6 tests × 7 camping fans
The 7 Best Camping Fans (Bought & Tested!)
I spent around $300 buying these seven camping fans, and about 2 months testing all of them out.
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The Podium
Quick Summary
Here’s everything I recommend.
Claymore V600+
My best all-rounder fan, with great wind speeds and lots of features.
7.7/ 10 overall
Best Tent Fan with Light
Nitecore NEF10
7.6/10
- Also: Best value for money
- 10,000 mAh rechargeable
- Max run-time: 32.0 hours
- Surprisingly quiet
- Lantern: 34-124 lumens
Best for Groups
Geek Aire Rechargeable Fan
7.5/10
- Pushes the most air over the most distance
- Airflow distance: 108 in
- Comes in 12, 16, and 20in sizes
- High quality and durable materials
Super Cheap Pick
Odoland Camping Fan
6.3/10
- The least expensive camping fan in this review
- Has a fan-and-lantern-combo
- Lantern: 398 lumens
- Max run-time: 40.0 hours
Jump to: The Rest of the Best ↓ How I Tested ↓ Why You Can Trust Me ↓
The video
If you prefer watching to reading, check out my video here instead.
Camping Guidance
30K+
Table of contents
Best Overall
Claymore V600+ Camp Fan
Test scorecard
Claymore V600+ Camp Fan
7.7out of 10
Wind Power9
Run-Time6
Noise8
Features8.4
Durability6.3
Portability10
Key info
- Power7,800 mAh rechargeable
- Max speed4.2 m/s (13.7 ft/s)
- Blade diameter6.0 in
- Max run-time31.5 hours
- LightingNone
- Weight20.6 oz
- Packed size7.25 x 7.75 x 5.5 in
Pros
- Best all-rounder fan
- Large range of wind speeds
- Relatively feature-rich
Cons
- No lighting or charge-out features though
TL;DR
My top pick is easily the Claymore V600+ camping fan. It came in first with the best overall score across my 6 tests.
Its strongest point is the impressive range of wind speeds, allowing you to choose between maximum cooling or optimizing run-time:
- High: 4.2 m/s
- Medium: 3.8 m/s
- Low: 3.1 m/s
- Ultra-Low: 2.6 m/s
The Claymore also has many features: a hanging hook, adjustable legs, a tripod thread, battery lights, a sleep timer, fan rotation, and a removable cage.
It is, however, missing two features – a lighting function, and a mobile charging option. The updated Claymore V1040 adds the charging, and if you need both, the next fan (the Nitecore NEF10) would be a much better option for you.
Check out the Claymore V600+:
Best Tent Fan with Light
Nitecore NEF10
Test scorecard
Nitecore NEF10
7.6out of 10
Wind Power8.3
Run-Time8
Noise10
Features9.4
Durability3.3
Portability10
Key info
- Power10,000 mAh rechargeable
- Max speed4.2 m/s (13.7 ft/s)
- Blade diameter5.25 in
- Max run-time32.0 hours
- Lantern34-124 lumens
- Weight23.0 oz
- Packed size7 x 7 x 4.5 in
Pros
- Impressive battery life
- Surprisingly quiet
- Extremely feature-rich
- Affordable price-tag
Cons
- Cannot be left out in the heavy rain
TL;DR
The Nitecore NEF10 is a fantastic value for money pick – affordable, high quality, with loads of features.
My runner-up pick beats the Claymore in a few ways. First, it has the best run-time of all my rechargeable fans. In fact, it’s almost as good as a fan running on four D-batteries:
| Camping Fan | Wind Speed | Run-Time | Power Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coleman CPX 6 | 2.8 m/s | 35.0 hours | D batteries x 4 |
| Nitecore NEF10 | 2.7 m/s | 32.0 hours | 10,000 mAh battery |
Comparing the Nitecore’s rechargeable battery to 4 x D cells.
Second, the Nitecore is surprisingly quiet; its highest fan speed (4.2 m/s) is the quietest of all my camping fans, at just 56 dBA.
Third, it’s also a shockingly feature-rich fan, with:
- A hanging hook and carabiner (to use as a ceiling fan)
- Adjustable legs
- 360-degree rotation from the ball-head tripod
- A removable cage
- A sleep timer
- A power bank function (which gave me about 3 x 60+% charges of my iPhone 12)
- A lantern function
The lantern has 3 modes (34, 71, and 124 lumens). The high mode was plenty for reading and playing cards in the tent, and the low mode was a great night light.
