Travel Fashion Girl

Best Travel Fans to Keep You Cool in Hot Destinations

Electronics , LUGGAGE

best-portable-travel-fan

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Headed somewhere hot and want a portable method to stay cool? We asked TFG readers to share their picks for the best travel fans so you can keep your temperature down!

Best Travel Fans

Written By: Tae Haahrr

Table Of Contents

Traveling to a warm destination can be tricky if some of your accommodation options don’t have air conditioning and you need to stay cool or you don’t want to overheat during an excursion like a sunset boat ride or a walking tour.

We’ve asked TFG readers to share their picks for the best portable fan for travel so you can stay cool no matter where you are!

Handheld Fans for Sightseeing

best-travel-fans

JISULIFE 3in1 Pocket Handheld Mini Fan

Mini Portable Fan for Travel

The JISULIFE 3in1 Pocket Handheld Mini Fan  is slim and lightweight, perfect for dropping in your bag and pulling out whenever you need to cool down.

Another Disney travel fan favorite, one TFG reader says, “We go to Disney all the time and I hate the heat! I always bring my little fan that attaches to my phone and I LOVE it!!! I also use it when traveling. Everyone always comments on my fan and wishes they had one. We always bring a battery backup for our phones when we go to the parks so we have no problem with using the phone fan.”

This 3in1 mini handheld fan is USB rechargeable through a regular USB socket, laptop, power bank , or car charger, it also has soft wings that are safe to use near your fingers.

best-travel-fans

Travelon 3-Speed Folding Fan

Best Travel Fan for Packable Convenience

The Travelon Folding Fan is one of the best personal fan options on the market, per TFG recommendations.

It’s quiet, can hang or sit on a flat surface, and is light and easy to carry. One TFG reader shared, “I’ve used this one for a couple of years and it has worked well.”

It requires four AAA batteries and one reader says that it is “So handy, it has saved me when flying.” But be careful with medium to long length hair.

best-travel-fans

Tripole Mini Handheld Fan

Best Personal Fan for Hot Days

If you’re looking for a truly small travel fan then the Tripole Mini Handheld Fan  is for you!

It can be thrown into your purse and carted around whenever you need it. One TFG reader shares, “I always use this fan when traveling, love the size.”

This is one of the best small travel fan models around and is loved by travelers who experience the occasional hot flash.

best-travel-fans

JISULIFE Portable Neck Fan Hands Free Bladeless Fan

Hands Free Portable Neck Fan

This hands free bladeless neck fan by JISULIFE can send the wind without clogging your hands by simply placing it on your neck. Designed without wings, it can be used safely by children and the elderly so you can cool down anywhere. It’s definitely a good choice for the best personal fan.

One wearer shares, “ I love this fan which looks like you have a pair of headphones resting on your neck. It’s powerful but not too noisy and keeps me cool, it runs on charge for quite a while, depending on what speed you have on, but it’s easy enough to charge up. With the cool air going straight to your neck it really makes a difference. I recommend this fan & great price too.”

Compact and lightweight for carrying. It is wearable throughout your daily life without any sense of displacement or awkwardness.

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VersionTECH Mini Handheld Fan

Versatile Small Travel Fan

The VersionTECH Mini Fan is a hand-held fan that is ideal for traveling according to TFG readers.

It can be hung, clipped, set on a table, or held, making it perfect for someone who’s moving around. Its battery is rechargeable via a USB port and you can choose from three different speeds!

It comes in five colors and will fit perfectly into your bag. One TFG reader shares, “It is smaller and light, great for travel.”

best-travel-fans

O2COOL Sport Carabiner Misting Fan

Misting Portable Fan

The Sport Carabiner Misting Fan is perfect to combat those hot days. It combines the cooling power of a breeze with a refreshing mist of water, keeping you comfortable in the heat.

It has a handy carabiner hook so you can keep it on you at all times. And its compact design makes it really easy to cart around and pack.

This mini portable fan is great if you’re hitting up a theme park with the kids or sightseeing on a sweltering day. It’s small but the breeze is sure to make hot days more bearable.

Portable Travel Fans for Your Accommodation

best-travel-fans

SmartDevil 3 Speed Travel Mini Fan

Readers’ Favorite Travel Fan

According to TFG readers, the SmartDevil 3 Speed Travel Mini Fan  is the best portable fan on the market. It’s small but mighty and makes little sound.

It’s tiny and its 6-ounce weight won’t take up a ton of space in your bag. But it’s powerful with three speeds. One TFG reader shares, “My husband travels with this and loves it. It goes everywhere with him and it’s very small.”

This portable fan is USB compatible mode and has a removable, rechargeable battery. But note that the battery is lithium so you’ll have to carry at least the battery with you in a bag to comply with TSA requirements. Another TFG reader shares, “Brought it to Scotland and worked well as a fan but also as a nightlight on a sleeper train!”

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O2COOL Treva 5” Portable Fan

Packable Mini Battery Operated Fan

The Treva 5” Portable Fan is perfect for travel with its 5-inch span and relatively flat body. Making it small and optimal for packing!

It runs off two D batteries, has two speeds, and makes minimal noise. One TFG reader shares, “I got this last summer and took it with me on a camping trip during one of the hottest days in August and it was a lifesaver! It folds so it lays kind of flat and I loved that it had a tilt adjustment.”

It’s under $10 and you can get it in seven adorable colors (check out the fun, bold green). What more are you really looking for in a travel fan?

best-travel-fans

Efluky Portable Fan

USB Rechargeable Camping Travel Fan

The Efluky Portable Fan is a rechargeable USB fan that works well for travel. It’s a whopping 4 inches, ensuring that it won’t take up a ton of space and it’s super easy to pack and carry!

One TFG reader says, “If you’re headed somewhere hot this summer, this little fan is the bomb! Only $15, USB rechargeable, and it really pushes some air. Was a lifesaver last year in Budapest and Paris!”

It’s powerful but quiet and will save you when air conditioning isn’t around to keep you cool. But don’t take it from us, this TFG reader shares, “The best thing I’ve ever bought just may be this Efluky portable fan from Amazon! A lifesaver in nearly 90-degree heat with no AC, especially on public transportation. It has a USB rechargeable lithium battery, six-hour battery life and pushes quite a bit of air for such a small fan.”

best-travel-fans

Beskar Clip on Mini Desk Fan

Battery Operated Mini Travel Fan with Clip

The  Beskar Battery Operated Clip on Mini Desk Fan with 3 speed airflow is a fan that TFG readers love. The maximum working decibel is just 40db, it will not disturb you at all when you are working or sleeping.

This model is particularly helpful if you’re planning on taking a stroller-aged child for a summer tour around Disneyland and need something to clip to the stroller. It’s sturdy, and durable, and the fan gaps are tiny so there’ll be no fingers getting anywhere near the blades.

One TFG reader says, “I like that I can clip it on something or stand it on a surface. In my experience, the rechargeable battery doesn’t last all night so I almost always plug it into my USB charger.”

best-travel-fans

Vornado Flippi V6 Personal Air Circulator Fan

Portable Low-Noise Fan

The Vornado Flippi is one of the best personal fan choices if you’re looking to circulate air around you while you sleep.

While it’s a little bit bigger than some of the other fan choices at 1.7 lbs and 6.2 inches tall, it’s still small and travel-friendly. It emits a light breeze and makes limited noise, so if you’re sensitive to noise and want something non-disruptive to push a little air on you, this is your fan!

This is a stylish personal fan, coming in four fancy colors (check out the cute teal!) with an adjustable fan head.  One TFG reader declares it’s the “perfect travel fan.”

best-travel-fans

Lasko 2002W Personal Fan

Mini Household Fan

The Lasko 2002W Personal Fan is the personal equivalent of your average household fan.

You can move the fan head up and down or to either side to ensure it’s focused on where you want the air to go. It’s fairly quiet, but the sound does increase as you go up in the settings. And it’s much more powerful than it looks!

While it does require assembly, it doesn’t need any tools to put it together. Overall, TFG readers “really like this fan.”

best travel fan for cooling

Gaiatop USB Desk Fan

Small Personal Desk Fan

The Gaiatop USB Desk  Fan  is a small travel fan that TFG readers recommend packing on your next adventure.

It has two settings and is adjustable so you’re getting the right amount of air in the direction you want. It’s also said to be really quiet. One TFG reader shares, “I adore this little fan.”

It’s versatile because you can use a USB to operate it. Another TFG reader shares, “I also have this fan and LOVE it! Can’t travel without it.” 

Best Travel Fans Comparison Chart

best travel fan for cooling

Universal Travel Plug Charger

Universal Travel Adapter with Three USB Ports and One Type C

A universal travel adapter is an absolute must for any traveler. It allows you to charge three devices at once so you can charge your laptop, phone, and portable charger all at the same time!

A solid product by  Travel Fashion Girl , we’ve specifically designed it with globetrotters in mind, making it possibly  the   best  power bank for travel. You can also use it in over 150+ countries. Plus, it’s red so you won’t leave it behind on a white hotel room wall.

If you choose a fan with a plug or USB, remember to bring the above international travel adapter so you can charge up to three of your electronics at the same time!

Watch the  video  above or read  this post  to learn about the differences between travel adapters, converters, and voltage!

What do you think are the best travel fans? Share your thoughts below!

Want more travel gadget articles? Read these: 

  • What is the Best Travel Adapter?
  • Stop Tangled Electronic Cables With These Travel Cord Organizer Options
  • The Ultimate Backpack Organizer: Pack and Unpack in Seconds
  • Best Travel Kettle Will Help You Start Your Day Right

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Elle

Just used the JISULIFE 3 in 1 fan during a trip to Jamaica in August. Love that it folds up small enough to fit in a purse while traveling / sightseeing (even going to dinner as most of the restaurants were open air). It also folds so you can set it on a table. Very useful and helpful!

Andrea Viel

I’m off to Southeast Asia in November, and I thank you for suggesting a fan! Brilliant!

Aditya Gupta

I love using travel fans when I’m traveling to hot destinations! They’re so helpful in keeping me cool and comfortable.

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best travel fan for cooling

A portable fan being used outside.

The Best Portable Fans of 2024

Products are chosen independently by our editors. Purchases made through our links may earn us a commission.

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Reviewed's mission is to help you buy the best stuff and get the most out of what you already own. Our team of product experts thoroughly vet every product we recommend to help you cut through the clutter and find what you need.

Product image of Coleman OneSource Multi-Speed Fan & Rechargeable Battery

Coleman OneSource Multi-Speed Fan & Rechargeable Battery

Good battery life

Bottom hanging hook included

Water-splash resistant

Doesn’t have a lot of power

Product image of Ryobi One+ 18V Cordless 4 in. Clamp Fan

Ryobi One+ 18V Cordless 4 in. Clamp Fan

Easy to use

2 speed settings

Battery and charger not included

Product image of AMACOOL Battery Operated Stroller Fan

AMACOOL Battery Operated Stroller Fan

Operates quietly

3 speed settings

Not the most durable

Weak battery life

Product image of JISULIFE Handheld Mini Fan

JISULIFE Handheld Mini Fan

Super compact

Versatile folding feature

Difficult to open

Product image of DGLK Portable Neck Fan

DGLK Portable Neck Fan

Lightweight and flexible

Hand-free use

Slightly noisy

Ceara Perez-Murphy

Updated June 26, 2024

Whether it’s summer or you just run hot, having a portable fan handy is a great way to help you stay cool. These small and powerful fans are great to bring on backpacking trips, long bus rides, or anywhere else you’d like to go. What’s cool about portable fans (no pun intended) is that they come in various styles. Some are made to latch onto literally anything, while others are small enough to be held in the palm of your hand. Some even wrap around your neck!

Product image of Coleman OneSource Multi-Speed Fan & Rechargeable Battery

For a fan that consistently pushes the air around, the Coleman OneSource Multi-Speed Fan is a good choice. Many use this outdoor-friendly fan for outdoor activities like sports and camping. And it makes a great addition to any survival kit. We like that this fan is portable and easily folds down to a compact size for travel.

The Coleman OneSource even includes an LED flashlight, battery level signal, and a water resistance rating of IPX4, making it great for outdoor adventures. Users can adjust the blow pattern by rotating the head and can choose either low or high fan speeds. While some users say that this fan is not as powerful as they’d like, it’s worth noting that the battery life is quite long. If you’re looking for a solid portable fan that has various charging capabilities and added features, this would be an excellent choice.

Product image of Ryobi One+ 18V Cordless 4 in. Clamp Fan

This simple and functional fan is a great budget-friendly fan or for those who prefer a straightforward cordless fan that’s easy to operate. The Ryobi One cordless fan has two speed settings and a head that can be adjusted in various directions for perfectly angled air flow. On a low setting, this fan will run for 40 hours straight, making it a good choice for long days in a work truck or workshop. Plus, it easily attaches to surfaces up to 1.5-inches thick so you can set it and forget it.

The only real downside to the Ryobi One fan is that it doesn't come with a battery or charger, but if you already have Ryobi tools this won’t be an issue.

Product image of AMACOOL Battery Operated Stroller Fan

This baby-friendly stroller fan comes with a 7-inch sturdy tripod clamp that can latch onto car seats, strollers, cribs, and other furniture, making it one of the most versatile portable fans in this review. But don’t worry, adults can use it too! With a 360-degree rotation, three speed settings, and three LED brightness levels for customizable light, users like the easy to use flexible tripod clip and say that the fan is sturdy.

While this fan does get high ratings it’s worth mentioning that if you’re constantly adjusting the legs they may wear out quicker but overall we’d say that this is a good choice if you’re looking for the best stroller fan or something ultra-adjustable for yourself.

Product image of JISULIFE Handheld Mini Fan

The Jisulife Handheld Mini Fan is a perfect little fan to keep in your pocket, since due to its extra small footprint. This handheld fan can even be used as a desk fan or placed somewhere like a tent since it can fold into a 90-degree shape.

Great for traveling, this fan comes with a flashlight and backup power bank, so you won’t have to worry about running out of juice on the road. Users can choose between two speed settings and can easily recharge the fan using a USB power source, adding to its portability. While this fan may be a bit difficult to open at first, it still gets high rating from reviewers and it comes in a bunch of colors, making it a great gift for anyone who runs warm.

Product image of DGLK Portable Neck Fan

If you’re looking for the best portable neck fan, then look no further. This hands-free, wearable fan is made of a flexible and lightweight material that makes it easy to adjust for maximum comfort. With three speed settings and a fairly long battery life of 2-6 hours, this fan comes in four colors so you can get one for everyone in the family.

According to reviewers, this fan works well, but the noise level is not as low as the brand claims. If you’re a fan of white noise though, then that could be a plus. Overall, this portable fan is said to be a good deal for the price and ranks high in comfort.

Product image of Treva 10

If you’re looking for a large can that’s easy to move between rooms, you can’t go wrong with the Treva 10-Inch Battery Powered Fan. While his affordable portable fan is a bit more simple compared to others on this list, it does have the option of two speeds, an adjustable tilting base for optimal positioning on uneven surfaces, and adjustable LED lights, making it the best large portable fan for camping that we’ve come across.

Even still, if you aren’t into camping this would make a great addition to any home, especially if you tend to lose power from time to time. With glowing reviews from users for how portable and lightweight it is, this 2.4 pound fan is a great option under $40.

Adjustable tilting base

Only two speeds

More Articles You Might Enjoy

Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

Meet the writers

Ceara Perez-Murphy

Ceara Perez-Murphy

Staff Writer

Ceara Perez-Murphy is a staff writer at Reviewed. In her free time she likes trying out new recipes in the kitchen, exploring new restaurants and spending time outdoors with her dogs.

Lily Hartman

Lily Hartman

Staff Writer, Search

Lily Hartman is a staff writer who also enjoys writing magazine articles about health and outdoor recreation. In her free time, she likes to hike, camp, run, and lift weights.

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The best portable fans of 2024

By Brandon Russell , Jackson Cooper

Updated on Aug 29, 2023 1:05 PM EDT

14 minute read

Best overall

Best Portable Fans

Milwaukee M18 Jobsite Fan

Best handheld.

The Handfan Misting fan is our pick for best portable misting fan.

HandFan Misting Fan

Best budget.

The Comlife Portable Neck Fan is our pick for the best wearable fan.

Comlife Portable Neck Fan

We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn more ›

The cooling breeze of a portable fan is a cheap and easy way to combat scorching temperatures. With the press of a button, you get an instant breeze—and sometimes a cooling mist—to keep the heat at bay. Best of all, they don’t rely on outlet power and are (mostly) small enough to transport in a purse, pocket, or backpack. Some are even made to attach to desks and strollers. The next time you leave the comfort of your AC, the best portable fans will ensure you stay cool.

  • Best overall : Milwaukee M18 Jobsite Fan
  • Best for neck: Jisulife Bladeless Neck Cooler
  • Best for large spaces: Big Ass Sidekick Portable Fan
  • Best for stroller : Amacool Stroller Fan
  • Best handheld : HandFan Misting Fan
  • Best for camping : Comlife 10000mAh Rechargeable Camping Fan
  • Best for desk : Honeywell Turbo on the Go
  • Best budget : Comlife Portable Neck Fan

How we chose the best portable fans

The temperature and humidity can get unbearable where I live, which makes doing anything outdoors uncomfortable. That’s why I’ve made it my mission to find the best portable fans to stay cool wherever I am.

Outside of my pursuit to keep cool, I write about gadgets and gear and have been doing so for over 10 years. My byline has appeared on sites like XDA Developers , Gear Patrol , and CNN Underscored . To find the best portable fans, I researched and tested everything I could get my hands on. I also looked at editorial reviews and customer feedback to give me an idea of what people value most in a portable fan.

PopSci has been writing about the best fans for years, so I also drew on previous knowledge and recommendations from colleagues.

The best portable fans: Reviews & Recommendations

To find the best portable fan, consider when and where you’ll be using it. Are you looking for something small to toss in your beach bag? Do you need something that stands on its own to cool you down at your desk? Or are you looking for a stroller fan that can cool your little one? Answering these questions will help you find the fan that fits your needs. We picked these fans for some of the most common scenarios where you need a light cooling breeze on the go.

Best overall: Milwaukee M18 Jobsite Fan

Cool under pressure.

Buy it used or refurbished: eBay

Why it made the cut : Milwaukee’s M18 Jobsite Fan provides several hours of operation and a 120-degree adjustable head.

  • Height : 10.29 inches
  • Weight : 5.2 pounds
  • Battery-powered : Rechargeable
  • 120-degree adjustable head
  • Long-lasting battery
  • 18mph max air velocity

Milwaukee is well known for making some of the best tools available, so it’s no surprise it also makes a great portable fan. Made of durable plastic and capable of circulating air over 40 feet, the cordless fan features a rechargeable battery that provides up to 17 hours of runtime on the lowest setting. If you’re on a job site or a camping trip, a single charge can keep you cool all day long.

In addition to a long-lasting battery, Milwaukee’s M18 features a 120-degree adjustable head with nine stopping positions, so you can angle it almost any way you like. It also offers three-speed settings, with the highest options capable of 18mph max velocity. And if the M18’s battery does run out, the fan comes with an AC adapter to keep the breeze flowing.

Want to up the refreshment even more? If you’re looking for an industrial misting fan that’s easily transportable, try out the RYOBI 18-Volt ONE+ Bucket Top Misting Fan Kit , which sits on top of a bucket (sold separately) filled with water—and ice, if you like—and provides hours of revitalizing fog. Combine either choice with a portable solar generator , and you’ve got reliable refreshment for days.

Best for neck

Jisulife bladeless neck cooler.

Why it made the cut: This well-designed portable neck fan is lightweight and has three speeds to keep you cool on the go. 

  • Height : 7.8 inches
  • Weight : 9.1 ounces
  • Lightweight
  • Lasts for up to 16 hours
  • Has three speeds
  • Available in five  colors
  • Wayward strands of hair may get caught

When it’s ridiculously hot outside, but you need to walk to the grocery store or want to go for a hike, a neck fan can provide welcome relief. The highly rated Jisulife Bladeless Neck Cooler is super easy to get started right from the box. Just connect the included USB-C cord and charge the included lithium-ion battery for up to 16 hours of use. 

This bladeless fan is lightweight and felt good around my neck. It’s designed with three speeds, and the steady air came both out and upward, providing a steady breeze to the underside of my face without blowing my hair all over the place. This portable fan is also reasonably quiet, though louder at Level 3, the highest speed.

It’s also worth noting that I originally had my hair up when I was testing the fan, and when I let it down, it did get a little caught in the fan. And while this Jisulife model is great for a walk or hike on a hot day, it’s not particularly suited for running if you bounce up and down a lot as you stride. But this fan is an affordable option to save energy and stay cool wherever you go. Plus, it comes in five colors (dark green, dark blue, gray, green, and yellow), making it almost as appealing a personalized accessory as a cool set of headphones . — Jen McCaffery

Best industrial

Big ass sidekick fan.

Why it made the cut: The 48-inch-wide Sidekick is powerful enough to cool large spaces, inside and out. 

  • Height : 58 inches 
  • Weight : 180 pounds
  • Battery-powered : No
  • Sleek design
  • Arrives assembled
  • Works indoors and outside

Whether working on a construction site or in a barn, cooling a big space can be challenging, so you need a powerful fan. The Big Ass Sidekick Portable Fan is up for the job. This barrel fan is 48 inches wide, providing plenty of airflow from its six airfoils. The Sidekick comes fully assembled, and its swivel casters make it portable and lockable. With its IPX5 waterproof rating, you can roll this fan indoors or outside. And if you’re unhappy, there’s a warranty of up to three years. — Jen McCaffery

Stroller Accessory

Why it made the cut : The Amacool Stroller Fan is easy to use and features flexible tripod legs that can attach to almost anything, particularly strollers.

  • Height : 12 inches
  • Weight : 0.43 pounds
  • Flexible tripod legs
  • Also includes adjustable LED light
  • 360-degree adjustable head
  • Small battery means poor battery life

This stroller fan comes in three cute colors with a protective fan cover and flexible tripod legs that are easy for you to attach but hard for your baby to remove. It can easily adhere to the sides, tray, or hood of your stroller, as well as your little one’s car seat, playpen, or baby gym. The fan head is adjustable vertically and horizontally with 360 degrees of rotation. It even has three fan speeds so that you can customize the breeze your baby needs. The fan lasts between 2.5 and 10 hours, depending on wind speed, and can be easily recharged via USB. While this fan is safe for babies and toddlers, always make sure to have an adult on the lookout whenever it’s switched on.

Best handheld: HandFan Misting Fan

Tiny but mighty misty.

Why it made the cut : The HandFan Misting Fan gives you a breeze and a cool spritz of water for extra relief in your personal paradise.

  • Height : 8.9 inches
  • Weight : 0.41 pounds
  • Misting capabilities
  • Three speed options
  • Foldable design
  • One button design can be confusing

This rechargeable handheld misting fan from HandFan is one of the best ways to stay refreshed during a hot summer day. It can easily fit in a purse or backpack pocket, with a handle that can be adjusted from 0-180 degrees for handheld or standalone use. Choose from three different fan speeds to cool you down, no matter the weather. You can even trigger night mode, which includes a delightful array of colored lights. 

Best of all, the HandFan comes with a built-in mister and 17-millimeter water reservoir, which can produce a steady stream of gentle mist for 10 minutes at a time. All of these functions can be controlled with just one button for ultimate ease. This mini-fan weighs just 6.6 ounces and measures 4.1 by 8.9 inches, the perfect size to keep handy in your car, back pocket, or travel bag. Need something more industrial-strength to cool down a group? Check out our guide to the best outdoor misting fans .

Best for camping: Comlife 10000mAh Rechargeable Camping Fan

Great outdoors.

Why it made the cut : With a battery that can last up to 28 hours and a lantern with three brightness levels, the Comlife Rechargeable Camping Fan is the perfect companion for the Great Outdoors.

  • Height : 8 inches
  • Weight : 1 pound
  • Featured 36 LED lights
  • Adjusts 360 degrees
  • Durable design
  • Battery can last up to 28 hours
  • No place to store remote

This Comlife camping fan is an excellent choice for anyone who likes to spend time outdoors. It features three fan speeds and a battery that can last up to 28 hours on slower speeds and a full seven hours at maximum speed. The lantern also has three brightness levels and three timer settings. You can even plug in your mobile phone or computer and use the fan’s USB-C port to charge your device. The unit itself can be charged via USB cable, power bank , car charger, laptop, and more . It comes with a flexible tripod that lets you easily attach it to a tent, bunkbed, golf cart, or even a growing system. At just 1 pound, this powerful fan will be easy to transport for on-the-go use.

Best for desk: Honeywell Turbo on the Go   

Compact circulation.

Why it made the cut : The Honeywell Turbo is lightweight, provides a powerful breeze, and includes a convenient handle for carrying.

  • Height : 5 inches (12 inches with handle flipped open)
  • Weight : 0.49 pounds
  • Battery-powered : AA x 4
  • Handle doubles as a stand
  • Battery-powered and USB-powered
  • Needs four AA batteries

While the Turbo On the Go fan won’t replace traditional AC, it’s a fantastic way to stay cool during a hectic workday and a great small personal fan for a desk. It measures roughly 5 x 12 inches and weighs under 1 ounce, so you don’t need to worry about it taking up too much space or dragging you down if you’re on the move. This fan produces a breeze you can feel from up to three feet away with several set-up options, including standalone, hanging, or carrying. It can be powered with four AA batteries for outdoor use or via a USB-A cable, which can plug directly into your work computer.

Best budget: Comlife Portable Neck Fan   

Why it made the cut : Comlife’s Portable Neck Fan can be worn like a necklace and also used on a desk.

  • Height : N/A
  • Also USB-powered
  • Can be worn like a necklace
  • Two fans offer double the breeze
  • Can get in the way while worn

You shouldn’t have to pause all your favorite pastimes to dab sweat away or take a break in the shade. A wearable fan, like this one from Comlife, is a magnificent way to keep moving even when the heat rises. This double-headed small portable fan hangs comfortably on the neck and is 360-degree adjustable so you can stay cool without anything getting in your way. It features six fan speeds, battery life between two and nine hours depending on use, and an included USB cable for simple charging. This mini portable fan weighs just 0.4 pounds, so you won’t be under any strain while wearing it, even during exercise. From cooking to hiking, cycling to traveling, you’ll have no trouble keeping comfortable, even during a vigorous workout.

What to consider when buying the best portable fans

We look for the same things in a portable fan as in any other cooling device. Aside from strong airflow, a portable fan shouldn’t produce much noise. On the other hand, it should be durable enough to throw in a bag and easy to clean. Here’s everything to look out for in your search.

Size and weight

Portability is an essential part of a good personal handheld fan. When researching our picks, we paid special attention to things like size and weight. Portable fans come in all shapes and sizes, and different options work better for different situations. Before making your pick, you should take a moment to figure out how and where you plan to use your fan, whether you’re traveling, sitting at your desk, or working on an engine in your garage.

Remember that the bigger the fan, the stronger the airflow. A handheld pocket fan will only generate enough wind to cool down one person. There are also larger portable fans big enough to cool down a small space, like a tent. 

Portable fans use a couple of different battery types. Usually, they’ll either use built-in rechargeable batteries or require disposable cells, like AAs. Some models with built-in rechargeable batteries can also plug directly into the wall, so you can recharge the battery and use the fan simultaneously. Often, the whole point of a portable fan is to get away from outlets, but it’s still a nice perk.

