This is the fourth in a back to school shopping series that will appear on Fridays on The Daily Orange website until the fall semester starts. The series is designed to help students and parents weigh the prices and benefits of various dorm room necessities and accessories.

Syracuse may be known for brutal winters, but for a couple months of the year your dorm room will be an intolerable sauna. To your amazement, you’ll still be sweating even with all the doors and windows open — the air circulation is THAT bad. Welcome to dorm life.

To survive the indoor heat, let a fan top off your list of Syracuse necessities. It can’t be too bulky, since junk will already fill all corners of your room, but it also needs to be effective. Check out three options below.

$

Lasko 20 in. 3-Speed Box Fan — $16.88

Pros: This is the cheapest option of the bunch, but don’t mistake that for poor quality. If you are a low-maintenance person, the box fan does the trick to improve air circulation to a decent level. Try leaning it against your window to get the outside air flowing into your room.

Cons: It’s a little bulky, but not so much that it’s difficult to pack. Plus, it’s not a Dyson miracle-worker — so don’t expect it to be anything more than some added circulation.

$$

Vornado 133 Small Air Circulator — $34.24

Pros: While this fan is pretty small, it packs a punch. It’s advertised as a full-room air circulator, which means that it should cool your entire room down. The reviews are overwhelmingly positive, plus it’s small enough to fit on many surfaces in your dorm. Also, this version of the Vornado can be angled, so you have complete control over the direction of the airflow.

Cons: This fan is a bit more expensive than the box fan, but it may be worth it if you need a cool room to sleep. Also, a few reviewers said that it didn’t cool their entire room.

$$$

Lasko 42 in. Wind Curve Platinum Fan with Remote — $59.99

Pros: This is a fan with all the works. It oscillates, its airflow can be moved up or down, it is 42 inches tall and has a remote. It even ionizes the air — perhaps unnecessarily. Honestly, though, this fan is pretty impressive. It has rave reviews and is tall enough to cover a large swath of your room. It’s quiet and looks sleek, and is small enough to put in a corner without taking up important space. Most importantly, reviewers say it creates a gentle breeze in your room.

Cons: It is definitely expensive and costs more than most people probably want to spend on a dorm room fan. For those who can afford it, though, it is definitely effective and will hopefully last throughout your college years, at least. Also, batteries are required for the remote.

Published on August 7, 2015 at 9:19 pm

Contact Delaney: dovanwey@syr.edu