And fourth, I paid 50% less for the Nitecore than for my Claymore, making this incredible value for money if the Claymore is out of your budget.
However, its biggest con is that the fan stopped working after 30 minutes of heavy rain. Four months of drying later, the fan came back to life! The sleep timer is still not working though.
Check out the Nitecore NEF10:
Best for Groups
Geek Aire Rechargeable Fan
Test scorecard · scored on the 10in model I tested
Geek Aire Rechargeable Fan
7.5out of 10
Wind Power9.3
Run-Time6
Noise5
Features7.5
Durability7.7
Portability5
Key info
- Tested model10in
- Power6,000 mAh rechargeable
- Max speed3.9 m/s (12.8 ft/s)
- Blade diameter8.5 in
- Max run-time29.5 hours
- LightingNone
- Weight61.7 oz
- Packed size14 x 12 x 5.5 in
Pros
- Comes in 12, 16, and 20in sizes
- Pushes the most air over the most distance
- High quality and durable materials
- Continuous adjustment of multiple speeds
Cons
- Battery capacity can be higher
- No sleep timer, lighting, or mobile charging
TL;DR
For cooling groups, the Geek Aire Rechargeable Fan is my pick, because it pushes the most air over the most distance of all my camping fans.
The Claymore and Nitecore are smaller 6 to 7-inch fans, while the Geek Aire is much bigger. I tested the 10-inch version (blade diameter: 8.5 in), which Geek Aire has since discontinued; it now comes in 12, 16, and 20in sizes.
A fan this size is usually enough to cool 2 people down. And because the blade diameter is so much wider, it actually pushes a lot more air despite having lower max fan speeds.
Its airflow distance is also the best of all my camping fans, coming in at 108 inches, which can be used in a 4 to 5-person tent.
It’s also my only fan that’s made out of metal, and one of the two here with an IPX4 waterproof rating. So, it took my 30-minute heavy rain test with no issues at all.
The adjustment knob also gives you complete control over fan speed, from 1.6 m/s to 3.9 m/s. It’s the only fan I have that has this; the rest in this review have discrete fan speeds (low, medium, high).
However, for such a big fan, the battery capacity can be larger (it’s lower than both the Claymore and the Nitecore), and there’s no sleep timer, lighting, or mobile charging.
Check out the Geek Aire:
Super Cheap Pick
Odoland Camping Fan
Test scorecard
Odoland Camping Fan
6.3out of 10
Wind Power6.3
Run-Time9
Noise7
Features6.1
Durability3
Portability9
Key info
- Power2 x D batteries
- Max speed3.6 m/s (11.8 ft/s)
- Blade diameter4.0 in
- Max run-time40.0 hours
- Lantern398 lumens
- Weight23.6 oz
- Packed size5.75 x 5.75 x 7.5 in
Pros
- The least expensive camping fan in this review
- Has a fan-and-lantern-combo
Cons
- Expensive in the long-run
- Doesn’t have a ton of pros
TL;DR
I’d recommend the Odoland camping fan only if you want to spend as little as possible on a fan, and have a ton of spare D batteries to use up.
If you’re looking for a fan-and-lantern combo, you’re in luck, because the Odoland comes equipped with a 398-lumen super-glaring lantern, which can light up an entire 6-person tent:
However, it runs on two D batteries each time. I much prefer using a rechargeable fan, because this gets really expensive in the long run.
On top of that, it doesn’t have a lot of pros. Here are some cons that I didn’t quite like:
- Small blade diameter (4 inches)
- A little noisy
- Plastic used is a little lower-quality
- Not great in the rain (lighting function stopped working after 30 minutes of heavy rain)
Ultimately though, you get what you pay for – a functional fan for very little money.
If your budget can stretch though, I’d save up a little bit of money to get the Nitecore NEF10 fan instead.
Check out the Odoland:
Everything else I tested
The Rest of the Best
Above are the 4 recommended best camping fans. Here are 3 more that I tried and tested, but just didn’t make the cut:
- O2Cool Treva (7.1): More of a RV-camping fan than a tent-camping fan. The base is small and isn’t the most stable on uneven ground.
- Coleman OneSource (6.5): Would only recommend if you have other OneSource products from Coleman (they have interchangeable rechargeable batteries). Otherwise, it’s just an average fan that’s nothing spectacular.
