AFTER months spent moaning about the cold and rain, warmer weather has finally hit the UK.
And whilst you might invest in cooling bedding and tower fans for the home, having a portable fan in your pocket or handbag could be a lifesaver for many.
Many can sit on your desk at work, or hang around your neck as you swelter on public transport.
Lynsey Hope tested dozens to find out which were most effective – and her best buy was less than £11.
Here, she reveals her favourites:
Bush Black Portable and Handheld Fan
- £15, argos.co.uk
Easy to operate with a single push button control and it has three speed settings, which varied enough to allow users to customise to their desired level of cooling.
The folding handle meant you could sit it on a table or desk for hands-free cooling and you could vary the angle to suit.
It’s a sleek, inoffensive design and was small enough to fit into a handbag.
The best thing about this, however, was the battery life, which was brilliant.
It could last up to 18 hours on a single charge.
- Performance: 4/5
- Value: 3/5
- Overall score: 7/10
John Lewis Anyday Handheld and Portable Desk Fan
- £12, johnlewis.com
Quite impressed with this little gem.
It was a handy size for putting into a handbag, so was a lifesaver for travelling on hot days and it’s lightweight too.
You can also fold it and put it on your desk or I sometimes used it whilst I was doing my hair or make-up to stop me getting hot.
There are three speeds to choose from and it performed well even on the lowest setting.
I was surprised how powerful the third setting was given its compact size.
It’s easy to charge and the cable is included.
It comes in a range of stylish colours so is great if you need a fan for events and meals out.
- Performance: 5/5
- Value: 4/5
- Overall score: 9/10
Mountain Warehouse Foldable Hand Held Fan
- £13.99, mountainwarehouse.com
The stand on this wasn’t wonderful – it kept wobbling over and it felt a bit flimsy compared to other, cheaper options.
It did come with a strap if you want to wear it, as well as a USB cable.
It also has five speed settings but I didn’t find them as powerful as they were on other models.
The sound was quite loud and shrill. It can run for up to 10 hours once fully charged.
- Performance: 3/5
- Value: 3/5
- Overall score: 6/10
Vonhaus 3 in 1 Handheld Fan
- £10.99, vonhaus.com
Beat the heat with this brilliant little fan from Vonhaus, which was my favourite on this list.
For less than £11, this fan comes with a lanyard strap, foldable neck and stand and it has five speed settings.
You could pop it on your desk, or hold it, or use the lanyard to wear it around your neck.
What’s more, the stand even has a lip so you can prop your phone on it, taking Zoom calls with a pleasant breeze.
It’s easy to use – simply go through the settings by using the single button on the front.
It’s not too noisy either. For less than £11, it’s a real bargain.
- Performance: 5/5
- Value: 5/5
- Overall score: 10/10
JisuLife Handheld Mini Fan
- £19.99, amazon.co.uk
If all you want is something to keep you cool, there are better options than this.
The fan has two speed settings which do provide a bit of airflow to keep you cool, though not the most powerful in our test.
It’s a little fiddly to open and close and it makes a surprising amount of noise for such a small device.
However, it does have some extra features that make it good value for money.
It doubles up as a power bank and it has a surprisingly strong flashlight built in – incredible given its size.
The battery power was also great, lasting up to 21 hours.
- Performance: 3/5
- Value: 4/5
- Overall score: 7/10
Travel Log Rechargeable Handy Fan
- £6, tesco.com
Surprisingly powerful for £6, this fan from Tesco has three settings and was very easy to operate and did a decent job of keeping me cool.
It has three settings, and it comes with a wrist strap and USB cable.
The battery life could have been better.
Even when fully charged, this one only lasted two and a half hours and it took 90 minutes to charge.
For a quick fix, though, it’s ok.
It doesn’t look as fancy as others, but it did the job.
- Performance: 2/5
- Value: 4/5
- Overall score: 6/10
How to keep cool in hot weather
Most of us welcome hot weather, but when it's too hot, there are health risks. Here are three ways to keep cool according to the NHS...
Keep out of the heat if you can.
If you have to go outside, stay in the shade especially between 11am and 3pm, wear sunscreen, a hat and light clothes, and avoid exercise or activity that makes you hotter.
Cool yourself down.
Have cold food and drinks, avoid alcohol, caffeine and hot drinks, and have a cool shower or put cool water on your skin or clothes.
Keep your living space cool.
Close windows during the day and open them at night when the temperature outside has gone down. Electric fans can help if the temperature is below 35 degrees. Check the temperature of rooms, especially where people at higher risk live and sleep.