Even for avid campers, one of the trickiest parts of camping in hot weather is staying cool. After all, you can only spend so much time swimming in a lake, and you can’t down all your cold drinks too quickly. Fans are helpful, but who wants to worry about batteries or power cords? Besides, there’s the environment to consider.
The most efficient and eco-friendly solution is to bring a solar camping fan. However, some are better than others. We’ll tell you which ones are most worth your money!
Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
Busypiggy Camping Essentials Fan with LED Lantern
Best Splurge:
EXTREMEMIST 14” Misting Fan
Budget Option:
Shuangjishan Camping Fan
Best for Multipurpose Use:
Ansee Solar Camping Fan
Best for Large Groups:
CYBERDAX 14 Inch Portable Wireless Rechargeable Table Fan
Best Overall
Busypiggy Camping Essentials Fan with LED Lantern
If you want the best value for your money, look no further than the Busypiggy Camping Essentials fan. Along with four levels of wind strength, the fan comes with four adjustable LED light panels to help you see in the dark. Plus, there’s a USB port in case another device needs to be charged. In one affordable solar camping fan, you’ll cover many of your campsite’s needs!
Use the hook to hang it from the ceiling of your tent or RV, or lay it on its side on a picnic table, blanket, or wherever you need it.
Pros
- Battery lasts 5 to 45 hours
- Includes four LED light panels
- Panels flash red as a warning when energy is running low
- Lightweight and easy to store
Cons
- Battery is quickly depleted by high fan speeds
- Easily damaged without proper care
Best Splurge
EXTREMEMIST 14” Misting Fan
Campers with deeper pockets may wish to indulge in the Extrememist misting fan. This solar camping fan not only boasts twelve different fan speeds, but it sprays cool water from its three mist nozzles. All you have to do is attach the water line to a cooler, bucket, jug, or water bottle. You can also unplug the line from the fan and set it up to enhance the shade of an umbrella, canopy, awning, etc. Use the USB port to charge other devices, too.
Whether you’re camping, glamping, or just hanging out in your own backyard, get this fan to feel relaxed, pampered, and cool.
Pros
- Sprays cool mist from three nozzles
- Battery lasts 5 to 45 hours
- Misting line is 16 feet long
- Feed line is 4 feet long
Cons
- Battery is quickly depleted by high fan speeds
- Likely to use up all the water before the battery dies
- Very expensive
Best Budget Option
Shuangjishan Camping Fan
Need a budget-friendly solar camping fan? The Shuangjishan camping fan could be perfect for you. It features four wind speeds, three LED light panels, a hook with which you can hang it from the top of your RV or tent, and a USB port for charging other electronics.
However, what really sets it apart from other solar camping fans is the brushless motor, which helps the blades turn so quietly that you’ll hardly notice them. You can stay cool without noise!
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Brushless motor reduces noise
- Lightweight and easy to store
Cons
- Average battery life is only 6 to 14 hours
- Not durable
Best for Multipurpose Use
Ansee Solar Camping Fan
Lots of solar camping fans try to meet many needs at once. However, few accomplish this quite so well as the Ansee solar camping fan. Besides the brushless motor that helps the blades turn noiselessly, the LED flashlight makes the fan double as a lamp or spotlight torch. Combined with the handle, you can carry it and increase your visibility anywhere you like, not just in the campsite.
As an added convenience, the solar panels that recharge the battery are installed right on the back of the fan, so you don’t need to carry and set up separate panels. Camping is easier in every way with this fan!
Pros
- Solar panels installed on the fan itself
- Brushless motor reduces noise
- Can also work as a lamp or spotlight torch because of the handle and flashlight
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Can’t charge and turn on at the same time
- Overheats easily
Best for Large Groups
CYBERDAX 14 Inch Portable Wireless Rechargeable Table Fan
If you love camping with lots of friends or family members, it makes sense that you’d want a solar camping fan that can provide relief to multiple people at once. That is the greatest strength of the CYBERDAX portable wireless table fan. With a diameter of 14 inches, it’s much bigger than most solar camping fans and has a tilt adjustment up to 130 degrees.
In addition, the fan still has many of the same features that make other solar camping fans so appealing. The best examples are the USB charge port and multiple wind speeds–twelve, to be exact!
Pros
- Big enough to accommodate large groups
- Battery lasts 4 to 24 hours
- Highly durable because of aluminum alloy construction
- 12 wind speeds
Cons
- Pricy
- Battery depletes quickly with stronger winds
- Heavier and harder to transport compared to other fans
Solar Camping Fan Buyer’s Guide
Any of these solar camping fans would be amazing choices for your trips, but what else should you know about them? Let us give you a quick overview of the most important points.
