Summer is here, and handheld fans are trending. And for good reason—no need to suffer in the heat and humidity when you can have a fresh, cooling breeze wherever you go for as little as 10 bucks. Prime Day(s) may be coming to an end, but you’ve still got until midnight PT to shop. If you’ve been wanting to try a handheld fan, consider this your cue.
Haven’t found the deal you want yet? Browse our roundup of the Absolute Best Prime Day Deals, or check out our Amazon Prime Day live blog for real-time updates.
A Safe Option for Kids
This fan looks like a little bear when closed, and the soft plastic blades stop instantly if they hit something. (I have accidentally hit myself in the face multiple times with this fan—no, I will not be taking questions at this time—and it does feel surprising, but I can confirm it doesn’t hurt.) As a bonus, it can also serve as a flashlight with its bottom-mounted light, or a power bank for your phone.
Best Budget Option
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Photograph: Kristin Canning
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Photograph: Kristin Canning
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Photograph: Kristin Canning
Gaiatop
Portable Handheld Fan
This one also has soft plastic blades, but doesn’t double as a power bank or a flashlight. It comes in six stylish colors (mostly pastels) and has cute pointy ears on top when it’s closed.
Our Favorite Overall
PlayHot
Handheld Turbo Fan
WIRED reviewer Kristin Canning’s favorite thing about this fan is the fact it can bend, so you can sit it on a table for hands-free cooling. My favorite thing about this fan, having tried similar models from other brands, is that it lacks the high-pitched jet-engine whine that so many more modern fan motors seem to emit. Not that this fan is quiet, to be clear, but I’ll settle for “not disruptive.”
Sleek and Powerful
This bladeless, periscope-shaped fan is both easy to transport and hold—there’s a little lanyard that slots onto the bottom, and it comes with a velvety carrying bag. It doesn’t double as a flashlight or phone charger, but it does come with a digital display showing the remaining battery life. The maximum wind speed is impressive—807 feet per minute—but this does make this fan louder than the smaller models pictured above.
A Fan That Does It All
Shark
ChillPill 3-in-1 Personal Fan and Cooling System
It’s a regular fan, misting fan, and cryo-inspired cold plate in one! This trendy new gadget from Shark is only $20 off if you want one of the main colors, but right now the rose gold is on deep discount for only $100. It’s a little fussy to hold, and each attachment has to be used separately, but I use the cold-plate attachment often—it does a better job at cooling than any regular fan.