A traditional battery is the most straightforward option. Just install a few AA batteries and feel the temperature drop. While single-use batteries are convenient, we generally avoid them whenever possible to minimize generating e-waste . (Of course, you always pop in some rechargeable batteries to sidestep the issue.)

A built-in rechargeable battery means you don’t need to buy batteries from the store. However, there’s always the risk of forgetting to recharge a rechargeable battery each night, which could render a portable fan useless.

No fan is competently silent, but nobody wants to use one that sounds like a buzzing insect. No matter what size portable fan you choose, you don’t want the whirring to be a distraction, especially if you’re using it as a travel fan. We focused on finding options with minimal noise, even on their highest setting. A quiet fan is particularly important if you plan to have it pointed at you from close range.

Keeping your fan clean is not only the sanitary thing to do, but it ensures everything works effectively and efficiently. A good fan should be relatively easy to disassemble (and reassemble) so that you can access the fan blades and remove dust and hair collected on moving parts.

For outdoor summer days, you can’t go wrong with a mini fan that can give you a cooling spritz. If you don’t want to miss out on enjoying beach trips, summer barbecues, or picnics, reach for a small, handheld fan you can easily slip into your bag or pocket—major bonus points for a model that has a small reservoir for water. With the push of a button, you’ll feel a steady spray that refreshes and cools.

There are also portable options you can wear around your neck. These portable fans sit comfortably around your neck so you can keep your hands on the steering wheel, tongs, walking stick, oar, etc. These battery-powered fans are a great way to get a breeze without taking a break from your favorite activities.

Finally, some options include flexible tripods that can attach to strollers and car seats, ensuring your little one stays cool on a warm day. Kids love to grasp and grab at just about everything, so make sure your stroller fan is sturdily attached yet adjustable, so you can angle airflow without worrying your baby will get a hold of the mini fan.

Depending on its features and functions, a portable fan starts at $20 and goes into the hundreds. The most expensive portable fan on our list is around $120.

Some fans blow colder air, but keep in mind that they can be a bit pricier than the portable models listed above. Unlike energy-efficient air conditioners that use freon , or regular fans that circulate the ambient air, cold-air fans need to use more advanced technology to create highly concentrated, controlled pressure and super-high speeds that actively cycle and slightly chill the air. Top-notch models like the Dyson Pure Hot Cool can do more to chill the air around you. If you want actively cooled air and live in the right climate, you might be interested in trying an evaporative cooler that cycles recently evaporated, chilled water from a reservoir to cool a room.

There are several options out there for super-quiet fans you’re sure to sleep through, and many others include a sleep or night mode to quell sound or lights further. Honeywell, Vornado, and Lasko make small portable fans that are practically noiseless. It will be a bit more challenging to find a compact, pocket-portable fan that can provide the same options when it comes to quiet modes, but that shouldn’t be as much of an issue when you’re using them on the road.   

Battery life depends on a few factors, like fan size and what setting is used. If you use lower power, most portable fans will last for several hours. Crank it up to the highest setting, and the battery may only last a couple of hours.

Any fan designed for outdoor use would work well at the beach, as long as you’re not taking it into the water or burying it in sand. No portable fan will completely resist the elements, so it pays to be cautious when using electronics outside.

Final thoughts on the best portable fans

While the summer heat can undoubtedly feel oppressive at times, there’s no reason why you can’t grab one of the best portable fans out there to make things more bearable, especially if you know which factors to prioritize. If you want to stay especially active, go for a mini wearable or personal handheld model. If you need some extra chill indoors, a compact desk fan or lightweight tower fan will do the trick. And for special situations, look for a fan that proudly boasts its strengths, like stroller or camping fans. Beating the heat won’t be so hard with a great portable fan in hand.

Why trust us

Popular Science  started writing about technology more than 150 years ago. There was no such thing as “gadget writing” when we published our first issue in 1872, but if there was, our mission to demystify the world of innovation for everyday readers means we would have been all over it. Here in the present, PopSci is fully committed to helping readers navigate the increasingly intimidating array of devices on the market right now.

Our writers and editors have combined decades of experience covering and reviewing consumer electronics. We each have our own obsessive specialties—from high-end audio to video games to cameras and beyond—but when we’re reviewing devices outside of our immediate wheelhouses, we do our best to seek out trustworthy voices and opinions to help guide people to the very best recommendations. We know we don’t know everything, but we’re excited to live through the analysis paralysis that internet shopping can spur so readers don’t have to.

We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.

The 7 Best Portable Fans We’ve Found Online for You

Cool off anywhere and everywhere

best travel fan for cooling

Julia is the Associate Commerce Editor at The Spruce, covering all things seasonal, which means gift guides and holiday decor in the winter and patio furniture and gardening essentials in the summer. She's on a constant hunt to find the perfect gift for everyone in your life, from new dads to 5-year-old girls, through extensive research and testing as a product reviewer.

best travel fan for cooling

In This Article

  • Our Top Picks
  • What to Look For
  • Why Trust The Spruce

The Spruce / David Hattan

Portable fans are ideal for keeping cool during summer camping adventures, working in your garden, or reading by the ocean. They come with covered blades that keep you safe, flexible power sources, and automatic shut-off features to preserve battery power.

Quiet portable fans are especially useful for keeping cool at night or in an office where you want to avoid disturbing others, a wearable fan can come in handy on a long hike, and portable stand and desk fans work well when you're staying put for a while.

Deane Biermeier , a member of The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board, tells us that a good portable fan is made from “durable materials like heavy-duty plastic, steel, or aluminum” and is easy to maintain and keep clean . To keep the airflow going, a removable blade guard makes it easier to clean lint and other debris.

We researched dozens of options to find the best portable fans, taking into consideration their cooling power, design, ease of use, and extra features, to determine the best models available. 

Best Overall

Milwaukee jobsite fan.

Durable and effective

Two power options

Great battery life

Battery and charger set cost extra

The Milwaukee M18 Jobsite Fan has earned the best portable fan spot in our roundup because it offers a lot of cooling power in a sturdy and functional design. We love that this fan can be powered by a Milwaukee rechargeable battery or an AC adaptor. When operating on its lowest mode, the unit can run for up to 17 hours on its battery, making it a great option for camping trips or other long excursions.

If you want to use it in a particularly hot room in your house in the summer, you can plug it into an outlet and use it worry-free of the battery draining. Please note that purchasing the fan with the battery and charger set does cost extra, so you'll only be able to use it plugged in if you don't add that to your cart. It uses standard Milwaukee 18v batteries though, so you may already have a compatible battery if you have any 18v Milwaukee tools like drills or saws .

If you don't own any Milwaukee batteries, the Ryobi ONE+ 18V Cordless Hybrid Whisper Series Fan (our best quiet pick) has a similar setup. It uses batteries that work with other Ryobi power tools and also comes with a battery. However, it lacks a plug-in option like this fan.

The fan lacks an oscillation feature, but it can be tilted up to 120 degrees and has nine locking positions, giving you good control over the direction where it circulates air. The fan also has three different speed settings, and it is very effective at circulating air. On its highest setting, the fan can reach a maximum air velocity of 18 miles per hour.

While it’s not an overall noisy fan, it does produce a more noticeable sound on its highest setting, though not enough to be considered significantly disruptive. Despite being compact and light, the unit is not flimsy — it has a durable build and stands sturdily. The fan conveniently has four keyhole hangers built into it, too, so you can hang it up to circulate air at a more elevated height. 

Dimensions : 14.07 x 10.29 x 7.15 inches | Weight : 5.2 pounds | Power Source : Battery-powered

Best Budget

Honeywell turbo on the go personal fan.

Multiple ways to use

Very light and compact

Quiet operation

Two power source options

Only one power setting

Batteries not included

With an under-$20 price tag and a well-functioning design, the Honeywell Turbo On The Go Fan is our favorite budget-friendly portable fan. The fan is incredibly compact and lightweight, weighing just under half a pound. It has a lot of useful modes as well, and you can use it as a desk fan, hang it up on a hook or exercise equipment hand, or use it as a handheld fan. 

This model only has one speed setting, but it offers a good amount of air movement considering its size. That being said, the closer you are to the fan, the more you will get out of its cooling power because this small, handheld-friendly fan is not going to offer you the same power as a larger stand-alone model.

One of this fan’s greatest features is its quiet operation. When paired with its small size, that makes it an unobtrusive option you can use in a variety of spaces. You can also choose to power it by plugging it into a power source with a USB cable or with AA batteries. While the fan comes with a USB cord, it does not come with batteries. 

Dimensions : 12.5 x 4.74 inches | Weight : 0.49 pounds | Power Source : Batteries or USB cable

Best Splurge

Shark flexbreeze fan with instacool mist attachment.

Five speed settings

Can tilt and oscillate

Two modes: desktop and standing

Misting feature

Heavier than other portable fans

After testing the Shark Flexbreeze Fan, we can confirm it does it all. The fan transforms from tabletop to standing with the touch of a button, so it's truly portable and useful for many scenarios. The clearly marked button makes it easy to detach the fan from its pedestal. The fan then has a post that opens up into legs to stand the fan on your desk or dining table to cool off while you work or relax.

We loved the five fan speeds available, the oscillation feature, and the manual tilt mechanism that ensured our fan was always at the perfect angle. You can control all of these features with the included remote, which is especially handy for cooling off hands-free. It also connects to the back of the fan via a magnet, so it won't get lost. Even on the highest setting (boost mode), the fan remained quiet and unobtrusive. There's also an intuitive misting feature for especially hot days. Just add the included misting attachment to the front of the fan and connect your hose.

The corded fan has a cordless option and runs for 24 hours on a single charge. It's also a lot sleeker than other fans we've tested. While the blades are exposed, there's not enough room to stick your fingers inside, so we would feel safe using the fan around children. The only downsides of this fan are that it's quite heavy (the heaviest on our list), even without the pedestal, and you can only recharge it on the pedestal, so it's best suited for around the house.

Dimensions : 13.8 x 13.8 x 37 inches | Weight : 12,2 pounds | Power Source : Corded electric or rechargeable battery

The Spruce / Jenica Currie

Ryobi Cordless Hybrid Whisper Series Fan Kit

Both powerful and quiet

Built-in handle and hanging option

Battery life could be better

We recommend the Ryobi ONE+ 18V Cordless Hybrid Whisper Series Fan Kit for anyone looking for a portable fan that’s especially quiet, but still powerful. The fan is part of Ryobi’s Whisper Series line of products, which, compared to other models, are designed to be 44 percent quieter while also offering an increased air velocity.

This fan lets you choose from a low-speed option of 930 RPM, a medium-speed option of 1,500 RPM, and a high-speed option of 1,850 RPM. (Note: RPM stands for revolutions per minute). The fan can be tilted up to 160 degrees, and it has a hanging option. 

This is a fairly lightweight fan (it weighs under 4 pounds), and it has a built-in handle at its top, so it’s easy to carry around as well. You can power up the unit with its battery or with its AC adaptor, and when relying on the battery option for power, the fan can run for up to six hours. This fan has a fairly short battery life, but that isn't necessarily a huge issue since it uses standard Ryobi 18v batteries . That can come in really useful on a long camping trip or on the job site since you can just pop a new battery in when one dies. You can also pick up a 12v Ryobi battery charger that you can plug into your car , which is a viable option for keeping this fan powered up when you're out on an adventure. 

Dimensions : 15.5 x 12.9 x 11.2 inches | Weight : 3.9 pounds | Power Source : Corded electric or rechargeable battery 

Best Handheld

Amacool battery operated stroller fan.

Flexible tripod handle

Safe blade cover

Includes built-in LED lights

Fragile tripod legs

Some ship with the wrong cable

Handheld fans need to be especially flexible, which is why we like this Amacool fan so much. Instead of a basic handle, it's built on a flexible tripod that lets you stick it just about anywhere you need a cooling breeze. It's especially good for clipping onto a stroller handle or exercise equipment, and you can also set it up like a desktop fan or fold the legs together to hold it like a regular handheld fan. We love that this fan includes a safe battery cover, especially since it's great for strollers. The cover is designed with openings that are closer together than normal for added safety, and it also has a built-in LED light with three settings to work as a nightlight or flashlight.

Amacool says that this fan lasts up to 10 hours between charges, so you can easily leave it on all night while you're sleeping. It charges while it's on, too, so you can use it all night and have it ready to cool you off during your adventures the next day.

The tripod legs are especially flexible and useful for placing this fan exactly where you need it (and it stays put!), but they are a little fragile. That isn't an issue if you just use it in handheld mode, but you may want to be a little careful when wrapping and unwrapping the legs from around a stroller handle. The Honeywell Turbo on the Go (our best budget pick) has a more robust handle, but it's harder to secure in place anywhere but a desk or table.

Dimensions : 5.10 x 1.65 x 1.65 inches | Weight : 0.40 pounds | Power Source : Rechargeable battery

Best Wearable

Jisulife portable neck fan.

3 different speed options

Light and comfortable to wear

Stylish design

Good battery life on low mode

Have to be mindful of hair

Battery life on high mode could be longer

While handheld fans are great to take with you on long walks or beach trips, the Jisulife Portable Neck Fan lets you keep your hands from carrying other gear. It's lightweight and comfortable, and it douses you with air around your neck for a remarkable cooling effect.

This fan is bladeless, but it is still possible for hair to get caught in the fan’s openings, so those with longer hair are best off wearing this with their hair tied up. On the plus side, this neck fan is very light, weighing just a little over half a pound, so most people shouldn’t find the unit to be uncomfortably burdensome to wear around their neck. 

The fan has a modern, low-profile design, so it won’t look awkward as you wear it. The unit has three different modes, all of which provide a pleasant amount of air circulation. This model is designed to circulate air all around your neck, including at the back, which makes it an extra efficient option compared to models that only circulate air in front of the wearer. For a more traditional fan that also provides a hands-free option, the Amacool Battery Operated Stroller Fan (our best handheld pick) has a flexible tripod mount that lets you attach it just about anywhere. The battery can last up to 16 hours on the lowest mode, which is great, but it can only run for up to 4 hours on the high mode. When the unit does run out of power, you can recharge it with the included USB Type-C charging cable.  Also, it's not completely quiet—you will hear a constant white noise while wearing it.

Dimensions : 7.8 x 7.8 inches x 2.4 inches | Weight : 0.57 pounds | Power Source : Rechargeable battery

Best for Battery Powered

Geek aire battery-operated floor fan.

Sturdy, water-resistant build

Battery life indicator

Integrated charging port

Heavier and larger than many other models

If you’re spending an extended period of time in a warm and expansive outdoor space while on a camping trip, you may want an especially powerful and durable portable fan like the Geek Aire CF1 Outdoor Rechargeable Floor Fan.

This is a water-resistant fan, which makes it especially suitable for the outdoors. This fan is heavier and larger than most of the other fans included in our list, which can actually be beneficial when using the fan in the rugged outdoors since it will be more difficult to knock over than a lighter model. In terms of power, the fan’s highest setting operates at a powerful speed of 1500 CFM.

The fan tilts on its base by up to 120 degrees, and it has an integrated handle that makes carrying it easier. We also like that the fan has a clear LED battery life indicator, so you can easily monitor when it will soon need a recharge.

The fan's battery life is good, too, as it can run for 4 hours when operating on its high mode and for an impressive 24 hours when operating on its low mode. As a bonus, the fan has a USB charging port built into it that you can use to charge other devices while you're camping, as long as you are close to an electrical source.

Dimensions : 14.5 x 16.7 x 7.09 inches | Weight : 6.54 pounds | Power Source : Rechargeable battery

The Milwaukee M18 Jobsite Fan is our pick for the best portable fan because it offers a lot of power in a compact and adjustable design, and its handle, hanging option, and ability to run on either corded electric or battery power make it a versatile model. For a less expensive option that still gets the job done, we recommend the Honeywell Turbo On The Go Fan (our best budget pick), because it can be positioned multiple ways, operates quietly, and is very lightweight and small, making it easy to throw in a bag and take with you anywhere on-the-go.

What to Look for in a Portable Fan

Before deciding what type of portable fan is best for you, consider the scenarios and spaces in which you intend to use it. 

  • Standing Fans : Standing portable fans are easy to carry from place to place and use in an array of settings, but once they are operating they should be situated on a stable surface and remain stationary, unlike handheld fans. Some standing fans, such as our pick for the best overall portable fan, the Milwaukee M18 Jobsite Fan , also have hanging options so you can raise them off a low surface if needed. 
  • Desktop Fans : Desktop fans are similar to standing fans in that they are easy to move from place to place, but they are meant to be situated on a flat surface when operating and have a smaller footprint. These fans are best suited for people looking for a portable fan to take into a hot office or keep on a nightstand in their bedroom.
  • Handheld Fans : Handheld fans are typically the lightest and smallest portable fans you can buy, as they are meant to fit in the palm of your hand. Our best handheld pick, the Amacool Battery Operated Stroller Fan , has a built-in flexible tripod that lets you use it as a desk fan or even hang it securely on the handle of a stroller or the control panel of your favorite exercise equipment.
  • Wearable Neck Fans : Like handheld fans, wearable neck fans offer air circulation that moves with you. However, unlike handheld models, you will not have to keep holding them the entire time they are in use, as they just sit around your neck for hands-free operation. Since they are also very compact options, neck fans offer less air circulation than standing models. Our pick for the best wearable fan, the Jisulife Portable Neck Fan , weighs a little over half a pound. 

If you can't decide what type of fan is best for you, opt for one that converts to best fit your situation. For example, our best splurge, the Shark FlexBreeze Fan converts from a standing fan to a desktop fan with the touch of a button.

When deciding what size fan you should purchase, you should consider your intended use of the fan. For instance, if you’re looking for a fan to keep you cool as you walk through an amusement park, you will likely want a handheld fan option that is slim enough to easily and comfortable grip in your palm, such as our pick for the best handheld fan, the JisuLife Handheld Mini Fan .

If you are looking for a fan to use while you work in your garage or go on a camping trip, investing in a larger portable fan that measures over a foot wide and provides greater air circulation may make more sense. Since the fan will spend a lot of time sitting on a floor while it operates and as you engage in some other activity, and you will only need to move the fan from point A to point B, rather than carry it around for long periods.

Power Source

Different fans rely on different types of power sources. Three of the most common types of power sources used are outlined below, please note that many fans included in our list can operate on two different types of power sources, with the majority of the models having one battery-operated option and one plug-in option. 

Disposable battery : Portable fans can run on disposable batteries that, once depleted, must be disposed of and replaced with new batteries. These types of fans tend to be lighter since disposable batteries tend to be lighter than rechargeable batteries. Disposable battery-operated fans also tend to cost less than rechargeable models upon initial purchase. However, you will need to buy new batteries when the fan’s battery dies, which is an added cost over time. Our pick for the best budget fan, the Honeywell Turbo On The Go Fan , can be powered via a USB cable or with AA batteries.

Rechargeable battery : Just as their names suggest, rechargeable fans have a battery that can be recharged instead of disposed of once they run out of power. While rechargeable fans may cost more when you first purchase them, they spare you trips to the convenience store to buy new batteries and thus have less long-term maintenance cost. They also lead to less waste being produced.

It can be useful to purchase a rechargeable battery-operated model that can also operate while plugged into an outlet. Our pick for the best overall portable fan, the Milwaukee M18 Jobsite Fan , can run on a rechargeable battery as well as while plugged into an outlet via its AC adaptor. When operating on its lowest mode and on its rechargeable battery, the model can run for up to 17 hours. 

How long a rechargeable or non-rechargeable unit can last on a single charge or set of batteries, respectively, will depend on factors such as the type of battery used, as well as how much power is required of the speed setting you use. For instance, if the fan you are using has a low, medium, and high mode, the battery will typically drain faster when operating on its high mode and slower when operating on its low mode.

Most battery-operated fans, whether rechargeable or not, will have the battery life listed in their product description. Keep in mind, that most product descriptions will list how long the battery lasts while operating on the fan’s lowest mode.

Corded electric : Many of the fans on this list are battery-operated and thus can be used as a cordless model, but they also have a corded option. Corded electric options tend to offer more power than battery-operated options. However, since they need to be plugged in, you have less flexibility as to where you can place and use this type of fan.

Performance and Noise Level

Before purchasing a portable fan, you should check the unit’s product description to see how many speed settings the fan offers. If you are looking to use your fan in a range of different settings, you may want to make sure your fan offers a low, medium, and high mode so you can adjust the speed to best fit different scenarios.

You should also check a fan’s product description to note the fan's noise rating if you intend to use your portable fan in an office or around other people. Our pick for the best quiet fan, the Ryobi ONE+ 18V Cordless Hybrid Whisper Series Fan Kit, has a sound rating of 47 dBA and is designed to operate at a noise level that is 44 percent quieter than other models. 

Speed settings and noise ratings are not the only things you should consider when trying to determine which portable fan is the best-performing model for you. Biermeier tells us that an overall well-performing fan is "easy to keep clean, stable enough not to have to keep an eye on,  [and] can move as much air as necessary for the given job,” while also offering speed settings that are “easily controllable.”

Why Trust The Spruce?

This story was written by Julia Fields , associate editor for The Spruce, covering the past patio and home products for the last three years. In order to select the best products possible for this roundup, she read through scores of customer reviews and discussion forums and thoroughly analyzed each product's specs. She also used in-person testing information for the Shark FlexBreeze Fan.

Our experts:

  • Deane Biermeier , a member of The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board
  • Jeremy Laukkonen , an updates writer for The Spruce

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Last chance: 6 best portable fans on sale for Amazon Prime Day

Jordan Waller

This year witnessed record-high temperatures worldwide, with the mercury repeatedly hitting over 100 degrees Fahrenheit from Arizona to Nevada, Texas and across the ocean, stretching into Athens, Greece and beyond.

With the final day of Amazon's Fall Prime Day upon us, now is a great time to get a good deal on a hi-tech portable fan. Trust us, you'll be thankful by the time summer comes back around.

Here are some of the TPG team favorites and best-reviewed portable fans on Amazon that are currently on sale.

Best for extra features: Jisulife Handheld Mini Fan — $14.39 (normally $24.99)

best travel fan for cooling

Coming in strong with an Amazon rating of 4.6, this portable fan from Jisulife is a small but mighty device that offers great value for the money.

Ergonomically designed, this device easily folds small to pack in a bag. It's also rechargeable, offering between 14 and 21 hours of use depending on which of its two settings you use. It comes with two great additional features: The fan houses a small flashlight and also functions as a power bank that can charge your devices on the go.

Still need convincing? TPG travel reporter Tarah Chieffi who makes frequent trips to the often-hot Orlando theme parks, never travels without it.

"It folds up small and holds a charge for longer than any other fan I've tried," she said. "I also love that I can use it to charge my phone when I am on the go."

Buy: Jisulife Handheld Mini Fan , $14.39 (normally $24.99)

Best for hotel rooms: coldSky Portable Handheld Fan — $12.74 (normally $14.99)

best travel fan for cooling

This sturdy and powerful fan might be slightly larger than other portable fans (though certainly small enough to pack into a tote bag), but that's not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes, you want something with a little more oomph for when you accidentally book yourself into a hotel room that has subpar (or not) air conditioning .

The coldSky device is essentially a compact desk fan that packs a punch but is still small enough not to clutter up your hotel room's bedside table. It has five speeds and a seven-blade design that will make your room breezy in no time. It also has a handy digital display showing the remaining battery life so you know when to recharge the device.

Buy: coldSky Portable Handheld Fan , $12.74 (normally $14.99)

Best for serious wind power: Jisulife Handheld Fan — $12.99 (normally $22.99)

best travel fan for cooling

This is a stylishly designed hand-held fan that can also easily stand up on a desk.

The Jisulife Handheld Fan offers up to 16 hours of battery power and is easily charged via USB. It has fewer speed settings than some other fans on this list, but its real selling point is its strength. At full speed, it can reach up to 4,400 revolutions per minute; this equates to the feel of a strong wind, making it great for cutting through the harshest of heat.

Buy: Jisulife Handheld Fan , $12.99 (normally $22.99)

Best hands-free fan: Penkou Portable Neck Fan — $25.99 (normally $39.99)

best travel fan for cooling

Looking for something you don't have to carry around in your hands all day but are also worried that a wearable fan sounds like a quirky steampunk contraption? This neck fan by Penkou is a safe option.

When in use, the device looks similar to a pair of headphones dangling around your neck. Its bladeless fan design produces less than 20 decibels of sound (about the same level as leaves gently rustling), so it also comes free of noise distraction. And with a weight of just 8.8 ounces, you should be safe from neck strain.

In terms of battery power, you should get between three and 16 hours, depending on which setting you prefer. It's perfect for hikes, at the theme park or to wear during a long, sweaty train or bus journey.

Buy: Penkou Portable Neck Fan , $25.99 (normally $39.99)

TPG favorite: VersionTech Mini Handheld Fan — $12.99 (normally $27.99)

best travel fan for cooling

Finally, if you're looking for something cheap but reliable enough to shower you with a pleasant breeze, we recommend VersionTech's mini-handled fan. It's a favorite of TPG director of travel content Summer Hull.

This device can function like both a hand-held fan and a small desk fan. It also easily clips to bags or other thin surfaces.

The fan has three adjustable speeds and will work for up to three hours on the highest setting or eight hours on the lowest. It's currently priced at $12.99, down from its usual price tag of $27.99 as of this publication date. Get it while you can.

Buy: VersionTech Mini Handheld Fan , $12.99 (normally $27.99)

Related reading:

  • 13 must-have items the TPG team can't travel without
  • 9 tech devices I always pack with me — and 1 that's changing my routine at home
  • 7 essential baby gear items that make travel easier
  • 10 must-have travel accessories for less than $15

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The Best Fan

Thom Dunn

By Thom Dunn

Thom Dunn is a writer focusing on home heating and cooling. He once blew up a power strip with a space heater and a Marshall half-stack.

A good fan should make you feel more comfortable while also being energy-efficient, gentle on the ears, and easy to control. For almost a decade, we’ve tested dozens of fans, and we consistently land on the Vornado 630 Medium Air Circulator as our first recommendation.

Everything we recommend

best travel fan for cooling

Vornado 630 Medium Air Circulator

Power and proven durability.

This compact fan can send breezes to the far corners of a large room. It’s also relatively easy to control and clean, and it has an established record of reliability.

Buying Options

Upgrade pick.

best travel fan for cooling

Vornado Silver Swan Alchemy

A powerful fan with a vintage vibe.

This fan performs and sounds practically the same as our top pick. But it adds oscillation, a sturdy metal construction, and an attractive retro design.

May be out of stock

best travel fan for cooling

Lasko Whirlwind Orbital Motion Air Circulator A12668

A dc-powered delight.

This surprisingly affordable circulator offers efficient DC power, nuanced speed controls, and the ability to oscillate vertically as well as horizontally.

best travel fan for cooling

Dreo PolyFan 704S

Smart, powerful, and on a pedestal.

This smart, energy-efficient fan is 43 inches tall and oscillates side to side as well as up and down.

best travel fan for cooling

Vornado Strata

Better than a tower fan.

One of the most powerful fans we’ve tested puts out a strong breeze with its DC motor. It’s a good alternative to a tower fan, although it presents similar cleaning challenges.

Budget pick

best travel fan for cooling

Dreo Fox One

Effective and affordable.

This inexpensive fan doesn’t feel cheap—it’s quiet, easy to clean, and comparable in performance to our pricier picks.

The Vornado 630 Medium Air Circulator is a simple, powerful, and reliable fan that can move huge amounts of air without making too much noise.

