If you have pets or humans in the house who regularly knock things over, you might consider a sturdier option that’s closer to the ground, like a floor fan. The Vornado 683 is both small and short, making it a better fit when space is at a premium. However, it’s also the only one without an oscillating function, and must be spun by hand to point the direction you desire.
In our tests, it reached the highest measured speed of 13.4 mph. It’s easily felt from across a room, though only if you’re standing directly in its tunnel-like path. Not only does this high velocity feel great in your face after a prolonged period outside on a hot day, but it also helps to circulate air around a alen breathesmart room more effectively — exactly what this model is made to do. The Lasko Cyclone is also quite powerful and has the added bonus of oscillation and a timer, both of which the Vornado lacks. Also notable for their similarly high top speeds are the Honeywell Double Blade and Rowenta Turbo Silence Extreme 5-Speed.
Of all the models we tested, this one operates at the lowest pitch, sounding more like a hum than the traditional whirring of a fan. Though it can’t point down, it can be angled nearly vertically to bounce air off the ceiling and blow it effectively around an entire room. It’s the only one with the cord coming out of the bottom of the stand, as well, rather than dangling off the base of the motor halfway up the stand. Although the Silent Turbo is one of the quieter fans, it beeps rather loudly every time you change a setting.
It has no remote, no extra modes, no timer, and doesn’t even oscillate. Additionally, this fan may not quite reach the top of your bed — at its tallest, it stands just 38 inches high. It’s also quite loud on higher settings, though the lowest speed is reasonably quiet.
Keep cool this summer with one of these highly-rated oscillating fans. Free shipping and handling on eligible supply orders of $49 or more. Free shipping calculation is based on the subtotals of eligible items, after any additional discounts lasko pedestal fans are applied. We tested each fan’s performance through a battery of tests that cover four metrics. We put together a complete picture of each model through laboratory tests, precision measurements, everyday usage, and qualitative analyses.
Here we break down the metrics we evaluated and the tests we used to pinpoint the best ones for specific jobs. I found that I stayed the coolest when I had the fan pointed at me as directly as possible. I tried using it alen breathesmart at different heights and preferred to keep it at a shorter height so it could fan directly on me as I was laying down. When it was up higher, I could still feel the airflow but didn’t feel like I was staying as cool.