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Real-life experiment shows bug spray can kill Fitbit AirsIt's to do with the chemicals inside the repellentSpray carefully, as you won't be covered under warrantyHere at TechRadar we've been rather impressed by what the Fitbit Air has to offer, but one unfortunate user has found out the hard way that you shouldn't use bug spray when the fitness tracker is wrapped around your wrist.The problematic incident was recorded on Reddit (via Phandroid), and it seems that a thorough and protective application of bug spray has eaten into the plastic component of the Fitbit Air, stopping it from functioning."Went on a hike this weekend with my Fitbit Air," reads the original Reddit post. "I've had it for 14 days now, and I found out that bug spray will destroy it. I had put some on the cuffs of my hiking shirt and it transferred over to the device and broke down the plastic."To make matters worse, the user reports that the same fate befell his wife's Fitbit too (though it's not clear if that's also a Fitbit Air). The original post ends with a recommendation to "save your cash for something built better".Little sympathyFitbit air and bug spray don't mix from r/fitbitThe Reddit detectives went straight to work, determining that it was likely the chemical DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) causing the problem. It's widely used in insect repellents, and is pretty harsh on plastics as well as bugs.And sympathy seems to be in short supply on the Reddit thread. "The documentation very clearly states that it shouldn't come in contact with sunscreens and bug sprays," writes one poster, while another says: "This is on you buddy."Google isn't being particularly sympathetic either, telling the affected user that the damage counts as environmental or accidental damage, and so isn't covered under the warranty. No replacement Fitbit Air will be forthcoming in this case.There have been other stories like this in recent days, so it seems a substantial number of people aren't aware about the damage that insect repellent can do. As ever, always read the small print — on both your fitness trackers and your bug sprays.

Here in the UK, it's been absolutely sweltering for the past couple of days. It's even got to the point where schools and other institutions are shutting down, with red weather warnings popping up around the country. I have to say, even working from home in this heat can be quite the challenge — but there's something you can do to make your life a lot easier: snap up a shiny new misting fan. That's right, I recently got my hands on the Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S, and it's been an absolute lifesaver. This affordable device has kept me cool, even at the hottest times of day. It's mess-free, has a number of different speed settings, can oscillate, and there's even a turbo mode if you need to get a real blast of cold.I'll include more details about the fan below, as well as a few alternatives to keep you nice and cool, whether you're in the UK or beyond.Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S — US best priceOver in the US, you can grab the Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S for less than $100, which is a great price considering its talents. It's a desktop fan with mess-free misting, various control modes, 12 speed settings, and Turbo cooling tech that's sure to keep you chilled on the hottest of days.View DealDreo Smart Misting Fan 516S — UK best priceThe Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S is a great desktop fan that will keep you nice and chilled in the sizzling summer sun. It has 12 speed modes, Turbo cooling tech, mess-free misting, and can oscillate to catch every angle. At less than £100, it's well worth the investment.View DealIn my recently published Dreo Smart Misting Fan 516S review, I raved about the model's excellent misting effect, which never creates excess water build-up, as well as its wide variety of control options — including app and voice assistant compatibility — and its generally quiet performance in use.Does it have massive coverage or the most striking airflow you'll experience? No — it's a desktop fan first and foremost. But given its relatively compact size, it performs very well indeed, and its generous 1.3L water tank means you won't have to refill it too often. As a result, it gets my full recommendation.Still, a lot of misting fans are selling out pretty quickly in the UK, and more generally, you may fancy checking out a few other options. As a result, I've found a few alternatives that you can check out. Just scroll down to see a few more options for fending off excessive heat this summer.More fans to check out — USThe Shark 3-in-1 ChillPill received a fantastic 4.5 stars in our recent review. It's a great performing fan with effective misting, and it's an excellent alternative to the Dreo if you've got a little more wiggle-room in your budget.View DealIf you really want to take things up a notch then I've got yet another Shark fan that could be ideal for you: the FlexBreeze Pro Mist. This one's fantastic for indoor or outdoor use, and has a 24 hour battery life too, although it can be plugged in and used if you run dry. View DealMore fans to check out — UKShark's 3-in-1 ChillPill earned a solid score of 4.5 stars in our recent review. Now, only one colourway is on sale right now, and they did inflate the list price to make it look like a big deal, but the actual offer of £10 off on a brand-new product that mists, cools, and fans is still pretty neat.View DealThe Pro Mist is the most hardcore option in the FlexBreeze lineup, because it comes with the mister attachment and an integrated water tank included. That means it's all set up to envelop you in a cooling cloud whenever and wherever you want.View Deal