The Best Handheld and Wearable Fans to Keep Sweat at Bay
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Before I started using a handheld fan, I was a total skeptic. I’d seen the ones that attach to your phone or fit in a bag, and I couldn’t imagine they’d provide any real relief from the heat—and they seemed completely unnecessary. But now that I’ve used the fans on this list, I don’t know how I was functioning without them.
There are certain scenarios where having a portable fan makes your life so much better: Outdoor concerts, weddings, festivals, amusement parks, sporting events, backyard parties. I don’t live in New York City anymore, but I could imagine having one of these on the subway would be a game changer. Despite their size, they do actually create a significant breeze—in some cases, it’s enough to stop you from getting sticky, shiny, and sweaty. If you want to make it through a ridiculously hot day without your makeup melting or pitting out, you need one of these handheld fans.
For more ways to stay cool, check out our guides to the Best Fans and the Best Window ACs.
Best Handheld Fan Overall
PlayHot
Handheld Turbo Fan
This fan was a godsend during a sweltering outdoor concert. It bends at the neck, so I was able to set it up on the picnic table and blast it toward my face without even holding it, then straighten it back into the standard position to carry it with me as I walked around. It also comes with a lanyard that allows you to hang it from your neck. It felt stronger than the other handheld fans I tested, and I liked that the blades were contained, which made the airflow feel more concentrated and meant I couldn’t catch them on anything. It kept my face from melting off on the 100-degree day I used it, and while it isn’t slim enough to slide into a clutch or pocket (like some other fans on the list), it fit into my small crossbody bag.
There are five speed levels, and the 5,000-mAh battery lasts from three to 12 hours depending on which level you’re using. A digital display lets you know what level you’re using and how much battery life you have left (you can get a full charge in three hours). The only cons to this fan are that it doesn’t have any other uses (no charging bank or flashlight capabilities, like some options on this list), and it’s a bit loud, with a drone-y sound. It didn’t bother me at a loud concert, and I was even able to talk to a friend without any problem, but if you’re in a quieter setting, it might be an issue. At only $20, it’s a solid investment for any outdoor festivals or weddings where you need a heavy-duty airflow to really stave off sweat.
WIRED/TIREDWIRED- Hands-free carry and operation
- 5 speed levels
- Long battery life
TIRED- Can't fit into a pocket
Best Waist Fan
Magic John
Portable Waist Fan
This 4,000 mAh-battery-powered fan is a great little cooling device for anyone who needs to be truly hands-free, like construction workers, mail delivery people, park rangers, or even just folks who need to walk their dog or weed their garden in the heat. It clips onto your belt or pants (you’ll need a sturdy pair for it to stay in the ideal position), and blows air upward, keeping your back or pits cool, depending on where you place it. You can position it outside or inside your shirt (additional clips hold your top in place so it doesn’t billow upwards). There are three levels of airflow, and I found the third setting to be fairly strong (on par with the PlayHot Turbo Fan). The company says the fan’s power will last for 20 hours on the low setting. It also has a flashlight, an LED display that shows the battery life and fan speed, and a lanyard, so you can wear it around your neck.
WIRED/TIREDWIRED- Versatile
- Has a flashlight
- Long battery life
TIRED- You need sturdy pants
Best Belt Fan
Torras
Portable Waist Fan
If you deal with dreaded back or boob sweat, this belt fan offers a solution (though it’s not the most discreet). Pick one of the two soft, stretchy adjustable straps it comes with, and you can wear it around your waist either over or under your shirt to blow air up toward your sweatiest parts. It stayed in place well while I did chores around the yard. The back of the fan is covered with PCM cooling material, which feels like a gel beneath a plastic sheath, that the company claims absorbs heat and transfers it away from your body, The gel does feel cool to the touch, but I can’t say I noticed it when I was wearing the fan, and in some cases, it felt a little leaky and greasy. Still, this was one of few belt fans I could find in this shape. With a 4,000-mAh battery, 15 hours of battery life, and two fan speeds, this is a solid option for anyone who needs a hands-free, wearable fan.
WIRED/TIREDWIRED- Unique shape
- Cooling gel next to your body
- Two fan speeds
TIRED- Cooling gel feels a little greasy
- Not very discreet
Best Cooling Jacket
Ororo
ZenFlow Power Cooling Jacket
Like heated vests and socks, clothing with built-in cooling is becoming more streamlined, functional, and fashionable. This jacket from Ororo looks like your standard windbreaker, save for the two circular fans on the lower back. You turn them on (there are three levels of airflow) with a button on a cord that attaches to a chargeable battery in the pocket, and you can remove the fans, cord, and battery when it’s time to wash the jacket. The cooling sensation is surprisingly strong and the fans aren’t too heavy or annoyingly loud—the only downside is the back and sides puff up like you’d expect when the fans are on.
