Forget handheld fans, this is the cooling device every editor I know is wearing during meetings to keep cool when working from home
I'm entering my neck fan era
If you'd told me I'd be considering buying a neck fan two summers ago, I would have laughed you out of the room. However, the humble neck fan is undergoing a renaissance as I've spotted numerous editors I work with sporting them around their necks when working from home.
Alongside the best fans, they have become this summer's new ultimate must-have (just behind the cult John Lewis fan). They offer hands-free cooling when you're out and about, or as my team has discovered, when you're at home, so you don't have to keep moving a desk fan around. The best part is that many of them are also still in stock, unlike many of the best portable ACs and fans we've tested.
For those who haven't seen one in action, a neck fan looks a little like a set of 90s-style headphones draped around your neck. However, instead of the foam ear pads, you have two little fans propelling air at your pulse points to cool you down. Many of them now also have full surround airflow to cool you down quickly.
These little pieces of kit have undergone a stylish reinvention; many of the versions you find on Amazon or other retailers look so sleek I had to do a double-take to work out what my editor was wearing around her neck during a recent meeting. I have tracked down some other versions I'd happily wear in public.
Available in grey and white this clever neck fan delivers 360° air flow around the front and back of your neck to keep you cool.
This neck fan has a slightly chicer look with the rose gold detailing. It also has all around air flow, and also includes 3 different speeds including a natural breeze function.
If you're not looking to spend much more than you would on a portable fan, this neck fan also comes in pink!
'While the intense heat we've experienced so far seems to have let up (for now) it's still warm enough to need a fan to keep you comfortable. Not only will it help air circulation in your home, but the air movement across your skin will help to cool you down,' says Sarah Handley, Ideal Home's portable AC and fan expert reviewer.
'While pedestal and tower fans are great for bigger rooms, and desktop fans are ideal for small spaces, it's a good idea to invest in something portable that you can take into places you don't have a fan, like your bathroom or garden, to ensure your personal comfort wherever you are.'
As the heatwave shows no signs of letting up, I'm stocking up on any portable cooling option I can get my hands on to follow me around my home, and right now, a neck fan is top of my list.