- Coleman CPX 6 (5.9): The worst camping fan ever. Blades are made of foam, and don’t push enough air. Please avoid!
The 6 testsHow I Tested My Camping Fans
I tested each of my camping fans for wind power, run-time, noise level, features, durability and portability. Here are the results from each of the tests.
Wind Power
For this first wind power test, I looked at the wind speed on each fan mode (measured with a mini anemometer), the blade diameter, and the airflow distance.
| Camping Fan | Max Speed (m/s) | Min Speed (m/s) | Blade Diameter (in) | Airflow Distance (in) | Tent Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geek Aire Fan winner | 3.9 | 1.6 | 8.5 | 108 | 5-person |
| Claymore V600+ | 4.2 | 2.6 | 6.0 | 100 | 4-person |
| Nitecore NEF10 | 4.2 | 2.7 | 5.25 | 95 | 4-person |
| O2Cool Treva | 2.9 | 2.2 | 9.25 | 90 | 3-person |
| Odoland Fan | 3.6 | 2.6 | 4.0 | 70 | 2-person |
| Coleman OneSource | 2.9 | 2.0 | 5.0 | 66 | 2-person |
| Coleman CPX6 | 3.7 | 2.8 | 7.5 | 5 | 0-person |
- Wind speed isn’t the only thing to look at: Even if a camping fan has a low max speed, a bigger fan will move much more air than a tiny one
- How I measured airflow distance: I laid a measuring tape diagonally across the tent, stuck a windmill in front of each fan, then recorded the distance where the windmill stopped spinning
Run-Time/Battery Life
Next, I gave each fan a full charge (or fresh batteries), set them aside, and timed their run-times with a stopwatch:
| Camping Fan | Power Source | Max Run-Time (hours) | Min Run-Time (hours) | Speed Near 3 m/s | Run-Time at That Speed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| O2Cool Treva winner | 6 x D batteries | 85.0 | 60.0 | 2.9 m/s | 60.0 hours |
| Odoland Fan | 2 x D batteries | 40.0 | 21.0 | 2.6 m/s | 40.0 hours |
| Coleman CPX6 | 4 x D batteries | 35.0 | 25.0 | 2.8 m/s | 35.0 hours |
| Nitecore NEF10 | Rechargeable | 32.0 | 9.0 | 2.7 m/s | 32.0 hours |
| Claymore V600+ | Rechargeable | 31.5 | 6.25 | 3.1 m/s | 15.75 hours |
| Geek Aire Fan | Rechargeable | 29.5 | 6.0 | 3.0 m/s | 9.25 hours |
| Coleman OneSource | Rechargeable | 17.5 | 5.75 | 2.8 m/s | 5.75 hours |
The last two columns are my fairness fix: different fans run on different speeds, so I took the speed closest to 3 m/s on each fan (they range from 2.6 to 3.1 m/s), and timed the run-time at that particular speed.
- D-battery fans last the longest: Camping fans that run on D batteries (an external power source) have longer run-times than rechargeable fans with a built-in battery
Noise Level
Next, I got a mini sound meter and measured each fan on its slowest and fastest speeds. The base sound level, without any of the fans on, comes in at about 41 decibels:
| Camping Fan | Slowest (dBA) | Fastest (dBA) |
|---|---|---|
| Nitecore NEF10 winner | 45 | 56 |
| O2Cool Treva | 53 | 57 |
| Claymore V600+ | 46 | 60 |
| Coleman CPX6 | 55 | 61 |
| Odoland Fan | 59 | 63 |
| Geek Aire Fan | 42 | 66 |
| Coleman OneSource | 55 | 67 |
Features
The next test is on the number of features each camping fan has. I looked at 8 things: a hanging hook, legs/stand, battery lights, fan head rotation, a removable cage, a sleep timer, lighting, and mobile charging.
