Summer is all fun and games until you’re standing on a sweltering subway platform, practically melting, regretting every moment you ever wished away winter. Two summers ago, after one too many days in a row coming into the office dripping sweat, a coworker recommended I get a portable fan. Without much delay, I purchased an $8 handheld fan from Amazon—and honestly, it’s some of the best money I’ve ever spent. As soon as the weather warms up, like it has this past week in New York, my tiny fan lives in my everyday tote. And on the weekends, I tuck her inside my crossbody bag for walks around Hoboken, beach days down the shore, and hot and humid outdoor dinner dates in the city. It instantly cools me down with a light breeze just when I need it most.
Most recently, I brought my handheld fan with me on a trip to Charleston, South Carolina. It was a hot one, and my friends and I spent an entire day walking around, exploring historic Rainbow Row and the Charleston City Market. My fan saved me—and it lasted the whole day without dying or slowing down. My friends even took turns borrowing it to cool themselves down. So, if you run hot or just love to spend as much time outdoors in the summer as I do, consider this your sign to get yourself a portable fan. I’ll go so far as saying it’s the ultimate summer travel accessory—whether you’re headed to the South of France, a tropical island in the Caribbean, or just trying to walk through your own city without sweating.
To help you stay cool this season, I’m sharing my favorite handheld fan below, as well as the ones my fellow Traveler editors recommend most. Compact, lightweight, and easy to use, these small-but-mighty fans deserve to go everywhere with you this summer.
Gaiatop
Gaiatop mini portable fan
Meet my cute little $8 accessory! I love my Gaiatop fan so much that I bought the same one for my mom and dad last summer. It only has one button, so it’s easy to use but offers three different speeds. It’s worth every bit of space in my bag—which isn’t much, really. At just 4 oz., it’s lightweight and only a little bit bigger in size than an iPhone. It comes with a small stand you can rest it on, which is nice for a dinner table or office desk when you want a constant breeze. (But I usually leave the stand at home and just carry around the fan.) It has come with me to baseball games, theme parks, and countless days at the pool and beach, but never have I been more grateful to have it with me than I did on a bachelorette trip last July to Scottsdale, Arizona. It was hot—and I mean hot. My fan came with me everywhere, from pool clubs and local bars to morning walks to get much-needed iced coffees. The battery life is impressive; it’s never given up on me, and it only takes about two-to-three hours to recharge. I’ll be honest: This handheld fan isn’t reinventing the wheel here—it’s very simple in design and doesn’t have any revolutionary features. But it works well, fits in nearly every bag I own, and is under 10 bucks. It’s totally worth it.
Battery life: Approximately 13 hours
Pros
- Fits in a crossbody bag or fanny pack
- Quiet
- Recharges quickly
Cons
Jisulife
Handheld mini fan
I bought this portable fan in summer 2024, and have been pulling it out in warm weather ever since. It’s quite compact when folded up, and comes with a convenient wrist loop to make holding it easier. It has two speeds, and while it’s slightly noisy, especially when on full blast, it’s not something I notice when out and about. This handheld fan also features a built-in flashlight and a charging port, meaning it doubles as a power bank in a pinch. Best of all, it has a super-long battery life, more than 18 hours on a single charge, so I don’t have to worry about bringing along its charger on vacation. It’s a summer must-have for me! —Madison Flager, commerce director
Battery life: Approximately 18 hours
Pros
- Fan doubles as a power bank
- Very impressive battery life
- Folds down even smaller
- Has a built-in flashlight
Cons
- Can be a little tricky to open if you have long nails
Shark
ChillPill 3-in-1 cooling system
Despite temperatures rising all over the world (thanks, global warming), there hasn’t been much innovation when it comes to handheld fans. Shark changed that earlier this year with the introduction of the ChillPill, a first-of-its-kind fan that also includes a mister and cryo-inspired cooling plate. After using it for over a month now—bringing it to battle the Caribbean heat and the stifling NYC subway—I can say that the three-in-one device definitely does the job it’s intended to do. The fan itself is strong, the mister is a blast of relief, and the cooling plate feels amazing when pressed to the back of your neck or wrist. However, it isn’t the most compact or portable fan on the market (it’s a bit heavy, and you have to carry the attachments separately), and the fan does get pretty noisy—not an issue on the subway, but a bit boisterous in a quiet office space. Despite these small cons, I’ll still be using it all summer long. —Hannah Chubb, senior commerce editor
Battery life: Approximately 11 hours
Pros
- Comes with two additional attachments: a cooling plate and a dry-touch mist
- Very powerful fan
- 10 speed settings
Cons
- Noisy compared to other fans we tested
- A little bulky
- Most expensive fan on our list
Versiontech
Mini handheld fan
I love going to theme parks. Even when it’s hot and humid, I find myself waiting in lines for the newest attractions or trying to find a seat for parades. While this particular travel experience may sound miserable to some, I’ve found relief from the blazing sun with the VersionTech mini handheld fan. This tiny fan has enough power to keep me cool, less sweaty, and feeling great while walking around Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. I’ve also taken it on cruises for hot, shore excursion-heavy days, and have also brought it with me to sporting events; it would be great for outdoor concerts or food festivals too. It’s lightweight and easily fits into my purse without having to take anything out. Another perk: The adjustable handle can be folded back to let it stand upright without falling over. —Megan DuBois, contributor
Battery life: Approximately 11 hours
Pros
- Three speeds
- Folds down even smaller
- Can stand upright on desks or tables
Cons
- Not the longest battery life