The vortex that this fan creates allows it to circulate all of the air in a room better than an oscillating fan, without the distraction of intermittent gusts. This fan is compact, without any embellishments such as a remote or a timer. But minimalist design touches—including a readily accessible speed-control dial on the side—make the Vornado 630 easy to use, clean, and maintain.

Vornado puts out plenty of fantastic fans and backs them with a five-year warranty. We have found that the 630 in particular offers the best balance of power and energy savings.

The all-metal Vornado Silver Swan Alchemy is a stylish improvement over the black-plastic design of many other air circulators. Its aesthetic hearkens back to the earliest Vornado fans, from the 1940s, which were based on an experimental airplane propeller.

This model performs even better than our top pick, thanks to its oscillation ability and rigid metal fan blades, which create a pleasant but powerful breeze throughout the room without being too loud or grating.

It’s also one of the easiest fans to clean, so you’re more likely to take care of it—which is good, since it’s a genuinely nice home-decor piece.

The DC-powered Lasko Whirlwind Orbital Motion Air Circulator A12668 is quiet, efficient, and easy to use.

With a single power button, the Whirlwind lets you move through 12 power settings ranging from a soft breeze to a steady blast of wind. At its lowest speed, the Whirlwind is one of the quietest fans we’ve ever tested; when it’s cranked up to the top, it’s even stronger than our top pick.

The Whirlwind also has the ability to oscillate up to 60 degrees left to right or up to 90 degrees up and down, moving waves of wind from floor to ceiling.

It’s easy to clean, with a single screw and a simple twist lock to remove the grille or fan blades.

While the Whirlwind does come with a remote control, it doesn’t work well with smart-home setups. And Lasko offers only a one-year warranty.

The Dreo PolyFan 704S smart fan offers a lot in addition to its height advantages. Thanks to its DC-powered motor, it’s quieter and more energy-efficient than most other fans, and its oscillation abilities include three horizontal-arc options, plus a vertical setting. The result is a fan that seems to paint the room in a multidirectional blanket of breeze.

The PolyFan 704S offers plenty of other options for dialing in your perfect wind, including a remote control, a smartphone app, and voice commands. It’s also especially easy to clean.

However, its one-year warranty is significantly shorter than the coverage on many of our other picks, even with the optional 18-month extension.

The Vornado Strata stands less than 2 feet tall but can still produce a column of wind that reaches heights of over 6 feet, with enough power that you can feel the breeze all the way across the room. In fact, it moves more air, faster, than any other fan we’ve tested. Although we generally don’t recommend tower fans , the compact Strata is a great alternative.

It also has a DC-powered motor, so it’s quieter and more energy-efficient than most of our other picks. Plus, it comes with Vornado’s generous and reliable five-year warranty.

It does take up a little more floor space than a tower fan, however, and it isn’t particularly easy to clean.

With a lot of inexpensive fans, you get what you pay for. But that isn’t the case with the Dreo Fox One , which performed comparably to our top pick in our tests.

The draft it produced didn’t fill up the room like the robust breeze we got from our top pick—but it came close, for about half the price. This fan is also easier to clean than the Vornado 630, with a single screw to keep the grille in place and an easily removable blade.

The simple, effective Fox One seems better designed and more durable than other similarly priced models. And that’s a good thing, since Dreo covers it with only a 30-month warranty.

The research

Why you should trust us, how we picked and tested, the best room fan: vornado 630 medium air circulator, upgrade pick: vornado silver swan alchemy, also great: lasko whirlwind orbital motion air circulator a12668, also great: dreo polyfan 704s, also great: vornado strata, budget pick: dreo fox one, why we don’t recommend tower fans, the competition.

Since we first published this guide, in 2012, we’ve spent dozens of hours researching, testing, and living with fans, and we’ve continued testing our picks for several summers. Over the years, we’ve also interviewed a slew of experts with an intimate knowledge of fans.

Five of the fans we tested for our Best Fan review, arranged on a wooden table coffee table in a living room setting.

We’ve scoured hundreds of models in stores and among the online listings from Amazon, Costco, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Target, and more, seeking well-reviewed fans from reliable companies. We’ve considered air circulators, oscillating fans, and tower fans, among other designs.

To test fans, we measure each model for a range of objective data, including:

  • power consumption (by plugging each fan into an energy monitor )
  • wind speed (using an anemometer )
  • noise output (using a decibel meter to track the general volume at each setting and an audio-spectrum analyzer app to note any particularly problematic frequencies)

We also put the fans through a number of more-subjective tests, taking notes on the overall experience of living with each model over the course of a day:

  • To see how well a fan actually moves the air, we test general circulation of the wind around a 120-square-foot bedroom full of papers, fabric, and other things that flutter.
  • We look at how easy each fan is to clean, including how simple it is to disassemble and put back together, as well as how easily we can maneuver a cloth around the grille to get rid of dust.

The Vornado 630 Medium Air Circulator resting on the floor.

We’ve been recommending the Vornado 630 Medium Air Circulator since we first tested it, in 2017. And it continues to offer the best combination of quiet, powerful, and efficient performance at a reasonable price. This basketball-sized air circulator is just 12 inches in diameter, in contrast to a standard box fan’s measurement of 16 inches square, yet it creates a powerful cooling breeze that fills most rooms of average size. Simply put, it’s the best overall room fan you can find.

It blows hard and circulates well. When the Vornado 630 is on its highest setting, the air it emits can achieve wind speeds of up to nearly 12 mph, and even the low setting produces an impressive 8 mph gust. But what really sets the 630 apart is its air-circulating design. Instead of just blasting the air straight ahead, the 630 creates a sort of spiraling helix that keeps the breeze blowing continuously around the room. The fan’s design (video) is based on the earliest Vornado fans, from 1945, which in turn were based on the way air moved through early jet-engine propellers. If it works well enough for flying, it should work well enough for your bedroom.

It’s impressively energy-efficient. By our measurements, the Vornado 630 consumes between 38 and 53 watts of power, depending on the setting. Based on average electricity costs in the US , that means you could run the 630 model on high 24/7 for three months in summer, and it would still add only about $18 to your total electric bill (on low, the cost would be about $13). So the 630 is an especially affordable option for cooling your home or spreading AC air around. Some fans (including our previous budget pick, from Honeywell) use even less energy, but none of those fans produced the same kind of airflow in our tests, with the exception of our DC-powered picks from Lasko and Dreo .

It produces a pleasant white noise. The sound is quieter than normal conversation levels, with no annoying frequencies to drill into your head. In our tests, at the 630’s lower and middle settings, it issued a pleasant buzz that measured between 47 and 49 decibels, and we could easily talk or watch TV over it. The fan was noticeably louder on its highest setting, but even then, the noise still measured only about 56 decibels—less than the 60-decibel cap that the National Institutes of Health uses to define “normal conversation levels.” In fact, we’ve found that the white noise from the 630 is great for muffling street noise. So it’s particularly helpful if you live in a busy city, or if you just want a gentle hum to fall asleep to. You can even watch TV with the 630 blowing on high (though you may not want to sit right next to it).

A closeup of the center of the Vornado 630 Medium Air Circulator.

It’s relatively easy to maintain and clean. Simply press down on one of the grille clips, and the grille face pops right off, so you don’t have to deal with any screws (though a flathead screwdriver may help you out). Wipe the blades with a towel and some soapy water, and pop the grille back on. If you need to do a deep clean, you can also pop off the fan blades, but that might take a little more elbow grease. Either way, cleaning the fan should become second nature soon enough, and that means you may be more apt to do so regularly.

It’s sturdy and well built. This simple black fan is made of sturdy plastic, so it won’t bend or break like other, cheaper fans we’ve tested from Lasko, Holmes, or Honeywell. And its squat, circular body won’t wobble or topple over—an issue we encountered with several top-heavy tower fans in the past. If anything goes wrong, the 630 also comes with a five-year warranty (PDF) that covers defects in material or workmanship. Vornado’s customer service also has a reliable reputation , with some people reporting that the company helped them out at no cost, even for issues that fell outside of the warranty .

If the Vornado 630 isn’t exactly what you need, the company sells a lot of other, similar fans as well, including the smaller Vornado 460 (a previous runner-up pick) and the larger Vornado 660 , which is also available with built-in Alexa connectivity .

Flaws but not dealbreakers

The Vornado 630 has just three speed settings. That might be limiting for some people. By comparison, our DC-powered pick , the Lasko Whirlwind A12668, has 12 power settings, and it typically costs less. (The Vornado 610DC , which we previously recommended, offers a speed dial instead of preset power levels, allowing for even more nuanced speed adjustments, but it costs around $50 more.)

It doesn’t come with a remote. Remotes are remarkably easy to lose anyway, so they’re really a perk only if you remember where you last put them. But if you are concerned about controlling the 630 remotely, we recommend a smart plug.

It doesn’t oscillate. Some people don’t like that. We’ve heard readers—and family members—complain that they don’t feel the air from the 630. More specifically, they miss that jarring but tangible moment when an oscillating fan points their way, offering a pleasant but fleeting relief from the heat. We respect such preferences, and we realize that the 630 doesn’t provide that exact same sensation. But our tests have shown that it keeps the air in the room moving more consistently, creating more of a steady breeze than a sudden gust.

Homes with pets create some cleaning challenges. If there’s a downside to the 630’s powerful wind gusts, it’s that a lot of particles are constantly moving through the fan blades. If you have pets, all of those little hairs could gum up the grille pretty fast. Even with the 630’s front face popped off, we struggled to access the rear grille area, where some of that hair tended to collect; in the past, we’ve had to use an old toothbrush to clean the area. To be fair, this is a problem common to many fans.

The Vornado Silver Swan Alchemy resting on the floor facing the left.

The Vornado Silver Swan Alchemy offers all the same perks as our other picks from Vornado, including room-wide air circulation and a generous, five-year warranty. But unlike the other Vornado fans we recommend, the Silver Swan Alchemy can also oscillate to spread a breeze even farther around a room. It’s one of the nicest-looking fans we’ve ever tested, too, with an elegant retro design and a durable metal construction (including the fan blades).

It’s the most powerful fan we recommend. Its sturdy metal blades push the air at speeds of up to 13 mph. In our testing, the only fan that performed better than that was the Vornado VFan Sr. , a pedestal-mounted fan with a similar design. But the Silver Swan Alchemy set itself apart from even that model because it could oscillate, producing one of the most robust room-wide breezes we experienced.

The Vornado Silver Swan Alchemy resting on the floor facing directly to the left.

It’s impressively easy to clean. A single screw holds the brace that keeps the metal cage in place around the fan blades—remove that, and the whole thing opens right up. We found the metal cross bars on the Silver Swan Alchemy easier to navigate and scrub between than the plastic fins on every other fan we tested. This setup also made it easier for us to access the metal fan blades. Plus, hey, it’s metal, so you don’t have to worry about pushing too hard and breaking anything. That being said, when you’re trying to put the fan back together, finding the right fit for the brace can be difficult, since there’s no obvious click when it’s in the correct position.

It makes a pretty bold aesthetic statement. A lot of the fans we recommend are visually neutral, at best, blending into the background so no one really pays attention while they do their job. But the Silver Swan Alchemy is a genuinely attractive piece of hardware, with an aesthetic that hearkens back to the early Vornado designs from the 1940s and 1950s. It works better than other fans, and it looks damn elegant while keeping you cool.

But it can be louder and more energy-intensive. This is true on its highest settings, especially in comparison with our other picks. We measured the Silver Swan Alchemy as pulling 63 watts on its highest setting, about 10 watts more than our top pick . Ultimately it doesn’t add that much to your electric bill, but this is still worth noting. (On the Silver Swan Alchemy’s other settings, its energy use was about the same as that of our top pick.) Again, we assume that this has something to do with the fan’s metal construction—after all, moving a piece of metal takes more energy than moving a piece of plastic. Similarly, the Silver Swan Alchemy can emit a sort of propeller-like whine on its highest setting. It’s not necessarily louder than our top pick, but the high-pitched, 18,000 Hz buzz might bother some people (though others might enjoy feeling as if they’re starring in The Rocketeer ).

The Lasko Whirlwind Orbital Motion Air Circulator A12668, our also great pick for the best fan.

The Lasko Whirlwind Orbital Motion Air Circulator A12668 looks a lot like our top pick but has an energy efficient DC-powered motor, as well as the ability to oscillate both horizontally and vertically. The result is a quieter fan with more customizable speed settings that still manages to move the air consistently around the room—and it’s typically cheaper than our top pick, too. In fact, the Whirlwind might be one of the best products we’ve seen from Lasko overall.

It’s amazingly simple to use. Instead of limiting you to three designated fan speeds, the Whirlwind offers a variable-speed dial with 12 power settings, allowing you to find the balance of volume and fan speed that works for you. The only other controls are two small buttons that let you toggle the horizontal and vertical oscillation on or off. This fan is so straightforward, in fact, that just minutes after it arrived at my home, my 3-year-old had already unboxed it and set it up, luxuriating in the variable speeds as he basked in the breeze on the floor. (This is also how I learned that our toddler-proof outlet covers were no longer quite as toddler-proof as they once were.)

Its multidirectional oscillation creates an impressive room-wide breeze. As much as we love the way our top pick circulates the air without constantly moving back and forth, we also recognize that a lot of people prefer the feeling of a fan’s breeze gently wafting past them—and if that’s you, the Whirlwind is a great choice. In addition to the standard side-to-side oscillation that you can find on other fans, the Whirlwind can also move in an up-and-down arc up to 90 degrees. That combined motion makes cascading waves of wind across the room, offering much more circulation and relief than the brief fleeting breezes that you may be used to. When the oscillation is off, the wind from the fan is much more straightforward and directional—which is less great for circulation but could still be helpful in some situations.

It’s also DC-powered, so it’s much more energy-efficient. According to Lasko, the Whirlwind uses 43% less energy than other, AC-powered fans. Though we don’t know the exact methodology the company used for measuring the difference in energy consumption, that percentage seems accurate enough based on our own test observations. At the highest setting, the Whirlwind exceeded the maximum airflow output of the Vornado 630 while using less than two-thirds of the energy that the 630 did on its lowest setting. Even on its lowest setting, the Whirlwind pulls only about 2 watts of power yet still produces a noticeable breeze. You could keep it running at that level 24 hours a day for the entire summer, and it would barely cost you 70¢; even if you cranked it up to high, it would add only about $7 to your electric bill over those three months.

The DC motor makes this fan quieter than others, too . On those lower power settings, the Whirlwind was so quiet in our tests that the sound was almost imperceptible, and it was impossible to accurately measure over the ambient stillness of a silent room. Even at the Whirlwind’s absolute highest setting, it still reached only about the same volume as the 630.

Removing the grille to clean it is simple. Underneath the fan is a single screw, followed by a simple twist-lock mechanism. You can quickly get inside and clean the dust off the fan blades.

The Lasko Whirlwind Orbital Motion Air Circulator A12668 with the back panel removed.

The fan comes with a remote control, too. The controls, however, don’t work as well with smart plugs. We also wish the fan-speed controls and the timer-setting controls were swapped, but we appreciate that the fan has a built-in storage slot for the remote on the back.

Lasko offers only a one-year warranty. This length of coverage is fairly standard for a lot of home electronics, but it’s not as good as the generous five-year warranty that accompanies our picks from Vornado.

The clunky transformer box on the plug takes up space on a power strip. The Whirlwind’s motor requires a transformer, so it has one of those bulky adapter boxes on the end of the power cord. In contrast, most of the other fans we recommend have a simple two-prong plug, which fits into any wall or surge protector without taking up any extra space.

The Dreo PolyFan 704S, our also great pick for the best fan.

If you don’t have a lot of counter space, but you need a breeze with some height, or you need steady oscillation that arcs up and down as well as side to side, consider the Dreo PolyFan 704S . Also consider this fan if you’re torn between our other picks that offer DC-powered energy efficiency and smart-home capabilities. This pedestal-mounted model stands nearly 44 inches tall and offers an easy-to-clean, 11-inch-diameter fan topped with haptic controls. It comes with a remote control, too. But you can also control it with your phone through the Dreo app or connect the app to Alexa and use voice commands instead. The PolyFan 704S packs in a lot of features, but they all work surprisingly well.

In our tests, it was just as powerful as our top pick. Air from the PolyFan 704S moved at speeds of up to 13.2 mph. It gives you nine different speed settings to choose from, plus a turbo option. Even on its most basic settings, this fan still produced a room-wide breeze with pleasant circulation.

But it also has the ability to oscillate—both horizontally and vertically. You can select a side-to-side movement arc of 30, 60, 90, 120, or even 150 degrees, as well as an up-and-down oscillation arc of 30, 60, or 90 degrees. The combination creates a delightfully blustery wind that cascades through the room like a crashing wave of air. If you find that overwhelming, you can just tilt the fan head at whatever vertical angle you prefer and run it like that.

Thanks to its DC-powered motor, it’s surprisingly energy-efficient. In our tests, the PolyFan 704S could produce a tangible breeze with as little as 4.2 watts of energy—slightly more energy than our DC-powered pick from Lasko consumed but still impressively less than most other fans required. Even on its turbo power setting, the PolyFan 704S still pulled only about 15 watts—about half of what our other, AC-powered picks used on their lowest settings.

The motor also helps keep the fan’s volume down. We measured the lowest sound output from the PolyFan 704S at around 33 decibels—the fan was so quiet, we found it almost impossible to measure over the stillness of the room. It never even approached the lowest output of our top pick from Vornado until its fifth power setting. After that, however, things got exponentially louder, with the PolyFan 704S’s turbo setting rivaling the maximum volume of the Vornado 630, though even that still measured below normal conversation levels.

Close view of the graphic controls on the Dreo PolyFan 704S.

It’s one of the easiest fans to clean. The PolyFan 704S has a single screw on the bottom holding the head together—simply remove that, and the grille twists right off so you can get inside and clean. The fan blades stay in place with a screw cap, so you can pull them off with ease, as well. And the reassembly process is just as simple.

You can use a remote, phone, or smart speaker to control it. We don’t put much stock in remote controls on fans, since we tend to lose them anyway. But it’s still a nice option. The PolyFan 704S is also fairly easy to set up through the Dreo smartphone app; this app in turn can sync with Alexa or Google Home, so you can control the fan remotely using voice commands. In our tests, such controls worked about as well as we could have hoped; the language wasn’t impressively natural, but it was still convenient enough. The on-board haptic controls are also a tremendous improvement over those of the previous version of this fan, and they worked well enough overall, although the “hamburger menu” button and LCD screen could both be a bit overwhelming.

Dreo’s smart-home privacy policies are acceptable. The company is largely transparent about the information it tracks, and it seems to be doing its due diligence overall. However, Dreo still reserves the right to give or sell your data to third-party vendors and clients, which can unfortunately include marketers. To be fair, this policy is pretty much in line with those of many smart-home device makers, for better or for worse. And at least Dreo’s app seems less spammy than the apps from many other, more established companies.

Dreo covers the fan with only a one-year warranty. This length of coverage is fairly normal for fans, but it pales in comparison with Vornado’s five-year protection plans. When you register your fan on Dreo’s site, the company offers a warranty extension, which adds an extra 18 months to the warranty, for a total of two and a half years; this is an improvement, but it’s still only half of what the competition offers.

The Vornado Strata, our also great pick for the best fan.

The DC-powered Vornado Strata is one of the stranger-looking room fans we’ve seen, but it’s also one of the most impressive models we’ve tested, producing an especially powerful (and tall!) burst of wind with extremely low noise and low energy use. Despite its short stature, the Strata creates wind that can be felt along nearly 6 feet in height, so it’s a particularly good choice for anyone who wants (or thinks they want) a tower fan .

It shoots out a column of air that’s almost 6 feet tall. While the fan itself stands only about 19 inches high, the wind is tall enough to cover most people from head to toe. During our tests, we stood 1 foot in front of the fan and then 10 feet away from it, and both times we could feel the breeze blowing past our faces as well as our feet. You could save some counter space and keep the Strata on the floor and still feel the full force of its wind across your entire body. We’ve simply never found another fan that can do the same.

It’s also one of the fastest fans we’ve ever tested. According to the company, the Strata is capable of moving nearly 1,800 cubic feet of air per minute. That’s roughly six times as much air as our top pick , also from Vornado, can move. Although we couldn’t independently verify those numbers, we did measure the wind speed coming out of the Strata, and it moved at about 16 miles per hour—making this model the fastest fan we’ve ever recorded.

The DC-powered motor means it’s quieter and more energy-efficient. On its lowest setting, the Strata uses only about 5 watts of energy—slightly more than our other DC-powered picks from Lasko and Dreo , but still about six times less than other fans consume. On top of that, the noise from the Strata was so low on that setting that we couldn’t even measure it. As with those Lasko and Dreo models, on its highest settings the Vornado Strata’s volume and energy consumption aren’t as impressive, but it still performs similarly to our other picks in both respects.

It comes with Vornado’s generous five-year warranty. Vornado’s customer service is typically reliable, too, which gives us some confidence that the Strata will actually last. We’ve certainly never seen a standard tower fan with that sort of coverage.

Close view of the controls on the Vornado Strata fan.

It takes up a little more floor space than a tower fan. The base of the Strata covers about 17 inches in either direction—it’s about 4 to 5 inches wider than most of the better tower fans we’ve tested. The fan part is also tall and narrow, which means it’s more likely than a cylindrical fan to knock something over as it oscillates.

It also doesn’t work well with smart-home setups. The haptic controls on the Strata prevent you from turning the fan on and off with the help of a smart plug . The fan comes with a remote control, though, so it could still serve as an option for people with accessibility concerns. (That remote can also be magnetically stored inside the fan exhaust—which is both convenient and sort of strange.)

It isn’t easy to clean. Although we think the Strata is a better alternative to a tower fan in almost every way, it still shares this one crucial flaw with tower models. The fan simply gives you no way to disassemble it to get at the dust accumulated inside. The user manual (PDF) recommends using the brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner to clear the dust from the exhaust ports on either side of the fan—which, hey, maybe that’ll work. If not, at least you have that five-year warranty.

The Dreo Fox One resting on the floor facing the left.

Budget picks can often feel like a compromise, but the Dreo Fox One is a genuinely good fan at an impressively affordable price.

It’s strong, but it isn’t a strong circulator. In our tests, the 9-inch-diameter Dreo Fox One produced a slightly stronger gust of wind than our top pick , but it didn’t fill the room quite as well. We’re splitting hairs here somewhat, but it’s technically true: We measured the Dreo Fox One at 12.3 mph, while the wind from the Vornado 630 was 11.8 mph. But the Fox One is also slightly smaller than the 630, so it doesn’t circulate the air quite as robustly as the 630.

It uses slightly less energy than our top pick. Compared with the 630, the Fox One consumes about 10 fewer watts on low and 5 fewer watts on high. That doesn’t translate to significant energy savings, and, again, this fan offers slightly weaker performance. But as far as budget picks go, this is a fair trade-off.

A closeup of the control dial on the Dreo Fox One.

It has a simple design, so it’s easy to clean. The fan has a circular knob on the front of the base that lets you control the speed settings—and that’s it. When the time comes to clean the Fox One, all you have to do is pull out a single screw at the bottom of the fan and twist off the grille; then you can get inside and eliminate all that dust.

It’s a real deal. The Dreo Fox One is a steal—it performs nearly as well as our top pick, but it’s normally about half the price.

But like other Dreo fans we tested, it comes with only a one-year warranty. Dreo adds an 18-month extension to that coverage if you register your fan. This warranty length is fairly standard for most fans, but it pales in comparison to Vornado’s warranties. We’ll continue testing this fan and other models from Dreo to see how long they actually last beyond that first year.

Two tower fans set up side by side in a living room in front of a couch.

Tower fans, like pedestal options, elevate their breeze without needing to perch on top of something else. They also take up little floor space. Unfortunately, they have lots of frustrating qualities. They’re rarely as powerful as most standard room fans or the air circulators that we typically recommend these days. The cleaning process for tower fans tends to be uniquely aggravating, too: To reach around a corner and get at the gunk between the blades, you usually need to disassemble the base and then unscrew a series of awkwardly shaped panels. Or you might hold a vacuum up to the fan grille and hope for the best.

We get the appeal. The most similar designs among our current recommendations are the pedestal-mounted Dreo PolyFan 704S and the compact Vornado Strata , the latter of which throws a tower-sized breeze (though it still suffers from some cleaning struggles).

Prior to those models, we tested some tower fans that were, well, fine. The Seville Classics UltraSlimline 40″ Oscillating Tower Fan was our top tower-fan pick until 2018. The new Dreo Pilot Max S smart tower fan probably provides the best cleaning access we’ve seen so far. We’ve had a lot of good experiences with Vornado models, but we were still disappointed with the Vornado Atom 1 Compact Oscillating Tower Circulator, as described below.

We’ve recommended a number of other Vornado models in the past, including the DC-powered Vornado 610DC , the retro-styled Vornado VFan Alchemy , and the Vornado 660 AE , which comes with built-in Alexa connectivity. We still think those are all excellent fans, each offering its own twist on the reliable air-circulation capabilities that Vornado is known for. But they also tend to be more expensive, and our current picks offer a little more variety in both style and affordability.

Vornado also sells a larger, pedestal-mounted version of the VFan, called the Vornado VFan Sr. Pedestal Vintage Air Circulator . But that model doesn’t oscillate, and we personally found its size and heavy-duty construction to be overbearing.

The Vornado 279TR Whole Room Air Circulator is a Costco exclusive that impressed us with its stunning mediocrity. It was strong enough, but it was also sort of loud, and it uses more energy than other, comparable fans. Vornado makes a lot of great fans, but this is not one of them.

The Vornado Pivot6 Whole Room Air Circulator has a rotating axis that lets you direct the airflow, and it worked pretty well in our tests. It was slightly louder than our top pick, with a slightly scratchier tone. However, the seemingly fancy haptic controls were more frustrating than futuristic: We kept accidentally hitting the button while trying to pivot the fan, and it provided no way for us to tell which setting it was on.

The obelisk-esque Vornado Atom 1 Compact Oscillating Tower Circulator is a DC-powered fan with a touchscreen control that’s more frustrating than useful. To make the fan oscillate, you use your finger to draw a semicircular arc to tell the fan to blow the air only in that one specific spot, which is difficult to do. In our tests, the Atom 1 was impressively quiet, except on high.

The Windmill Smart Air Circulator is a fantastic fan overall, with built-in smart controls and a wide range of speed settings, plus a fan head that tilts back up to 90 degrees. In our tests, however, it didn’t move the air quite as well as our top pick from Vornado .

The Honeywell TurboForce Air Circulator Fan HT-900 used to be our budget pick, and it seemed “budget” in every way. It’s definitely the best fan you can find for $20—but the still budget-priced Dreo Fox One is well worth the markup.

The Dreo Pilot Max S smart tower fan was surprisingly good, as far as tower fans went. It has the same smart-home capabilities as our pedestal-mounted pick from Dreo, the PolyFan 704S , and getting inside and cleaning around the column-shaped fan blade was actually fairly easy.

As for other smart fans, we also looked at the Lasko Works With Alexa Tower Fan T48401 and Bluetooth-enabled Lasko Wind Curve Tower Fan T42905 , as well as the Govee Smart Air Circulator Fan . The Lasko Works With Alexa Tower Fan was easy enough to set up, but it still had all the drawbacks of a tower fan; the Bluetooth model, meanwhile, didn’t give us enough smart-home capabilities beyond the opportunity to use a phone as a remote, and, again, it was still a tower fan. The Govee model’s setup process was a little annoying, and the company’s privacy policy didn’t boost our confidence in the scammy-looking app we had to download. Other than that, the fan was fine but unremarkable.

