By Natalie B. Compton
The Washington Post
This summer’s hottest travel accessory wasn’t a trendy water bottle, a designer bag or a specific sock length. It was the portable fan, an affordable gadget that promises to keep travelers cool no matter where they ventured.
The fans were spotted in Olympics grandstands, at theme parks and around music festivals. Vendors are selling them outside the Colosseum.
Two styles dominate the market: One is a handheld miniature, and the other is a horseshoe-shaped contraption that is worn around the neck and rests on the shoulders, like a pair of noise-canceling headphones. Both are tempting. Portable-fan enthusiasts, including travel writers and new parents, use words such as “lifesaver,” “invaluable” and “can’t live without them.”
The proliferation of the travel fan inspired a nagging FOMO all summer long: Do we all need one?
We tested a few popular models to see whether they live up to the hype. I took four fans on a trip to see family in Fresno (108 degrees); a work trip to Tulum, Mexico (90 degrees with 78 percent humidity); and around Washington (high 90s).
PenKou Portable Neck Fan
Price: $29.99
I brought the PenKou neck fan on a morning tour of Tulum’s famous beachside ruins, a beautiful but largely shade-free archaeological site. This neck fan felt like a good starting place: not too expensive, but not too cheap, either. It had 4.3 stars based on more than 9,000 global ratings on Amazon (Amazon founder Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post) and was advertised as “Amazon’s Choice.”
With “72 wind outlets” around the rim plus two “twin-turbine fan blades,” PenKou claims air would blow all around your head. Like every model I tried, this fan had three speeds and was rechargeable. It was light (like noise-canceling headphones) but not an insignificant addition to a purse or backpack.
By 10 a.m. in Tulum, it was so hot that sweat was pouring into my eyes. Still I’d been hesitant to wear the fan from the get-go; no one else in the group had a pair, and it felt as touristy as a selfie stick. A few minutes later, I swallowed my pride and put the fan on. It offered some relief but was so loud I had to turn it off while the tour guide was talking; it sounded like a small drone was circling my ears. I turned the fan on again during pauses in the tour guide’s commentary and for our bike back to town.
Verdict: The cooling impact of the PenKou model was negligible. It did not feel worth the hassle of carrying it.
Torras COOLiFY 2S Neck Air Conditioner
Price: $199.99
The Torras “neck air conditioner” was the most expensive fan of the group by a long shot. Appropriately, it’s also the most luxurious, with “cooling plate” technology along the back of the neck. According to the Amazon listing, it can run on a “fan,” “cool” or “warm” mode for 28 hours. It also came with a fancy protective case.
I wasn’t impressed. On a scorching 104-degree day at a ranch outside Fresno, the device felt bulky and the fan was loud. I was uncomfortable in the heat even at the fan’s highest setting. The cooling plates do feel cool to the touch, but the back of them warm up as they are running, so you can sometimes feel hot plastic.
The COOLiFY 2S did have a redeeming moment in Tulum. I was sitting in an outdoor hotel lobby waiting for a taxi, melting by the minute, when I remembered the Torras in my purse. It instantly made the situation more bearable.
Verdict: More like a milder version of applying Icy Hot than a real cool-down. Too expensive and clunky for what you get.
Juananiug Portable Neck Fan
Price: $13.99
Cheap and straightforward, the Juananiug Portable Neck Fan has devotees that say it can make a trip to a scalding desert more habitable. It’s the goofiest-looking of the lineup, with two round fan bulbs reminiscent of the cartoon snail from “SpongeBob SquarePants.” Those googly fans run at three “wind levels,” and they are adjustable, so you can point them in various positions.
I stuffed the fan back into my tote bag shortly after putting it on. The sound was so obnoxious and overpowering that I couldn’t stand wearing it.
Verdict: This is the Easy-Bake Oven of portable fans: cheap and gimmicky. Yes, it blows air in your face, but the air is not strong enough to warrant the annoying sound. Maybe if you were wearing earplugs it would be serviceable.
Gaiatop Mini Portable Fan
Price: $13.99
This handheld fan was one of the highest rated on Amazon, with 4.7 stars from close to 13,000 ratings. Reviews called it sleek, powerful and effective. At just under six inches long, it seemed the most travel-friendly, too, taking up very little space in a carry-on bag, backpack or purse. It came in seven colors, has three speed settings and is rechargeable by USB-C plug.
I could grab it quickly when I needed, fan my face for a few moments without making a scene, and hide it away again. On a walking tour of a historic site in Fresno, it felt like a life hack to hold the fan pointed up the back of my shirt to cool my sweat-drenched back.
Verdict: The lower settings didn’t do much, and the highest setting could have been higher.
Honorable mention
After my tests were complete, I kept asking people what they thought of portable fans. As in my initial research, reviews were mixed, but one brand kept coming up in a positive light, so I’d be remiss not to mention the Jisulife handheld fan ($19.99).
Travel writer Jill K. Robinson told me she used to think they were silly, but using the Jisulife on a trip to Europe in July made her a convert. It promises 19 hours of cooling time, has two speeds and can be folded so it stands on its own. Photographer Nate Jarvis said he loved using it during his summer trip to Japan, and not just because of the cooling power. “It looks like a cute little bear and doubles as a phone charger if you need it,” he said. It also triples as a flashlight.
If I was going to take a risk on another fan, this would be it.
The ‘winner’
The Gaiatop Mini Portable Fan was my favorite of the bunch, because it was discreet and easy to use. But honestly, it’s hard for me to recommend any of these products. The chances that it becomes just another piece of trash in a landfill outweigh whatever brief benefit it could deliver.