The best mini fans to keep you cool in a heatwave — tried and tested
Once only seen in the hands of hot, dispirited tourists staggering through European cities in August, portable fans have become the hottest commuter accessory to combat Britain's recent heatwaves. From hands-free neck fans to a bargain £12 buy, here are six of the best picks to stay cool this summer.
A similar model to the John Lewis handheld fan (below), but slightly larger and feels a little more powerful (though this does make it a bit noisier on the full-speed setting). It handily folds in half to become a desktop fan, takes four hours to charge fully, and the battery will last for 4-12 hours depending on the speed you choose.argos.co.uk
Probably the chicest fan we tried (it looks more expensive than its bargain price), it is compact, quiet and has three speed settings. Like the Bush fan, the handle turns into a fold-out stand. It takes about five hours to charge, and the battery will last about nine hours on low speed, six hours on medium and four hours on high. johnlewis.com
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The flexible tripod legs on this are super handy for wrapping around the handle of a buggy or desk lamp — or can be used as a stand to set the fan on a table. It's very powerful at full speed and has a long battery life: the charge will last for 12-24 hours depending on which of its four speed settings you're using.amazon.co.uk
Lightweight, comfortable to wear and stays in place well — great if you're wearing it on a sunny walk or bike ride. There are three speeds to choose between, however the top speed setting is less powerful than some of the other options. The battery lasts 4-16 hours depending on the speed used.amazon.co.uk
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A brilliant hands-free option. The top speed (it has three in total) does sound a bit like a hairdryer if you're using it somewhere quiet, but this and the Jisulife neck fan option are great if you want something that looks low-key — both could pass as a pair of headphones at a glance.johnlewis.com
• Heatwaves set to break UK weather records — but not today
A compact, powerful — and actually quite stylish — handheld fan. It's lightweight, has a dial rather than fixed settings to adjust the speed, and can be fully charged in just an hour and a half. The quickest of the lot. The one downside is the battery charge doesn't last as long as some of the other options when used on full power — only three hours on average. amazon.co.uk
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