The Westinghouse WSFBLA022BK Bladeless Tower Fan looks sort of like a cheaper version of a Dyson fan, and it also comes with a built-in air purifier and UV filter. Our take: Get one of our air purifier picks and pair it with any of our fan picks instead.

We also looked at several other DC-powered fan alternatives:

The Lasko EcoQuiet T42700 is a DC-powered tower fan with 12 notched power levels instead of a variable control dial as on our current DC-powered Lasko pick . Although such an array of power levels certainly offers more-nuanced control than the standard low/medium/high options on other fans, it’s still not as customizable as what you get on the Lasko Whirlwind.

We had a similar experience with the Lasko EcoQuiet DC-Powered Pedestal Fan with Remote Control , although at least that one made a robust breeze in the room.

We also tested another DC-powered model, the Sharper Image Spin 12 , but we found it weak, flimsy, and frustrating to clean.

This article was edited by Harry Sawyers.

Brian Cartwright, vice president of R&D and design at Vornado , email interview , April 21, 2023

Linda Hotz, director of product management at Lasko , video interview , May 26, 2022

Rob Green, senior design engineer at Dyson , email interview , March 27, 2017

Bill Kahale, product manager at Seville , phone interview , March 30, 2017

Jim Kline, engineer/quality supervisor at Intertek , phone interview , May 9, 2017

Brian Cyr, acoustical engineer at Intertek , phone interview , May 9, 2017

Meet your guide

best travel fan for cooling

Thom Dunn is a staff writer at Wirecutter reporting on heating, cooling, and other home-improvement topics. Sometimes his curiosity gets the best of him, such as when he plugged a space heater and a Marshall guitar amp into the same power strip. Pro tip: Don’t do that.

Further reading

The ceiling of a bedroom with our pick for the best ceiling fan, Westinghouse Comet 52-Inch Indoor Ceiling Fan, installed.

How to Shop for a Ceiling Fan

by Harry Sawyers

There are lots of great fans to look up to. One particular Westinghouse stands out.

A Vornado Transom fan in a window.

The Best Window Fans

by Thom Dunn

Window fans work well for ventilation and air circulation in mild, dry summer weather.

A photo of a Vornado Silver Swan fan with an illustrated border.

Powerful Fans Are Often Ugly. But This One Is Beautiful.

by Daniela Gorny

A good fan can help keep you cool when it’s sweltering outside, but they’re often an eyesore. This handsome fan works great—and it’s nice to look at, too.

A Geek Aire portable fan outdoors

This Exorbitant Cordless Geek Aire Fan Is Worth Every Penny

by Annemarie Conte

This mobile fan will keep you cool around your house and in your yard all day long.

Pocket-lint

Best portable fan: coolness on the go.

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Whether you need a portable battery fan for camping, working outdoors or simply because you don't have a power outlet where you need it, there are plenty of different options to consider.

Since they all perform roughly the same job, the biggest thing to worry about when buying a battery-powered fan is simply the size and style you want for the job. Some are small, rechargeable units that can easily hook onto tents or air vents, while others are more powerful, self-standing and designed for offices or construction sites.

Whatever your ambition is for your fan, we're here to guide you. Below, are some of the top options around to consider and at a range of different budgets, too.

Odoland Camping Lantern & Ceiling Fan

Treva 10-inch portable battery fan, honeywell htf090b turbo, dewalt cordless fan, amacool portable battery camping fan, best portable battery fans: our top picks.

A perfect portable fan for camping

An excellent, affordable option for campers who want to combine portable air cooling and light.

  • Bright built-in light
  • Easy to mount
  • Batteries sold separately

If you're a keen camper, you'll know just how handy it is when you're able to save space by having one device cover two jobs. And as a multi-functional selection, you'll get a portable battery fan that can also act as a lantern so that you can navigate your campsite even in the dark.

Additionally, the fan has two different speeds to keep you cool in the tent during the night, while the 18 LEDs allow you to easily light up the small space.

Just be aware that, in order to power all this action, you'll need a pair of D cell batteries. They should keep the fan working continuously for five hours on the higher setting, 15 hours on the lower setting and provide 20 hours of light.

A portable fan suited for home offices

Choose your power source with this versatile unit, which is ideal for home offices and desks.

  • Nice design
  • Dual power source options
  • Fixed angle, no tilt function

If you're looking to cool down in your home office but need a fan that also features portable powers, this is a really solid option to consider. O2Cool's Treva fan gives you the option of choosing between AC and battery power, which requires six D cell batteries to power one of the two fan speeds.It's ideal for when you need to free up a plug socket in your setup but still require a powerful unit that can stand and power easily on the desk.

Rechargeable and compact

A great little fan from a really reliable and trustworthy brand, Honeywell.

  • Battery or USB-powered
  • Really compact
  • Not very powerful

Whether it's for use around the office or needs to travel around the rest of your home, this tiny Honeywell fan is an ideal portable and personal fan.

It can be used on battery power or powered by USB, and has a built-in adjustable stand that makes it easy to position - although it's not the most powerful option out there by any means.

The handy person's dream

If you need cool air during bouts of manual labour, this is a versatile, easy to place fan. 

  • Rugged construction
  • Option of AC power input
  • On the bulky side

Designed to work seamlessly around the rest of your construction setup and tools, DeWalt's 20V cordless fan is the top option for manual workers.

As with much of the company's range, the fan is powered through its proprietary 20V Max battery, which provides up to seven hours of air cooling. Handily, users also have the option to use a cord, too.

To give even more control over placement, the fan is even compatible with DeWalt wall mounts, hooks and tripod mounts. Plus, mild dust and water shouldn't be an issue, thanks to the IP54 rating.

Small but mighty air cooling and light

An ingenious, rechargeable device that can be taken with you wherever you go.

  • Lightweight and easy to mount
  • Up to 40-hour continuous fan use
  • No battery indicator

Amacool's portable battery fan is another excellent consideration for campers who want to combine cool air functionality with LED light.

The design features a hook to hang on tents, inside cars or outdoors, and, when turned upside down, can stand on its own.

It also doesn't require disposable batteries - the 5000mAh battery lasts around 40 hours with continuous fan-only use (or 18 days with light-only use) and can also be operated through a USB cable, car charger or power bank.

The bottom line: What is the best portable fan?

Equipped with 18 LEDs that easily and powerfully light up small space, the Odoland Camping Lantern and Ceiling Fan is our top choice for best portable fan. It's compact, and multi-functional, which is perfect for keeping your camping grounds both cool and light.

How to choose a portable battery fan

There are a huge number of portable battery-powered fans on the market, they come in a wide variety of styles and at a range of price points. All this choice means it can be especially difficult to narrow down the best choice for your needs.

This is an area where you won't find too many established brands to default to either, so it can be hard to separate the quality products from the flimsy junk. Hopefully, some of our picks have got your attention, but to help ensure you're getting the right fan for the job, here are some things worth considering.

Placement: Chances are, if you're on the hunt for a battery-powered fan, then you have a location in mind that needs some cooling. Maybe you're about to head off on a summer camping trip or maybe you just don't have an accessible plug socket in the toastiest corner of your house.

Thinking about where the fan will be used most should help you identify the features to look out for, and what to avoid. For example, if you'll be doing some hiking, then you're not going to want to carry around a giant 20-inch fan. Conversely, if you'll always be using it at home then it doesn't make sense to get a tiny ultra-portable device as it'll do a worse job of cooling down your space.

Batteries vs rechargeable vs USB: When it comes to portable fans, there are three main options: traditional batteries, rechargeable built-in batteries and USB powered (for use with a power bank). Each has its own benefits and shortcomings, so it's important to think about what will work best for you.

Should I use traditional or rechargeable batteries for my portable fan?

Traditional batteries are convenient because no matter where you are in the world, you can probably find some AAs This means that you'll never have to worry about running out of juice and you'll also never have to worry about battery degradation, as you'll get the same performance every time they are replaced. The downside is that you'll have to keep buying batteries, and rechargeable options tend to offer a longer run time.

Rechargeable built-in batteries are probably the best option for most people as keeping your fan topped up is as simple as plugging in your phone at the end of the day. The only downside with built-in batteries is that once the batteries degrade, you'll be looking at getting a new fan,

Finally, there's the option of using a USB fan with a portable power bank. If you're anything like us, you might have a pretty sizable power bank already, why not take advantage of all those milliamps by using them to keep yourself cool. If you're in the market for one, you might want to check out our guide to the best portable chargers .

9 Best Handheld Fans For Staying Cool On the Go All Summer Long

These portable options will create a breeze anywhere.

a hand holding a small fan

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They’re generally affordable, so if you’re going on vacation, you can splurge for several for the entire family. Even better, most are rechargeable, so you won’t need to replace batteries constantly.

The Best Handheld Fans

  • Best Overall: Jisulife Handheld Portable Turbo Fan
  • Best Foldable: Fadachy Portable Mini Fan
  • Best Portable: Jisulife Handheld Mini Fan
  • Most Powerful: Diveblues Portable Handheld Turbo Fan
  • Best Budget: Minthouz Handheld Fan

What to Consider

Most of these fans aren’t pricey, but if you’re spending money on one, there are a few things to consider. At the top of that list is weight. Depending on your activity, you might not want to carry something heavy, even if it is keeping you cool. In that case, you might forego the bells and whistles larger fans tend to offer.

Next up is battery life. While most of the options on our list are rechargeable, you’ll want to check how long your fan will last before it needs to be plugged in. If you’re planning to be out at an amusement park, hiking, or camping—without outlets at your disposal—you’ll need a handheld fan with a long battery life. While some fans can even act as an emergency charger for your phone in a pinch, that will affect the time left to use it as a fan.

Unless you’re looking for the most basic handheld fan, consider the extra features on your wish list. There are misting fans, but if you won’t have access to water on the go, this add-on might be unnecessary. (Misting fans also tend to be bulkier than standard handheld fans.) Do you want a kid-friendly fan with hidden blades or one that folds and fits in your pocket? You might want one with five-plus speeds. Added features increase the cost—but since all of our picks are $30 and under, you won’t be breaking the bank either way.

How We Selected

We included both handheld fans we’ve tested and ones with excellent reviews. We looked for key features, like whether they were rechargeable, portable, foldable, misting, and more, and we included handheld fans of various sizes, weights, and styles to accommodate different needs and lifestyles. We also kept price points in mind, with all our picks landing at $30 and under.

Jisulife Handheld Portable Turbo Fan

Handheld Portable Turbo Fan

If you’re worried about fan blades and little fingers, these small blades are kept tucked away. The shell also helps keep the noise down if you’re looking for something super quiet, and it uses air jet expansion technology to double cool air output.

With over 2,300 five-star reviews, use this top pick as a handheld, wear it as a lanyard, or prop it up on a table (it has an anti-slip bottom).

You can even bundle this item with a baby stroller fan that attaches to the handle to keep your little ones cool.

Diveblues Portable Handheld Turbo Fan

Portable Handheld Turbo Fan

Nope, this isn’t a digital thermometer. Boasting nearly three times the power of a basic model, this handheld fan can reach up to 13550 RPM, with a wind speed of 10m/s. That’s a lot of power—it might even replace your normal desk fan.

Reviewers love the LED screen, which allows you to see the wind speed and battery level at a glance.

Jisulife Handheld Mini Fan

Handheld Mini Fan

We tested this one during a heat wave, and it’s small but mighty. Since it can fit easily in almost any bag, it’s perfect for standing in hot lines at amusement parks or staying cool at a baseball game. As a bonus, it has a built-in flashlight and can work as an emergency phone charger.

The blades are soft but they pop open and spin, so this one might not be ideal for little kids.

Arctic Air Pocket Small Portable Fan

Pocket Small Portable Fan

Not much bigger than your phone, this compact fan lays totally flat and can easily fit in a pocket. Plus, it has a kickstand that you can use to keep it propped for stationary use.

Add a bit of water, and you’ll basically have your own mini air conditioner. Some reviewers note that the water may leak, especially on the older model, but they do like the fan overall.

Tunise Portable Handheld Fan

Portable Handheld Fan

If you like having options, this one offers them. You can wear it around your neck, hold it in your hand, or prop it up on a desk or picnic table.

Most reviewers rave about this fan and say they’ve ordered multiples for family and friends. On the flip side, a few users note that it takes a while to charge fully.

Fadachy Portable Mini Fan

Portable Mini Fan

If you don’t want the hassle of carrying a bulky fan and a portable charger in your bag, this one works double duty. The top half is a powerful mini fan and the bottom half not only powers your cooling breeze but can also give your phone a power boost.

It folds in multiple ways, including one configuration that supports your phone. This is a great option if you want to put it on a nightstand or desk while you watch a movie.

O2COOL Deluxe Misting Fan

Deluxe Misting Fan

If air blowing on your face isn’t enough relief on oppressively hot days, opt for a misting fan. This one only has one speed, but the misting packs a cool punch. You can also use this like a standard spray bottle for kids.

Panergy Clip-On Fan

Clip-On Fan

You can hold this one, use the legs like a tripod, or clip it onto anything from a stroller to a rear-facing car seat to keep the littlest ones cool on a hot day.

It has a secure cover that even tiny fingers can’t access, and there are LED lights with three settings if you want to use it while camping or as a night light.

Minthouz Handheld Fan

Handheld Fan

If you don’t like messing around with a lot of charging cords in your bag, this fan has a docking station where it can run and charge at the same time, so you can use it overnight if you’d like.

At under $10, it’s a solid option for frequent travelers to use on the go and in hotels. It’s slim, so it won’t take up a ton of space in a carry-on, but if you need more power, you might want a different model.

Headshot of Angel Madison

Angel Madison is a commerce editor for Hearst, covering LEGOs, trending products, toys, plus-size fashion, wellness, home, tech and more. Previously she covered entertainment, pop culture, and parenting for a variety of publications. When she's not at her desk you can find her hanging with her daughter and cat, finding offbeat roadside attractions, or doing crafts. 

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5 Best Portable Fans for Traveling [2024]: Stay cool on the road!

5 Best Portable Fans for Traveling [2024]: Stay cool on the road!

Loud hostels disrupting your sleep? Long lines in the heat melting your glow? Read on for the best portable and handheld fans to keep you cool on your travels.

best travel fan for cooling

For many people, traveling with a fan is a must. If you are used to sleeping with white noise, the hum of a fan can do the trick to help you get better sleep. It can also be the key to helping drown out that one person who always ends up snoring in your hostel. For others,  combating the summer heat of  Europe  or the humidity of  Asia , a mini or handheld fan can be a lifesaver. But if you like to travel light, it can be hard to find just the right portable fan that will tuck away in your luggage or carryon. 

In this review, we'll take a look at several different styles of mini fans, handheld fans, and portable fans that travelers love and best of all, take up little space in your luggage.

travel fans

What to Look for in a portable travel fan

There are many different styles of travel fans depending on the need you are trying to meet. Some want a fan that can fold up and fit in a purse, while others want one that can clip onto a bed or stand on a desk. Check out the different features to think about below.

Size: Hand Held, Mini, or Table Fan?

Deciding when you want to use it is the first step in figuring out the best fan for you. There are some that you hold in your hand to cool you off while waiting in that hot never, ending line to get into that popular museum. Others are better for those muggy nights clipped onto your hostel bunk to drown out the partiers and to blow a light breeze on your face. Do you want to carry it everywhere in your purse or have it in your  backpack ? These are some things to consider in your search.

Power Source

One of the tricky parts of traveling is navigating different outlet types. 

  • USB is a pretty reliable source that you find in a lot of newer hotels, computers, and  travel adaptors , and many portable fans use USB  as a way to charge them. 
  • Standard plug-in fans are always an option. Plug them into the wall, and they go forever or use your adaptor to plug it in and breeze away.
  • Chargeable! This is nice when you are on the go and are nowhere near a plug. Charge it and use it until you can get back to a power source. Best for handheld fans used when you are running around and trying not to melt.

Best Portable Fans for Travel

Now that you've decided if you need to add a travel fan to your list of  must-have travel gadgets , check out this guide on top reviewed portable and handheld fans that people are using this year.

JSUIS Mini 3 in 1 Handheld Fan

This fan packs a lot of features into its super small size.  

  • Pocket Size Fan - Keep in your bag to use when you are out and about
  • Backup Charger - Phone battery getting low? Use the backup battery charger to give you a quick boost.
  • Flashlight - Built-in flashlight for dark streets 
  • Long Battery Life - Advertised for 21 hours of battery life in one charge in fan mode
  • Convertible into 3 different Stages -Can be used as a Handheld fan or folded to prop on a desk.
  • USB Rechargeable - It is USB rechargeable through any regular USB port

This fan is highly rated and affordable at under $20 USD. Some users have said that the phone battery charger did not work very well and that sometimes it is a bit hard to switch between the different foldable stages, but otherwise, reviewers loved the flashlight, powerful fan, and super compact size.

Our Rating: 4.5/5

  • Small and Portable
  • Long Battery life
  • USB Chargeable
  • Added Flashlight Function
  • Three different folding positions
  • Phone charger not consistent
  • Sometimes hard to open into the different stages.
  • Power button can be hard to push

portable hand fan

Portable Rechargeable Neck Fan

Looking for something to keep you cool and keep your hands free? You might want to check out this rechargeable neck fan by Delmac.

This fan is unique in that you just place it around your neck and a quiet, cool breeze for your neck and face will keep you refreshed. It's bladeless, so your hair won't get caught in the fan, and the charge lasts at least 6 hours. With three cooling speeds and a flexible design, this portable fan is great for those who want to stay cool on the go but want to also stay hands-free.   Some people have commented that the circulation isn't strong at the back, and long hair and earrings can get in the way of the airflow. It's got a pretty specific use, but if long lines in the heat impact your comfort, this might be a fan to consider.

Our Rating: 3.5/5

  • Unique Design
  • Strong Speed, Quiet
  • Conversation Starter!
  • More Expensive at over $30 USD
  • May get in the way of Long Hair and Earrings
  • Doesn't circulate air all the way around
  • Not as many uses as some portable fans

neck travel fan

GUSGU Flexible and Portable Fan

This interesting fan by GUSGU is really versatile to be used for many different things. The stand is bendable and can be used in a few different ways. You can prop it on a desk, hold it in your hand when on the go, or wrap the flexible arms around a surface like a metal bed frame, a stroller, or a lamp for really flexible use. Some users have found that the flexible arms don't stay tight and the fan will move out of place, and others would like the fan strength to be a bit stronger. But if you want an option for a fan that will work almost anywhere, this is a great fan to look into.

Our Rating: 4/5

  • Versatile to wrap around, handheld or stand on its own
  • USB with long charge
  • Many colors
  • Strong speed
  • Blades can pinch small fingers
  • Can move around after being attached
  • Not super strong

portable fan

Mini Handheld USB Chargeable Fan by Aluan

This fan knows exactly who it is. If you want a small handheld fan smaller than your phone, with a powerful speed that you can tuck away in your pocket, this may be the fan for you. It comes in 5 fun colors and is rechargeable with a USB cord. Some users have found that the blades are a bit fragile if dropped, and a few had issues with the fan holding a charge after a while, so these are things to consider. However, for a small, inexpensive fan that you can take on the go when you have minimal space, this mini fan is a great choice.

Our Rating: 4.3/5

  • Inexpensive, under $15 USD
  • Battery Powered, rechargeable
  • Very small, fits in pocket
  • Can't stand on its own
  • Battery can die fairly quickly
  • Blades can be fragile and break easily

small portable fan

Clip on Portable Fan for Travel

If a portable fan for use in one location such as sleeping or at a desk, is what you are looking for, here is a great option to consider. This fan has a clip-on feature that does need to be plugged into a USB port, so it is not chargeable and is something to consider if you want to use it away from a power supply. At 6 inches, it's bigger than a handheld fan but still very packable for a carryon. People like the clip-on feature and the dual speeds, but some have indicated that it's a bit louder and that they wish the cord was a bit longer. 

Our Rating: 3.2 /5

  • Many different colors
  • Clip on good for Hostels
  • Strong speed with swivel for more flexibility
  • Not as portable
  • Not as quiet as some portable fans
  • Cord is short

large portable fan

Should You Take a Portable Fan When You Travel?

Overall, it depends on where you are traveling and what your needs are. If you run hot and hate to be sticky or sweaty, then it might be a good idea to grab one of these handheld mini fans just in case. If you are a digital nomad or hostel sleeper and you want a fan to keep cool or dull noise, some of the options above are great to consider. 

Travel with Pilot

Now that you are set to keep cool on your trip, it's time to make sure you have your travel itinerary organized with Pilot.

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This Portable Fan Keeps Me Cool on Hot Summer Days

By Megan duBois

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

I love going to theme parks—even when it’s hot and humid, I find myself waiting in lines for the newest attractions or trying to find a seat for parades. While this particular travel experience may sound miserable to some, I’ve found relief from the blazing sun with the VersionTech mini handheld fan. This tiny fan has enough power to keep me cool, less sweaty, and feeling great while walking around Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World . While it may seem too good to be true, the $16 fan really is worth the hype. 

When I first saw this fan go viral on Instagram, I knew I wanted to try it. Several Disney influencers used the fan and they always looked content as they traipsed around Epcot in the middle of summer. After a bit of searching, I found the fan on Amazon . I first put it to use on a hot May weekend spent visiting all four theme parks at Disney World. 

The first thing I noticed about the portable fan was that it was lightweight and easily fit into my purse without having to take anything out. As the day got increasingly warm, I whipped my fan out—making my friends jealous that I had one and they didn’t—and set it to the highest speed of the three settings. Even better was when we went into stores or joined attraction lines that were inside, the air blowing out of the fan was ice cold. As I sat down for lunch, I was also pleased to find that the adjustable handle folded back and had enough stability to keep the fan on without it falling over.

best travel fan for cooling

My personal breeze lasted all day at the theme parks, though I wasn’t using the fan at every single moment. The directions say it can last for eight hours of continuous use on speed one, and three hours of continuous use on speed three. The best part about the fan—besides keeping me cool, of course—is that it charges via an included USB cord, making it easy to recharge in hotel rooms or with portable external batteries. Since buying the fan for myself, I’ve bought one for each of my family members; all of my theme park-loving friends have bought one, too. It's a staple for warm-weather trips.

While I mainly use the fan at theme parks , I’ve also taken it on cruises for hot, shore excursion-heavy days, and brought it with me to sporting events; it would be great to have at outdoor concerts or food festivals, too. If you’re looking for something to keep you cool that’s hands-free, or a little bit smaller, here are a few other great options. 

More portable fans we recommend

best travel fan for cooling

The Dartwood portable neck fan is a great option for those who want to be completely hands-free. The bladeless fan sits around your neck on your shoulders and keeps you cool with three speeds for maximum comfort. The fan has a low-noise level and can last up to 16 hours on just one charge. 

best travel fan for cooling

This fan sits around your neck and has two adjustable mini-fans on either side. The fan has three speed levels and can last anywhere from 3 to 10 hours depending on the speed that’s used. Recharging the fan is easy with the included USB cable.

best travel fan for cooling

Those looking for a smaller handheld fan will like this petite fan, which also has an integrated flashlight and a backup power bank. With one charge, the fan can last up to 21 hours, which is perfect for long theme park days.

best travel fan for cooling

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These Are the Best Portable Fans to Cool You Down During Any Occasion

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PureWow editors select every item that appears on this page, and the company may earn compensation through affiliate links within the story. All prices are accurate upon date of publish. You can learn more about the affiliate process here .

Portable fans are a handy resource for any occasion. Need some air while waiting for the subway? Pull out your foldable fan from your purse. Getting a little too hot during your jog? Grab the handheld fan from your pocket. We sifted through the different types, sizes and brands of portable fans to find the best ones based on activity, power, weight and easy design for transport.

Whether you’re overheating on your daily bike rides or need a desk fan when your coworkers set the thermostat too high in the office, we’ve got you covered with the best portable fans to keep you cool when you're just way too hot.

What to look for in a portable fan

While you shop for the portable fan that's right for you, it's important to consider a few things before you hit "purchase:"

  • What size do I need?
  • Is it battery operated, rechargeable or plug-in?
  • What activity will you be using it for?

If you are grabbing a fan for your outdoor workouts, you'll probably want to consider a slim handheld fan that you can stick in your pocket or fanny pack for easy access. Since you'll be using it for short periods of time through the week, battery operated and rechargeable options are the way to go. If you're grabbing one to bring with you around the house for some extra airflow, grab one with a cord that oscillates so you can cover more surface area.

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best overall

1. yodetey Air Conditioner Mini Refrigeration Spray Fan

Best Overall

This adorable mini fan blows cold air thanks to the water-based cooling system. Add some H20 in the tank and feel a nice cool breeze in the hottest places in just seconds.

best for biking

2. jisulife Portable Neck Fan

Best for Biking

A rechargeable neck fan is just what you need for your outdoor bike ride. We love that we don’t have to worry about hair getting caught because of the bladeless design. The air slits along the device wrap around to reach your full head and neck for an optimized cooling experience.

best handheld

3. aluan Handheld Mini Fan

Most Lightweight

This small one weighs a mere two ounces and comes in at about one inch thick and nearly five inches tall to easily slide in your pocket or bag. It has a small but mighty motor to give you powerful airflow and has adjustable speed settings based on what you need. Whether you’re waiting in line at the non-air-conditioned DMV or are at a picnic in the park with friends, this little guy will chase away any sight of sweating.

best for strollers

4. wihoo Mini Handheld Stroller Fan

Best for Strollers

Wrap the flexible tripod onto your baby’s stroller bar to ensure extra coolness while they’re tucked in their seat. Either pop in some batteries or charge it with its USB cord to get up to 15 hours of power. And don’t worry, your kiddos won’t be able to slide their little fingers in the slots.

misting fan

5. o2cool Elite Handheld Misting Fan

Best Misting Fan

Fill this one up with some water to spritz on you for the extra hot days when a fan just isn’t cutting it. It’s battery powered and super lightweight so it’s easy to hold and transport. If you’re wanting even more of a chill, add some ice to the bottle to keep the water cold.

best for running1

6. jisulife Pocket Handheld Fan

Best for Running

We love this one for running because it's only four ounces, has two speeds and slips easily in and out of your legging pockets whenever you need a quick break. Charge this one with its USB cord and if you’re walking, slip the safety strap around your wrist for easier access.

honeywell

7. Honeywell On-the-go Personal Fan

Best Foldable Fan

This portable fan has a handle that can fold into a stand and can reach up to three feet of air circulation. It would best suit someone who gets hot easily and needs optimal airflow. The foldable handle makes it great for desks, kitchen counters, coffee tables and more.

amazon basics

8. Amazon Basics Three-speed Small Room Air Circulator

Best for Air Circulation

Coming in at only seven inches, this tiny fan has a strong, adjustable three-speed motor that helps circulate the airflow in small rooms. Put this in a dorm room, office or any other small space to help cool it down and eliminate the mugginess. Plug it in at the nearest outlet and feel the results in minutes.

skygenius

9. Skygenius Clip On Mini Desk Fan

Best for the Office

Clip this fan onto your desk and adjust it however you like to cool you off for hours thanks to the rechargeable battery. This one can hang onto the side of your desk by the clip or sit flat on its non-stick mat. The fan has 360-degree vertical rotation and weighs only about ten ounces.

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IMG 1645 e1692204102526

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Best fans for 2024: Tried and tested models to help you stay cool

Be prepared for when temperatures rise, with these home heroes, article bookmarked.