The jacket itself is comfortable, made from a stretchy, lightweight, abrasion-resistant fabric, with five pockets, an adjustable hem, and the option to zip off the sleeves and convert it to a short-sleeved jacket. The battery works for 5.5 hours on the high setting and 9.5 hours on the low setting. I’d choose this jacket over waist and belt fans for superior upper body cooling and comfort, if you can deal with looking a little like the Michelin Man.
WIRED/TIREDWIRED- Washable
- Superior torso cooling
TIRED- You look like the Michelin Man
- Relatively short battery life
Best Purse Fan
Gaiatop
Portable Handheld Fan
This fan was a great companion during a late summer parade, providing some airflow without much noise. I appreciate that the fan blades are soft, and they stop automatically if they hit something—it’s the type of fan you could hand off to a kid without much worry. It can also stand up on a table, and when folded, easily fits in a small purse or clutch. It comes in pretty pastel colors and has tiny, pointed ears, with a button that looks like some kind of cute creature, though I’m not sure if it’s supposed to be an owl or a cat.
At only four ounces and with a small lanyard, you could definitely attach this fan to your phone or keychain to always have it at the ready. It has 10 to 17 hours of battery life, depending on which of the two speeds you use. I wish the higher speed was stronger—it helped provide some relief during a parade, but it didn’t totally prevent sweating, like the PlayHot Portable Handheld Turbo Fan. Still, for the price, size, and low noise level, it’s a decent cooling option. The Aecooly fan ($10) is also a small, slim, pocket- or purse-sized option.
WIRED/TIREDWIRED- Fits in a purse
- Fan blades are soft and safe
- Very pretty
TIRED- Not very high fan speed
- Only two fan speeds
Best Multiuse Fan
Jisulife
Handheld Mini Fan
This fan with little ears and a printed-on bear mouth was WIRED senior commerce editor Kat Merck’s top hand fan pick in her guide to the Best Fans. “Its two blades produce a pretty strong breeze at 472 feet per minute (measured on my anemometer), it’s quiet (44 dB on low), and it’s also lightweight at four ounces,” says Merck. “I also found the battery life to be pretty solid. It’s not as inexpensive or easy to slip into a pocket as the Aecooly portable fan, below, but I think the fact it doubles as a flashlight and portable power bank make it worthwhile. However, note that the 2,000-mAh battery does run out quickly if you’re using it as a power bank.”
WIRED/TIREDWIRED- Serves triple duty as a fan, flashlight, and power bank
- Small enough to carry in a pocket
- Quiet
- Solid battery life
TIRED- Fan itself is small, so it must be held close
- Cutesy look may not be for everyone
Best Neck Fan
Jisulife
Portable Neck Fan
This no-nonsense neck fan looks a little bit like headphones, with a 5000 mAh battery and five speeds. I like that it’s super-lightweight and comfortable if you need to wear it for long periods. However, the ends don’t adjust or angle, so if you don’t like where the air is directed, there’s nothing you can do about it. It’s also not too loud; around 40 decibels on low. Color options on Amazon are limited, but if you buy direct from JisuLife you have access to more options like navy, forest green, and pink. —Kat Merck
WIRED/TIREDWIRED- Very comfortable to wear for long periods
- Not very loud
TIRED- Hard to angle correctly
- Not very many colors available on Amazon
Best Battery Life
Jisulife
Portable Handheld Fan Ultra2
This fan is so strong it’s almost comical—1,614 feet per minute on my anemometer. For reference, that’s the same as a full-sized tower fan. It also emits a high-pitched whine not unlike a jet engine (60 decibels on its lowest setting), and its mallet-like shape makes it too bulky to slip into a pocket. However, it does double as a power bank and a flashlight, and it’s got a short carrying lanyard you can attach to make it slightly less unwieldy. The 9,000-mAh battery is also a plus. Jisulife says this can last up to 25 hours, which I have no reason to doubt, as I’ve been using it off and on for three weeks and the battery has yet to run out. —Kat Merck
WIRED/TIREDWIRED- Incredibly powerful
- Doubles as a power bank and flashlight
- Long battery life
TIRED- Sounds like a jet engine
- Too big to fit into a pocket
Best Bladeless Fan
Aecooly
Aero Pro Hand Fan
This periscope-shaped “powerful turbo air tube” won both a Red Dot and iF Design award this year, and the curved shape is both easy to transport and hold. I also like that there are no rotors or blades to knock into, and the airflow was impressive for a hand fan—807 feet per minute on high (there are six speeds total). It doesn’t double as a flashlight or phone charger, but it does come with a digital display, which shows you the battery and speed levels, and a short lanyard for carrying. Don’t plan on using this one if you’re going to have a conversation, though, as it was over 50 decibels on low. —Kat Merck
WIRED/TIREDWIRED- Curved shape is gorgeous and easy to hold
- Impressive airflow
- Easy-to-read digital display
TIRED- Pretty loud
- Doesn't double as a power bank
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