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See the 17 tests

1. In the box
2. Fan modes & speeds
3. Air flow distance
4. Noise level
5. Power source
6. Fan run times
7. Lantern modes
8. Light quality
9. Lantern run times
10. Lantern & fan run times
11. Handle
12. Magnetic plate & hook
13. Waterproofing
14. Warranty
15. Weight
16. Packed size
17. Fan blades size
18. Pros, cons, recommendations
19. Bonus – MUST read!

In the Box

I picked up this Coleman fan from Amazon, and here’s what it looks like still in its packaging:

And here’s everything I got out of the box:

• CPX 6 fan
• User guide
• Metal plate
• Magnetic hook

Fan Modes & Speeds

I measured both speeds with a mini anemometer:

• Low 2.8 m/s (9.2 ft/s)
• High 3.7 m/s (12.1 ft/s)

Air Flow Distance

Using the same anemometer, here’s how far the airflow reached on each speed:

• Low 10 in
• High 21 in

Any further than that and the anemometer picked up nothing at all – there just isn’t enough air reaching that far.

Noise Level

I measured each speed with a sound level meter:

• Off 41 dBA
• Low 55 dBA
• High 61 dBA

Power Source

The only power source is four D batteries, loaded into a compartment at the back of the fan:

This fan does not run on a rechargeable battery. If you want a Coleman fan that does, check out my Coleman OneSource review – its battery is removable too.

Fan Run Times

I ran the fan on Energizer Max D-batteries, and here’s how long a set lasted:

• High 25 hrs
• Low 35 hrs

Note Different battery brands will produce different run-times.

Beyond those timings the fan kept spinning, but so slowly I couldn’t feel anything at all.

Lantern Modes

Here are the light modes and my tested results with a lux meter:

• Low (lantern) 150 lumens
• High (lantern) 470 lumens

Light Quality

The lantern uses four 5 mm LEDs, and I found them super harsh on the eyes.

There’s no frosting and no diffusion at all, and I hated using this lantern at night.

Lantern Run Times

How long does the lantern last? Here are my tested results:

• High (lantern) 100 hrs
• Low (lantern) 300 hrs

Past those timings the light dims down to a barely-there 0-lumen glow.

Lantern & Fan Run Times

Running the lantern and fan together, here’s what I got:

Mode	Energizer Max
Fan (High)	25 hours
Fan (High), Light (Low)	25 hours
Fan (High), Light (High)	22 hours

Running the high fan with the low light barely dented the run-time – still about 25 hours. With the brighter setting it dropped roughly 10%, to 22 hours.

Handle

A thin metal handle at the back lets you carry the fan, or clip your own carabiner through it to hang it from the top of the tent.

Magnetic Plate & Hook

Coleman includes a magnetic carabiner hook plus a magnetic plate, so you can hang the lantern anywhere in your tent even without a built-in hook:

Waterproofing

I couldn’t find a waterproof rating for this fan, so I ran my own test through 30 minutes of moderate rain:

Both the fan and light kept working, but the battery compartment got pretty soaked – I don’t think it would have survived much more than that.

Warranty

• Warranty 1 year

Weight

• Weight, no batteries 25.2 oz
• Weight with 4 D-cells 45.2 oz

Packed Size

• Packed size 10 x 9.5 x 5.75 in

It’s a little bulky to dump into a bag, but fine for shorter trips.

Fan Blades Size

• Blade diameter 7.5 in

Pros, Cons, Recommendations

Now, what are the pros and cons, and would I recommend the Coleman CPX 6 fan?

Love the magnetic plate

The magnetic plate-and-clip is genuinely clever, and honestly the only thing I loved. I could hang the fan anywhere in the tent – down low, or up high above the door – with real versatility.

Not many fan modes

There are only two fan speeds – 2.8 m/s and 3.7 m/s. That’s it.

Air flow distance is terrible

Airflow is terrible because the blades are foam. They’re meant to keep kids’ fingers safe, but they push far less air than solid plastic or metal – it didn’t keep me cool at all, and was genuinely uncomfortable to sleep next to.

Can’t stand on uneven ground

The tiny stand at the back can’t cope with uneven ground – it just keeps toppling over.

Noisy fan

It’s one of the noisier camping fans I own, and the sound gets annoying fast.

Light is terrible on the eyes

The light is harsh and glaring – I hated using it at night.

Expensive to maintain

It eats 4 D batteries every time, and at roughly $1–$2 per D-cell that adds up fast.

Note To save money on batteries, I go with rechargeable fans. See my Claymore V600+ review for my top pick.

Bonus – MUST Read!

Every figure above is from my own testing — measured by hand, bought with my own money.