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Stay cool as a cucumber, with these wearable, handheld and quiet models

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The ideal time to buy a fan is before you need one. Summers are getting warmer and wetter, with recent heatwaves resulting in record-breaking temperatures across the UK. If you leave it too late to buy one of the best fans in our list, you’re in for a few sticky days and nights while you wait for it to arrive. It’s also not uncommon for some models to sell out completely, leaving you with fewer options in terms of price, intensity and portability.

Fans are, on the whole, a lot cheaper to buy and operate than air conditioners , with basic fan models starting at £20. However, the lower-priced options are often noisy and have limited functionality, so, you might need to spend a little more to find a quieter fan with a remote control, timer and perhaps even smart home functionality and voice-operated controls.

If you don’t think you can justify buying a fan you’ll only use for a few days every year, there are fans that can also operate as heaters , offering year-round usability.

From small desktop and wearable neck fans to larger tower fans and fan/heater hybrids, we put a variety through their paces, to find out which offered the most relief from high temperatures.

9 best summer duvets with a low tog to keep you cool on hot nights

9 best summer duvets with a low tog to keep you cool on hot nights

10 best air purifiers that filter dust and allergens at home, tried and tested

10 best air purifiers that filter dust and allergens at home, tried and tested

10 best portable air conditioners to keep you cool in the summer, tried and tested

10 best portable air conditioners to keep you cool in the summer, tried and tested

9 best patio heaters to warm any garden or outdoor space

9 best patio heaters to warm any garden or outdoor space

How we tested the best fans

A selection of the best fans that we tested for this review

We tested each fan at home, in rooms of different sizes, to assess the cooling capabilities of each device. From a small home office to a large open-plan living space, we placed the fan in the centre of the room and judged whether or not we could feel its effects at the side of the room. For the smaller portable fans, we measured performance by working out how close we had to be to the unit to feel the benefits. We pushed all the buttons, playing with timers, remote controls and noise levels, to thoroughly understand what would be the most useful when the warmer weather arrives.

The best fans for 2024 are:

  • Best fan overall – Vortex Air cleanse heater, cooler and purifier: £179.99, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best budget fan – Draper 08710 clip-on desk fan: £11.95, Amazon.co.uk
  • Best cordless fan – Shark FlexBreeze portable fan: £169.99, Johnlewis.com
  • Best neck fan – Auokai portable neck fan: £10.26, Amazon.co.uk

Vortex Air cleanse heater, cooler and purifier

  • Best : Fan overall
  • Type : Bladeless fan
  • Noise : 35-51dB
  • Speed settings : 10
  • Oscillation : 120 degrees
  • Size : 94cm x 34cm x 34cm
  • Weight : 5.67kg
  • Timer : Yes
  • Remote control operated
  • Useful thermostat
  • Quite heavy

Functioning as a heater, air purifier and (virtually silent) fan, this multi-tasking appliance is great value for money, considering it can be used year-round. Looks-wise, it’s remarkably similar to the Dyson AM09 hot + cool (also included in this review), but the Vortex Air model is more than £100 cheaper. Plus, it has a HEPA 13 air purifier, unlike the AM09.

We liked the streamlined design, which fits seamlessly into a room. Although we tested the white and silver design, it is available in eight colours to further complement your decor.

The appliance has a remote control timer, so you can adjust the settings from wherever you are in a room, without having to get up and push any buttons. The highest setting is so strong that we felt a significant drop in temperature within just two minutes after turning on the fan. Typically bladeless fans like this can draw air in and circulate it much faster than a traditional fan, cooling a space quickly, and this model is no exception. The heating functionality is just as fast.

There are timer settings, so you can program the appliance to run overnight, to help you sleep better during a heatwave. We also really liked its smart thermostat feature, which meant we could choose a temperature and have the fan switch off automatically when it had cooled the room to that level, helping to conserve energy.

Draper 08710 clip-on desk fan

best fans

  • Best : Budget fan
  • Type : Desk fan
  • Noise : Unspecified
  • Speedy settings : Two
  • Oscillation : N/A
  • Size : 198mm x 170mm x 216mm
  • Weight : 750g
  • Compact size
  • Not hugely powerful

Working from home has its benefits but leaving the office air conditioning behind on a hot day is not one of them. If you just can’t avoid spending hours stuck at a computer, a desk fan is a no-brainer buy for the summer months to make life a little more bearable. As you’ll be sitting close to the fan itself, there’s no need to spend extra on fancy features, smart controls or even a huge amount of power.

This model has everything required to keep you cool, for a brilliant price. It’s easy to use and assemble with just two speeds, and it won’t even take up much room, as it’s much smaller than a traditional desk fan.

While it can stand on a solid base, we especially loved the fact it can clip onto the side of a desk to use even less space, making it a summer office essential, in our book.

Shark FlexBreeze portable fan

  • Best : Cordless fan
  • Type : Pedestal fan
  • Noise : 62dB
  • Speed settings : Eight
  • Oscillation : Up to 180 degrees
  • Size : 34cm x 34cm x 94cm
  • Weight : 5.6kg
  • Can be used outside

If you can’t decide if you want a desk fan to cool you as you work or a floor fan to bring down the temperature of the whole room, this convertible model by Shark is the one to pick. It can be used in 12 different ways, from corded to cordless, and can even used outdoors. It can be placed on the floor to cool you when you’re having a picnic or extended to act as a pedestal fan for when you’re sitting at the table or lounging on a deck chair. If you want to feel like you’re sitting by a pool, even when you’re just on your balcony, this has an InstaCool misting attachment that can be connected to a hose pipe to spray you with a light mist of cool water as well as a gentle breeze.

Battery life is excellent, with 24 hours of cooling power on a full charge, so you can use this for a full day of sitting outdoors in the garden to get your vitamin D fix, without breaking a sweat. With five cooling settings and 180-degree oscillation, it does a great job of cooling the air to each side of the unit as well as directly in front of it.

Weighing 5.6kg, it’s a sturdy, durable piece of kit that won’t fall over if you accidentally knock it. However, the downside to this is you will need two hands when you want to move it from place to place.

Auokai portable neck fan

  • Best : Neck fan
  • Type : Personal fan
  • Noise : 40db
  • Speed settings : Three
  • Oscillation : No
  • Size : 22.2cm x 2cm x 5.8cm
  • Weight : 260g
  • Lightweight
  • Attention-grabbing
  • Takes a long time to charge

If you need to be outside on a hot day for an occasion such as a wedding or a barbecue, this neck fan is an affordable way to make life more comfortable. A full charge will give you up to seven hours of battery life, so you’re covered for the daylight hours. With three settings, you can ramp up the freshness when the midday sun’s at its most powerful and then put it on a low speed for a gentle breeze.

The streamlined, minimal design means you don’t look like you’re wearing a fan – only those close to you will hear it, too, as it’s less than 31dB on the lowest setting. We like that it cools the neck and face constantly, and we find it’s more effective than a handheld fan. The other advantage to wearing a fan as opposed to holding one is your hands are free to take photos, eat and drink and enjoy summer socialising.

Dyson AM09 hot + cool fan heater

  • Best : Year-round fan
  • Oscillation : 350 degrees
  • Size : ‎20.4cm x 15.29cm x 59.44cm
  • Weight : 2.68kg
  • Remote control
  • Wide oscillation range

If you wince at the thought of spending money on an appliance you’ll only use on the few hottest days of the year, Dyson has the answer. The AM09 doesn’t just cool but will also heat a room, so you can control the temperature inside your home year-round.

If you’ll be using a device a lot, you’ll want it to be easy on the eye, and, thankfully, this model ticks that box, too. It’s a sleek dream machine with curved edges and a long power cable, so you don’t have to worry about placing it near a plug socket. An easy-to-read LED display shows your space’s current temperature, too.

Cooling is excellent, especially as the fan oscillates 350 degrees, so works wherever you are in the room. This is more than double the oscillation of the Vortex Air cleanse. Unlike the cleanse, Dyson’s model also works with voice services and an easy-to-use app, and it has a night mode, in which it operates even more quietly.

No other fan in this review has quite the bells and whistles of this one but it was also the most expensive fan we tested, so, you might want to work out how much you will use the app and voice control features before investing.

Duux whisper flex smart fan

  • Best : Smart fan
  • Noise : 13dB – 55dB
  • Speed settings : 26
  • Oscillation : 90 degrees horizontal, 100 degrees vertical
  • Size : 34cm x 34cm x 95cm
  • Weight : 4.5kg
  • Easy-to-use app
  • 26 speed settings
  • Not that attractive

Operating at just 13dB, even on the highest setting, this fan is certainly whisper quiet. While it’s the priciest pedestal fan we tested, it does offer 26 different speed settings, so you can precisely control temperature levels in a room. We were really impressed by the natural breeze mode that simulates real wind, which was noticeably different from a constant blast of air.

This was also the only pedestal fan we tested that oscillated upwards as well as left and right, and it was the only one that came with a free app. This enabled us to control our fan from any room of the house.

Thanks to dual fan blades, the fan has 15m of wind reach, so it can cool a large kitchen just as well as a small bedroom. In night mode, the LED temperature display dims and it can be set to run for between one to 12 hours before switching off automatically. The height is adjustable, so you can use it as a desktop fan as well as a floor fan.

EasyAcc pedestal fan

  • Best : For taking camping
  • Type : Bladed fan
  • Speed settings : Four
  • Size : 8.1cm x 18.5cm x 20.8cm
  • Weight : 650g
  • Built-in lamp
  • Adjustable height

Anyone who’s ever been on a camping holiday will know the temperature can often get quite hot and sticky when there are several bodies in a tent. This EasyAcc model is a multi-tasking miracle that can be used as both a floor fan, a personal fan and a pedestal, so you’ll be able to keep your cool on a campsite. Simply pull the pole to extend the length and you have a fan that will lower the temperature of a two-man tent. We’re not sure it’d be powerful enough for a four-man, though, so, you might want to buy two.

It comes with a rechargeable battery pack, meaning you won’t need to leave cables trailing over the floor or worry about where the nearest plug is. What’s really useful is it has a built-in lamp, so you can use it instead of a torch for any late-night bathroom breaks. The light is dimmable, so it can also be used as a nightlight for any campers who find it hard to sleep.

Duronic pedestal fan

  • Best : Pedestal fan
  • Oscillation : 90 degrees
  • Size : 120cm x 120cm x 45cm
  • Weight : 6.14kg
  • Five-blade design
  • Good value for money
  • Only available in black

This sleek black pedestal fan has a unique five-blade design, which captures more air in each turn than a standard four-blade fan, to cool a space quickly. With 60W of power, it has three speed settings, and we found the highest pumped out a satisfyingly strong breeze.

It has 90 degrees of oscillation, left and right, which is half the oscillation of some other models but this fan is also a lot cheaper. When sitting close to the fan, the lack of movement didn’t bother us, as we still felt a refreshing blast of cold air.

While it’s only available in black, it has a built-in carry handle, making it easy to move out of eyesight when not in use.

Beurer LV50 fresh breeze personal air fan and cooler

  • Best : Air cooler
  • Size : 14cm x 14cm x 12cm
  • Weight : 498g
  • Fast to charge
  • Refreshing humidifier function
  • Very compact

Want to recreate the feeling of office air conditioning when you’re working from home in a heatwave? Using water evaporation technology, the LV50 cools and humidifies the air at the same time. The warm air is drawn into the fan, passes through the cooling evaporation filter and is blown back out as cool air.

Supplied with a USB cable, it’s easy to charge the fan using your PC or laptop while you work, so you don’t have to worry about running out of battery. On a full charge, the battery lasts for four hours, so we also tested it on the bedside table overnight and found the humidifier function especially refreshing. For a very compact unit, this had everything we needed to keep cool at a very reasonable price.

ProBreeze 20in floor fan

  • Best : Floor fan
  • Type : Floor fan
  • Noise : 62-67dBA
  • Size : 59cm x 19.7cm x 57cm
  • Weight : 5kg
  • Super strong
  • No oscillation

With a powerful 120W motor and a huge 20in fan head, this model can cool open-plan spaces comfortably. With three speed settings, you can control the intensity of the blast, depending on where the fan is placed in a room. It’s a hefty unit that can operate for long periods of time on a high setting, making it ideal for home workouts, too. If you want to use a home gym, treadmill or exercise bike on a hot day, this will be your new best friend.

We liked that you can tilt this fan up and down, so it can be used to project air upwards, towards a desk, too. If you’re looking for a fan that can be used for multiple purposes such as working out and working at a desk, this could be the answer. However, it doesn’t come with a remote control or timer function, so we wouldn’t recommend using it overnight.

Vonhaus portable 31in tower fan

  • Best : Miniature tower fan
  • Type : Tower fan
  • Oscillation : 70 degrees
  • Size : 80cm x 28cm x 28cm
  • Weight : 3kg
  • Can add a scent for a fragrant breeze
  • No app connectivity

While tower fans are best at cooling large spaces, their looming height means they can stand out like a sore thumb in most homes. This miniature tower fan is the ideal solution. It’s powerful enough to really make a difference when temperatures soar, and it oscillates up to 70 degrees, yet it’s only 31in high, so won’t dominate a room. It’s also only 3kg and has a carry handle, so can easily be moved anywhere in the house.

Although the exterior is a little plastic-looking, it’s one of the least obtrusive fans we tested, and we barely noticed it once it was installed in the corner of our living room.

There’s no app connectivity or voice control, but the fan does have a timer, so it can be set to turn off at 30-minute intervals up to 120 minutes. The ability to add a scent in a small tray on the fan for a fragrant breeze was a nice touch, too. A fantastic buy all-round. 

MeacoFan 1056 air circulator

  • Best : Desk fan
  • Noise : 20dB – 60dB
  • Speed settings : 12
  • Oscillation : 60 degrees up, 80 degrees left
  • Size : 34cm x 35cm x 46.5cm
  • Weight : ‎3.2kg
  • Very effective
  • Slightly chunky shape

When we’re dreaming of air conditioning , a fan can sometimes feel like a sorry second best, simply able to circulate warm air. This air circulator is a much better compromise, as it moves in a circular motion and bounces air off the walls and ceilings to keep the entire room (and everyone in it) cool.

Not only is this strangely compelling to watch, but it’s staggeringly effective, transforming even the stuffiest room in our house in a matter of minutes. Miraculously, our space even stayed cool once we’d turned down the fan.

That’s not all. Although the maximum noise level is stated as 60dB, we thought it seemed a lot quieter, thanks to the brushless DC motor, and it’s cheap to run. Meaco says it costs less than 1p per hour (based on current energy prices) on the highest fan speed.

The fan also has an eco mode to adjust the speed as the temperature changes, a sleep timer and even a nightlight, which would be handy if used in a child’s room.

It is on the chunky side, taking up more space than most desk fans but, when it works so well, we’re definitely not complaining.

Levoit tower fan

  • Best : For speedy cooling
  • Noise : 28dB
  • Speed settings : Five
  • Size : 16.5cm x 16.5cm x 92cm
  • Weight : ‎3.6kg
  • Extremely quiet
  • Senses the temperature in a room
  • Can be tricky to adjust from manual to auto mode

This attractive black and white fan cools a room rapidly. If you’ve been out of the house all day and are returning to a sauna, this will only take a few minutes to give you instant relief. This is due to an impressive maximum fan speed of 25ft per second.

Despite being one of the most powerful fans we tested, at 28dB, it was also one of the quietest. We had to concentrate to hear it. However, the most impressive thing about this Levoit tower fan is that it has an intelligent temperature sensor. It tracks the room temperature in your home and responds accordingly, by changing the fan speed. Perfect for busy people who don’t want to add “change the fan speed” to their to-do list. Should you want to take back control, though, it’s relatively easy to switch to manual mode by pressing a button on the main unit, but we enjoyed letting it do its thing in the corner.

Dyson purifier hot+cool formaldehyde

best fan

  • Best : Do-everything model
  • Size : 76.4cm x 20.cm x 24.8cm
  • Weight : 5.5kg
  • Works as a heater and air purifier too
  • Fan oscillates 350 degrees
  • Connects to easy-to-use app

Of course, Dyson features twice within our review – this model doesn’t just cool but will also heat a room and eliminate pollutants, including pollen, dust and formaldehyde. The latter is a colourless gas used in building materials and household products, such as paint and furniture, and the Dyson purifier detects molecules 500 times smaller than 0.1 microns. Although this is a nice-to-have bonus, it’s likely not what will convince you to part with a considerable chunk of cash to have this in your home.

Luckily, it’s a sleek dream machine all round, with a super-effective heater and excellent air purifier, which ramped up whenever it detected pollutants in our home. We especially loved the fact we could see how clean the air was on the LED screen on the front.

Cooling is also excellent, especially as the fan oscillates 350 degrees, so works wherever you are in the room. It also works with voice services and an easy-to-use app, and has a night mode, so we had no trouble sleeping when it was on.

No other fan in this round-up has quite the year-round bang for its buck, but you’ll need to be sure you’ll use all its features before blowing the budget on it.

Beldray handheld mini portable fan

best fan

  • Best : Handheld fan
  • Type : Handheld fan
  • Speed settings : One
  • Size : 7cm x 6cm x 10cm
  • Weight : Unspecified
  • Keeping you cool on the move

It’s all very well decking out your house with the latest high-tech fans, but that won’t help much when you’re out and about. Stash a teeny handheld model in your bag and you can still keep your cool when you’re commuting, or even on the beach.

Obviously, a dinky fan won’t bring your overall body temperature down, but it really does help just to feel the breeze on your face when it’s sweltering.

This Beldray model does all you’ll need for a great price. It has two blades, is suitably lightweight to carry all day and is only 10cm long. Plus, it’s operated with two AA batteries – which we were impressed to see were included – so it won’t need a daily charge. Our junior testers were big fans (sorry) of it, too.

Tower cavaletto 12in metal desk fan

best fan

  • Best : Stylish fan
  • Oscillation : 80 degrees
  • Size : 25cm x 34cm x 42cm
  • Weight : 2.85kg
  • Nice design
  • Decent cooling abilities
  • No remote control
  • Need to sit close to it to reap benefits

There’s no avoiding the fact electric fans aren’t the most attractive household gadgets, yet they’re impossible to hide when the weather’s hot. Also available in black and grey, this pink and rose-gold-coloured version is easily the most glamorous model we tested, and was even admired by visitors in our home – surely a first for a bog-standard fan.

It’s not just stylish either. With 35W of power, an adjustable head and 80-degree oscillation, it did a decent job of cooling us down, too. While it won’t work too well if you’re sitting on the other side of the room – there’s no remote, either – it’s perfect for using at a desk, dinner or bedside table. There’s even a carry handle to take it between rooms, as needed.

Princess smart wifi-connected tower fan

best fan

  • Best : Tower fan
  • Noise : 55dB
  • Size : 105cm x 33.5cm x 33.5cm
  • Weight : 5.86kg
  • Range of handy features
  • Stylish design
  • Fairly noisy when on highest setting

You don’t have to spend a fortune to get some of the gizmos and good looks for which the priciest models are known. This Princess tower fan is one of the most stylish fans we tested, with its triangular shape and smart black-and-silver design. It can also be controlled with a remote, an accompanying app or voice assistants, including Amazon Alexa and Google Home.

Although the smart controls are fairly basic compared with the priciest fans, they still worked well and made it easy to operate the fan without actually getting off the sofa.

Other handy functions include a timer, personalised programs and three wind speeds, including normal, natural or sleep. The highest setting seemed a little noisy when we used it while watching TV, but lower settings were barely noticeable, so, we had no trouble sleeping with this fan purring away in the corner.

Black + Decker digital tower fan

Blank 2040 x 1536 (1).png

  • Best : Remote control fan
  • Size : 81cm x 31cm
  • Weight : ‎4kg
  • Eight-hour timer option
  • Oscillates 90 degrees
  • Magnetic remote control for safe storage
  • Black design would stand out in light coloured room

With an eight-hour timer that can be adjusted by one hour increments, this clever fan is perfect for summer nights. Set it to operate for a couple of hours, which is long enough to help you reach a deep level of sleep, then it will turn off automatically, so you don’t over cool the room. It also helps keep electricity bills low, as you’re not using the fan the entire night.

There’s a remote control, which you can keep next to the bed, so you can adjust the settings while lying down and conserving energy. Even on the highest setting, it emits barely a murmur, so we had no trouble drifting off with this fan in the bedroom.

Able to oscillate 90 degrees, this fan is brilliant at moving cold air around a room. This makes a room feel less stuffy and humid. Even better, you can easily move it between rooms, thanks to an integrated carry handle. When you’re done sleeping, carry it into the kitchen for breakfast and then leave it in your home office to create a productive working environment. At 4kg, you can lift it with one hand and it doesn’t feel too bulky in a room.

JML my foldaway fan

Blank 2040 x 1536 (2).png

  • Best : Fan for small spaces
  • Type : Pedestal and desk fan
  • Size : 197cm x 197cm x 102cm
  • Weight : ‎1kg
  • Collapsible for use when travelling
  • Slightly flimsy base

Weighing just 900g, this unique fan can be collapsed, so you can take it on the move. At it’s full size, it’s over a metre in height, at it’s smallest it’s no bigger than a compact portable speaker. Charge it via the included USB cable and you’ll get up to 10 hours of power. You can use it outside at a picnic or party as well as inside your home. It would also fare well on camping trips, cooling down a tent or caravan fast, with no need to be placed near a plug socket. The only place we might not put it would be a child’s bedroom, as the base seems less sturdy than some of the other fans we tested.

Despite its diminutive size, this foldaway fan is surprisingly powerful. Position it a few metres from the bed or sofa, and you’ll still feel a breeze. For this reason, we suggest operating it on the lowest of the three settings if you’re planning to use it as a desk fan. Thankfully, the motor is whisper quiet, so it won’t distract you from your work or intefere with sleep.

Honeywell HYF290E quiet tower fan

honeywell.jpg

  • Best : Fan for ease of use
  • Noise : 48dB
  • Speed setting : Eight
  • Size : 27.3cm x 20.9cm x 83.4cm
  • Eight speed settings
  • Sturdy base

If you’re constantly changing your mind about how cool you want a room to be, this is the fan to invest in. Eight different speed settings offer a lot of opportunity to tinker with the controls to create the perfect conditions but there’s no need to get up from what you’re doing, as a handy remote control allows you to adjust the blast of air in milliseconds. When you leave the room, store the remote control in the special pocket at the back of the fan and it will always be ready to use when you need it.

We like that there’s an LED display on the top of the unit, so you know what setting it’s on – this gave us peace of mind that it was operating as it should. The display can be dimmed at night if you need the room to be dark before you drift off to sleep, though. Other handy functions include a timer and 80 degrees of oscillation to help the cooled airflow around the room. We also approved of the sturdy base, which would be useful in a home with pets or young children.

Winique clip-on stroller fan

  • Best : Fan for children
  • Type : Clip-on fan
  • Noise : 57dB
  • Oscillation : 360 degrees
  • Size : 6.6cm x 13.7cm x 27.9cm
  • Weight : 330g
  • Easy to attach to a stroller or car seat
  • Not very eco-friendly

Babies, toddlers and a heatwave are a terrible combination but there are occasions when you need to get out of the house for everyone’s sanity. Enter this genius portable fan, which could help prevent some major meltdowns. Simply wrap the stretchy legs around the safety bar on a buggy, pram or car seat and your little one will be relieved by a fresh breeze near their face. An added bonus is that parents can lean over and benefit from the cooling sensation whenever they need it.

For less than £20, there’s a huge amount of useful features. One is that it rotates 360 degrees to provide airflow from different directions. Another is that the flexible ‘octopus’ legs can be wound around a bar multiple times, so your baby can’t pick it up mid-ride. Don’t worry, there’s a lot of thick plastic on the outside, so your baby will never be able to touch the blades and incur an injury. As we all know how important nap time is, the fan operates at less than 57dB, so it won’t disturb little ones while they drift off.

Do I need a desk fan or tower fan?

Before buying your fan, we’d recommend thinking about where you’d like it to go and its purpose in your home. Desk fans are much more compact than tower fans and are designed to sit on your work table . This also means they tend to blow air only in a small space, which can be perfect for cooling you down while you work.

Meanwhile, tower fans are better equipped to cool down a whole room, but they take up more space and need to be kept on the floor.

Electric fans vs air conditioners

Put simply, both will keep you cool, but they work quite differently. While electric fans tend to be much more budget-friendly than air conditioners, they aren’t always as powerful.

Electric fans work by moving air around the room, making you feel cooler. Air conditioners, on the other hand, actually cool the temperature of the room, making them a more powerful alternative to the humble electric fan.

Of course, that means the price of an air conditioner will likely be higher than that of a fan. On average, you can expect to pay between £250 and £500 for a portable air conditioner, while a fan could set you back much less – often around £100. You’ll also need to regularly clean dust filters if you opt for aircon.

There is the environmental aspect to consider, too. Air conditioners can be hefty machines that often take up more space and energy in your home. With energy consumption contributing towards climate change, it can be viewed as counterproductive to use more energy to try and keep us cooler.

Is there a fan that blows cold air?

Most fans don’t blow cold air. They simply move air particles around your room faster, making you feel cooler without actually pumping out a cool breeze. If cooler air is what you’re after, a portable air conditioner may be your best option.

Where’s the best place to position a fan in a room?

The million-dollar question. Finding the perfect position for your fan should make at least some difference. We put the question to Duux’s brand manager, Chloe King. She recommends: “When the outside temperature is cooler than the inside temperature, try putting the fan in front of an open window, to blow cool air from outside into the room.”

Similarly, when choosing a particular model, King noted: “Air circulation is key, so, consider a fan that oscillates both horizontally and vertically.” Finally, she recommends opting for a fan that is adaptable and portable, so it “can be effortlessly changed from full to table height, allowing for greater flexibility between rooms and positions”.

Does putting ice in front of a fan work?

It may not do the job as well as an air conditioner, but putting ice in front of a fan can really blow cooler air around your room. It works by chilling the air that your fan blows out, which will circulate a cooler breeze.

What are the most common types of fan?

  • Tower fans: These tall, thin fans have an oscillating cooling device stretching vertically. They are good for cooling down a whole room while taking up very little floor space.
  • Stand or pedestal fan: These floor fans feature a traditional cooling unit that sits on an adjustable stand. Many allow you to direct the airflow to where it’s needed.
  • Desk fan: These compact styles are designed to sit straight on your tabletop and offer short-range, directional airflow for personal cooling. They are both space and cost-efficient.
  • Handheld fan: Great for travelling, you can slip these battery-operated fans into your pocket or handbag and bring them out as required.
  • Ceiling fan: These fans, consisting of a rotating blade that hangs from the ceiling, circulate air at different speeds whenever required. Great for those who want a more permanent option.
  • Bladeless fan: Available as freestanding or desk varieties, these new-age fans work with an electric motor that pulls in air through small vents in the base, then forces it upwards and out at high speeds through the circular ring above. Good for efficiency, modern looks and safety.

What features should I look out for?

  • Oscillating: Instead of focusing the air in a single direction, oscillating fans sweep the airflow across the room. Some fans give you the option of different oscillation patterns and speeds.
  • Speed settings: Most fans have at least three settings, so you can adjust the amount of cool air you get, with some offering significantly more.
  • Adjustable height and angle: This is particularly useful if the fan doesn’t have oscillating capabilities.
  • Timer: A programmable timer enables you to set your fan to start and stop running at certain times – great if you want to come back to a cool house after work.
  • Auto shut-off: A useful safety feature, particularly if you’re likely to fall asleep with the fan running.
  • Remote control: A great solution if you don’t want to get up to change the speed or set the timer.
  • Noise output: While some people can easily ignore the white noise of a fan, others find it highly irritating, especially in bedrooms, so you might want to look for a model designed to be quiet.
  • Size and weight: This is important to consider if you want a fan that is easily transportable and can be stored away in the winter months.
  • Built-in heater: Some fans combine heating and cooling capabilities in a single model. You’ll pay more for it, but it will save you the trouble of buying a separate heater in wintertime.
  • Built-in air purifier: This can be a saviour for people with pollen or dust allergies – but it will increase the price tag.
  • Safety: If you have young children or pets, it’s worth bearing in mind the hazards of getting fingers or paws caught in the blades of a full-speed traditional-style fan.

