A heat wave is sweeping the country this week, bringing potentially record-breaking temperatures to parts of the East Coast. And summer hasn't even officially started yet.
Since we can't stay inside of our comfortably air conditionedhomes 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.
The best portable fans, according to editors
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."
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."
Commerce writer Emma Stessman recently tested this neck fan as part of Shop TODAY Ranked and gave it a 4.4/5 overall. "This fan does a great job of delivering a customized cool that you can tailor to your situation," she notes. "There are three cooling levels, and on really hot days, I found myself depending on the strongest one. It did a good job of keeping me from getting overheated. On a particularly hot commute day, when I had to wait in stuffy subway stations for my trains to arrive for over 15 minutes, I was much less sweaty than I normally would have been," she explains.
"What really sets this fan apart from others is its design: Instead of just having air blow out of one side, this has slots all along the top and bottom, so air blasts all along the nape of your neck, into your face and toward your chest, so it provides more of an all-over cool, which makes a big difference (and was also one of the things the experts said to look for)," says Stessman.
The best portable fans, according to shoppers
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.
“Currently traveling in Greece amid the heat wave where temps surpassed 105 degrees F. This fan was a lifesaver!” wrote one of 2,300+ 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!”
"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."
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.
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.
