The 5 Best Solar Camping Fans

The best solar camping fans provide plenty of airflow while having enough battery to support it outdoors. The idea behind one of these devices is to charge it with sunlight, but when panels get too large, they can compromise portability. With all these aspects, choosing the right model for your needs can prove challenging.

If you need help finding the perfect solar camping fan, we’ve got you covered. We reviewed dozens of models to find the best choice for many situations. Keep reading for everything you need to know about these recommendations.

Top Picks: Best Solar Camping Fans

Best Solar Camping Fans: Side-by-Side Comparison

Best Overall: Busypiggy Solar Camping Fan

Best Overall

Busypiggy Solar Camping Fan

$27.99

• Three LED light panels with four adjustable brightness
• The multi-function tent fan features a built-in double rechargeable battery
• Designed with a USB output port
• The mini travel fan is compact (5.5*4.5*5.5 inches) and it has a built-in hook to hang it on tents, branches, or inside cars

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03/03/2023 12:50 pm GMT

The Busypiggy Solar Camping Fan is small enough to fit in any application while providing enough power options to use anywhere. It has a battery life that can last an entire day, and even features three LED lights with adjustable brightness. Its versatility and portability make the Busypiggy one of the best solar camping fans in most situations.

This device features a small solar panel mounted on the top. However, for quick charging, the built-in USB port allows users to power it at home on in the car.

The battery also doubles as a charging station, with the capability to connect to smartphones and other handheld devices. This camping fan already comes at an affordable price, but those that purchase at the time of writing can save 20% off their purchase.

Best Alternative: Blessny 6 Inch Solar Fan

Best Alternative

Blessny 6 inch Solar Powered Fan

• A 6-inch USB fan with a 10W solar panel, and high-velocity air circulation
• Convenient to use in a greenhouse, dog house, or cat house
• USB connectors and on/off buttons are easy to install and operate
• 6-inch fan size bigger than other 4-inch sizes

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For a product that provides a little more power and a little more charging for a little more price, the Blessny 6-inch solar fan works great. Its fan is half an inch wider in diameter than the Busypiggy, giving it a max speed of 2,000RPM. Coupled with a solar panel nearly 5x the size, you can rely on this device to work when you need it to.

Blessny’s solar fan uses a 13.5 ft USB cable to connect to its panel. This means that if you want to use the device indoors, you can connect it to any USB port for power. However, the fan does not come with a built-in battery, which limits its portability.

Additionally, the external solar panel only makes for additional pieces to pack. The lack of a carrying case results in a product that’s difficult to take along on a camping trip.

Best for Performance: Cyberdax Rechargeable Table Fan

Best for Performance

CYBERDAX 14 Inch Portable Wireless Rechargeable Table Fan

• 12 gears
• 6 Li-ion batteries built-in, 12V & 4000mAh in total that can support 4-24 hours of continuous working
• Dual charge mode
• USB output
• Solid design

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For a solar fan that blows away the competition, Cyberdax’s 14-inch device comes with more solar and more power than any on our list. It features six lithium-ion batteries that can last up to 24 hours of continuous use. And its 20W panel with a native stand keeps the batteries charged when positioned in direct sunlight.

One of the best solar camping fans for performance also comes with an AC cable for quick charging. However, the power input port is outdated, making it practically useless without the solar panel or AC adapter. And at a price of nearly $100, this camping fan is not a quick purchase.

Best for Budget: SupBri LED Camping Lantern

Best for Budget

SupBri Solar LED Camping Lantern with Fan

$16.49

• The main body of this product is a camping lantern, which also comes with a fan function
• You can use 100v-220v AC to charge the product
• The main body of the product is made of ABS plastic
• Has a built-in battery

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If you’re not trying to spend a lot of money on a fan but still want a device to circulate the air wherever you go, the SupBri LED Camping Lantern is worth checking out. It might not feature performance or durability, but when it comes to solar-powered fans, it works just fine. SupBri’s device is two-in-one, allowing users to also use it at a light.

While the fan speed is nothing to turn your head for, this solar fan impresses us with its light weight. Choosing to feature a plastic body, the manufacturers cut the weight of the product to just 11.6 oz; that’s considerably smaller than our other picks.

Additionally, the fan uses rechargeable AAA batteries, giving it more ways to power up than most solar fans on the market. For a price of just $16, that’s a hard deal to beat.

