Some products solve obvious problems. Others make me wonder whether the problem ever existed in the first place. For this review, I tested three products that seemed unusually complicated, expensive, or just plain strange. They include a $120 machine that dispenses warm disposable towels, a $70 wine cork that chills wine as you pour, and a cup divided into three completely separate drink compartments
All three looked like potential solutions in search of a problem, but a couple of them surprised me.
Where to Purchase
Below are links where I bought the products shown in this review.
LiveFull Hot Towel Dispenser
The first product was the LiveFull Instant Heating Machine for Disposable Face Towels. I paid about $120 for the unit, which included 20 compressed towels.
The company claims it can produce a moist, spa-quality warm towel in about five seconds. The towels are supposedly heated to approximately 130°F, and the machine includes voice prompts that guide you through the process.
Setting It Up
The instructions were not especially helpful. They told me to add an “appropriate amount” of water without clearly stating what that amount should be. I eventually found the capacity elsewhere and added about 400 milliliters.
The directions were also inconsistent about how to install the stack of compressed towels. Some of the company’s videos showed the base attached, while others showed it removed. One video appeared to show the towels being pressed down, while another showed them being turned. At one point, the machine told me to add towels even though I had already loaded them. I had to unplug it, reposition everything, and start over.
This was far more confusing than it needed to be.
Does It Really Dispense a Hot Towel in Five Seconds?
Once I got the machine working, the actual dispensing process was surprisingly impressive.
I pressed the button, the machine said, “Please wait,” and within a few seconds it pushed out a compressed towel, applied water and heat, and it expanded in seconds.
The first towel did not fully hydrate. One section remained somewhat compressed and dry. Based on advice from an Amazon reviewer, I flipped the towel over briefly so the dry side could absorb more moisture.
The second and third towels worked much better.
I also checked the temperature with a thermal imager. The hottest readings reached approximately 134°F, so the temperature claim was accurate. Once I unfolded the towel, it generally measured closer to 120°F.
The towels themselves were better quality than I expected. They measured roughly 9.5 by 10 inches and had a thick, quilted texture rather than the thin material I associate with most compressed towels.
The Five-Second Claim Needs Context
The machine can produce a towel in about five seconds, but only when the water inside is already hot. After allowing the unit to cool to room temperature, I timed it again. It took approximately 30 to 35 seconds to heat the water and dispense a towel. That is still fairly quick, but it is different from the dramatic five-second demonstrations shown in the advertising. I also noticed that the towel continued absorbing moisture for a few seconds after the machine announced that it was ready. Waiting a little longer usually produced a better result.
The Scent
The towels have a light green tea fragrance. At first, I thought the scent was pleasant. The more I smelled it, however, the less I liked it. It reminded me that fragrance is extremely subjective. A scent chosen by the manufacturer will not appeal to everyone. Because these towels are intended for use on your face, the fragrance could be a significant downside for people who are sensitive to perfume or simply do not want the scent lingering on their skin.
LiveFull Towel Dispenser Pros and Cons
Pros
- It does produce a genuinely warm towel
- The temperature claims were accurate
- It is fast once the water is already heated
- The towels are larger and thicker than expected
- The dispensing mechanism is fun to watch
Cons
- The instructions are confusing and inconsistent
- The first towel may not hydrate evenly
- The towels have a noticeable fragrance
- Refills cost about $20 for 60 towels, or roughly 33 cents each
- The $120 price is difficult to justify
Final Thoughts on the LiveFull Towel Dispenser
The LiveFull towel dispenser works better than I expected. It really does dispense a warm, moist towel, and the temperature readings matched the company’s claims. The towel quality was also surprisingly good. The problem is the price. Spending $120 on the machine and then approximately 33 cents every time I want a warm disposable towel feels excessive. I could see it appealing to someone who wants a spa-like experience at home, removes makeup regularly, or uses warm towels while shaving. For most people, however, it seems like an expensive convenience rather than a necessity.
Cold Cork V2 Wine Chiller
The second product was the Cold Cork V2, which cost $70. It attaches to the neck of a wine or liquor bottle and chills the liquid as it passes through an internal frozen coil. The company claims it can reduce the temperature of the first glass by approximately 20°F in 20 seconds without adding ice or diluting the drink.
Before using it, the main cooling section must be stored in the freezer. One obvious question immediately came to mind: If someone forgets to chill the wine, couldn’t they also forget to freeze the Cold Cork?
Testing the First Glass
I started with a bottle of inexpensive white wine at room temperature. The wine measured approximately 75°F. After attaching the frozen Cold Cork, I covered the vent hole with my finger, tilted the bottle steeply, and released the vent. Nothing happened at first. The instructions suggested tilting the bottle farther and giving it a gentle shake. That worked, although the wine poured much more slowly than it would from a normal bottle.
The chilled glass measured approximately 55°F to 56°F. That was almost exactly a 20-degree reduction, which matched the company’s claim perfectly. I am not accustomed to advertising claims being that precise, so I had to give Cold Cork credit.
Additional Glasses
The instructions recommend waiting a few minutes between pours, so I waited about three minutes before pouring the next glass. The second glass measured approximately 61°F. I then poured another glass immediately afterward, and that one measured approximately 66°F. After another short wait, the final glass also measured around 66°F.
The cooling effect clearly weakened with each pour, but that was consistent with what the company stated. Cold Cork claims the first glass may be about 20 degrees cooler while the final glass may be closer to 10 degrees cooler. My results were very close to those numbers.
