A universal truth of this summer is that it has been capital H-O-T, HOT. Most days have been well over 80 degrees, and while opening your windows used to be a release from stuffy air, it can now make the room even warmer. When I commute to work on the subway, I am usually a big puddle of sweat by the time I get to the office. More recently, I have noticed my fellow travelers walking around with handheld fans to keep cool on the streets and subway.
Two brands that have garnered a lot of buzz about their handheld fans are Dyson and Shark. Dyson released a sleek HushJet mini fan that has been trending on Google searches, and Shark released a ChillPill fan that has also been trending. I have been using both of these fans for some time and I finally found the go-to summer fan that actually keeps me cool and sweat-free. Read on to discover which one was my favorite.
How I tested the Dyson and Shark handheld fans
I have been testing the two fans for about a month in different settings like indoors, outdoors and walking around New York City. I used the Dyson fan on my walks to work and on the subway. I also tried using it while at home on my couch to see how cool it was. I tested its different settings for the fan and tried it with the charging dock on my desk and the necklace to wear it as I walked.
For the Shark fan, I read up on how to best use the fan and tested all of its attachments in different settings. I tried the mist device at the beach, the cool spot attachment at home when I was overheating with a migraine and the fan attachment on my desk and on the subway.
I tested the noise level of both fans by gathering some of my coworkers and asking them to blind rank which fan was louder at their lowest and highest settings. I tested the charge and power of each fan by seeing how long it took them to fully charge and how long each one lasted without a charge.
Best for walking: Dyson HushJet Mini Fan
The Dyson HushJet Mini is your standard handheld fan with a few upgraded features. It comes with a charging cord, a bag to carry it, a charging dock and a neck dock to wear it as you walk. The charging cord works normally and it takes about three hours to charge. The cord is quite short, though, so you can’t charge it and use it. It has five fan speeds and the brand says it has a run time of six hours.
The fan neck can rotate so you can change the air flow. I liked the charging base because I used it when I was at my desk and needed to cool down. The fan speeds are pretty standard and the top setting does feel very powerful (it can reach up to 55 MPH).
I used the device on my walks to the subway and in the station, as well as at home when I wanted to cool down without turning on my AC. It was great at keeping me cool, but I do wish that the fan heads were a bit bigger so it could cover more surface area. The fans’ power is very concentrated in a tunnel-like area. I did find that the battery died pretty quickly when using it at top speed for a long time. My favorite speed was the third one because it was just the right amount of power without disturbing others around me.
Shop TODAY writer, Emma Stessman, is also a big fan of this Dyson fan, saying, “I’ve tried a handful of personal fans in an effort to survive the heat of the New York City subway system during the summer and the Dyson is probably the most effective one I’ve used so far. It’s super powerful, but at the same time it’s quieter than similar options (though it’s not quiet by any means, it is a fan after all).”
Best for overheating: Shark ChillPill
This fan has a lot of bells and whistles, and they were all very convenient for hot weather. The fan can twist and turn and lie flat or up on your desk to make it hands-free. The device comes with a charger and a small travel bag, but attachments like a necklaces to carry the device are sold separately.
It comes with three head attachments:
- The first is a regular fan head that has up to 10 speeds with 10 different noise levels. The fan is super powerful and it can get quite loud at the top setting, with an air radius of up to 25 feet. I could feel the fan on my full face and it is very adjustable, so you can make sure it hits you at the right angle and you can adjust the noise with a small nozzle at the top of the fan.
- The second attachment is the “InstaChill” cryo plate that provides a cold sensation and has two settings. The cold spot came in very handy when I had migraines and wanted to cool my eyes. The second setting was ice cold, so you can use it when you are feeling the heat and need immediate cooling.
- The last attachment is a mister that has two settings (continuous and intermittent) that help cool you down. You just fill the reservoir and turn on the mister. It has a dry-touch technology so you won’t feel drenched when using it. I loved this at the beach this summer to help me stay cool and hydrated. It also comes with extra moisture wicks that you can change every 30 days.
The device can fully charge in around three and a half hours and has a battery life of up to 11 hours. It can also run at max speed for up to an hour and a half. I have been using it on and off for about a month and it has not needed to be charged yet. It also displays a light to let you know when you need to charge it and how much battery you have left. I used this fan everywhere, from the subway to the beach, to keep me cool.
NBC Page, Josh Liu, tried this fan and noted that the cooling features were unmatched. He said, “The misting attachment was the standout for me and was particularly useful during a record-breaking hot day commuting to the office.”
What to consider about the two fans
The Dyson fan was very tall, so if you place it on a flat surface, you’ll need to angle your body to fit the height of the fan, since the air does not cover a big radius of your face. I love the fact that it comes with a necklace attachment, so you don’t have to hold the fan in your hand the whole time as you walk or take transportation.
The Shark fan has been my choice for cooling while staying in place because it comes with so many great cooling attachments. I liked to use it when I was seated on the subway or at my desk when I was trying to cool off from my commute.If you want to hold the fan hands-free, you will need to buy the attachments for the Shark fan.
I also really like the mist attachment for lounging at the park and the cool spot attachment for heat migraine relief.
The Dyson fan is a bit more affordable, coming at $99, while the Shark is closer to $150. However, with the Shark, you get more versatility, which can make the price seem fair. You do have to carry around the other attachments if you want to switch heads, which might be annoying for some shoppers, but if you keep it in the pouch, it can be quite easy to keep organized.
If you are worried about the noise level, these fans are pretty comparable in noise levels. I gathered some of my coworkers around me and tested each fan at its lowest and highest settings, and both times, we agreed the Shark fan was quieter but had a higher pitch, while the Dyson sounded louder, like a hair dryer.
Best overall
As someone who overheats quickly and sweats easily, I was really purposeful in my testing of these two fans. While the price tag on the Shark fan is a bit higher, I truly believe it is the best one out there for extreme heat. The fan was very versatile and easy to pack. It cooled me fast, with the radius of the fan air being much larger than the Dyson, I felt cooler using it.
The Dyson had no attachments, with only the fan having five different levels of power. The main plus of the Dyson, in my opinion, is that it comes with a necklace attachment. I felt like I was constantly having to move the fan around my head and neck to stay cool, whereas with the Shark, it was able to cool my whole face.
The Shark attachments were also great for different types of heat. The mist attachment is convenient if you feel dehydrated or tired and the cryo plate is ideal for areas of your body that are hotter than others. The Shark fan’s battery also lasted a lot longer than the Dyson’s ( I never had to charge it with my usage). I also loved that the Shark fan displayed how much battery charge there was and when you needed to charge it. The Dyson did not have that display feature.
Overall, if you want a fan that does it all, go with the Shark fan. While it might be a bit pricier, you get a lot more out of it. I haven’t seen portable fans with features like this one, so to me, it is well worth the price tag.
How we choose
I, Annie Shigo, personally tested these fans during the summer months. I tested them inside, outside and on the move. I made sure to read the instruction manual and test all the features of both fans to judge them fairly. I also spoke with other Shop TODAY staffers to gauge their opinions on the sound and their experiences with the fans.
Kelly & Katie Pem Wedge Sandal
Kelly & Katie Pem Wedge Sandal