IT’S not always practical to sit in front of a fan when the temperatures rise but the best neck fans will keep you cool wherever you are.
These portable and rechargeable devices can be brought almost anywhere for a breeze on the go, whether you’re at your child’s sports day or stuck in a sweaty office. I’ve even seen them used everywhere from theme parks to stuffy aeroplanes.
Most look like over-ear headphones but other neck fans hang on a lanyard and can be angled towards the face like your very own A/C. Unlike traditional portable fans, you won’t need to hold them so your hands will be free to get on with life as you chill.
They’re usually fairly cheap to buy, but it’s still worth checking battery life before you do, or opting for a rechargeable model. Bladeless designs are particularly useful if you have long hair or if a child might use the neck fan. If you plan on wearing the fan for long stretches, it may also be worth choosing the lightest one available to maximise comfort.
VonHaus Handheld Fan, £7.99
Pros: Powerful breeze, can be used in different ways, speedy charging
Cons: Has blades, not the most stylish
Rating: 5/5
If you’re dead-set on a headphones-style neck fan, this one won’t be for you. However, if you want a fan that you’ll really feel working (even if you look a bit silly using it), this is my outright winner.
It looks like a mini desk fan rather than headphones, and features enclosed blades, which might not suit someone with long hair. Choose the NinetinGel Portable Bladeless Neck Fan for a risk-free bladeless option instead.
It comes with a stand so can be used stood up rather than around your neck, but can also be hand held to direct the air where you need it. To use as a hands-free neck fan, there’s a lanyard to hang around your neck while the fan folds in half to blow air upwards.
In truth, I probably wouldn’t feel comfortable wearing this out and about as it’s not the best looking, but it’s ideal for home or office use, and small enough to throw in your suitcase when travelling.
I was really surprised just how powerful this fan was. Even on the lowest setting, it really cooled my face down in seconds with a consistent low hum I could easily tune out while I worked.
The highest setting is a lot noisier but startlingly efficient so I only ever needed to use it for seconds when I fancied an immediate blast of cool air. Handily, there’s also a digital display to show exactly what setting the fan is on for ease. I reckon it’s the best personal fan money can buy.
Weight: 1.38kg; Rechargeable: Yes via USB cable; Number of settings: 5; Run time: up to 9 hours on the lowest setting; Charge time: 90 minutes
Jsdoin Portable Neck Fan, £8.49
Pros: Powerful, not as noisy as some, comes in different colours, digital display
Cons: Larger than some other fans
Rating: 4.5/5
This is a great neck fan at an even better price. Though it’s bigger than some of the others I tested, it’s super-light and made of silicone so I barely noticed I was wearing it. It was even comfortable when I wore it out running on a hot day.
It’s also one of the more stylish neck fans on the market. The band is slimmer than most others, and the digital display and copper accent give the fan a more expensive look so it really could be mistaken for a pair of headphones. Though I tested the white version, it also comes in a range of colours including pink and black.
It has vents on either side of the band and the back of the neck so does an excellent job at cooling, on every setting. While it’s not silent, it’s also quieter than most of the other neck fans I tested and I had no problem working while wearing it.
I especially liked the fact that the display shows how much battery is left so it won’t conk out on you without warning – however I found the run time wasn’t quite as long as the ten hours it claimed.
Weight: 210g; Rechargeable: Yes via USB cable; Number of settings: 5; Run time: Up to 10 hours; Charge time: 3 hours
NinetinGel Portable Bladeless Neck Fan, £12.39
Pros: Comes in different colours, angle of fan can be adjusted, comfortable to wear, lightweight
Cons: Highest setting is quite noisy, power switch in an unusual place
Rating: 4/5
This stood out from nearly all the other fans I tested because of the soft silicone band that goes round the neck. This can be adjusted which means it’s easy to wear this fan for hours at a time without feeling uncomfortable. It holds its charge well too, so is ideal if you want to sling on a fan and not think about it again for the rest of the day.
I was also impressed by the vents on this model. They reach further back on the band than most of the others I tested so air reached all around the side of my face rather than just on my neck.
The downside is it is very noisy on the highest setting but I rarely felt I needed this as the lowest setting was so effective. The VonHaus Handheld Fan is a quieter option if you suspect noise will irritate you. I also would have preferred the on switch to be lower down like it is on most other models, as I often found myself feeling around the band to locate it. But this is still an excellent summer investment.
Weight: 245g; Rechargeable: Yes via USB cable; Number of settings: 3; Run time: Up to 15 hours; Charge time: Not given
MenKind BeCool Bladeless Neck Fan – Black, £15
Pros: Black colour makes the fan look more like headphones, large vents help cool quicker
Cons: Shorter battery life than others
Rating: 4/5
It’s not easy to style out a chunk of white plastic hanging round your neck. Simply choosing a black neck fan makes it a lot easier if you’re keen to wear yours in public, mainly as it looks more like a pair of headphones. I even braved wearing mine on the treadmill in my gym and no one batted an eyelid.
Like the NinetinGel Portable Bladeless Neck Fan, this fan also has a silicone band that sits at the back of the neck making it far more comfortable to wear than others. The band can be adjusted for a comfortable fit, or to direct the breeze where best suits. I also liked the fact that the air vents were larger than on many of the other neck fans, so I could really feel the cold air.
However, there are no vents around the back so the breeze is directed towards the front and side of the neck instead, although it is very powerful so cooled me down in no time.
Weight: 180g; Rechargeable: Yes via USB; Number of settings: 3; Run time: Up to 5 hours; Charge time: 4 hours
Icycool Grey 3 Speed Rechargeable Neck Fan, £11.99
Pros: One power button, long run time, three settings
Cons: A little bulky
Rating: 3.5/5
This no-frills fan couldn’t be easier to use. There’s just one button that turns the gadget on and off, and switches between the fan’s three settings. I found the lowest setting a bit too weedy for my liking but the highest was quite noisy, so tended to choose the middle setting for cool air without the distraction.
Made of very pale grey plastic, it’s one of the most basic models to look at and is fairly bulky. The Jsdoin Portable Neck Fan is a little sleeker if you want a more contemporary look.
Unlike some other fans I tested, I liked the fact that there are air vents on both sides of the neck band. This ensured a more even breeze, while a vent around the back of the neck itself made a big difference to how quickly I cooled down wearing this working at my computer on a hot day. This directs the air flow up or downwards depending on which way the neck fan is worn for maximum versatility.
Weight: Not given; Rechargeable: Yes via USB cable; Number of settings: 3; Run time: Approx 7 – 8 hours on lowest setting; Charge time: 6 – 7 hours
I put these neck fans through their paces on some of the hottest days of the year. I wore each of them when I was working at home in a stuffy room without a fan, tried them while travelling in a hot car, and even used them working out on the treadmill at the gym. And yes, I did occasionally get funny looks.
For each fan, I considered how comfortable it was to wear and how easy it was to use. I also judged how quiet it was when turned on and how long the battery lasted, and how quickly it recharged.
Neck fans are widely available online and in department stores. Remember that it’s worth buying one before the sun’s out when all models of fans tend to sell out immediately. Read our reviews above to choose your favourite then head to one of these recommended sites:
Don’t worry, the price of a neck fan shouldn’t get you hot under the collar. Every neck fan was around the £10 mark, which is plenty to spend on a device you’ll likely only use a few days a year.
Ones that are slightly more expensive tend to have a touch more power or better battery life, but really there’s very little to choose between each model, so it’s best to go for whichever one you like the look of.