Best Multi-Use: Hereta Multi-Function Solar Fan

Best Multi-Use

Multi-function Solar Outdoor Fishing Fan

$74.99

• 5-Blade DC portable fan
• Clean, sustainable solar energy
• LED desk lamp
• Provides power for, as well as the re-charging of cell phones & other digital audio.
• FM Radio and Input USB & TF Card ports

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This is probably the coolest fan on our list. Featuring a built-in radio, MP3 player, lamp, and cell phone charger, the Hereta multi-function solar fan brings the entire party in one device. Additionally, its two lithium-ion batteries and small solar panel can keep the fan running for up to 7 hours before needing to charge.

While it’s fun to think of all the aspects this device can handle, in reality, we feel there’s more going on than necessary. Unless the Hereta solar fan is plugged into power, it’s unlikely that users can apply each aspect at the same time for any period. But for something that you can rely on in an emergency, this device fits the bill.

How to Pick the Best Solar Camping Fans

When choosing the right solar camping fan for your needs, there are five main considerations:

• Solar Panel Size,
• Battery,
• Features,
• Portability,
• Price.

Let’s review each one in more detail.

Solar Panel Size

Let’s face it: the reason you’re looking at solar-powered fans is to charge the fan in the sun. However, these devices require a considerable amount of sunlight to run at an acceptable rate.

Many built-in panels tend to feel underwhelming; at 4 inches or less, they can only charge a battery to a menial level. If you’re hoping to run the device exclusively in sunlight, look for panels of 10W or more.

Battery

Another aspect that plays a role in quality fans is the battery. These devices should have enough storage to run for the amount of time you want to use them.

Larger fans require more power, which ties back to solar panel size. If you’re hoping for a strong device, you’ll need both a large panel and a battery that’s big enough to carry the power requirements. 

Features

Many solar-powered fans come with more utilities than one. On the market, you’ll typically find these devices featuring an LED lantern and a USB outlet for powering handhelds.

Additionally, you might find a solar fan with multiple charging methods, or even more. Regarding multiple features, it’s essential to know that the more a device does, the less well it does each task.

Portability

Two factors affect the portability of a solar fan. First, manufacturers typically choose between plastic and metal frames to cut weight. While this decision makes some devices easier to carry, it also makes them less durable. 

Alongside this, the panel size can reduce how easily a fan travels. Once solar panels start to outsize the fan, manufacturers tend to separate the two. This means you’ll have to carry both pieces, as well as any connecting wire. Without a carrying case, you might feel less inclined to pack the device.

Price

With all variables considered, it’s no surprise that solar-powered fans have a wide price range. Generally, these devices cost less than $20 for the simplest designs and about $100 for the strongest performance. Depending on what aspects you want more of, you can reduce the overall cost by narrowing down functionality. 

What to Know Before Buying a Solar Camping Fan

In an ideal world, the best solar camping fans would run exclusively off sunlight. However, this isn’t an ideal world and, most likely, you’ll have to charge your device before taking it outdoors. These panels are designed to keep the fans topped off or provide emergency power when necessary. As you look for solar fans, keeping this in mind will help set the proper expectation.

If you want to get the most out of your solar panel, however, you must orient it properly. These devices lose efficiency when sitting in cloud cover or shade, so make sure they have full exposure to sunlight. Additionally, tilting the panel so it directly faces the sun will help it collect more solar energy.

Using the Best Solar Camping Fans: What It’s Like

When users tested the best solar camping fans on our list, the first aspect they recognized was the power. Unsurprisingly, the larger devices put out more air circulation, with the Cyberdax outperforming all the rest. The Busypiggy worked well enough to provide a cool breeze, but the SupBri provided a similar amount of power.

Next, users tested the ease of use with each fan. In general, people had an easier time setting up the smaller devices. The Busypiggy, in particular, felt sturdy enough to work where it was stationed.

The larger fans, while providing more airflow, were harder to carry and required multiple trips to safely set up the solar panel. However, once in position, they were the sturdiest of the group.

Finally, users tested charging with the solar panel. Each of the small paneled fans proved too weak to provide a noticeable amount of power. Fortunately for them, they each came with USB capabilities (the SupBri also allows for AAA). In this category, the Blessny and the Cyberdax worked smoothly, making them worth the effort of carrying them around.

Best Solar Camping Fans: Further Reading

With the best solar camping fans, you can stay cool wherever you go. These are just one of the many new pieces of camping equipment that get their power from the sun. For more outdoors-related tech, check out the articles below.

• The 5 Best Portable Solar Panels – If your fans need just a little more power on your next camping trip, consider bringing along one of these portable solar panels.
• The 10 Best Apps for Camping – Looking for the coolest space to spend some time outdoors? These apps provide destinations, features, and prices to make your next camp trip a breeze.
• Best Telescopes of 2023 – Catching yourself looking into the night sky? Properly explore the universe with these powerful telescopes.