How much does it cost to run a fan?

According to research by the price comparison website Uswitch, “a 120W electric fan costs approximately 2p an hour to run”, so keeping it on for 12 hours a day will cost you 24p, which works out at £1.68 per week.

At 44p per hour, portable air conditioning units are more expensive. Uswitch found that, on average, people have their units on for four hours 18 minutes during the day, and four hours 48 minutes at night. This means it could “drive up electricity bills by £28 per week” during the warmer months. As such, a fan is a far cheaper option.

How much electricity does a fan use?

Finding out how much electricity a fan uses depends on the model you have, but you can actually calculate it by dividing the wattage by 1,000 to give the amount of energy it uses per hour. For a 120W fan, for example, divide by 1,000 and you’ll get 0.129. If you’ll be using it for 12 hours a day, multiply 0.129 by 12 and you’ll get 1.548kW, which is how much electricity the fan uses.

The verdict: Fans

For a fan that can do it all, you can’t go wrong with the Vortex Air cleanse . As it’s an air purifier, heater and fan in one, it’s excellent value for money. The Duux whisper smart fan was also able to cool a room quickly for a similar price and we were impressed by how quiet it was. If you don’t want to spend that much money on a fan, the Beurer personal air cooler will keep you comfortable while working from home in a heatwave.

Keep extra cool this summer, with our guide to the best portable air conditioners for your home

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  • Travel Products

Amazon's Top-rated Portable Neck Fans Will Be Your 'Best Purchase of the Season' — and They're All Under $20

Beat the heat with these high-powered neck fans that won't let you down.

best travel fan for cooling

Travel + Leisure / Madison Woiten

As a travel writer, I’m always looking for ways to make exploring as seamless as possible. And with the hot temperatures not giving up anytime soon, finding ways to beat the heat while still enjoying the outdoors is a top priority. Thankfully, there’s an ingenious solution: portable neck fans . These nifty gadgets provide hands-free cooling , allowing you to enjoy summertime afternoon hikes, walking tours, beachside suntanning, dinners al fresco, and more without overheating.

Portable neck fans have swiftly gained popularity as summer staples for good reason; they offer a cool relief from the summer heat without the need to carry around a bulky fan. Plus, their ergonomic designs allow them to comfortably fit around your neck and make for great on-the-go must-haves that can just be tossed in your bag or suitcase. 

To even further streamline all of your summer and outdoor adventures, we've handpicked the best portable neck fans at Amazon, each of which are on sale for $20 or less. With a few different styles and models picked out — some geared towards those with a flair for aesthetics and others for functionality — there’s a fan for everyone. But the one thing that they all have in common is that they’ll help keep you cool all summer long. Ready to embrace the freedom and convenience of portable neck fans? Read on for our top picks. 

Jialexin Personal Neck Fan

If you’re looking for a fan that has a sleek and modern look, the Jialexin Personal Neck Fan is for you. It’s designed with a bladeless twin-turbine system, ensuring a noise-free and hair-friendly experience. And for Amazon shoppers, this fan is their secret power to beating the hot temps this summer. One raved about it in their review , sharing, “We are going through a massive heat wave this summer and this product has been my lifesaver.” And since it's on sale for $18, you’ll want to stock up on a few for your friends and family. 

Dglk Portable Neck Fan

If you’re looking for a neck fan that takes cooling to the next level, consider the shopper-loved Dglk Portable Neck Fan. Unlike traditional fans, this innovative device is designed to sit comfortably on around your neck, and the decentralized annular air outlet circulates air all around to keep you cool — even on the hottest days. It’s also rechargeable with a USB base and it holds a charge that lasts up to six hours. According to one customer , it's a "must-have," and they even dubbed it their “best purchase of the season.” And it can be yours, too, for only $18. 

Amacool Neck Fan

As its name suggests, this Amacool model is a hands-free wearable fan that offers hassle-free cooling. It has an adjustable design that allows you to direct the airflow precisely wherever you need it most. But its real stand-out feature is its versatility; put it on your desk while you work or prop it up on your car dashboard for seamless cooling. Hot sleepers, you won't regret setting it up on your nightstand. And it's even earned a stamp of approval from a Florida-based shopper , who called it “amazing,” adding that they “think I'm going to have a hard time not using this now that I have it.” They also mentioned, "I used it at work today and my face didn't get red one time…It lasted my entire five-hour shift." Rechargeable, foldable, and lightweight, it’s a travel-friendly choice at just $12. 

Aocoolfan Portable Neck Fan

The Aocool Portable Neck Fan is designed with flexibility and cooling comfort in mind. Featuring a wide air outlet and three settings — sleep wind, natural wind, and strong wind — users can tailor the airflow to their liking. One traveler called this “light but sturdy” fan a “lifesaver” after “using [it] everyday while walking in the hot sun” on a two-week Europe trip. It also sits on a convenient lanyard or bracket that can be comfortably worn around your neck, propped up on a table, or even tied on your waist. It fully charges in just under two hours and provides up to seven hours of cooling power. 

AP-Jous Bladeless Neck Fan

Made with soft, skin-friendly silicone, the Bladeless Neck Fan by Ap-Jous sits comfortably around your shoulders for on-the-go relief. With its 24 fan blades, it’s a powerhouse that provides optimal cooling. This fan is not only able to be twisted in any direction or angle, but it also has built-in 360-degree surround-blowing wind for flexible chilling (literally and figuratively) wherever the day takes you. A shopper that works 12-hour days called it the “best fan ever” and was impressed that it “lasts me the whole day.”

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best travel fan for cooling

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Beat the heat with these shopper- and editor-loved portable fans — all under $26

best travel fan for cooling

A heat wave is sweeping the country this week, bringing potentially record-breaking temperatures to parts of the East Coast and Midwest. And summer hasn't even officially started yet.

Since we can't stay inside of our comfortably air conditioned homes forever, when it comes time to venture out into the heat, many of us have been turning to an age-old classic to help us stay cool — handheld fans. In New York City, it seems like every time I get on the subway I notice at least one person carrying a portable fan in their hands, ranging from classic folding fans to electronic and misting options.

To help you beat the heat, we're sharing some top-rated options that you can stick in your bag to help you stay cool while on the go.

Best portable fans, according to editors | Best portable fans, according to shoppers | How we chose

The best portable fans, according to editors

Jisulife handheld mini fan.

JISULIFE Handheld Mini Fan, 3 IN 1 Hand Fan, Portable USB Rechargeable Small Pocket Fan, Battery Operated Fan [14-21 Working Hours] with Power Bank, Flashlight Feature for Women,Travel,Outdoor-Pink, 1 Count (Pack of 1)

Handheld Mini Fan

  • Up to 19 hours of cooling
  • Doubles as power bank
  • Getting it open can be tough

This bestselling option has an impressive five-star average rating from more than 42,000 reviewers, and features two speeds and up to 19 hours of cooling time, the brand says.

Associate editor Kamari Stewart says that she bought this fan for a concert, but it quickly became a staple in her bag. "It’s a fan, portable charger and flashlight that all fits in the palm of your hand. The fan is surprisingly powerful and has several speeds. I find it most helpful when I’m waiting for the subway because it’s so hot down there."

best travel fan for cooling

Infini Breeze Neck Fan

Neck Fan

  • Rechargeable

Editor Vivien Moon says that this neck fan is "really worth it." "I love how lightweight it is and that it’s rechargeable as well as flexible to fit around my neck and into the little case that it comes with. It has three settings and shows the percentage that is left on it which is very helpful so that I know when I need to recharge it. I also love how cute it is and that the colors it comes in are very chic and aren’t obnoxious so it’s almost like an accessory."

best travel fan for cooling

The best portable fans, according to shoppers

Amajiji hand held bamboo silk folding fan .

Hand Held Bamboo Silk Folding Fan

Hand Held Bamboo Silk Folding Fan

  • "Strong and durable"
  • Folds to portable size
  • "Smaller than expected"

This folding fan is a hot item right now — according to Amazon, more than 1,000 shoppers have bought the popular pick in the past month.

"Not only does it look classy, but it’s sleek, works wonderfully, and can fit in almost any slim space that isn’t too short!" one shopper wrote. "I take this with me everywhere because I am sensitive to heat. It doesn’t take much work to get a good breeze from this fan. It also opens and closes smoothly."

Fansofffan Fabric Fan with a Tassel 

Fabric Fan

This fabric fan is just $8, so you might as well grab a couple of different color options to match all of your outfits!

HonHey Handheld Fan 

Handheld Fan

Handheld Fan

  • Misting function
  • Adjustable speeds
  • Mist is light

Not only does this fan have three adjustable speeds, but it also has a misting function to up the cooling factor. The pocket-sized fan comes with a lanyard, so when you're not stashing it in your bag, you can wear it around your neck.

O2COOL Deluxe Handheld Misting Fan

Deluxe Misting Fan

Deluxe Misting Fan

  • "Powerful fan"
  • Finger-safe blades
  • Battery operated

If the misting function is what you're after, this fan has an even larger tank to hold more water. It also has a wide opening, so you can add ice to make the mist even cooler. Shoppers say it's great for music festivals, theme park days and more.

TriPole Mini Handheld Fan

Mini Handheld Fan

Mini Handheld Fan

  • Rechargeable battery
  • Anti-slip handle
  • Short battery life

"Currently traveling in Greece amid the heat wave where temps surpassed 105 degrees F. This fan was a lifesaver!" wrote one of the more than 16,000 reviewers who gave this fan a perfect five-star rating. "When not carrying it while walking, I was able to prop it on the table at outdoor dining to cool me. Highly recommended!"

Jisulife Portable Neck Fan

JISULIFE Portable Neck Fan, Hands Free Bladeless Fan, 4000 mAh Battery Operated Wearable Personal Fan, Leafless, Rechargeable, Headphone Design, USB Powered Desk Fan,3 Speeds-Grey

Portable Neck Fan

Stay cool just about anywhere you travel this summmer with this neck fan.

  • 78 wind outlets
  • Up to 16 hours battery life
  • Can be noisy

If you typically have your hands full on your morning commute, you don't want to add another item into the mix. Thankfully this fan can rest right on your neck to provide a nice, hands-free breeze. It has 78 ventilation holes in different spots to ensure that your entire face and neck stay cool.

How we chose

To help you stay cool, we sorted through some of the most popular portable fans across retailers to compile this list of bestselling and top-rated styles.

best travel fan for cooling

Emma Stessman is a writer for Shop TODAY.

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The Best Portable Fans at Amazon for Summer: Keep Cool at Festivals, While Traveling & More

portable fans

Beat the heat in any situation this spring with the best portable fans available on Amazon for less.

The peak of summer is here, and the hottest days of the year are burning up. To stay fresh with the season of sunshine, summer travel and outdoor events, you'll need a few things: sunscreen , breathable bedding , water bottles to help you stay hydrated and cooling fans for every situation possible. Luckily, Amazon has some of the most-loved personal fans deeply discounted for summer. 

Shop the Amazon Sale

Unless you plan on staying inside with air conditioning all season long, it's a good idea to invest in a portable fan or two to help beat the heat . Whether your spring plans include music festivals, long travel days, outdoor hikes or beach time, a portable fan provides instant relief from the sun and humidity. But you don't have to spend a lot to keep your cool.

To help you make the most of your spring 2024 plans, we've found the best portable fan deals at the Amazon Big Spring Sale. From foldable options that fit in your pocket to handy neck fans and USB-powered desk fans, there are so many ways to bring a cooling breeze to any situation.

The Best Portable Fans for Summer 

Gaiatop portable neck fan.

Gaiatop Portable Neck Fan

This bladeless fan has 3 modes to make the airflow exactly as you want: low speed, medium speed and high speed. High speeds are very powerful to cool you down more effectively. 

Jisulife Handheld Mini Fan

Jisulife Handheld Mini Fan

With over 41,000 five-star ratings, this battery-powered pocket fan is a best-seller for a reason thanks to its foldable design that is perfect for a hot day at the shore.

Aluan Handheld Fan Mini Fan

Aluan Handheld Fan Mini Fan

At under $15, you can purchase several of these portable fans to keep in your purse, desk and more.

Psecici Handheld Fan

Psecici Handheld Fan

You can use this portable option as a handheld fan, desk fan or neck fan, depending on your needs for the day.

Aocoolfan Mini Handheld Fan Portable Neck Fan

Aocoolfan Mini Handheld Fan Portable Neck Fan

This wearable neck fan is perfect for music festivals, hikes and long travel days.

FlyItem USB Mini Portable Fan

FlyItem USB Mini Portable Fan

This tiny portable comes with a sponge that you can soak and insert to produce cool air.

Scurry Portable Neck Fan

Scurry Portable Neck Fan

Not only does this neck fan keep you cool, but it also can be used as an aromatherapy tool and comes with color-changing LED lights.

snawowo Mini Baby Stroller Fan

snawowo Mini Baby Stroller Fan

While this waterproof fan was built to clip onto strollers, its bendy arms mean you can use it virtually anywhere.

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best travel fan for cooling

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The Best Portable Cooling Fans of 2024

Check out our top picks, from large towers to handheld fans.

best travel fan for cooling

Related To:

Our top fan picks:.

  • Best Tower Fan: Honeywell QuietSet Whole Room Tower Fan
  • Best Fan for Sleep: Rowenta Turbo Silence Standing Fan
  • Best Oscillating Fan: Lasko Portable Electric Oscillating Tower Fan
  • Best Desktop Fan: Honeywell Kaz Tabletop Air-Circulator Fan
  • Best Purifying Fan: Blueair Blue Pure Purifying Fan
  • Best Personal Fan: Woozoo 7" Blade Personal Air Circulator Fan
  • Best Handheld Fan: Comfort Zone 4” Handheld Rechargeable Fan
  • Best Stroller Fan: WiHoo Mini Handheld Stroller Fan
  • Best Camping Fan: Luno Car Camping Fan
  • Best Box Fan: Lasko 20" 3-Speed White Box Fan
  • Best Bladeless Fan: GreenTech PureFlow QT7 Bladeless Fan
  • Best Splurge Fan: Dyson Pure Cool TP01 Purifying Fan

We’re headed into the dog days of summer with stifling, unending humid heat, so if you don’t have a quality cooling fan, now is the time to buy one. And even if you have an air conditioning system, it’s always a good idea to have a fan just in case the power goes out. There are a lot of options for cooling fans, from the ultra-expensive Dyson towers to tiny fans that clip on a table edge ; so, if you’re wondering what the best cooling fan is for your home and your budget, we’ve compiled a guide to make shopping a breeze. We’ve researched and price-compared to create the ultimate list of top-rated cooling fans. Whether you’re looking for a quiet fan for sleep or an oscillating fan for the living room, we’ve found the best buy for every need.

Best Tower Fan

Honeywell landed on our list of best portable AC units more than once, so it’s no surprise that the cooling company ranks well for fans, too. One of the best tower fans on the market right now is the Honeywell QuietSet Whole Room Tower Fan. Just take a look at the more than 17,000 five-star ratings on Amazon. At less than $50, it’s a budget-friendly, all-around smart buy as it can do a little bit of everything, from a quiet sleep mode to cooling large spaces.

best travel fan for cooling

Honeywell QuietSet Whole Room Tower Fan

Best fan for sleep.

If you run hot at night, you need a fan that can run at a high speed without sounding like you’re sleeping in a wind tunnel. While most fans come with a “sleep mode” or “quiet setting,” one of the biggest mistakes people make when they buy a fan for the bedroom is that it’s not tall enough to reach the bed. You could buy the world’s best tower fan, but if it’s not tall enough, you’ll just be cooling the dust bunnies under the bed. This oscillating standing fan from Rowenta has earned some serious praise from Amazon shoppers (more than 5,000!) for its “turbo silence.”

best travel fan for cooling

Rowenta Turbo Silence Standing Fan

Best oscillating fan.

Oscillating fans, or fans that can swivel and turn, are great for family rooms because the air is more evenly circulated. Plus, everyone gets a breeze instead of one lucky person in the breezeway. While the Honeywell above does have an oscillating option, this Lasko tower has more bells and whistles such as Bluetooth connectivity with your device and an energy-efficient auto shut-off timer.

best travel fan for cooling

Lasko Portable Electric Oscillating Tower Fan

Best desktop fan.

Another Honeywell fan that consistently ranks well is this tiny tabletop model. It’s perfect for homework stations, garage work tables and home office setups. The fan has a 90-degree pivot so you can alternate between room circulation and direct airflow.

best travel fan for cooling

Honeywell Kaz Tabletop Air-Circulator Fan

Best purifying fan.

Dyson consistently ranks as the best fan for purifying the air, but it’s a serious splurge at nearly $400. For about half the cost, the Blueair features a washable filter that removes up to 99 percent of allergens and pollen in the air. Plus, the design is really cute.

best travel fan for cooling

Blueair Blue Pure Purifying Fan

Best personal fan.

Even if you have a window unit or central air, there are benefits to plugging in a fan, too. Fans can help cool specific rooms so you’re not running the AC (and your AC bill) at full blast 24/7. This personal fan from IRIS USA is great for cooling smaller rooms such as a home office or running in addition to the AC to cool off a hot kitchen or for at-home workouts.

best travel fan for cooling

Woozoo 7" Blade Personal Air Circulator Fan

Best handheld fan.

Throw this mini fan from Comfort Zone in your bag the next time you head out for some fun in the sun. It’s a godsend on piping hot days. This baby features a rechargeable lithium ion battery and can run up to three hours on one charge.

best travel fan for cooling

Comfort Zone 4” Handheld Rechargeable Fan

Best stroller fan.

Keep your little one nice and cool on summer walks with a portable fan that clips right to the stroller. The flexible silicone legs can be bent at an angle to grip or wrap around virtually anything. Plus, it's both USB- and battery-powered with three to eight working hours off a single charge. The fan comes with three different speeds that are all super quiet just in case she falls asleep. And with more than 14,000 positive reviews, you know you're getting a parent-approved product. If the design of this type of fan with flexible legs for attaching doesn't work with your specific stroller, like it didn't for HGTV editor Molly Miller, consider this clip-on stroller fan that Molly tried and loved instead.

best travel fan for cooling

WiHoo Mini Handheld Stroller Fan

best travel fan for cooling

This $23 Mini Fan From Amazon Is a Must-Have for Summer

Have your coolest summer ever with this personal fan that goes everywhere you do.

Best Camping Fan

Whether you're attempting #Vanlife for the first time or you're a seasoned camper, this mini USB fan from Luno is a game changer for car camping — or sleeping in any pull trailer — in the summer. And the suction cup holder is surprisingly sturdy despite its small size.

best travel fan for cooling

Car Camping Fan

Best box fan.

If you need a fan for the garage, craft studio or any other DIY space, you can't go wrong with a no-fuss box fan. And honestly, even if you have AC in your home and don't need a fan to keep cool, it's always a good idea to have a fan handy should a basement flood or an appliance leak. A box fan is a cheap way to dry a room out so mold doesn't get there first. This Lasko unit is a no-brainer. It's under $25 and slim enough to store under the bed or in the back of the closet if you're tight on space.

best travel fan for cooling

Lasko 20" 3-Speed White Box Fan

Best bladeless fan.

If you have curious little ones or mischievous fur babies, a bladeless fan will give you some extra peace of mind. The GreenTech pureFlow QT7 is tiny (and under $100!) but don't let its size or price tag fool you. This compact unit features 90-degree vertical and horizontal oscillation as well as a dozen different fan settings. It's praised by Amazon shoppers for being powerful and quiet.

best travel fan for cooling

GreenTech Environmental PureFlow QT7 Bladeless Fan

Best splurge fan.

We can't talk about fans without mentioning a Dyson fan. The vacuum empire has earned quite the reputation for its air purifier and fan combo units. If budget is no concern, you want the Pure Cool Tower. The TP01 unit starts at just under $400, which might sound kind of bananas for a fan, but this fan removes 99.97 percent of pollutants and allergens as small as 0.3 microns. The filter even traps pet dander. Fans praise this unit specifically for its steady, smooth stream of chilly air.

best travel fan for cooling

Dyson Pure Cool TP01 Purifying Fan

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Follow Select

These personal fans will keep you cool — even in a heat wave

Shop our team’s favorite neck and handheld fans.

When walking outside in 90-degree weather, covered with sweat, a cool breeze on your skin is indescribable. That’s where personal fans come in — they can make you feel instantly cool and comfortable amid steamy, humid temps. You can place them on desks , clip them to strollers or use them as a handheld option when you are out and about, according to Christy Hayes, head of brand marketing at VeSync , a provider of smart home products that sells fans from brands like Levoit. (Since VeSync sells fans, we only spoke with Hayes about shopping guidance and tips, and did not ask her for specific product recommendations.)

Personal fans include neck fans and handheld fans, and their biggest draw is that they’re portable, easy to charge or battery-operated and can provide a quick shot of air when needed, according to experts. 

SKIP AHEAD The best personal fans of 2024 | How to shop for a personal fan

Selected. Our top picks

best travel fan for cooling

select Do cooling towels actually work?

The best personal fans of 2024.

The below options include staff favorites and top-rated options, which, according to expert guidance, have an average rating of four stars from over 1,000 reviews.   

Comlife Bladeless Neck fan

Comlife Bladeless Neck fan

The Comlife neck fan is a favorite of NBC Select associate updates editor Zoe Malin ’s for its long battery life and lightweight design. “I walk to work, which is miserable in the hot, humid summer,” she says. “I wear this on my walk to give me a cool breeze and make the commute a bit more bearable.” She also likes that it’s rechargeable and stores away easily in her bag during the day. Since it’s bladeless, your hair shouldn’t get tangled in it and you can adjust it to sit in a comfortable position around your neck, according to the brand. 

Type: Neck fan | Weight: 9.7 ounces

Jisulife Personal Wearable Neck Fan

JISULIFE Neck Fan, Personal Wearable Fan

JISULIFE Neck Fan, Personal Wearable Fan

Editorial director Lauren Swanson bought two of these neck fans for her and her husband. "I brought these to a picnic during a heat wave and let me tell you, all my friends were obsessed with it," she says. It's rechargeable and blows air on your neck and face to keep you cool. It's important to note that it can be noisy to wear this until you get used to it.

Type: Neck fan | Weight: 10.1 ounces

A woman wearing a white personal neck fan while walking outdoors

Torras Coolify Neck Air Conditioner

Torras Coolify Neck Air Conditioner

This battery-powered personal fan, which has an adjustable neckband so you can control the width for comfort, is a favorite of mine. I love how much relief it provides on extra hot days — it feels like ice against my neck when activated, and has enough battery life to last my 30-minute commute to Jersey City and back, from New York City — though it drains faster on the highest mode. Since it has a cooling plate that sits at the back of your neck, it offers better cooling than a traditional fan with only air vents. Compared to other handheld and neck fans I’ve tried before, this one is faster and more efficient at keeping me cool for longer. Similar to other neck fan options on this list, it’s bladeless so it won’t get caught in your hair. Plus, I love how quiet it is. 

Type: Neck fan | Weight: 12.3 ounces

Snawowo Portable Baby Stroller Fan

Snawowo Portable Baby Stroller Fan

“My bathroom gets so hot and humid after I shower, so trying to do my makeup in there makes me feel like I’m suffocating,” says Malin. “I bought this fan to help me cool off.” You can prop it up or wrap its flexible legs around your sink or shower, plus you can also attach it to a stroller, treadmill or bike to take on the go with you. The rechargeable fan also doubles as a smartphone stand, according to the brand. 

Type: Handheld or tabletop | Weight:   11.3 ounces

Jisulife Mini Handheld Fan

Jisulife Mini Handheld Fan

This fan is very compact — it’s small enough to fit in the back pocket of your jeans, according to NBC Select writer Bethany Heitman . It has three fan speeds, is rechargeable via a USB-C port and has removable fan covers that make it easy to clean, according to the brand. Weighing just 3 ounces, it’s also the lightest option on our list. 

Type: Handheld | Weight: 3 ounces

O2cool Deluxe Handheld Water Misting Fan 

O2cool Deluxe Handheld Water Misting Fan

O2cool Deluxe Handheld Water Misting Fan

This battery-powered fan has a built-in misting function, which helps you cool off further, according to Malin, who’s used it at camps, on hikes and anytime she’s outdoors on a hot summer day. You can use it with or without the misting function, but adding ice to this fan through the wide mouth opening will ensure you get a cooling breeze, according to the brand. It requires two AA batteries, which are included in your purchase.

Type: Handheld  | Weight: 7 ounces

Jisulife Handheld Pocket Fan

Jisulife Handheld Pocket Fan

“I really like this option because it’s a portable fan, flashlight and charger all in one,” says former NBC Page Carolyn Chun. “It’s also really relieved me from all the humidity in New York City recently,” she says. The fan’s foldable, which makes keeping it in your pocket or setting it on your desktop easy, according to Chun. It comes with both a USB-C and regular USB port, so you can charge your devices as needed with it. Plus, there’s an additional safety feature that automatically turns it off if you accidentally touch one of its blades. 

Type: Handheld | Weight: 5.9 ounces 

best travel fan for cooling

select The 15 Amazon fitness accessories that will help you crush your workout goals

How we picked the best personal fans .

We spoke with product specialists and NBC Select staff about their favorite personal fans. Based on our experts’ guidance, we kept the following factors in mind when sourcing top-rated options:

  • Type of fan: We included options for neck fans, handheld fans and battery-powered fans. Neck fans are typically better if you prefer a hands-free option. They sit around your neck and are always bladeless. Handheld fans are generally lighter than neck fans and are sometimes small enough to fit in your pocket.  
  • Battery source : Each fan on our list is either battery-powered or rechargeable. For the models on our list, if it requires batteries, they come included with the fan. 
  • Weight: Every item on our list weighs less than 12.5 ounces so you can easily carry it around. 

How to shop for a personal fan

If you’re in the market for a personal fan, here’s what our experts recommended keep in mind while shopping: 

  • Safety features: Fans with blades can pose a safety risk — if your hair gets caught it can get tangled and cause accidents, says Herman He, vice president of product and development at Dreo , a smart home appliance company known for their tower fans. (Since Dreo sells fans, we only spoke with He about general shopping advice. We did not ask him for product recommendations.) The blades may also cause damage to your fingers, which is why neck fans are generally bladeless and many handheld fans come with auto-off safety features in case you come into contact with the blades, according to He. 
  • Portability: Personal fans are typically portable, compact and miniature in size, according to He. They’re also either rechargeable or require batteries, which eliminates the need of having an outlet nearby at all times. 
  • Airflow: “If the motor is not powerful enough, then the fan may not provide users with a comfortable experience, even if they are operating at maximum wind speed,” says He. Make sure your personal fan offers multiple cooling modes or fan speeds to avoid this. 
  • Noise: While personal fans produce minimal noise because of their low speed, they can still be bothersome, according to He. In my experience, neck fans are fairly quiet, but higher speed settings will usually affect the sound level. 

Meet our experts

At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.

