Best handheld fans to buy in 2026: portable fans for travel, commutes and heatwaves

Best portable fan for: camping

Pros: Triples as a fan, torch and phone charger; impressive run-time; foldable

Cons: Only offers 2 speed settings; open-blade design can cut out abruptly if it knocks while running

This handheld fan is a nifty little combo, not only designed to keep you cool but also providing a mini torch and backup portable charger for your phone or other devices too. It’s an all-round handbag hero. With just one charge, this will keep going for up to 19 hours, which is really impressive when compared to most others. Its folding design means it can be propped up on a table to use as a desktop fan when you stop for an al fresco aperitif, and it closes up really small in a cute bear design to pop into your handbag.

Editor review: This fan’s sweet little bear ears earned it some compliments in the office, and as a handheld fan it works well to cool you down. It does have the capacity to fold, so it can be used as a desktop fan, although it doesn’t have quite the right range to reach your face, so it’s not the best option for that. However I’m impressed by the additional features – the phone charger and light functionality are really handy to keep onside in your tote. I did have to Google how to turn on the torch – press the power button down for a few seconds, in case you were wondering. I’d definitely bring this along on my next summer camping trip – it keeps you cool on the go, and any extra juice for my phone never goes amiss. Charley Ward, commerce writer

Battery life: 14 to 21 hours

Weight: 100g

Noise level: 48 decibels

Airflow settings: 2

USB-C charging? Yes

Foldable? Yes