The 5 Best Fan For Tent Camping & Guide On How To Choose One

Imagine it now; you’re sitting in your tent in 90°F weather, you strip down to try and cool down… it doesn’t work. You start pouring cold water on yourself… still nothing! 

You’re dreaming of having a portable fan in your tent, but you didn’t know they made them for tents. Well, here’s the thing:

They do make them! And by the end of this article, you’ll know exactly what the best fan for your tent is

IN A HURRY? HERE ARE OUR TOP PICKS…

What Are The Best Camping Fans

Tesoky 2 in 1 Portable USB Camping Fan

The Tesoky camping fan comes with a built-in portable LED camping lantern which has three brightness settings. On the softest setting of the LED light, you’ll have enough light to read a book without disturbing the others in the tent. But when you turn it up to the brightest setting you’ll have enough light to totally illuminate your tent.

The portable fan is made with a sturdy ABS material which can protect it from any damage while transporting it from location to location. When it comes down to its cooling abilities the camping fan functions extremely well. The system uses the latest brushless motor technology and ultra-thin fans to provide a strong airflow through the tent.

But what’s more impressive is the minimal noise it makes in the process. The company claims it produces less than 30 dB, which is quite extraordinary. One of the major selling points of the camping fan is the tiny size; it makes it incredibly easy to fit in your backpack.

You can use a USB charging cable to charge the camping fan that can connect to power banks, laptops, or a car power supply. It even supports 2A fast charging and only takes 6 hours to charge the camping fan fully.

Coleman CPX Tent Fan

The Coleman CPX tent fan is an excellent addition to anyone’s arsenal. The portable camping fan is powered by 4 D batteries, a rechargeable cartridge, or an A/C adaptor cartridge. The problem is all of these options are sold separately. You can run the portable fan at two speeds, so you have options during the night. If you have the fan running on high, the batteries will last 10 hours, and you can expect nearly 30 hours on the low-speed setting.

One surprising feature is the blades of the fan are made from foam and are soft to touch. The good thing about this is it reduces the weight; the downside is they can break easily if you’re not careful. Another nice feature of the Coleman CPX tent fan is the built-in 5mm LED light that produces up to 99 lumens of brightness.

The company claims that the four LED lights will last you a lifetime without being replaced. The light has two modes; white which produces enough light to brighten any tent. The second is night mode, which is perfect for reading at night and not disturbing anyone.

One of the great things about the portable fan is that you don’t have to run the fan simultaneously to the light; they both work completely independently from each other. The last thing I want to touch on is the built-in stand which allows the fan to stand freely, and the magnetic clip included, which will enable you to hang the fan.

Drchop-NA 7800mAh Camping Fan with LED Lantern

If you’re looking for a small and lightweight camping fan to take with you on your next trip, then the Drchop-NA is an excellent option. The fan is only  6.8” x 6.8” x 5.4” and weighs under 1 lb, making it ideal for traveling. One of the best things about the portable camping fan is it comes with an IR (infrared) remote. The remote control allows you to control the camping fan without having to move. You can set a timer, fan speed, and adjust the light from your bed.

It comes with three adjustable speed settings, with a maximum wind speed of 10 feet per second. In addition to the portable fan speeds, it also comes with three brightness settings, giving you the options you need. Another nice feature is how quiet the fan operates; they claim the brushless motor produce less than 23dB. Thanks to the low noise it produces, you don’t have to worry about keeping people awake at night.

The camping fan also comes with a built-in 7800 mAh large-capacity rechargeable battery, lasting around 8-25 hours depending on the fan’s speed. Charging the tent fan takes approximately 6-8 hours and is compatible with type C, UPS, and 2A cables.

What really stands out about this battery is it supports reverse charging, so you can charge your phone, GPS, or anything else that supports USB charging. With this camping fan, you can hang it from the top of your tent with the foldable hook or simply place it on the floor. 

Geek Aire Fan

The Geek Aire camping fan is a lot larger than other models, but it packs a punch. It comes with a built-in 12000mAh rechargeable battery which is stronger than any other camping fan. Most camping fans with a similar battery capacity take 5-6 hours to charge, but this Geek Aire model only takes 2-3 hours to get a full charge. 

Geek Aire claims that you get to run the camping fan for up to 20 hours per charge, but this depends on what speed the tent fan is running at. Thanks to it running for so long, you shouldn’t have any problems keeping cool during the night.

Geek Aire uses a brushless DC motor to help keep the fan’s noise down and has an IPX4 water-resistant rating. And for me, the water-resistant feature is something that most camping fans lack. They also added a metal blade with an upgraded pitch, and although it increases airflow, it does make it a lot heavier. Thanks to the upgraded pitch, the Geek Aire fan has a high-performance airflow of 1250 CFM.

At the rear of the Geek Aire camping fan, you’ll find a speed regulation dial so you can choose the speed that suits your needs. You’ll also find a series of LED lights that indicate how much power you have left; this helps you manage the power of your fan more efficiently. 

BusyPiggy Solar Camping Fan 

The BusyPiggy camping fan is an excellent addition to our list. It features a built-in double rechargeable battery which they claim can last between 5-48 hours. But of course, this all depends on how you’re using the tent fan. 

Charging the camping fan has never been easier; it works with a USB cable, which can be connected to nearly any power source. If you can’t get to a power source, there’s no need to worry; it comes with a built-in solar panel at the top of the fan.

Another great thing about the battery is you can reverse the charge. If your phone or GPS runs out of battery, you can share the juice with it. At the side of the fan, you have three foldable LED light panels, which can be set to different brightness levels. In case of an emergency, you can select the lights to flash red, which helps people locate you when you’re in danger.

