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Beat the heat all day long with these ingenious accessories.
If you were a child of the ’90s, you definitely remember those camp sessions or trips to theme parks where the only respite from the heat was a little fan attached to a spray bottle. While you can still buy yourself a portable misting fan today, they don’t do much to combat 90-degree temperatures, aside from making your face a bit damp.
If you're seeking more significant relief from the heat, however, neck fans—also known as wearable air conditioners—are the grown up counterpart to our childhood misters. They sit around your neck and continuously blow cool air onto your skin, which can help keep you feeling cool on the hottest days. These are super convenient for long days outside, as most can last for over 8 hours, and you don't have to worry about carrying them.
To help you choose one, we've rounded up our favorites. Check out our buying advice and in depth product reviews below.
When looking for a neck fan, there are a few key things you will want to consider to make sure that it is right for you. The most important, surprisingly enough, is whether or not you have long hair. If you do, your hair can easily get tangled in the fan, causing an unwanted haircut—specifically if the fan is bladed. If you do have long hair, opt for a bladeless model and try to keep your hair out of the way, regardless.
There are also two types of neck fans: those that function just like a fan, moving air around, and those that will actually cool the air before blowing it on you. The latter is definitely more expensive, but if you tend to overheat or live in a particularly warm part of the world, it may be worth it to you.
To find the best neck fans among the many options on the market, we researched the most popular models available and considered price, materials, durability, cooling properties, and comfort. We looked at both expert and customer reviews, written by people who’ve bought these models on sites like Amazon, to settle on the neck fans you'll find below, all of which have average customer ratings of four stars or higher.
For more great ways to beat the heat this summer, check out our picks for the best pedestal fans and tower fans.
This neck fan is comfortable, lightweight, and has a sleek design that makes it discreet enough for regular wear. It has 78 air outlets that surround your neck and boasts all-day battery life. It is easy to use and is quite affordable at under $32. Plus, it is made from sustainable materials and uses USB-C fast charging, making it easy to power up quickly and stay cool.
While some neck fans will just blow warm air at you, this one actually cools the air down first. In fact, it's designed to be able to lower skin temperature on your neck by up to 12 degrees Fahrenheit.
It also has fast charging capabilities, a bladeless design, and can operate at three speeds—not to mention that it has a long-lasting battery. All these features come at a high price, however, and it's the most expensive option on our list.
If you’re looking for a neck fan that works well and looks great, look no further. Not only does this model come in 18 fun color and pattern options, but it’s a steal at under $20 and customers say it’s “perfect” and provides “instant relief.”
This fan is bladeless, so you don’t have to worry about it catching long hair, plus it has three speeds and can last up to 8 hours on a single charge.
If you prefer to have a bit more control over where your fan is facing—or are worried about it getting tangled in long hair—this handheld model is a great choice. It comes with a lanyard, so you can wear it around your neck, and the fan mechanism attaches to a handle, so you can easily hold it up to provide targeted cooling where you need it most.
It can also be used in either an upright position or can be bent to a 90-degree angle, with the latter position making it easy to have the air blow toward your face when it's attached to the lanyard.
This wearable neck fan is affordable and a customer favorite, earning a 4.5-star rating from more than 2,500 buyers. Not only does it blow straight into your face instead of directing air toward your neck and chin, but the fans are also adjustable, making it easy to customize your comfort. However, this may not be the best option if you have long hair, as it does have blades, so you could get tangled up if you’re not careful.