Abstract: An evaporative air cooler (10) employs a design in which admitted air flows over and along the surface of a wicking material (14) rather than through the wicking material (14) and, in the process, achieves a greater relative cooling ability thereby. The evaporative air cooler (10) has the primary components of a cooling chamber (12), the wicking material (14), a fan assembly (16), and, in the preferred embodiment, a feedback duct (18). The cooling chamber (12) includes a container portion (20) having an air outlet (40) in one end wall (36) thereof, and a cover portion (22) having an air inlet (44). The wicking material (14), which is towel-like in form, is draped upon the interior surfaces (56, 60, 62) of the container portion (20), with an opening (64) in the wicking material (14) cut so as to correspond to the location of the air outlet (40) and to allow an unimpeded passage of air therethrough.