Vornado Box Fan Model 80X for $100: While most people who need a box fan will, obviously, run to Walmart or Home Depot and buy one for 20 bucks, you should know that the Rolls-Royce of box fans exists. “It has a speed of 99,” the brand’s representative told me when it came out. “Yeah, okay,” I thought. But, of course, this thing Actually its speed is 99, Accessible via up and down buttons. I don’t know under what circumstances someone might need that much speed, but they do. It also has a kickstand to reduce wobble, a digital display, and a 1 to 12-hour timer. Plus, the silver and black casing looks good – just like you wanted it to be in your home, with no leftovers from when your AC broke down during the heat wave.
Photograph: Kat Merk
Shark TurboBlade (Bladeless) for $250: Although this 2025 blade-less model is billed as a tower fan, it doesn’t look or function like any tower fan I’ve seen. It looks more like a windmill than a fan, with a horizontal bar that sits like a large “T” at the base of the telescope. The ends of the bars, which are connected, feature vents, and each end can be bent straight up, straight down, or anywhere in between for completely customizable air direction. The entire strip can also be folded vertically to look like an “I” if you want a long, thin air instead of a long, thin air. It has all the usual features you’d expect from a fan at this price, including 10 speeds, oscillation, a magnetic remote, and three settings including “sleep,” which makes sense as the TurboBlade, in its “T” configuration, is the perfect height for a bed. This is a great option if you need airflow in different directions at the same time, but be aware that it produces quite a loud, jet engine-like sound, which is noticeable even at low settings. there is also one now TurboBlade Heat + Cool ($400)Which adds a 1,400-watt heater in the middle, but WIRED reviewer Matthew Korfage tested it and found the heating feature not worth the extra $150.
Shark FlexBreeze for $200:This was my favorite misting fan of last year. I love that it’s rechargeable, so it can be used even without an electrical outlet nearby, and I love that the legs fold out to separate the head from the pedestal, allowing it to serve as an easy-to-carry floor fan. Shark claims that the FlexBreeze can reduce ambient temperature by up to 10 degrees with the misting attachment. Although I was never able to measure a decrease of more than 6 degrees using multiple thermometers, without FlexBreeze the difference in air temperature is so dramatic that it can make the difference between an unbearable summer dinner outside and a pleasant one. However, the mist deployed by the detachable misting attachment (Shark now makes a version with a tank, but I haven’t tried it) is a bit heavy – it significantly wetted most of my deck and soaked the clothes of anyone sitting within 5 or more feet. On the plus side, this meant the mist didn’t blow away instantly, as was the case with the FlexBreeze’s portable brother, the HydroGo (below).
Photograph: Kat Merk
Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo for $150: I liked the original Shark FlexBreeze (above), but not the fact that it had to be attached to a hose, so I was very excited to see a rechargeable, portable version in fun colors. Shark says it can run for 30 minutes with the mister running continuously, or up to 60 minutes in “interval mode,” and after testing it at my son’s soccer practice, I found these estimates to be more or less accurate. However, the mist coming out of the center is so fine and in such a small stream that it quickly evaporates before anyone has a chance to cool down, unless they are sitting within a few inches of it.
Lasko Whirlwind Orbital Pedestal Fan for $85: This fan looks a lot like Dreo’s TurboPoly 508S, and actually has some of the same features – it oscillates 105 degrees vertically or 150 degrees horizontally, it’s quieter (I noticed as little as 27 dB), and it has a remote. It’s not smart, it doesn’t have RBG lights, and there is some occasional noise from the oscillation, but if you’re looking for a more affordable pedestal fan that offers 3D oscillation, this honestly isn’t a bad choice.
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