As for the fan itself, it comes with four-speed settings to help you stay comfortable during the night. One thing to note is if the high speed isn’t working, there’s a good chance you need to charge the fan before it will turn on. It also comes with a built-in hook so you can hang it off your tent. And if you don’t have anywhere to hang it, you can always use foldable LED lights to prop the tent fan up. 

Our Top Choice

I’ve given you a great choice of options that you can take a look at, and if you use my buying guide, you’ll be able to find the right one for you.

But some people don’t have time for that; they just want to know which one I think is the best.

For me, it has to be the Geek Aire Fan, mainly due to the battery life and the airflow the portable fan produces. It’s incredibly efficient and will keep you cool in your tent; there’s no doubt about it.

The problem for me is the Geek Aire fan is very large and relatively heavy, so I wouldn’t be using it if I was going on multiday hikes. But, for a one-stop camping trip, you won’t find anything better than the Geek Aire camping fan, in my opinion.

If you want to learn more about any of the fans I’ve mentioned above, make sure you click on the buttons.

How To Choose The Best Camping Fan For You

You’ve had a look at some of our top picks when it comes to the best fan for your tent, but what should you be looking out for? If you want to make the right decision the first time, you need to consider a few things.

And in this section, I’m going to outline these things, so you know exactly what to look out for:

Power Source

One of the first things you should consider is the power source the camping fan requires. When it comes down to it, there are two styles you should be looking at.

Rechargeable Batteries – Many people like to go for rechargeable batteries, which means they don’t have to carry spare batteries with them. It will also save you money from having to buy bucket loads of batteries.

The downside is that it can be pretty hard to find somewhere to charge the fan if you’re out in the wild; this usually means you have no more fan once the batteries are dead. 

Traditional Batteries – The good thing about conventional batteries is you can replace them when the power runs out, which for many makes them more convenient. The downside is carrying multiple replacement batteries can be a challenge if you’re going away for a while. 

When it comes down to it, the choice is yours, but you should go for rechargeable batteries, in my personal opinion. Some are also powered with an AC adapter, but for me, they don’t really work for tent camping.

How Long Can It Run For?

There are so many different styles of camping fans that use various power sources with varying capacities. For this reason, it’s hard to know how long the fans will last, but it’s definitely something you need to think about. 

The run time of your camping fan usually comes down to several factors, some of which are:

These are just a few factors that will play a part in how long your fan can run for, so it’s not surprising that your tent fan can last anywhere between 2-40 hours.

If you’re looking for a fan that can last a long time, make sure you read some user reviews on Amazon to see what other people thought about it.

Airflow

Okay, ideally, the better the airflow, the better the fan will be at cooling you down. The best way to see if your fan has a good airflow is by looking at the blades.

The general rule is the bigger the blades, the more airflow they will produce. The issue with having bigger blades is it usually means the fan is heavier and harder to transport due to the size. 

Size

When you’re picking your camping fan, you really need to think about the size, not just to see how much airflow it will produce, but for how you’re going to transport it.

If you’re looking for a large camping fan with plenty of power, the chance is you won’t be able to fit it in a backpack. 

And if you plan to backpack through hot countries, you’re the best option is a camping fan small enough to fit in your bag. The problem is it won’t produce as much power, so it’s something you need to think about.

Weight 

One problem with camping is that the gear you’re carrying is already pretty heavy, and adding more weight isn’t ideal. For this reason, you should try and find a light camping fan, so you can’t feel the difference. 

The best camping fan will be lightweight, compact, and powerful enough to circulate air around your tent, so you don’t feel hot.

Durability

As with all camping equipment, you need to ensure it can stand up to a battering. Camping can be a rough experience, so it pays to see if your fan can stand up to the test. If your camping fans break during the night, you are going to have a terrible time.

Or even worse, when you pull it out of your bag, and it’s already broken. To see how durable your tent fan is, check the quality of the materials you’re using.

Noise Rating 

Another essential factor with camping fans is how much noise they make, and unfortunately, they can vary from brand to brand.

If your camping fan makes a lot of noise while it’s running, it’s going to make it extremely difficult to sleep (unless you can sleep through anything).

If you’re a light sleeper, then a fan that doesn’t make much noise is definitely beneficial. Some manufacturers will show how much noise it makes on the box because they know it’s a selling factor.

Others won’t say a word, and in my opinion, you should probably stay away; I feel they don’t advertise it because they know it’s loud.

I have one more thing to add, in general, plastic blades tend to be quieter than metal blades, so that might help sway your decision.

Blade Materials

One of the final vital elements of your camping fan is the materials used in the blades. You’re looking for high-quality materials being used, and in general, you have three choices:

If you’re looking for the most efficient, you should check out metal fans; they can move more air which helps to increase their cooling ability. The problem with them is they can be noisy and very dangerous if the guard breaks.

Plastic also works well at moving air and tends to be a lot lighter, but it can break easily, which is a huge downside.

Foam is the safest and doesn’t need a guard protecting the blades, but they don’t shift much air, so they are inefficient.

Other Features

The last thing I want to talk about is some of the additional features that come with some of the fans. They may not be as important as the factors above, but they are still worth thinking about.

Some fans will come with hooks at the top of the fan, which allows you to hang the fan on the ceiling to make more room on the floor.

Another feature some camping fans come with is a built-in light, which is great if you forget your torch or want something that will brighten up the tent. 

You also have camping fans that can reverse the charge, so you can give your mobile phone some extra juice if it’s running low.

Some camping fans have a solar panel built into the camping fan, so you can charge it wherever you go. This can be very beneficial if you’re going on long camping trips in the wild and don’t have any additional power sources.

The final feature I’ve found to be pretty handy is LED displays on the fan that indicate how much power is left. It makes it a lot easier to manage your fan if you haven’t got access to a charging point.

Frequently Asked Questions