7 best handheld fans to keep you cool on the move, tried and tested

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. Panellists loved its cooling powers with one saying it made them feel more comfortable ‘straight away‘ on a hot day on the bus.

That’s the benefit of a handheld model, too. This lightweight fan fits easily in your bag and even comes with an attachable travel lanyard so you won’t lose it on the way.

Overall, it was very easy to use, and boasts a digital screen that displays the wind speed and battery power. Speaking of the battery, it lasted three hours on the highest setting so you won’t be caught short on your commute home, either.

Score: 91/100

Fed up of needing to charge your portable fan after every use? You may want to swap to this Blueair handheld, which can last up to 32 hours on its lowest setting. On its top speed, it gave us five and a half hours of cooling power too, an impressive feat for a compact design.

Plus, it has a whopping 100 speeds to choose from, ranging from 0.19m/s to 2.1m/s, and our panellists were fans of the digital display that tells you the setting and the battery life. We found it easy to adjust everything and liked that you can tilt it, so you can also use it as a desk fan.

On the downside, the airflow is quite concentrated, with some panellists wanting a wider cooling effect. However, it did keep us comfortable without making much noise (it only reached 45.5db on high, which is similar to a refrigerator hum), so you won’t disturb people around you when out and about.

Score: 87/100

You’ll be the envy of every person in the office or on your morning commute with this fan. It simply loops around your neck so you can keep your hands free for your phone, bag or morning coffee, and it keeps you cool by circulating air quickly and evenly through its dual-turbine motor design and the 78 air outlets distributed around the neck.

There are three wind speeds, which had noticeably different strengths; however, they weren’t as powerful as other fans we’ve tested. But we think its lightweight, intuitive design is probably worth the compromise. Our testers found it stayed on easily, too. That’s our morning commute sorted the next time a heatwave rolls around.

Score: 87/100

This fan's design divided opinion in the lab, with some loving the look, and others finding its unconventional shape a little harder to warm to.

Aesthetics aside, it impressed us with its five speed settings, reaching airflow speeds of up to 2.8m/s on the highest setting, which kept us comfortable in the heat. The airflow is relatively focused, mainly targeting the centre of your face, but the head can be manually rotated up to 260 degrees for added flexibility.

The controls are straightforward to use and the compact design makes it easy to slip into a bag. It also comes with a neck strap, so you can keep your hands free when needed.

Despite its name, we didn’t find it especially quiet. In our tests, the noise became noticeable from the second speed setting upwards. However, if you’re using it outdoors on warm days, this shouldn’t be an issue – and it still does an effective job of keeping you cool and comfortable.

Score: 86/100

This compact handheld fan comes with everything you could need for cooling. In the box, you get a neck strap for hands-free carrying on the go and a base so you can stand it up on a table. Plus, you can insert aromatherapy tablets or add your favourite essential oils for a soothing scent while you cool down.

There’s a good range of air speeds between the five settings, but our panellists found the on/off button quite small; it can be hard to press if you have large hands. We were impressed by the battery life though – it lasted nearly five and a half hours on the highest speed.

Score: 84/100

This compact fan comes with its own phone rest so you can watch your favourite Netflix series on the commute while staying cool. There’s also a clip-on lanyard for when you need to go hands-free. The fan head is adjustable by 90 degrees too, so you can tilt it upwards and get a cooling breeze right to your head and neck.

It has five fan speeds, but our expert found it difficult to distinguish between each one in terms of strength. On the highest setting, the fan’s battery lasted three hours and 11 minutes, giving you plenty of cooling power each day, and a recharge took under three hours, which is fairly quick in comparison to others we’ve tested (despite being over the claimed charging time).

Overall, it was easy to use but lacked durability and sturdiness so make sure not to sling it around in your handbag.

Score: 83/100

This exciting (and pretty cool looking) new handheld fan from Shark delivers powerful air flow across its 10 speed settings and lasted over an hour more than the claimed battery life (of 1 hour and 30 minutes) on its highest setting in testing.

It also has an adjustable misting function – just change to the misting head, fill the small compartment up with water, and pop one of the included wicks inside the tank and you’re good to go. Our panel loved the fine spray and appreciated the two settings – one that sprays intermittently and one that’s constant. It is worth noting that you’ll eventually need to buy replacement wicks as they need changing every four months.

This handheld fan’s other key feature is the cooling plate, which was a big hit with our panel. The metal surface claims to cool your skin by up to nine degrees, providing a quick, effective way to chill out when you need it most – and it delivered in testing.

It’s quite bulky and awkward to hold compared to other portable fans, and we found it’s a bit noisy, reaching up to 65.8dB on its highest setting (similar to the level of a dishwasher running). It's expensive too, and any extra wrist straps or hands-free attachments are sold separately. We can’t argue with its effectiveness though and the bonus features really make it stand out from the crowd. As do the range of fun colourways.