  • Christy Hayes is the head of brand and digital marketing at VeSync , a provider of smart home products including brands like Levoit and Corsori . Since VeSync sells fans, we only spoke with Hayes about shopping guidance and tips, and did not ask her for product recommendations.
  • Herman He is the vice president of Dreo , a smart home appliance company known for their tower fans. He is in charge of research and development of Dreo products, including fans and other home appliances. We only spoke with him for general shopping guidance and did not ask He for product recommendations.) 

Why trust NBC Select?

Nishka Dhawan is the former associate commerce editor at NBC Select. For this article, she spoke to NBC Select staff about their favorite personal fans and also interviewed product experts from brands like VeSync and Dreo on what to keep in mind while shopping. We did not include products from either VeSync or Dreo — we only relied on our experts for shopping guidance. 

Catch up on Select’s in-depth coverage of personal finance , tech and tools , wellness and more, and follow us on Facebook , Instagram , Twitter and TikTok to stay up to date.

best travel fan for cooling

Nishka Dhawan is a former associate commerce editor at NBC Select.

Select Staff on NBC News

Every product is independently selected by (obsessive) editors. Things you buy through our links may earn us a commission.

All the Best Cooling Sleep Gear (That We’ve Written About on the Strategist)

Portrait of Bella Druckman

In this article

Cooling sheets, cooling pillows, cooling mattresses, cooling mattress toppers, cooling weighted blankets, cooling pajamas, cooling sleep masks, cooling sleep gadgets.

If it seems impossible to find the cool side of your pillow during this heat wave — or if you’re still trying to find a solution for your night sweats — don’t worry. There are plenty of options for sleep gear that actually keeps you cool. From a cooling sleep mask (that also blocks out sunlight) to a mattress that draws heat away from your body, I’ve put together a list of all the best cooling sleep gear that has appeared on the Strategist. These items have been recommended by sleep experts — and by our writers and editors who have tested them out in their own homes. So instead of suffering through this sweaty weather, invest in some sleep gear that keeps you cool and well rested.

Best cooling cotton sheets overall

Quince Classic Organic Percale Sheet Set

According to Strategist bedding expert Lauren Ro, cooling sheets typically fall into two categories: sheets that promote air circulation and sheets that wick away moisture from sweaty sleepers. This set from Quince is best if you’re looking for some breathability, which can help with overheating, and lead to more restful nights. Ro says the sheets are “the crispest and most lightweight of all the bedding I have tried over the years.” She even felt cool sleeping in them during a summer heat wave with just the ceiling fan on, no AC.

Best sateen cooling cotton sheets

Silk & Snow Egyptian-Cotton Bedsheets

If you prefer soft and silky sheets over crisp sheets, you’re better off with these sateen sheets from Silk & Snow. They’re made from 100 percent certified long-staple Egyptian cotton, which is known for its breathability, durability, and softness. The sheets felt a little more lightweight than other sateen sheets made from Egyptian cotton, according to Ro.

Best cooling linen sheets

Brooklinen Linen Core Sheet Set (Queen)

Ro says linen is “a great choice for hot sleepers if you prefer a bit more heft in your bedding, as opposed to the cloudlike quality of cotton.” We recommend these sheets from Brooklinen, which are the Strategist’s favorite starter sheets , for their relative affordability and how light they feel.

Best cooling lyocell sheets

Sheets & Giggles Eucalyptus Lyocell Sheet Set (Queen)

Lyocell, otherwise known as eucalyptus, is an eco-friendly option for cooling sheets. Strategist contributor Lori Keong says the plant fibers soak up ten times less water than cotton, and the fabric itself is extra breathable. Sheets & Giggles specializes in lyocell sheets, and Dr. Margarita Oks , a pulmonologist at Lenox Hill Hospital, is a big fan of the brand’s sheets, which feel “so nice on somebody’s skin when they’re sweating at night,” she says.

Best cooling Tencel sheets

Molecule Percale Performance Sheet Set (Queen)

If you’re looking for something that promises breathability and moisture wicking, a set of Tencel is your best bet. Ben Trapskin, the founder of bedding-review site Yawnder , says the fabric is “better at absorbing moisture than most other fibers, making it great for sweaty sleepers,” and recommends this set because it’s made from a Tencel-cotton blend, which will give the sheets a more familiar feel for Tencel newbies. Plus, Tencel is naturally wrinkle-resistant and sustainable, so the sheets will look good and be good for the environment.

Best organic cooling bamboo sheets

BedVoyage Bamboo Sheet Set

It is possible to sleep in supersoft sheets without drowning in sweat overnight. The solution is bamboo sheets, which get high marks from sleep doctors for being soft, hypoallergenic, eco-friendly, and cool to the touch. These sheets in particular come recommended by Anishka Clarke, a co-owner of Ishka Designs , who says they’re “softer than you’d imagine. Supersoft. Like, baby soft on your skin” and extremely durable, generally lasting twice as long as cotton. The set comes in a variety of classic colors, including a shimmery sky blue and subtle stone gray.

Best (less expensive) cooling organic bamboo sheets

Quince Bamboo Sheet Set

You can still achieve that supersoft-cooling dichotomy with this highly affordable set of bamboo sheets that Ro says felt as silky as real silk. “They’re incredibly soft to the touch, drape well, and still look great after several washes,” she says. “And sleeping in them feels incredibly luxurious.”

Best (even less expensive) cooling bamboo sheets

Gokotta Bamboo Rayon Sheet Set (Queen)

For the non-organic conscious, these sheets are even more affordable. Airbnb host Brandon Lee says these 100 percent bamboo-rayon sheets “outperform almost every other bedsheet fabric I’ve tried including linen, cotton, and Egyptian silk.” He adds, this set is “not only softer and more lightweight” than other fabrics but moisture wicking too.

Best cooling bamboo-lyocell sheets

Ettitude Signature Sateen Sheet Set

Finally, for a slightly more ecoconscious choice, consider these bamboo lyocell sheets, whose manufacturing process requires less water and fewer chemicals. Strategist contributor and self-proclaimed “sweaty person” Jolie de Feis sleeps in these sheets and says, “As someone who has frequently slept on a towel to avoid changing my sheets multiple times per week, I am genuinely astonished every morning when I wake up sweat free.” She says they’re cooling, feel luxurious, and come in a range of pleasing colors and patterns.

Best cooling pillow overall

Avocado Green Pillow

Similar to cooling sheets, cooling pillows also fall into two categories: breathable pillows and physically cold pillows. Our favorite cooling pillow overall falls into the former because it’s filled with a mix of shredded latex and a natural fiber called kapok that allow for optimized airflow, lightness, and breathability. You can even adjust the filling yourself by unzipping the pillow’s inner case and removing some filling or adding more filling from the extra bag of fill that’s included with the pillow. “This adjustability, combined with high-quality breathable materials and a fair price of just over $100 per pillow, make the Avocado Green pillow my top pick for a cooling pillow,” explains our sleep writer Amelia Jerden.

Best memory-foam cooling pillow

Tempur-Cloud Breeze Dual Cooling Pillow

You should consider buying a memory-foam cooling pillow if you’re looking for a balance of support and comfort. This option from Tempur-Pedic “has large gel pads on both sides that span nearly the whole surface and genuinely feel cool to the touch,” Jerden writes. “And because there is a gel pad on each side, you can always flip the pillow over if you still start to feel too warm.” And since this pillow has a fairly high loft, it’s a great pick for side sleepers , according to Jerden.

Best (less expensive) memory-foam cooling pillow

DreamCloud Best Rest Memory Foam Pillow

Though Jerden named Tempur-Pedic’s Tempur-Cloud Breeze Dual Cooling Pillow the best cooling pillow overall, it’s expensive. For almost half the price, you can buy DreamCloud’s memory foam pillow, which has cooling gel distributed throughout the foam instead of layered on both sides like our top pick above. Jerden says the pillow’s cover, which is made from a polyester-polyethylene blend, is what made the pillow truly cooling because it has a cool-to-the-touch feel. Though she didn’t find it to be quite as cooling as Tempur-Pedic’s pillow, she says the DreamCloud “is a good cooling pillow for a much more affordable price.” Plus, she found it to be comfortable for both back and side sleeping.

[Editor’s note: The DreamCloud Best Rest pillow is currently out of stock. However, you can sign up for restock notifications on the product page.]

Best latex cooling pillow

Purple Harmony Pillow

Jerden has been happily sleeping on this latex pillow for the entire year, but it’s particularly effective at keeping you cool during summer months because of its perforated-latex core and Purple’s signature gel grid. She named it our best pillow for back sleepers because she’s primarily a back sleeper. I’m a stomach sleeper, though, and sleep on it every night with pleasure. Past comfort, Jerden writes, “One of its greatest qualities is how cool it stays.” She adds, “I often get a nice initial blast of coolness when I lie down for the night, after the pillow has gone untouched all day, and even as that initial coolness dissipates, I do not overheat.”

Best (less expensive) latex cooling pillow

Brooklyn Bedding Latex Pillow

If you’re losing sleep thinking about spending nearly $200 on one pillow, the Brooklyn Bedding Talalay Latex pillow is a perfectly good alternative for half the price. If maximum cooling is your top priority, Jerden still recommends considering the Purple pillow, but she says this one shines because it also “has a Tencel cover, a great material for temperature regulation, and ventilation holes in the latex core to allow for additional airflow.” She recommends the pillow’s low loft option for stomach and back sleepers and the pillow’s high loft option for back and side sleepers.

Best cooling pillow for neck pain

Saatva Latex Pillow

This pillow uses a pillow-within-a-pillow design to create a fluffy feel on the outside with sturdy support inside. While the inner pillow is filled with shredded latex, which Jerden reports is great for cooling, the outer pillow is filled with a super airy down alternative that further contributes to the pillow’s cooling capabilities. Jerden says the pillow is ideal for neck pain because “the outer pillow compressed beneath me and enveloped my head and neck, while the inner pillow kept my neck supported so it didn’t completely sink through the pillow.” And though she says the Saatva didn’t feel as cool to the touch as some other cooling pillows we’ve recommended, it still effectively regulates temperature thanks to its core of shredded-latex foam.

Best down-alternative cooling pillow

Buffy Cloud Pillow

If you’d prefer a down-alternative pillow, we recommend this one which is extra ecofriendly because it uses a synthetic fill made from recycled plastic bottles and a Tencel pillow cover that’s derived from wood pulp. Jerden found the pillow to have a pleasantly cool feel, and since it comes in three firmness levels, it caters to every sleeping position. While Jerden says the soft model is ideal for stomach sleepers, she recommends the medium and firm models for back and side sleepers.

Best soft cooling pillow

Cozy Earth Silk Pillow

“Silk is one of the most luxurious — and cooling — materials out there,” writes Jerden, and this pillow is filled with mulberry silk, “so it is not only incredibly plush and soft, but also stays quite cool.” Plus, the cover is made of bamboo viscose, a great fabric for temperature regulation and wicking away moisture, so you can enjoy a soft pillow without suffering from night sweats.

Best all-around cooling mattress

Tuft & Needle Mint Mattress

We named the Tuft & Needle Mint Mattress the best cooling mattress because it features extra cooling layers and a medium firmness that works for multiple sleep styles. Strategist writer Arielle Avila tested it out and says, “I didn’t really understand what the term ‘soft yet supportive’ meant until I slept on the Mint, but that’s exactly how I’d describe it.” As for the mattress’s cooling abilities, she adds, “There were a couple nights I forgot to turn my fan on and didn’t wake up drenched. My boyfriend, who runs hot like I do, remarked he didn’t get as hot sleeping on this mattress.”

Best (less expensive) cooling mattress

Zinus Ultra Cooling Green Tea - Hybrid

For a less expensive cooling mattress, consider this option from Zinus, which is also our favorite affordable mattress overall. Though Jerden initially had low expectations for the mattress because of its price, the mattress quickly impressed her, actively supporting her back with a touch of low-back cushioning from the soft foams. “The springs give the bed some support structure, keep it from feeling overly doughy, and give it a bit of bounce,” she adds. It features gel-infused memory foam similar to the cooling pillows above, which is engineered to provide breathability for hot sleepers looking for a restful night of sleep.

Best hybrid cooling mattress

Casper Wave Hybrid Snow Mattress

This mattress is like a regular Casper mattress, combined with multiple layers of cooling gel, and graphite (a common bedding material used to draw heat away from the body). Strategist writer Dominique Pariso sleeps extremely hot and put this mattress to the ultimate test by sleeping on it during the summer. “I was impressed with how well it regulated my temperature during the night,” she writes. “I didn’t wake up in sweaty sheets once, even during the hottest nights of the year.”

Best mattress with cooling gel

Purple Mattress

The makers of Jerden’s favorite pillow also offer a cooling gel mattress, which is our favorite of its kind. The Purple mattress is made in part from a proprietary polymer material that’s known for being moldable and has been used in medical beds, Dr. Scholl’s soles, and toy balls. It’s best for those who sleep hot and prefer a medium-firm mattress, which translates to “being cradled rather than smothered,” according to former Strategist deputy editor Jason Chen who tested out the mattress. The added support also prevented pockets from forming that could retain heat, a downside that Chen noticed with his previous mattress. “After a week, I was fully converted and found myself wanting to spend time in bed during the day: reading magazines, using my laptop, playing with the dog,” he says.

Best cooling mattress topper overall

ViscoSoft 4-Inch Active Cooling Memory-Foam Mattress Topper, Queen

If you’re not game to buy an entire new mattress, Jerden says a new topper can change the feel and cooling abilities of the one you already own. Our favorite contains phase-change material, which adjusts your bed’s temperature depending on your body: When you’re hot, the material liquifies” to absorb heat to keep you cool, and when you’re cool, “the material solidifies, trapping in the heat,” explains Joshua Tal, a psychologist specializing in sleep disorders. This one is one of the thicker options on this list, which allows you to achieve the trifecta of cooling, cushioning, and comfort. And unlike many memory-foam toppers that are spot-clean only, this one has a machine-washable cover.

Best (less expensive) cooling mattress topper

Nest Bedding Cooling Topper

Though this cooling topper has a lower price tag than our top pick, the biggest sacrifice you’ll make if you choose this option is on trial period (30 nights instead of 90 days) and thickness (two inches instead of four inches). However, Bill Fish, president of Sleep Doctor, says this cushy topper is more responsive to pressure than other memory-foam toppers he has tried, and it’s made with phase-change material to help regulate your body temperature. A lesser thickness is also better if you just want a little more softness, rather than fully feeling cocooned by foam.

Best memory-foam cooling mattress topper

ViscoSoft 3 Inch Memory Foam Mattress Topper

If you’re going for that classic, slow sinking memory foam feel, choose this mattress topper. It’s made with high-density, gel-infused foam that’ll draw heat away from the body while providing extra support. Jerden says the mattress topper itself didn’t feel cool to the touch, but she adds, “I didn’t feel it heating up around me excessively, which is sometimes all you can expect with memory foam.” One thing to note: Strategist writer Jeremy Rellosa noticed the topper is firmer in cold weather and softer when it’s hot. “Sometimes, it feels a little too plush when it’s warm,” Rellosa explains, despite the high-density foam.

Best graphite-infused cooling mattress topper

Saatva Graphite Memory Foam Mattress Topper

This option from Saatva combines graphite and memory foam to create a topper that’s plush and cooling. “It contoured around my body with a nice balance of cushioning and support,” Jerden writes. As for its cooling capabilities, she says, “This one doesn’t feel cool to the touch, but it also didn’t feel noticeably hot. I like that on top of the graphite infusions, this topper has a breathable organic-cotton cover with straps to secure it in place on your mattress.”

Best copper-infused cooling mattress topper

Layla Memory Foam Topper

We recommend the Layla topper if you find yourself preferring a firmer mattress . It’s on the thinner side compared to others on this list but has fairly dense foam, so Jerden says when she tested it, “I sank into the foam quite slowly — it molded around my body the longer I lay on it, ultimately providing excellent pressure relief.” Like the other infused toppers, this one will prevent you from overheating without actually feeling cool to the touch.

Best latex cooling mattress topper

PlushBeds Natural Latex Topper

Latex mattress toppers come at a higher price, but Jerden says they’re all-natural and will last longer than their memory foam counterparts. Best of all, they allow for more effective air circulation, and this latex topper has ventilation holes that allow for even more air flow. This one is available in five firmness levels, ranging from soft to extra firm, so you can easily customize it to the feel of your bed. “Unfortunately, these toppers are not returnable, so you should be ready to commit if you’re going to go for it,” Jerden notes.

Best hydro-powered cooling mattress topper

Eight Sleep Pod Cover

This cover isn’t exactly a mattress topper, but it goes on top of your mattress and allows you to completely control the temperature of your mattress, so I’ve included it here. You can control the device through an app, which directs water through internal tubing in the cover and allows you to cool or heat the bed to a temperature of your choosing between 55 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit. (You can even control each side of the bed independently if you share a bed with someone or just want more flexibility.) “In addition to cooling and heating, the Pod Cover can track sleep-health metrics like your heart rate and sleep stages. It also has vibration and thermal alarms, and you can enable automatic temperature adjustments to keep your body temperature stable throughout the night,” Jerden writes. Though you’ll have to pay $24 to access some of the features.

Best (less expensive) hydro-powered cooling mattress topper

Chilipad by Sleep.Me Cube Sleep System

Though effective, the Eight Pod cover is definitely not a budget-friendly option. This affordable alternative has earned the stamp of approval from Pariso who has tried everything to combat her night sweats, and you can read more of her praise of the device here . Similar to the Eight Pod above, this system can be set to an exact temperature anywhere from 55 to 115 degrees by using the provided remote control. “The biggest difference between this system and the Eight Sleep definitely seems to lie in all the extra features Eight Sleep offers (sleep tracking, automatic adjustments, vibration alarms, app controls, and so on,” Jerden writes. So if you’re willing to sacrifice those extra features, you should go with this option. Plus, the Chilipad system comes in two versions: Me or We, with Me covering half the bed and We covering the whole bed.

Best fan-powered cooling mattress topper

Perfectly Snug The Smart Topper

Unlike the water-powered cooling systems above, this one is powered by “warm or cool air that is pushed through the topper by mini-fans in the corners or at the foot of the topper depending on which size you get,” according to Jerden. You won’t be able to control its temperature to the exact degree, but it benefits from a burst button that triggers five extra minutes of cooling air for those extra toasty nights. You’ll also be able to control the temperature of each side of the topper, making it ideal for couples with different temperature preferences.

Best cooling weighted blanket overall

Bearaby Tree Napper, 15 pounds

A weighted blanket can be soothing, but in hot weather its heaviness can be unpleasant. Luckily, we like this cooling weighted option from Bearaby. It’s our favorite because it’s crafted with large yarn loops, which help circulate air, making it exceptionally breathable and cooling, despite its 15-pound weight. “The yarn’s organic Tencel Lyocell fiber further contributes to the blanket’s cooling properties, as it’s a material that’s known to be silky, smooth, and moisture-wicking,” Ro adds.

Best (less expensive) cooling weighted blanket overall

Brooklyn Bedding Chunky Knit Weighted Blanket, 15 pounds

If you’re not willing to spend that much on a weighted blanket , there’s also this option which is made of a polyester-jersey knitted fabric yarn — instead of Tencel lyocell. It’ll still be breathable like the option above as it features a similar thick, hand knit construction, but the polyester blend will make it extra absorbent for wicking away sweat.

Best moisture-wicking cooling weighted blanket

Gravity Cooling Blanket

Being a sweaty sleeper doesn’t mean you have to give up on the traditional weighted blanket filled with beads. “While it lacks the air-circulating features of an open weave, it’s the cover fabric that contributes to its feel,” Ro writes. “The material is smooth, lightweight, and known to have moisture-wicking and temperature-regulating properties and feels almost like silk.” Our sleep experts say it feels luxurious to sleep with and won’t make you overheat.

Best bamboo cooling weighted blanket

YnM Bamboo Weighted Blanket, 60''x80'' 15lbs

Like the cooling sheets above, you can also consider a weighted blanket made with bamboo. This one is smooth, silky, cool to the touch, and comes at one of the more affordable prices in this list.

Best cotton cooling weighted blanket

Brooklinen Weighted Throw Blanket

Finally, there’s this cotton weighted blanket, which is best if you prefer an all-natural material. “While I wouldn’t call the material actively cooling, the cotton itself is breathable and comfortable and also feels cool and crisp to the touch, reminding me of cotton percale sheets,” Ro writes. “The substantial cotton also adds a bit more heft to the 12-pound blanket, and I loved how it felt on my body at night.”

Best cooling pajamas

Cozy Earth Long-Sleeved Bamboo Pajama Set in Stretch Knit

This pair of PJs is made of a breathable, moisture-wicking bamboo viscose that never causes Strategist associate editor Jenna Milliner-Waddell to wake up in a sweat, unlike with other pajamas she owns. Milliner-Waddell tries to stay in them for as long as she can in the morning and says, “I just feel important in them,” perhaps because they’re also beloved by Oprah.

Best (less expensive) cooling pajamas

Lake Pima Shorts Set

These cooling PJs are an affordable alternative to the Cozy Earth pair above and have earned a stamp of approval from Pariso. She found that the lightweight pima cotton that the set is made of was not only “so, so soft” but kept her cool through the night. One thing to note: The set shrinks slightly the first time you put it through a washer, so we recommend sizing up if you prefer a looser fit. No matter the fit, you should air-dry the set to prolong its lifetime.

Best cooling sleep mask

Manta Sleep Cooltherapy Bundle

Sleep masks are one of the most commonly recommended items in the Strategist’s celebrity interview column “ What I Can’t Live Without .” This bundle includes DJ Steve Aoki’s favorite sleep mask and a pair of interchangeable eye cups that you can pop in the freezer for ice-cold relief. I previously recommended the bundle for headaches, but they also cooled me down on days when my AC unit wasn’t cutting it. On days when the weather is more frigid, you can swap out the cooling eye cups for the standard foam pair and sleep nice and cozy.

Best weighted cooling sleep mask

Nodpod Gentle-Pressure Sleep Mask

Weighted sleep masks offer the same stress-relieving benefits as their blanket counterpart and you can throw this one in the freezer to turn it into a cooling sleep mask that also blocks light. The nine-ounce Nodpod sleep mask gets its weight from little beads inside it that retain the cold temperature that will keep you cool on warm summer nights.

Best climate control sleep system

BedJet 3 Climate Comfort Sleep System, App Control Only

If you’ve never heard of a climate control sleep system before, it’s best described as a central-air unit for under your covers. The device is expensive, but Strategist contributor Claire Zulkey says it was worth every penny (before buying the gadget, she’d have to change her pajamas in the middle of the night and deal with a pile of sweat in the morning). You’ll have to get used to a whirring white noise similar to an AC unit and a gentle air-current feeling, but Zulkey says it was easy to set up and transformed her sleep quality and by proxy, her life: “I finally got my sleep back consistently (I can even warm the sheets before I get in bed on cold nights.) I do a lot less laundry. I wake up feeling like a person and not a slime monster,” she writes.

Best cooling fan for sleep

Lasko Cool Colors 20

In reality, most floor fans will serve you well while you’re sleeping (we have an entire Best-in-Class article dedicated to cooling fans ), but this one landed in our Strategist Sleep 100 because it’s both good-looking and effective. We’re fond of the purple color, which we first discovered in the home of musician Eleanor Friedberger and artist Michael Berryhill. Even design editor Wendy Goodman said she was obsessed with it. Unlike your average colorful fan, both the frame and the blades of this Lakso are saturated with color, whether you go with our beloved neon purple or a rather elegant light blue.

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best travel fan for cooling

Beat the Heatwave and Cool Off With 10 Travel-friendly Products

These packable items will keep you plenty cool while traveling in the heat.

If you’re traveling in the peak of summer, you’ll likely encounter some pretty intense spikes in temperature. The heat can put a real damper on sightseeing if you don’t arrive prepared so we’re here to recommend a few travel hacks for staying cool. The best part is that all of these products can easily fit in a suitcase, tote bag, or purse for easier packing.

Whether you’re headed to the beach or into the city, we picked a variety of items that will cool you down no matter where your travels take you this summer — or to hot destinations year round. From portable fans for creating a light breeze to breathable silk pajamas for nighttime, these products can prevent a (literal) meltdown from happening on vacation.

Best Portable Fan: Jisulife Handheld Mini Fan

Buy at Amazon.com

Buy at Walmart.com

Portable fans like this one from Amazon are one of the best hacks to create a chilly breeze any place at all. Since you can’t always rely on Mother Nature to naturally cool you down, this device is your next best option. The folding fan measures just under 5 inches long so it can easily fit in a pocket, purse, or backpack and it offers up to 21 hours of battery life on a single charge. The lifespan depends on how long it stays on and if it’s on the low or high speed setting but, either way, it’s easily recharged via a USB charger when the time comes. As an added bonus, it doubles as a flashlight if your phone isn’t nearby. 

Price at time of publish: $25

Best Insulated Water Bottle: LARQ Bottle Filtered

Buy at Livelarq.com

There’s nothing better than sipping (or gulping) cold water after walking or standing in the heat for long periods of time. While you could use just any water bottle, this one is made of insulated stainless steel so you won’t have to worry about drinking lukewarm water. While this pick is on the pricey side, it comes with a built-in filter to catch any lead, chlorine, or heavy metal particles that might be floating around the water. The BPA-free stainless steel material is designed to keep water cool for up to 24 hours so you can easily fill the bottle up before a long-haul flight or a day of sightseeing and not have to worry about water turning tepid.  

Price at time of publish: $58

Best Cooling Pillow: Ballast Beach Pillow & Cooling Pack Accessory

Buy at Ballastgear.com

If you’re overheating at the beach, this inflatable cooling pillow can provide instant relief. The set comes with reusable packs that can be placed in a freezer or cooler and later inserted into a pocket on the pillow to rest your neck on the cold pouch. Each pillow comes with two cold packs so you can alternate out one when it’s not chilled enough and grab the other. And, after you cooled down, the pillow deflates and fits into a small carrying case that can fit in your beach tote for hassle-free travel.  

Price at time of publish: $60

Related: We Tested the Best Beach Umbrellas for Staying Cool and Comfortable

Best Cooling Towel: Sukeen Cooling Towels

These high-tech towels are one of the best hacks for staying cool when you’re out on the water on a toasty day. The towels are made with an evaporative mesh material and, once the towel is activated, the wet material is chilled to cool you down. All you have to do is soak the towel, wring it out, shake it several times, and the water evaporates bringing the temperature of the towel down. This towel can be a game-changer for beach days, golfing, or if your AC just isn’t doing its job on a hot day. Plus, the towels come with carrying cases with carabiners so you can easily attach them to your backpack or tote bag. 

Price at time of publish: $30 for 4

Best Cooling Pajamas: The Sleep Code Washable Silk Classic Short PJ Set

Buy at Thesleepcode.com

Instead of counting on temperatures dropping at night, it’s wise to bring a pair of breathable pajamas like this silk short set from The Sleep Code. The mulberry silk is naturally cooling so the material won’t hold onto the heat coming from your body or outside, and the fabric is hypoallergenic if your skin is sensitive. Plus, the jammies can be machine-washed which is ideal when you’re on vacation and want to do a quick load of laundry. 

Price at time of publish: $198

Best Sun Hat: Lululemon Women's Wide Brim Logo Bucket Hat

Buy at Shop.lululemon.com

Protect your head with Lululemon’s oversized bucket hat that will keep the sun from beating down on your face and scalp. The outer recycled nylon fabric has UPF 40+ sun protection built into the fabric and the interior mesh lining is designed to be moisture-wicking and quick-drying for extra hot days. While regular bucket hats might not cover your whole face, the super-wide brim on this hat provides all-over protection from the sun and it looks cute on, too, coming in white or a trendy hot pink color.