Cooling an Entire Bottle
The company also says it can cool an entire bottle in approximately two minutes. For this test, I poured a full bottle through the Cold Cork into a separate container. The process took 1 minute and 43 seconds. The wine started at 75°F and finished at approximately 68°F, a reduction of only about 7 degrees. That result was less impressive.
The Cold Cork worked much better when I poured individual glasses. When I ran an entire bottle through it continuously, the frozen coil apparently warmed too quickly to maintain the same cooling performance.
Cleaning the Cold Cork
Cleaning is the product’s biggest inconvenience. After using it, I had to remove the cork section and use the included tool to pump out trapped liquid. The instructions then called for thawing the unit, flushing it with warm water, allowing it to drain for several hours, and pumping it again before returning it to the freezer.
The active cleaning process is not especially difficult, but the full thawing and drying procedure can take several hours. That is a lot of maintenance for something that chills a few glasses of wine.
Cold Cork Pros and Cons
Pros
- The first glass dropped almost exactly 20°F
- It chills wine without adding ice or diluting it
- It requires no electricity
- The company’s per-glass temperature claims were accurate
- It is compact enough to store in a freezer
Cons
- Cooling performance decreases with every glass
- It works better for individual servings than an entire bottle
- The pour is slow
- It sometimes requires shaking to start the flow
- Cleaning and drying can take several hours
- It costs $70
Final Thoughts on the Cold Cork
Cold Cork works. That does not necessarily mean everyone needs one, but it delivered exactly the promised 20-degree temperature reduction on my first glass. It might be useful when a few guests arrive and you realize you forgot to chill the wine. It would be less effective at a larger party because the cooling performance drops as more liquid passes through it.
At $70, buying multiple units would become expensive very quickly. I was impressed by the first-glass result, but the slow pour, declining performance, and lengthy cleaning process make it a niche product rather than an essential wine accessory.
WesCup 3-in-1 Divided Cup
The final product was the WesCup, a reusable 24-ounce cup divided into three separate 8-ounce compartments. Each compartment has its own straw, allowing the cup to hold three different drinks at the same time. I paid $14.88 for it.
At first glance, I assumed it was a regular cup with a three-way divider inside. It is actually more cleverly designed than that. The three sections are completely separate and do not even share an interior wall. There is a physical gap between them, which helps prevent the temperature of one drink from affecting the others.
Testing Hot and Cold Drinks Together
I filled one compartment with hot coffee and the other two with cold sparkling water and ice. The coffee measured approximately 135°F, while the cold drinks were close to 100 degrees cooler.
The cup is not insulated, so it will not keep drinks hot or cold for an especially long time. However, the drinks remained completely separate, and the hot coffee did not immediately melt the ice in the neighboring compartments. The cup also fit in my car’s cup holder. Its base is tapered, so it should fit in many standard cup holders.
Using the WesCup in the Real World
I took it with me while running errands and walking at a park. The three straws looked a little like candles on a birthday cake, and I occasionally had to make sure I was drinking from the correct one. On the other hand, having three drink choices in a single cup was more enjoyable than I expected.
At one point, I closed my eyes and randomly selected a straw. It became a form of drink roulette. The biggest practical issue was the lid. It never felt completely secure. It did not clearly snap into place, so I was always slightly concerned that it might come loose when I picked up the cup. Each compartment also holds only eight ounces, which may not be enough for someone who wants a large drink.
Is It Actually Useful?
The WesCup initially seemed like a pure novelty, but I started thinking of situations where it could be practical. When my twins were young, I often carried separate drinks for both of them. With this cup, each child could have had a different beverage and a dedicated straw, while I could have used the third compartment.
It could also be useful at work. Someone might keep coffee in one compartment, water in another, and an energy drink or flavored beverage in the third. Some people will have absolutely no use for it. Others may find it surprisingly convenient.
WesCup Pros and Cons
Pros
- The three drinks remain completely separate
- Hot and cold beverages can be carried at the same time
- Each compartment has its own straw
- It fits in my car’s cup holder
- It is dishwasher safe
- The price is reasonable
- The design is more clever than it initially appears
Cons
- Each compartment holds only eight ounces
- The cup is not insulated
- The lid does not feel completely secure
- Three straws can be awkward
- It still feels somewhat like a novelty item
Final Thoughts on the WesCup
Of the three products, the WesCup may have been the biggest surprise. It looked like a gimmick, but it worked exactly as intended. The separate compartments are genuinely clever, and the $14.88 price feels reasonable. I would not use it every day, but I could imagine using it during errands, at the park, or while traveling with children. It’s strange, but it isn’t pointless.
Which Product Was Best?
All three products worked, but that does not mean they were equally worthwhile.
The LiveFull towel dispenser delivered warm towels as promised, but the $120 price and ongoing refill cost make it difficult to recommend for most households.
The Cold Cork V2 produced the most impressive single result. It reduced the first glass of wine by almost exactly 20°F. However, its performance dropped with every pour, and the cleaning procedure was far more involved than I expected.
The WesCup was the least expensive product and probably the easiest to justify. It was still unusual, but it was cleverly designed, reasonably priced, and potentially useful.
My final ranking would be:
- WesCup 3-in-1 Cup
- Cold Cork V2
- LiveFull Hot Towel Dispenser
These products all sit somewhere between useful invention and unnecessary gadget. Whether they are worth buying will depend heavily on how often you encounter the very specific problems they are designed to solve.