Portable fans are a hot-weather staple. When I got married on a sweltering July day, one of my bridesmaids passed me a portable fan, which didn't leave my side all day. So it's no surprise that personal fans are coming back in even bigger ways this summer.
Personal fans can be found for under $20, but this year, some big names in appliances are joining the trend. Dyson dropped its $99 personal fan, but not before Shark launched the ChillPill this year. Shark's personal fan features the most unique and elaborate design of any personal fan. Even Justin Bieber collaborated with Shark on a special edition of the ChillPill just in time for Coachella.
So I put the Shark ChillPill to the test on the hottest day of the year, and spoiler, my cats might love this fan more than I do.
An innovative design, but is it practical?
The design is unlike any fan I've encountered IRL. It's two cylinders stacked on top of each other. The piece with the actual fan can twist to work from different angles. Rather than a wand-like grip, it's bulkier, which makes it feel awkward to hold. That said, the design makes it exceptionally easy to set down on surfaces. Suddenly, I had a mini desktop fan. I liked it best when stationary and imagined that, if I had used it while walking, it might have felt too big to hold.
The ultimate test will be when I take it on my European honeymoon and see how it holds up in the peak summer heat, whether I'm walking through ruins or lounging in a cabana.
It comes with three swappable fan heads
The ChillPill comes with three different attachments. The basic fan head, a misting fan head, and a metal cooling plate — each of which felt particularly useful in my time testing it on a sweltering day.
The standard head doesn't need explanation, while the other two have a little more flair. The attachment with a stainless steel surface is a cooling plate that claims to lower skin temperature by up to 16 degrees Fahrenheit. While I can't confirm that exact amount, I can say that on a 90-degree day when I was sweating without air conditioning, it was an incredible relief when pressed to my wrists, neck, and temples.
For those in dry heat, the misting head is particularly attractive. I tried it out in the New England humidity, and I have to say, it was still so refreshing, especially in the hottest temperatures. For as much as I love it, my two water-loving cats love it more, eagerly running over whenever I turn it on.
The only downside to the misting head is that it has a mini tank and runs out fast, especially when you turn up the speed. You can shut off the misting to conserve water, and then it operates like a standard fan head.
10 speeds of cool that's most effective up close
The Shark ChillPill is secretly pretty smart. It has slightly different controls based on which fan head you use, and it automatically registers when you swap them. On the side of the ChillPill is an on/off switch, but to start it, you need to press the digital screen, which turns on the cooling function.
There are 10 speeds to choose from, and on sweaty days, I found I never needed to go beyond level three for a nice breeze. But I also didn't necessarily want to, as the ChillPill gets loud fast. If you were to crank it up to 10 in a public space, it would be making a scene. However, you do need to turn up the fan strength if you have it positioned far away, as I didn't find it had a very long reach.
Battery life made for summer travels
When fully charged, the fan lasts up to 11 hours. Using it intermittently over a few weeks, the battery held strong. The battery's strength is pretty impressive, and I'd feel confident bringing it on summer travels, knowing it will last all day and only need to be charged overnight. It recharges via USB-C, which most phones and tech use these days, meaning you won't need to pack an extra charger.
Let's talk about the price
Part of the appeal and widespread use of portable fans is their affordability. Most options on Amazon are under $20, and even Shein and Temu sell them alongside festival wear (though we're not sure we recommend them). So it's startling to see the Shark ChillPill's price of $149.99. It's more expensive than Dyson's portable fan ($99.99) and/or even a home fan like the super powerful Vornado 660 ($89.99). It's the same price as Shark's larger, more powerful FlexBreeze HydroGo Pro.
Even with its features and extra fan heads, and even though I love the fan, I still think it's way too expensive. If it were just $100, I'd say it was a good value, but for such a small, limited-use device, I don't think it's a great value, especially when you can get a much larger fan for much less than $150.
Is the Shark ChillPill worth it?
The Shark ChillPill is the most unique take on the personal fan that I've ever encountered. With 10 speeds, it's effective at cooling you down, even on the hottest of days. With special attachment heads like the mister and cooling plate, it goes above and beyond most portable fans. Even with powerful settings and long battery life, it isn't without its downsides. Its innovative design may serve more as a hindrance, especially when you're on the go. But more importantly, is it worth its $149.99 price tag? I'm not so sure.
If you're eager to spend the money, the Shark ChillPill is an effective and useful way to stay cool, but I think you should wait to buy it until it's on sale.
Source: Mashable