While a heat wave rages outside, the headlines about the consequences increase by the day. It’s been hot and humid for weeks—not the cute kind that makes you want to lay by the pool, but the kind that sees you carrying around an umbrella to protect from rain, while also covered in sweat. Humans are generally not surrounded by a bubble of air conditioning 24/7, and overheating can cause serious health problems and even death, so folks are doing more than ever—and using more energy than ever—to seek comfort from the high temps.
With lightweight, portable, and rechargeable batteries in everything under the (hot) sun, the use of personal fans is becoming more common. And there are more options than ever—not just little handhelds hanging from a lanyard at a theme park. Before investing in a personal fan, though, you should consider your key times for use, whether you need a rechargeable fan (or if you have a power source to use), and whether speed or length of use your main concern.
Here are the different types of personal fans to consider.
Neck fans
While the circular fans with old-school blades work pretty well, they really only work as a neck fan if you have short hair—and definitely don’t dare hug anyone with long hair while you’re wearing one. Bladeless is key here.
This model has an affordable Peltier pad—aka, a cooling strip of metal that does more to cool you down than the average neck fan, which some complain just blows hot air your way. The fans are not one-directional, and the arms bend for a unique fit, but the only drawback to models like this is movement: Walking is fine, but this would fall off during a yoga sesh or while dancing.
A great middle of the road option, this fan is medium on the cost scale with some more premium elements, such as better battery life and additional cooling pads. Some of these chunky bladeless models also fold up so you can stash them on the go.
If you want the best of the best available, models like this have multifunctional bells and whistles like health tools, speakers, and multiple Peltier pads. Many are app-operated and can cool the air from the fans, not just direct the flow, so look into one of these high-end personal fans if you need additional features or extra-high-performance battery life.
My top picks for neck fans:
Stroller fans
You definitely want to consider bladeless for kids (or pets) riding in a stroller or wagon, and this model is affordable and designed by a kid’s gear company. Kids are in danger of overheating and parents should get familiar with the signs, fan or no fan. Strollers can restrict airflow and be hotter than the surrounding air, so consider blowing some extra their way.
Veer designed a misting, kid-safe fan to fit in a cupholder, so if you’re going somewhere extra sweaty, you can periodically mist the occupants of the stroller with water. Misters are popular in dry, hot climates to quickly cool you down without making you more wet than your sweat already did.
My top picks for stroller fans:
Tent fans
Camping and sleeping in a tent or cabin doesn’t have to be a hotbox: This fan plugs in via USB or takes D batteries—which does not have to mean purchasing new disposable batteries. Instead of its own lithium battery, a model like this can plug into your existing camp power source directly. So if you’re already a rechargeable-battery user, have a power bank or generator, or just want to skip products with their own batteries that can die and render them useless, this is a good option.
If you need a self-sufficient and pre-charged fan, here’s one that articulates, has a sleep timer, and can be a tabletop or a vertical fan via a convenient hook. It also comes in more fun colors than the average camp fan, if you’re more of a glamper than someone who is known for roughing it.
My top picks for tent fans:
Remember, though...
If you are using these fans to hike, camp, climb, or otherwise be out in the elements, it’s important to practice general heat safety and to stay hydrated. A neck fan isn’t going to save you from heat stroke if you’re off-trail with no water when it taps out. Don’t overexert yourself, and always research the places you visit to avoid trails that are dangerous in heat waves.
