Ecomax is aiming to beat July’s record-setting heat with an outdoor cooler that fits inside almost any holiday plan: the new AC/DC Misting Bucket-Top Fan, now rolling into Costco warehouses and Costco.com. Designed to clamp onto the rim of a standard five-gallon pail, the unit can run off household current or—thanks to two included rechargeable batteries—shift instantly to cordless mode for tailgates, campgrounds, construction sites or beach picnics.
At its simplest, the device is a two-speed, 10-inch fan with a rugged plastic housing, adjustable tilt and a molded carry handle. Drop the integrated pickup tube into a water-filled bucket, however, and the fan becomes an evaporative mister, atomizing a cool fog that can shave ambient temperatures by double-digit degrees on still, sweltering days. A quick-connect fitting also lets users hook up a garden hose for continuous operation on the patio. Michael Roach, Ecomax’s chief marketing officer, says the product was developed “to bring powerful, accessible cooling to everyday people—whether they’re hosting backyard BBQs or camping off-grid.”
The dual-power architecture may be its biggest selling point. Plugged into an extension cord, the fan can idle for hours without draining batteries; unplug it to reposition the unit or tote it to a pickup bed, and the electronics seamlessly switch to 20-volt lithium-ion packs. Each pack provides up to four hours of runtime, and the bundle includes a two-port charger so one battery can top off while the other is in use. With utility patents pending, MSRP at Costco is $149.99, though holiday promotions could shave that price for members looking to keep guests comfortable through Labor Day and beyond.