| Camping Fan | Hook | Legs/Stand | Battery Lights | Rotation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitecore NEF10 winner | Yes | Yes | No | 360° |
| Claymore V600+ | Yes | Yes | Yes | 45° |
| Coleman OneSource | Yes | Yes | Yes | 180° |
| Geek Aire Fan | No | Yes | Yes | 360° |
| Coleman CPX6 | Yes | No | No | 0° |
| Odoland Fan | Yes | Yes | No | 360° |
| O2Cool Treva | No | Yes | No | 0° |
| Camping Fan | Removable Cage | Sleep Timer | Lighting | Mobile Charging |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nitecore NEF10 | Yes | Yes (1h, 3h, 5h) | Lantern (34-124 lumens) | Yes (10,000 mAh) |
| Claymore V600+ | Yes | Yes (1h, 2h, 3h, 4h) | No | No^ |
| Coleman OneSource | No | No | Flashlight (57 lumens) | Yes (4,800 mAh) |
| Geek Aire Fan | Yes* | No | No | No |
| Coleman CPX6 | No | No | Lantern (150-470 lumens) | No |
| Odoland Fan | No | No | Lantern (398 lumens) | No |
| O2Cool Treva | Yes* | No | No | No |
*Technically removable, but requires a screwdriver and more time than I would have liked. ^No mobile charging for the V600+, but the updated V1040 has this function.
- One thing I haven’t tested yet: A stroller-fan function with foldable and adjustable legs. I’ll try to include one when I update this review
Durability
For durability, I first put all my camping fans through half an hour of moderate rainfall, then looked at the main material each fan is made of, and its warranty length:
| Camping Fan | IP Rating | Rain Test | Material | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coleman OneSource winner | IPX4 | Passed | Plastic | 3 years |
| Geek Aire Fan | IPX4 | Slight leakage, still functional | Metal | 1 year |
| Claymore V600+ | None | Slight leakage, still functional | Plastic | 1 year |
| Coleman CPX6 | None | Slight leakage, still functional | Plastic | 1 year |
| O2Cool Treva | None | Slight leakage, still functional | Plastic | None |
| Nitecore NEF10 | None | Spoiled (Fan)* | Plastic | 1 year |
| Odoland Fan | None | Spoiled (Light) | Plastic | None |
*My Nitecore NEF10’s fan didn’t work after the rain test, but came back to life after 4 months.
Portability
Finally, I weighed each camping fan, measured its packed size, and noted which fans can be disassembled for packing:
| Camping Fan | Weight (oz) | Packed Size (in) | Disassembly? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Claymore V600+ winner | 20.6 | 7.25 x 7.75 x 5.5 | Yes |
| Nitecore NEF10 winner | 23.0 | 7 x 7 x 4.5 | Yes |
| Coleman OneSource | 22.4 | 7 x 7 x 11 | No |
| Odoland Fan | 23.6 | 5.75 x 5.75 x 7.5 | No |
| Coleman CPX6 | 45.2 | 10 x 9.5 x 5.75 | No |
| Geek Aire Fan | 61.7 | 14 x 12 x 5.5 | No |
| O2Cool Treva | 64.4 | 12 x 12.75 x 2.8 | No |
- Why the tie: The Claymore is the lightest fan here, and the Nitecore packs down the smallest, and both can be disassembled for packing
All Test Scores
The scoreboard
Based on the 6 tests above, here are the overall scores of all the camping fans in this review.
- Claymore V600+Best Overall7.7
- Nitecore NEF10Best Tent Fan with Light7.6
- Geek Aire Rechargeable FanBest for Groups7.5
- O2Cool Treva7.1
- Coleman OneSource6.5
- Odoland Camping FanSuper Cheap Pick6.3
- Coleman CPX 65.9
Highlighted rows = my picks reviewed above. The O2Cool Treva and the Coleman OneSource outscore my Odoland pick, but the Treva is more of a RV-camping fan than a tent-camping fan, and I’d only recommend the OneSource if you already own other Coleman OneSource products. The Odoland stays my pick for the very tightest budgets.
See every sub-score and test weightage
The methodWhy You Can Trust Me
I personally buy each of these best camping fans with my own money (no free or sponsored gear posts), and test each one of them over months.
$300
These 7 camping fans set me back by around $300 (yes, I actually buy each fan with my own savings).
2 months
I spent about 2 months testing all of these camping fans out: wind speeds, run-times, noise levels, rain tests, and more.
6 tests
Every fan went through the same 6 scored tests: wind power, run-time, noise level, features, durability and portability. Every score on this page comes from those tests.
1.5 months
After testing, this review took another 1.5 months to produce. You can find my videos on all of these fans on my YouTube channel, which focuses just on reviewing camping gear, along with 30,000+ subscribers. It’s my jam 🙂
If you’re still having trouble picking the best camping fan, feel free to reach out to me via the comments on my YouTube channel.
Every figure above is from my own testing — measured by hand, bought with my own money.