Related: The 16 Best Sweatproof Makeup Products of 2023

Best Cooler: Igloo Outdoor Pro Snapdown 42-Can Backpack

While an insulated bottle is ideal for keeping water cold, this soft-sided Igloo cooler is the best way to keep other drinks nice and chilled while at the beach, park, or lake. It’s the best cooler backpack we tested after it impressed us by keeping cans chilled for over two hours, and not leaking a single drop after some of the ice melted. Plus, the backpack design makes it easy to transport all of the drinks you need to stay hydrated during a hot spell. 

Price at time of publish: $140

Best Beach Umbrella: Sport-brella Versa-brella SPF 50+ Adjustable Umbrella

This single-person umbrella is super portable and folds down compactly for seamless transport to the beach. It has a hassle-free set up which is ideal for one person to manage and it clips onto any beach chair to create enough shade to hide on a sunny day. The fabric umbrella is made with UPF 50 sun protection and can be easily adjusted to get optimal shade at any point in the day. Weighing just 1.8 pounds, this umbrella can be tossed in your beach bag without weighing you down, or left in the car since it takes up hardly any space. 

Price at time of publish: $28

Best Face Mist: Evian Facial Spray Travel Duo

A quick spritz of water can be an instant cooldown when you’re on the go so we recommend packing this can of Evian facial spray for beating the heat. It’s only 1.7 ounces so it can fit in virtually any purse or backpack, and it’s compliant with the TSA’s liquid and aerosol limitations so you can easily fly with it. The can is filled with water and sprays a light mist so it won’t disrupt your makeup or drench your face with water. While the mist is ideal for freshening up your skin on a hot day, you can also use it to blend makeup when you’re traveling.

Price at time of publish: $9 for 1

Related: We Tested the Best Backpack Coolers to Keep Refreshments Frosty

Best Cooling Eye Mask: Newgo Cooling Eye Mask

If you spent the day in the water or in direct sunlight, your eyes might feel tired or puffy so keeping a gel mask around can help cool off your face. This double-sided eye mask can be kept in the freezer or cooler and be used for a cold or extra-cold sensation depending on which side you use. The strap is adjustable for maximum comfort and the mask is lined with a soft fabric material. It also comes with a resealable bag so you can travel with it or store it in the refrigerator or freezer without worrying about it getting dirty or retaining moisture or odors. 

Price at time of publish: $8

Frequently Asked Questions

What cooling products are best for traveling?

While it depends on your final destination and mode of transportation, you’ll want to make sure you have room for cooling products in your carry-on if heat is expected. Some items might be a bit more difficult to pack including a portable beach umbrella and cooler so those are best saved for road trips or travel close to home. Other items like portable fans, cooling towels, and a freezable eye mask should be a breeze to fit even in a plane personal item. 

Can I fly with cooling products?

In general, you should be able to fly with most products geared toward cooling off in the heat. You always want to check the restrictions depending on the airline and destination but, in general, you’ll just have to follow the usual rules when it comes to liquids and lithium batteries in checked and carry-on bags. 

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

T+L commerce writer Anna Popp reviews travel products and writes most of the team's tested content. Anna is no stranger to traveling in the heat and recommended these cooling products based on her own experiences, product testing, and sourcing recommendations from other T+L editors. 

Related: The 12 Best Swimsuits for Women of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

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6 Best Evaporative Coolers to Beat the Summer Heat

These easy-to-use swamp coolers will chill the air when it's hot and stuffy.

best evaporative coolers

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

Essentially, evaporative coolers take hot air in and use ice or water to cool that air down and then push it back out to circulate through a room. Window units and portable ACs are more powerful, but evaporative coolers are an easy and more affordable way to keep cool.

At the Good Housekeeping Institute , we test all types of heating and cooling equipment from the best fans to smart thermostats and space heaters . To choose the best evaporative coolers, we consulted Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab Director Dan DiClerico and combed through in-depth customer reviews to keep your apartments, homes and offices chiller than ever this summer.

Our top picks:

  • Best overall : Honeywell Portable Evaporative Air Cooler
  • Best value: Grelife 3-in-1 Portable Evaporative Air Cooler
  • Best for small rooms: HESSAIRE MC18M Portable Evaporative Cooler

Honeywell Portable Evaporative Air Cooler

Portable Evaporative Air Cooler

When put to the test in our Lab, this Honeywell Portable Evaporative Air Cooler earned high marks from our experts. This compact unit quietly cools rooms up to 426 square feet, a major upside compared to the noisy rumble that often comes from true portable ACs. Quiet operation is one of the major upsides of evaporative coolers.

Best used to help cool small to medium-sized rooms, the slim and lightweight design allows you to easily move the machine from room to room. Using oscillating air vents as part of its unique vertical tower design, the air is distributed more evenly throughout a room at a faster rate. It not only has a setting for evaporative cooling but you can also opt for a gentle fan-only breeze and even use it as a humidifier in the colder months. All of these settings can be controlled with the included remote.

One reviewer wrote, "I'm extremely impressed. The unit blows very cold with just water! It's very quiet compared to a box fan." Another called the unit "easy to set up," and said they were pleased with the "easy to understand directions [and] easy to follow recommendations in terms of room placement." They shared, "After the recent heat wave, this is a godsend. I can also say from owning other evaporative air coolers in the past that this unit is in a class all its own."

Grelife 3-in-1 Portable Evaporative Air Cooler

3-in-1 Portable Evaporative Air Cooler

With a three-in-one smart evaporating and humidifying system, cool air is just a button away. This lightweight, portable and budget-friendly cooler can also be used as a regular fan and a humidifier. The wide oscillation angle quickly cools off up to 300 square feet and you can even adjust settings like oscillation, wind speeds, modes and timers.

There's only a manual refill option, but the water tank fits 1.58 gallons and runs for about 12 hours, which is enough to last you through the night as you sleep. The machine is quiet enough that you can sleep with it on and you can set a timer for it to turn off automatically.

At $150, it's a steal for an evaporative cooler of this size and cooling capacity. One online reviewer called this model, "a game-changer during the hot summer months."

HESSAIRE MC18M Portable Evaporative Cooler

MC18M Portable Evaporative Cooler

Weighing only 16 pounds and able to cool up to 500 square feet of space according to the brand, this sleek and stylish model from Hessaire is a great highly portable option. And it has over 6,000 five-star reviews on Amazon to back it up.

DiClerio says this is best suited to cooling small to medium-sized spaces. Place it in a studio apartment, a single room in your home, a garage, a workspace or even a small patio. The small dial on the front of the cooler allows you to select one of five settings so you can adjust the airflow to your liking.

Online reviewers not only liked that it was affordable and easy to put together but also that you can manually refill the water reservoir with each use or hook it up to a hose for continuous water flow (no refilling required!) . If you do use the continuous option, just be aware that some reviews said the hookup may drip a bit.

One user called it "one of the best purchases I’ve made." And another who works as a car technician said, "When the ambient shop temperature is in the 90s–100s (outdoor garage), this thing is blowing a cool 71–73 degrees."

HESSAIRE MC26A Evaporative Cooler

 MC26A Evaporative Cooler

Whether you have a large garage or want a cool boost in the living room, this quiet cooler is pretty powerful. It's capable of covering up to 700 square feet, according to the product description, and it has three different fan speeds and an oscillating mode to better spread the cool air. A continuous water flow option lets it run uninterrupted, and the ice packs that come with it can be inserted to add an extra chill to the air.

Other features include a timer, humidity sensor, remote control and wheels on the bottom, making it convenient to use and move. Although evaporative coolers are less effective if humidity levels are higher than 50%, some reviewers said that this specific machine worked quite well in areas with greater humidity. "This evaporative cooler does a great job blowing a lot of air while being very quiet," one reviewer said, sharing they often use it on their porch in Texas.

Reviewers also said the size could be a bit of a deterrent for some since it can be quite heavy and a bit tricky to assemble, but overall reviewers had great things to say about it. One wrote, "It's pretty big for a bedroom and would work great on a patio or garage. It keeps the room very, very cool during the night."

Evapolar Personal Evaporative Air Cooler and Humidifier Fan

Personal Evaporative Air Cooler and Humidifier Fan

When you want something that can go anywhere with you, the Evapolar personal air cooler is your best friend. In addition to being affordable, i t easily plugs into a power source with a USB cable, weighs less than 2 pounds and has a built-in handle .

It's only a 7-inch cube, so it's a great go-to when you have limited space, and it can sit on a desk or dresser and serve as a personal cooling device. The machine both cools and humidifies air, offering four different fan speeds at the press of a button. Its compact size does limit its airflow to within 5 feet of the unit, so if you're looking to cool off a large space, better to look elsewhere. But its portability is a huge boon for a camping trip, college dorm, the office or any place that needs a little extra cooling oomph.

"I love how portable it is. [I] can take it with me and turn it on in the car, office or at home," one reviewer said. "So much easier to maintain and clean, unlike those other bulky air coolers."

Arctic Air Pure Chill 2.0 Evaporative Air Cooler by Ontel

Pure Chill 2.0 Evaporative Air Cooler by Ontel

Weighing less than 2 pounds, this compact cooler, which can run via USB cord, uses dual cooling jets to cool and humidify air. It has four different settings and can for run up to 10 hours on one tank of water. Multi-directional air vents allow you to adjust the direction of the airflow too. There's even a built-in LED nightlight with seven different color options, which makes it fun for kids who don't like to sleep in the dark.

That being said, most reviews say this cooler is better used as a personal cooling device rather than a room cooling device, but still find it a must since it's affordable, lightweight and portable enough that you can take it with you anywhere. One online reviewer wrote, "If you want to cool yourself down, this is a great product. It's like a personal desk fan, but quite a bit more effective."

What's the difference between an evaporative cooler and a portable air conditioner?

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Although the two phrases are occasionally used interchangeably, evaporative coolers and portable air conditions are actually two different appliances. Evaporative coolers use cold water and ice to cool the air and return it to the space using a fan.

A portable air conditioner pulls in hot air, cools it using a motor and then reintroduces that cooled air into the room. Because portable air conditioners use a motor, they have an exhaust that must be ventilated through a hose and out the window — which makes them less versatile and less portable but great for small homes with few people.

Because evaporative coolers rely on water or ice instead of a motor, they are simpler to maintain, use and move around, but they don't produce as much cold air as a portable AC does. Some can be hooked up directly to a hose or water source for continuous use, while others have a tank that must be manually refilled. They're a great solution for dorm rooms, outdoor areas like porches or sunrooms, garages and other smaller spaces.

In comparison to a window air conditioning unit, neither portable ACs nor evaporative coolers can produce the same amount of cooling power.

How does an evaporative cooler work?

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Evaporative coolers, also called swamp coolers, rely on water or ice to cool air . With the help of a water reservoir, which soaks pads inside the cooler, air is taken into the machine and passed over the pads, evaporating the water and cooling the air. The cooled air is then distributed back out of the cooler using a fan.

How do I know if an evaporative cooler is right for me?

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"Evaporative coolers are ideal in hot, dry climates where the relative humidity stays well below 50%," says DiClerico. They are less effective when humidity levels are high.

Evaporative coolers are better suited for areas where it's warm but not consistently hitting hot temperatures because they don't have nearly the same cooling capacity as a traditional air conditioner (or portable air conditioner).

That said, if you live in muggy, warm and wet areas you would be better off opting for an AC window unit or portable air conditioner. DeClerico says, "The cooling power of an evaporative cooler is closer to that of a fan than a traditional room air conditioner, but they can improve comfort in the right conditions."

Do evaporative coolers need to be vented out of a window?

Although evaporative coolers should have at least two speeds and a "vent-only" option, they don't typically need to be vented with a hose — something that strongly distinguishes them from portable ACs. Because the hot air does need somewhere to go, it is suggested that they be placed near an open door or window so that the warm air can cycle out and so that the evaporative cooler can operate at its highest efficiency.

What to think about when shopping for an evaporative cooler

✔️ Geographical location : As mentioned above, evaporative coolers work better in certain climates, and it's important to know if one will work effectively where you live. Evaporative coolers work best in dry climates where the humidity stays well below 50%, like in the western and southernmost states. Those who live in other weather conditions, especially the Midwest or anywhere east of Kansas should consider a portable AC or window unit.

✔️ Location in the home : Although evaporative coolers don't need exhaust ventilation the way a portable AC does, they should ideally be used in certain areas of the home. "They’re often called swamp coolers because they can end up smelling like one, which is why we recommend using them in well-ventilated areas of the home, or even outdoors, like on a patio or porch," says DiClerico. "It’s also important to clean the coolers regularly to minimize the musty smell."

✔️ Cooling capacity : A larger area will require a larger cooler to cool it, and vice versa. Know the square footage of the room or area you want to cool and purchase a unit with a cooling capacity to match. Pay close attention to the physical size of the unit before purchasing, too. You'll want to have an idea of where and how you'll fit your evaporative cooler before you bring one home. Smaller units can also be stored away in closets between uses.

✔️ Water connection : Evaporative coolers use a water tank to cool hot air. A safe, sanitary water supply is essential, regardless of whether you have a tank you need to manually fill one that can be connected to a water supply for continuous use. If you opt for a cooler with a continuous-fill tank, you'll need to connect it to a waterline in your home. You may want to consult an HVAC professional to make sure your water cooler is properly set up.

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

For over three years, Assistant Editor Annie O'Sullivan has written about gifts, holidays, home and more for Good Housekeeping. For this story, she relied on her own in-depth research and insight from reviews to find the best evaporative coolers on the market.

For this story, she consulted with Dan DiClerico , the Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab director at the Good Housekeeping Institute. He has over 20 years of experience writing product reviews and how-to articles on all aspects of home ownership from routine maintenance to major renovations.

Headshot of Annie O’Sullivan

Annie O’Sullivan (she/her) covers holiday, gift guide, travel, and lifestyle content at Good Housekeeping . She has a degree in magazine journalism from Syracuse University and previously reported for Runner’s World , NBC New York/NY 4 and Woman’s Day . Annie also has experience writing entertainment news and celebrity-focused content.

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best travel fan for cooling

30+ early Amazon Prime Day deals you can't miss this long weekend — save up to 69% on Dyson, Samsung & more

Prime Day is still a couple of weeks away — but these deals are just as good.

This editor-approved neck fan is a 'godsend' for hot summer days — and it's 43% off right now

Shoppers claim that it's "perfect for hot flashes.".

Summer is finally here! It's time for those long-awaited beach days and poolside lounging, but you'll want to stay protected as best you can because heat stroke or heat exhaustion is never fun. Whether you're heading to an amusement park or just soaking up the sun in your backyard, it's important to keep your body temperature down.

Amazon Canada currently has an epic cooling gadget on sale that will keep you feeling the breeze: a portable neck fan . You won't have to worry about holding it; you can just wear it like a necklace. It'll be the perfect travel companion or for hot flashes, according to shoppers.

It's currently on sale for a whopping 43 per cent off — keep scrolling to find out why it's editor-approved. Plus, discover more Amazon cooling products to shop that will beat the heat.

JISULIFE Portable Neck Fan

Save 43 per cent on this portable neck fan.

The details

This top-rated portable fan is winning over Amazon shoppers with its lightweight and versatile design, which conveniently sits around your neck for hands-free relief from the heat.

Since this bladeless design is both light and totally portable, it’s an excellent choice for vacations , outdoor sports, yard work or just everyday use in hot weather.

This fan is equipped with a powerful and rechargeable battery, offering up to 16 hours of use. It features 78 ventilation holes that deliver air to the face and neck for 360-degree cooling, with a dust- and sweat-proof design.

It’s available in four colours (grey, pink, blue and green) and has three speeds.

Tried & tested by Yahoo Canada

I was skeptical about the JISULIFE Portable Neck Fan , initially thinking it was silly-looking. However, when I arrived at the airport in Orlando, I had to quickly eat my words — just about as soon as we landed, I was whipping the fan out of my bag and onto my neck.

I was impressed by the fan's ability to blow air when in use, helping to provide some relief from the heat and humidity. The third and highest settings proved to be the most useful for me, earning this fan a spot on my list of everyday essentials when hitting the theme parks.

As temperatures soared past 35°C daily (not factoring in humidity), I found myself reaching for the neck fan on several occasions.

However, since I was using it at the highest setting, I did notice that the battery life didn't hold up as long as I'd hoped.

If you do plan to use this fan for yourself, I recommend learning from my mistakes and keeping a power bank and charging cable on hand to avoid the battery draining halfway through the day.

What others are saying

⭐️ 4.3/5 stars

💬 48,800+ reviews

🏆 "This has been a godsend for me!"

This hands-free fan has earned a 4.3-star rating from more than 48,800 customer reviews combined, with shoppers praising its power and comfort. Whether you're travelling, spending time outdoors, or just needing a quick way to cool down, the JISULIFE Portable Neck Fan is a must-have for warm weather.

According to reviewers, this fan is "silent enough [and] lightweight" and "moves a good amount of air."

Shoppers who sweat a lot have even called this gadget "a godsend" for use during work.

One reviewer raved that "this neck fan has been awesome" during menopause , while another called it "the best thing since sliced bread."

Many reviewers have noted that this fan's airflow at the back of the neck is not as strong as they'd hoped, but since it comes with a "lightweight" and "inconspicuous" design, shoppers say that it's worth the tradeoff.

The verdict

Even at its current sale price of $40 (in the green), this portable fan may not be the most affordable version on the market, but its hands-free design and effective cooling make it a top pick ahead of hot spring and summer days.

With a quiet motor and bladeless design, shoppers say it cools you down and is helpful in various situations.

After using it myself, I'm glad I have the JISULIFE Portable Neck Fan to stay cool on hot days. However, I'll always be sure to have a charger on hand for backup, too.

More cooling products to shop

Senville 27" standing fan.

If you tend to overheat at night, this standing fan will be your new best friend.

JISULIFE Handheld Mini Fan

This mini fan will be the perfect companion on beach days, in amusement park lines or on summer hikes.

Portable Air Conditioner

This is the perfect solution if you find a certain room in your house gets hotter than the others. Shoppers say it has a "quiet operation," too.

Gaiatop Mini Portable Stroller Fan

Amazon shoppers say this fan is "so worth it" and that it "lasts for hours." It's perfect for going on walks or spending the day out and about. 

Elegear Cooling Blanket

You know that feeling when you want to be cozy under the covers but not too hot, either? This cooling blanket is the perfect solution. Shoppers confirm it "cools you off very quickly."

BOGI Cooling Towel

This cooling towel stays chilled for at least three hours and will effectively bring down your body temperature.

Eau Thermale Avene Thermal Spring Water

Whenever you feel like a mist of refreshing water, just pull this bad boy out. Shoppers call it "soothing and refreshing."

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

Let us know what you think by commenting below and tweeting @ YahooStyleCA ! Follow us on Twitter and Instagram .

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IMAGES

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COMMENTS

  1. The 10 Best Portable Fans of 2024

    Best Overall: Honeywell Turbo on the Go Personal Fan at Amazon ($15) Jump to Review. Best Budget: ComfortneSS Mini Portable Fan at Amazon ($17) Jump to Review. Best Wearable : Jisulife Neck Fan at ...

  2. Best Travel Fans to Keep You Cool in Hot Destinations

    Readers' Favorite Travel Fan. According to TFG readers, the SmartDevil 3 Speed Travel Mini Fan is the best portable fan on the market. It's small but mighty and makes little sound. It's tiny and its 6-ounce weight won't take up a ton of space in your bag. But it's powerful with three speeds.

  3. Best portable fans in 2024, tried and tested

    Amacool Stroller Fan. Best portable fan. Amazon. During testing, this fan was powerful and easy to secure to a stroller, bike and other flat surfaces. Its tripod-style design with bendable legs ...

  4. 5 Best Portable Fans of 2024

    DGLK Portable Neck Fan. This is the best portable neck fan we found because it is hands-free and will keep your head cool. This wearable fan is made of a flexible and lightweight material that makes it easy to adjust for your comfort. It also has three speed settings and a fairly long battery life.

  5. 10 Best Portable Fans for Travel in 2024

    Below is a list of the best portable travel fans: VersionTECH Mini Handheld Fan. SkyGenius Battery Operated Clip On Mini Fan. Wowgo Hand Free Small Personal Fan. Comlife Portable Misting Fan. Aluan Portable Fan for Travel. Honeywell HTF090B Turbo On-The-Go Personal Fan. KOODER Handheld Misting Fan.

  6. The best portable fans of 2024

    Best overall: Milwaukee M18 Jobsite Fan. Best for neck: Jisulife Bladeless Neck Cooler. Best for large spaces: Big Ass Sidekick Portable Fan. Best for stroller: Amacool Stroller Fan. Best handheld ...

  7. The 7 Best Portable Fans We've Found Online for You

    Battery and charger set cost extra. The Milwaukee M18 Jobsite Fan has earned the best portable fan spot in our roundup because it offers a lot of cooling power in a sturdy and functional design. We love that this fan can be powered by a Milwaukee rechargeable battery or an AC adaptor.

  8. Best hand-held fans for travelers

    Best for extra features: Jisulife Handheld Mini Fan — $14.39 (normally $24.99) Coming in strong with an Amazon rating of 4.6, this portable fan from Jisulife is a small but mighty device that offers great value for the money. Ergonomically designed, this device easily folds small to pack in a bag.

  9. The 6 Best Fans of 2024

    FYI. After additional tests, our picks now include the Lasko Whirwind A12668, the Dreo PolyFan 704S, and the Vornado Strata. June 2024. A good fan should make you feel more comfortable while also ...

  10. Best portable fans 2024

    Below, are some of the top options around to consider and at a range of different budgets, too. Odoland Camping Lantern & Ceiling Fan. 1. Best portable fan overall. $25 at Amazon. Treva 10-Inch ...

  11. 9 Best Handheld Fans For Staying Cool On the Go in Summer 2024

    The Best Handheld Fans. Best Overall: Jisulife Handheld Portable Turbo Fan. Best Foldable: Fadachy Portable Mini Fan. Best Portable: Jisulife Handheld Mini Fan. Most Powerful: Diveblues Portable ...

  12. 11 best fans to shop in 2024

    11 top-rated fans to shop: tower, pedestal, desk and ceiling. An expert explains what features to look for to narrow down your options. From ceiling fans to handheld options, we talked with an ...

  13. Best cooling fans of 2024, tested by editors

    The best cooling fans we tested: Best cooling fan: Honeywell QuietSet Whole Room Tower Fan HYF290B. Best splurge fan: Dyson Purifier Humidity+Cool Formaldehyde PH04 Fan, Humidifier and Air ...

  14. 11 Best Travel Fans- keep cool while exploring!

    The best travel fans to keep you cool while you explore the world. Use a personal neck fan to stay super cool, or a handheld fan with a mister, or you could do a desk top travel fan. ... 【Two Airflow Modes & Durable Cooling Time】This small personal fan features 2 wind modes (low/high), Upgraded durable batteries lasts 7 hours in Low mode and...

  15. 5 Best Portable Fans for Traveling [2024]: Stay cool on the road!

    Long Battery Life - Advertised for 21 hours of battery life in one charge in fan mode. Convertible into 3 different Stages -Can be used as a Handheld fan or folded to prop on a desk. USB Rechargeable - It is USB rechargeable through any regular USB port. This fan is highly rated and affordable at under $20 USD.

  16. This Portable Fan Keeps Me Cool on Hot Summer Days

    Dartwood portable neck fan. The Dartwood portable neck fan is a great option for those who want to be completely hands-free. The bladeless fan sits around your neck on your shoulders and keeps you ...

  17. 9 Best Portable Fans of 2022 That'll Keep You Cool

    This adorable mini fan blows cold air thanks to the water-based cooling system. Add some H20 in the tank and feel a nice cool breeze in the hottest places in just seconds. Buy It ( $72; $50)

  18. This Neck Fan Is a Summer Travel Essential

    The PenKou Portable Neck Fan is a summer travel essential for one writer, who swears by the useful cooling gadget to make hot, humid adventures far more comfortable. Now's your chance to get the ...

  19. Best fans 2024: Tried and tested models to keep you cool

    The best fans for 2024 are: Best fan overall - Vortex Air cleanse heater, cooler and purifier: £179.99, Amazon.co.uk. Best budget fan - Draper 08710 clip-on desk fan: £11.95, Amazon.co.uk ...

  20. The Best Cooling Neck Fans Under $20

    Dglk Portable Neck Fan. Amazon. Orig. $20 $18 at Amazon. If you're looking for a neck fan that takes cooling to the next level, consider the shopper-loved Dglk Portable Neck Fan. Unlike ...

  21. 8 best portable fans to help you stay cool

    This bestselling option has an impressive five-star average rating from more than 42,000 reviewers, and features two speeds and up to 19 hours of cooling time, the brand says.

  22. 10 Best Cooling Fans That Make the Hottest Days Bearable

    That's where the Antarctic Star Tower Fan comes in. This bladeless cooling fan is quiet, so it won't disrupt your rest, and its sturdy pedestal means that if Fido or Fluffy brushes up against ...

  23. The Best Portable Fans at Amazon for Summer: Keep Cool at Festivals

    To stay fresh with the season of sunshine, summer travel and outdoor events, you'll need a few things: sunscreen, breathable bedding, water bottles to help you stay hydrated and cooling fans for ...

  24. 12 Best Cooling Fans in 2024, HGTV Top Picks

    Best Handheld Fan: Comfort Zone 4" Handheld Rechargeable Fan. Best Stroller Fan: WiHoo Mini Handheld Stroller Fan. Best Camping Fan: Luno Car Camping Fan. Best Box Fan: Lasko 20" 3-Speed White Box Fan. Best Bladeless Fan: GreenTech PureFlow QT7 Bladeless Fan. Best Splurge Fan: Dyson Pure Cool TP01 Purifying Fan. We're headed into the dog ...

  25. The best personal neck fans to keep cool 2024

    Comlife Bladeless Neck fan. $ 22.49. $ 49.99. Amazon. The Comlife neck fan is a favorite of NBC Select associate updates editor Zoe Malin 's for its long battery life and lightweight design ...

  26. Best portable fans 2024 UK

    Score: 92/100. With a massive 100 different speeds (yes, you read that right), this aesthetically pleasing handheld fan (it comes in six shades) was a hit from the get-go.

  27. 41 Best Items of Cooling Sleep Gear 2024

    Travel. Luggage; Travel Accessories; Fitness. Exercise Gear; Activewear; Kids + Babies ... Best cooling fan for sleep Lasko Cool Colors 20" 3-Speed Box Fan, Purple. $23 $23

  28. Beat the Heatwave and Cool Off With 10 Travel-friendly Products

    Portable fans like this one from Amazon are one of the best hacks to create a chilly breeze any place at all. Since you can't always rely on Mother Nature to naturally cool you down, this device ...

  29. 6 Best Evaporative Coolers of 2024

    Better used as a personal cooling device, not a room cooling device Weighing less than 2 pounds, this compact cooler, which can run via USB cord, uses dual cooling jets to cool and humidify air.

  30. This best-selling Amazon neck fan is a must-have for heatwaves

    This fan is equipped with a powerful and rechargeable battery, offering up to 16 hours of use. It features 78 ventilation holes that deliver air to the face and neck for 360-degree cooling, with a dust- and sweat-proof design. It's available in four colours (grey, pink, blue and green) and has three speeds.