Introduction
I recently purchased the "REON POCKET," a wearable thermal device released by Sony.
This is essentially a portable cooler designed to cool the skin surface in contact with the device (it can also heat).
This neckband is worn so that it touches the area just below the nape of the neck, allowing you to cool your body anytime, anywhere.
I happened to read about it in an online news article, and it seemed like it could be useful, so I bought it right away.
The price was around 17,000 yen including the neckband, but as of July 2022, it seems to be selling for a slightly higher price.
While there are also the first and second generation REON POCKET models, this time we'll be introducing the third generation, the "REON POCKET 3".
I will write a review about the actual user experience and ease of use.
Product overview
The "REON POCKET3" is a device that cools the body using a completely different mechanism than conventional air conditioners.
A thermoelectric element called a Peltier element is used, and this element has the characteristic that when electricity is passed through it, one side cools down and the other side heats up.
The part that touches the back of your neck feels cool, while the heat on the opposite side is dissipated upwards by a fan.
Charging is done via a USB-C port, and depending on the cooling power, it can operate for about 2 to 4 hours.
The neckband is sold separately, but since it's practically unusable without it, I'll just buy it.
Compared to a typical smartphone, it's one to two sizes smaller and lighter.
While you can control it by connecting via Bluetooth with your smartphone, there's a smart mode that automatically adjusts the driving conditions, so you'll rarely need to operate it manually.
Usability
The dedicated neckband is comfortable to wear, and it attaches so that the cool part is in close contact with the area just below the nape of the neck.
If you wear it with a collared dress shirt, the neckband won't be visible, and the device itself will be hidden to the point where it's not even noticeable from the outside.
There seems to be specialized clothing available, but I don't think it's necessary to go to the trouble of buying it.
Since this is designed to be worn without a tie, it might feel a little tight when you wear a tie.
However, when wearing a backpack or similar item, depending on how you wear it, the device may get caught on it, and a force may be applied that pulls the neckband downwards.
In that case, even though it maintained a snug fit, the neckband dug into my neck, which wasn't very comfortable.
Also, since you cannot lean back deeply in a chair while wearing it, it is best to avoid wearing it in such places.
Because it cools the area close to the carotid artery, even though the cooling is localized, it feels much colder than you might expect.
While it won't prevent you from sweating all over your body, it can help prevent the lethargy and fatigue caused by the heat.
If left in autopilot mode, it should last about four hours.
Rather than wearing it all day, it's probably best to wear it during your commute or when you're out and about, and charge it when you're not.
Charging via a computer's USB port is slow, so it's difficult to charge unless it's a USB-C port that allows direct charging from a wall outlet.
A battery capacity that lasts all day would be ideal, but achieving that would likely increase the size and weight, so I think it's quite difficult.
However, I'm a little concerned about the battery life and the awkward feeling when carrying things on my back or leaning back in a chair.
In conclusion
Since it can also be used as a heating device in winter, it might offer a different user experience.
Summary of lifestyle-related articles
Rakuten Market: RLSOCO 収納ケース [ソニー] REON POCKET 4 / REON POCKET 3 ウェアラブルサーモデバ