I finally took the plunge and ordered Shark’s Flexbreeze Tablemate fan thanks to its battery powered mode – and I’m so glad I did
I can’t get by without a fan over the summer. As one of those people who’s too hot at the best of times, the warmer months can feel like a bit of an endurance test, especially when the mercury starts soaring.
So it’s no surprise I already had a couple of brilliant fans that do an excellent job of keeping me cool on the boiling hot days. But one drawback they both have is they’re mains powered.
As a result, I was really intrigued when I came across Shark’s sparkling range of fans that have the added bonus of running off battery power. So when the Shark Tablemate dropped in price during Amazon’s recent Prime Day sale, I took the plunge and snapped one up – a decision that’s already proved wise. Two things I really enjoy are gardening and DIY but in the summer such tasks tend to see me overheating pretty quickly.
Read more: Plug-in wall lamp ‘frees up space on bedside tables’ and doesn’t need an electrician
Read more: ‘I sleep with this fan on every night and it’s incredible in a heatwave’
Clearly messing about with extension cables and plugging and unplugging fans is less than ideal, so the idea of having a portable battery powered fan was very appealing. And from the moment the Shark Tablemate arrived, I’ve been very impressed.
As you’d expect for a device in this price range (£149.99 from Shark and £149 from Amazon) the fan packs quite a punch. It boasts five speeds, with the higher settings really giving off a significant cooling blast. Other features include tilt and oscillation, which is handy for making sure the airflow is directed where you want it, while Shark says the design is UV and water-resistant, which will come in handy when it’s used outside.
I just love how easy it is to pick it up via the built-in handle and take it outside with minimal effort and no annoying wires to sort out.
Shark Tablemate fan
£149.99
Shark
Buy Now on Shark
I’ve been very impressed with the compact fan
What else is out there?
As I’ve already touched on, I have a couple of other fans I’ve found to be very impressive. One is the Challenge White Pedestal and Desk Fan (£70 at Argos), which is super impressive when you turn it up. So much so I’ve used it in some capacity almost every night since I’ve bought it.
If you have a bit more budget to spend, I also have the Midea SmartAir Cool and Purify Bladeless Fan. Sold for £199.99 at both High Street TV and £199 at Amazon, (you can read the full review here).
It has all manner of fancy features, and High Street TV says it’s a fan that “does it all” and it’s hard to disagree.
The Tablemate is a tad bulky, with the Shark Hydrogo (£99.99 down from £129.99) more portable and a better option if you want a fan to take out with you to the gym. The Hydrogo also has a misting feature, spraying out a jet of cool mist for really hot days.
If those products are a bit pricey, Amazon stocks a very portable handheld fan for £18.99, which also comes with a fancy misting spray function.
The only downside I would flag with the Tablemate is that the battery drains quickly when the fan is turned up to full power. It’s nothing unacceptable, but it would be better if it could last a bit longer when at higher speeds.
What have reviewers said?
Reviews on the Shark website have been largely very positive, with the product averaging 4.7 stars out of 5. One said: “This has been the best fan we have ever purchased. The portability of use indoors and out has been amazing. I would definitely recommend it to family and friends.”
Another continued: “I was really pleasantly surprised with my new Shark fan. It has 5 speed settings and 3 rotation settings, and it really is very powerful. It’s been absolutely brilliant for the hot weather we have been having, making the bedroom comfortable to sleep in again. I wouldn’t be without it now. Excellent. Highly recommended.”
Despite the praise, one buyer did flag: “Nice quiet fan, but the remote control is very weak (and almost useless). You have to be very close to the fan for it to work.”