts more as a fan blowing chilled air. It has a 15-ounce tank where you pour in ice water, and it can run continuously on that amount of liquid for six to eight hours, the brand says. You can set a timer for two or four hours to conserve energy and make the battery last longer. This portable air conditioner has three speeds and a large-capacity 2,200mAh battery that recharges to full in just a few hours. Simply plug the USB cable into your car, portable generator, or power bank back at your campsite in order to juice it back up. In addition to the air conditioning function, this multipurpose device also functions as a regular portable fan, humidifier, and night light. The light rotates through seven colors, creating an immersive kaleidoscopic display in the cool and comfy confines of your tent or RV. Needless to say, this portable air conditioner works best in small spaces; some shoppers report using it on their desks and by their beds while at home. A truck driver said they use it to cool down their cab when they're pulled over at rest stops. Reviewers have added that the sound is quiet and actually pleasant, like white noise—'not obnoxious or grating.' It's also so portable that you can even carry it around with you by the strap and use it like your own personal fan. 'As a menopausal momma who oddly enough does outdoor events, this was perfect for staving off the sweats,' one wrote, adding that it's 'super easy to use and surprisingly powerful for its size.' With temperatures soaring into the triple digits and camping season fully underway, more than 1,000 of these portable AC units have been purchased just within the past month. I certainly will not be camping in 100-degree heat without packing my own portable air conditioner from now on. If you're also keen to try this thing out, do so while it's still on sale for $33. Or, keep scrolling to check out more of Amazon's best-selling portable air conditioners, all under $100. More Portable Air Conditioners for Camping Under $100: At the time of publishing, the price started at $33. Love a great deal? Sign up for our T+L Recommends newsletter and we'll send you our favorite travel products each week.
Associated Press
11-07-2025
- Associated Press
Police say search aircraft are best chance of finding German tourist lost in Australian Outback
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Police believe search aircraft are their best chance of finding German tourist Carolina Wilga a day after her van was found abandoned in the Australian Outback, an officer said Friday. The last known sighting of the 26-year-old backpacker was June 29 at a general store in the wheat farming town of Beacon, 320 kilometers (200 miles) northeast of the Western Australia state capital Perth. Beacon had a population of 123 during the 2021 census. Her friends and family have not heard from her since. The discovery of her van Thursday in wilderness in the Karroun Hill Nature Reserve, around 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of Beacon, had focused the search area, Western Australia Police Force Acting Insp. Jessica Securo said. 'The search has resumed in that Karroun Hill area. It will be concentrating around her vehicle and tracks that offshoot that area,' Securo told Australian Broadcasting Corp. 'Given the dense area, our aerial support is our best chance of finding her,' Securo added, referring to the dense forest. The overnight temperature was 2.6 degrees Celsius (36.7 degrees Fahrenheit) in the area with no rain. Police believe backpacker became lost Police believe Wilga became lost and is not the victim of crime. Australian serial killer Ivan Milat, who died in prison in 2019, notoriously kidnapped and murdered seven backpackers from 1989 to 1992 including three Germans, two Britons and two Australians. 'The terrain is Outback country and there's large rocky outcrops. Although there's a number of tracks, you can see how it would be easy to become lost or disorientated in that area if you didn't know it well,' Securo said. Wilga's van, a 1995 Mitsubishi Delica Star Wagon, was 35 kilometers (22 miles) from any major tracks, Securo said. The van, which has solar panels and reserves of drinking water, had recovery boards under its rear wheels that are used to give bogged vehicles traction. Securo couldn't say whether the van became bogged or broke down. 'It appears that as she was driving, she's likely to have become lost and then the car has suffered mechanical issues,' Securo said. 'It's hard to say how much she has taken' with her from the van, Securo said. 'We do know that she was planning to travel throughout regional W.A. and do some exploring through there,' Securo added. State premier says police are moving swiftly Western Australian Premier Roger Cook said 'police are throwing a lot of resources' at the search. 'They've moved swiftly now, and the search is ongoing and is resource-intensive. We want to bring Carolina home, and the police are doing everything they can,' Cook told reporters. The reserve where Wilga is believed lost covers more than 300,000 hectares (740,000 acres). Wilga has been traveling in Australia for two years and working at Western Australian mine sites. Wilga's mother, Katja Will, who lives in the city of Castrop-Rauxel in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, has appealed for public help to find her daughter. 'Carolina is still sorely missed. If anyone has any information, please contact the police. Please keep your eyes open!!!' Will said on a post on an Western Australian Police Force social media site.