Types of Solar Camping Fans
At the moment, only a few types of solar camping fans are available on the American market. Tabletop fans are common, but lots of the most successful models built for camping also include hooks or handles so that they can be used in tents and RVs. Some also function as lanterns, radios, and/or chargers.
What to Consider About a Solar Powered Fan
Any solar camping fan you choose should promise the highest quality in certain features. Here’s what you must check in any fan you’re thinking about buying:
Durability
In the great outdoors, solar camping fans may be subject to all kinds of weather and unexpected events. You need something tough and durable. Plastic is a fine material, but metal is better. Either way, it should be built firmly enough to resist bending or breaking.
Battery
It’s easy enough to find a solar camping fan that guarantees at least four or five hours of usage per battery charge. The best fans can last about 30 hours or longer, so look for that.
Transportability
You’ll be taking your solar camping fan to many places, some of them far from civilization and/or on rough terrain. The size, weight, and foldability should be to your liking so that you pack, store, and carry it easily.
Ventilation
Being out in the sun and harnessing sunlight to create electrical energy is bound to raise the risk of overheating. Your solar camping fan should have a reliable heat vent to get rid of excess heat, keeping the fan in good shape.
Noise Level
Spinning blades have a tendency to create noise, especially at higher speeds. If this bothers you, look for a fan with a brushless motor or other features that reduce the noise level.
Basic Maintenance
Every solar camping fan is different, but they all require the same simple maintenance techniques. Here’s what to do for any fan you buy:
Clean Carefully
You can clean a solar camping fan the same way you would most electric ones–just dust the grill and blow debris off the blades with an air compressor or hair dryer. However, pay special attention to the solar panels. If they’re left with dirt or dust, they won’t absorb sunlight efficiently. Wipe them gently away with a soft, damp cloth without getting water on the rest of the fan.
Avoid Water
Speaking of water, solar camping fans are similar to electric ones in that they can be damaged permanently by getting wet. Don’t let your fan anywhere near bodies of water, including lakes, rivers, pools, or tubs.
Provide Protection
Even the hardiest solar camping fans are vulnerable to blemishes, breakage, and general premature wear if you don’t protect them. Don’t leave your fan outdoors for long stretches of time, particularly if there’s heavy precipitation or high winds. Also, set it up in places where it’s unlikely to get knocked over, dented, or scratched by people or animals.
When you’re transporting or not using the fan, place it securely in a dry bag or container.
Rest Occasionally
Sunlight is a consistent energy source, but forcing your solar camping fan to run constantly will wear it out quickly, shortening its lifespan. Let it rest when temperatures are cooler, like in the morning or late at night, or whenever you’re away from the campsite.
Frequently Asked Questions About Solar Camping Fans
Even with all this information and such wonderful options for solar camping fans, you may still have questions about them. That’s understandable, which is why we’ll answer the most common ones for you.
Are there any drawbacks to using solar camping fans?
The most common issue that arises with solar camping fans is reliability. Depending on the weather, sunlight may be stronger on some days than others, so solar panels have difficulty absorbing all the energy they need to make electricity. Of course, this partially depends on the quality of the panels’ construction. Still, your fan may not always work as well as you’d like.
What are the benefits of using solar camping fans?
Despite their occasional issues with dependability, solar camping fans are more than worthwhile. Just consider all these benefits:
Greener Energy
As a camper, you probably care about the environment and strive to minimize your impact on nature. Since they use sustainable and renewable energy, solar camping fans are ideal for helping you camp greenly.
Cost Efficiency
Some solar camping fans cost more to buy than electric ones. However, you’ll ultimately save money at campsites that charge extra for the electricity you would get from a power station. If you use these fans at home as well, you’ll reduce your monthly energy bill, too.
Improved Safety
Electrical wiring always carries the possibility of causing shocks or fires. There’s no such risk with a solar camping fan. You can relax better knowing that you’re safer than you would be with electrical cords riddling your campsite.
Step Up Your Camping Game With a Solar Camping Fan!
Now you’re all set to choose an excellent solar camping fan to make your camping trips even more rewarding! You’ll love how these fans save you money, keep you safe, and help you promote eco-friendliness without leaving you too hot or uncomfortable.
Read more from the camping gear section of our site to get more great advice!
- About the Author
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With a bachelor’s degree in history and several years of professional writing experience, Ashley Morales believes there’s a story in everything. It’s her passion to tell each one that she can.
She has been camping and nurturing a love for nature since childhood. Sharing her knowledge is just one of the many ways that she likes to encourage others to enjoy the outdoors. Waterfronts are always her favorite places to camp or relax, no matter the time of year!