We Take These Portable Fans Everywhere — And It’s Time You Get On

We Take These Portable Fans Everywhere — And It’s Time You Get On

I’d write how much I love my portable hand fan, but I’d need to put it down first, and I refuse. Jokes aside, this little thing has become such a lifesaver this summer, keeping me physically and emotionally cool when standing in lines, waiting for the train or generally trying to survive oppressive heat waves.

After attending an outdoor concert earlier this summer in Philly and learning that everyone in city limits seems to own a hand fan, I took to the web to procure one of my own. Of course, as with many smaller “hacky” items, there are a lot of options on the web and it was a bit daunting to choose one.

I went for an option that was under $10, had a cage around the blades and was about the size of an iPhone. I’ve had mine for over a month now and can say it stays in my bag and gets quite a bit of use. It also recently came in handy in distracting a fussy toddler waiting for lunch, and as the blades are in the cage, it felt safe for him to play with.

Upon sharing my excitement for my hand fan with my coworkers, I learned that my colleagues at HuffPost also love a portable fan. Some clip on a table or stroller, some can fold and sit on your desk, some go around your neck and some are similar to mine.

If you’ve been looking for an affordable way to bring on the breeze, we hope you’re a fan of our suggestions.

HuffPost and its publishing partners may receive a commission from some purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently curated by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change.

Amazon

The budget-friendly version I have

Let’s be honest, I wanted something with good reviews sure, but really something that wasn’t over $10. I didn’t know if I was going to like/use a hand fan, so I wanted to get a really budget-friendly option before going for a more expensive one. I love the size, as it’s really not too big and not too small (about the size of my iPhone) and that it comes in fun colors. It also holds a charge for up to seven hours. Lastly, it fits nicely in a bag and really is a fuss-free option.

Amazon

The Jisulife folding fan with a power bank and flashlight

“I bought it for a slew of outdoor concerts I knew I was going to last year — including one in sweltering hot Georgia and another in nearly equally hot North Carolina,” says deputy managing shopping editor, Marquaysa Battle. “This thing held a battery as if I’d had it plugged into a wall!”

Battle notes this fan is lightweight, foldable and compact making it great for tiny bags needed for concerts and events or traveling. “The air it put out was cool and refreshing even though it was just spinning the air outdoors. I’ve since bought another for my mom and two more as gifts for friends,” she said.

This fan has an adorable bear face and ears and comes in six colors. It can run up to 19 hours plus it can be used as a flashlight and phone charger for extra convenience.

Amazon

A bendable fan you can attach all over

Shopping editor Emily Ruane has this versatile fan that you can hold via the handle or use the bendy trip-op to attach to a stroller, car seat, crib or table. A charge lasts 3-9 hours and the bendable legs are covered in soft foam. This comes in four colors.

Amazon

A folding fan with a six blade design

“This is literally my favorite fan of all time, I literally own seven,” Kelly De Leon, director of product said. “It’s so powerful for a handheld fan but isn’t annoyingly loud, the charge lasts like six hours on full speed, and it folds up for convenient transportation.” Calling it a “game changer,” she says she’ll run it over her entire body and face when walking around Disney. “I own multiple colors and multiple of the same color so that I can keep one anywhere I travel.”

This folding option comes in five colors and lasts 5-12 hours between charges.

Amazon

A folding fan with a power bank

Senior culture editor Erin Evans has and recommended this folding fan that doubles as a power bank. A single charge lasts up to 10 hours and the six blades work for quiet cooling. This comes in nine colors, clip the coupon for 10% off.

Target

A mini rotatable fan with a clip

Supervising editor Sara Bondioli grabbed this little fan at a Target on a recent road trip. “We just got this one to combat my 4-year-old’s car sickness,” she said. “We were able to plug it in to the USB port in our car and clip it on the front headrest. It rotates all around so we could position it to aim toward her. She made it an entire road trip without getting sick, and I attribute it to having a fan on her. This one worked great!”

With a head that can turn 360 degrees, this clip fan can run for up to five hours between charges.

Amazon

The HuffPost-beloved Jisulife neck fan

The Jisulife neck fan has been a longtime reader favorite here at HuffPost and continues to be a top-selling item. A true journalist, HuffPost editorial director Kristen Aiken bought one for herself and research shows — it’s really good. “I bought this years ago and it’s still going strong!” she said. “It gets me through hot days at the beach and long baseball games in the sun, and the charge lasts all day!’

This rechargeable fan is built with 78 ventilation holes and has a battery life of 4-16 hours depending on which wind setting you’re using. It comes with a USB-C charging cable and is bladeless and wireless, so you don’t have to worry about your hair or beard getting caught.

Amazon

A portable neck fan with three wind speeds

Another neck option, this portable neck fan is soft to the touch and also recommended by De Leon. “This one is really lightweight, it’s super quiet, has multiple strength settings and the battery lasts a long time,” she said. “And most importantly, it has a lot of spots that the air actually comes out of, so you get airflow all around your neck, which is super effective in helping cool down!”

This stretchable neck fan gives you a ton of cool air circulating. It comes in seven colors and lasts 5-17 hours between charges.

Amazon

A folding fan with a detachable front cover

Senior security director Greta Geiselman recommended this neutral option. “I bought this one and love it! So much I sent my friend one,” she said. “Lightweight, can sit on my desk when I get into work, lasts a while between charges and is quiet.”

This option has a detachable front cover, to easily clean the blades. It runs for up to 21 hours between charges and comes in tan, black and blue.

