On paper, the IcyBreeze is the ultimate gadget to beat the heat. The marketing behind it clearly targets campers and athletes. I’m sure they had something with a tent in mind when they sent it my way.

Based on Consumer Reports’ testing of portable air conditioners, they should be seen as a last resort for cooling a home when fans aren’t enough or other types of air conditioners aren’t an option.

Erin Gobler is a personal finance writer based in Madison, Wisconsin. She writes about topics including budgeting, student loans, credit, mortgages, investing and insurance. Her work has been ...

Unlike window air conditioners, portable air conditioners roll easily from room to room and are quick to set up, with no labor-intensive mounting and very few tools required. Most just require a ...