Amazon

A compact fan that’s also a power bank

If you run hot and your phone is always dying — let us put you on to this genius option recommended by IT project manager, Jusanha Abobo. “I recommend this one!” she said. “It’s portable, compact, and also functions as a power bank.”

This hybrid option has a handy wrist strap and can run for 14-21 hours. It comes in a bunch of fun colors and can fold and stand for stationary cooling.

Haven’t found The One? Check out eight more handheld fans that Amazon reviewers adore.

Amazon

A handheld portable turbo fan

All hail this tiny but powerful fan, which boasts patented technology and a 16-hour battery life. Available in four different colors, this handheld fan comes with a lanyard and anti-slip mat at the bottom so you can easily hold it outside or use it as a small desk fan on a flat table.

With lightning-fast speed and strong wind, reviewers can’t get enough of this summer necessity. “I recently bought the JISULIFE Handheld Portable Turbo Fan, and it has quickly become my go-to accessory for all our summer activities,” a reviewer wrote. “This little fan is impressively powerful despite its compact size, perfect for those sweltering hot and humid days.”

Amazon

A rechargeable “eyelash” fan

This adorable handheld fan is simple, affordable, and gets the job done. It’s available in eight different colors, from pastel purple and pink to black, and it uses a new copper-made powerful motor for high speed and strong wind. This fan is tiny but mighty, and it has thousands of five-star reviews on Amazon.

“Love how powerful this travel-friendly fan is,” one reviewer wrote. “I usually use it on football game days and when I need my face to dry. Can be versatile and is easy to care for and use. Comes with a strap to wrap on your hand. Long-lasting battery power and love the colors.”

Amazon

A 3-in-1 hand fan

This little fan does it all: It has a fan (obviously), flashlight, and backup power bank. It can be charged using a USB cord and has up to 19 hours of cooling time with a single charge. Its transformable, compact design also makes it easy to hold and slip into any bag or pocket, and it’s available to purchase in five different colors.

The mini fan has an average rating of 4.6 stars out of five on Amazon, which is saying something because it has over 52,000 reviews. “This fan is very powerful and great for travel,” a reviewer wrote. “It folds up small and compact. It has an optional wrist strap, multiple angles you can adjust it to, and a bright flashlight at the end. Will be purchasing another for purse, one for travel, and to give as gifts.”

Amazon

A portable neck or hand fan

The portable option doubles as a handheld fan and a neck fan. It has up to 12 hours of cooling time on a single charge and three different speed settings that can be changed with a push of a button. The removable lanyard can be used to hang around your neck, but if that’s not your thing, it comes with a built-in stand, too.

“I ordered this for our Disney trip,” a reviewer wrote. “It works like a charm, fairly lightweight, just an all-around amazing purchase for the price. I love that it shows the battery life, has a strap for you to wear it, a clip to latch it onto something, and even a little kickstand! Highly recommend.”

Amazon

A super-affordable portable turbo fan

This minimal battery-powered fan is equipped with a 3-watt high-speed brushless motor and is compact and lightweight at only weighs .36 pounds. With an adjustable three-speed airflow, the battery provides between 3 to 16 hours of cooling time depending on the speed you choose.

“Much smaller than I expected but don’t let its size fool you,” an Amazon reviewer wrote. “It has 4 speeds from a gentle breeze to a full-on fan in your face. Love the rechargeable battery and it [lasts] quite a long time between charges. Will come in handy at work where we’re not allowed to have fans as it small and silent at 1-2. Noticeable at 3 and more so at speed 4. Easily conceals in pocket or bag.”

Amazon

A neck fan that doubles as a desk fan

Available in five different colors, this foldable fan is perfect for hanging around your neck or propping up on your desk, depending on your mood or situation. Equipped with a brushless motor, this fan is quiet and effective, and it features a four-level wind speed adjustment and USB port for charging.

Reviewers on Amazon love it, too. “This fan is small, about size of coffee cup, but powerful,” a customer wrote. “Great for travel. Sits nicely on a chair or in your hand. Battery life has been good so far and recharges within an hour or so.”

Amazon

A high-tech, sleek neck fan

This hands-free, bladeless fan is ideal for anyone who appreciates a portable fan they don’t have to hold. With 78 air outlets around the neck, this fan can be used around the entire neck and can keep you cool while running (or, you know, walking in the heat). At just 9.1 ounces, this neck fan is so light, you probably won’t even notice it.

Not convinced? It also has thousands of 5-star reviews on Amazon. “This fan is one of the best purchases I’ve made! I read about it in [Popular Mechanics] and it was their overall best pick,” a reviewer wrote. “It’s lightweight, quiet, comfortable, and has [three] speeds. I wear it during yard work and find I don’t have to take as many breaks, and it was still going strong after a 6-hour marathon of yard work! The times I’m most glad I bought it though are when the hot flashes come! Why didn’t I find this gadget sooner?!”

Amazon

A portable handheld fan with a digital display

This portable mini fan has a combination of a three-phase brushless motor and a powerful battery that improves wind speed and endurance. It promises to quickly cool you down in hot weather and can be fully charged with USB in just 1.5 to 2 hours.

“The build quality on this is great,” an Amazon reviewer wrote. “It’s sturdy and has a good weight to it. I work to manage the inventory and merchandising at a big box retail store that is poorly air-conditioned and this is a literal life saver… it’s small and compact enough to slip into my utility belt without adding bulk, and there’s an on/off switch to avoid accidentally turning the fan on which I appreciate.”


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