The weather is a national obsession in the UK for good reason; we wait all year for some sunshine and then suddenly, out of nowhere, there’s a heatwave. If you’re anything like me, hot weather means terrible sleep (due to a sauna-like bedroom), hiding indoors during peak sunshine hours and generally wishing for winter. Step forward the Shark FlexBreeze Pro Mist Fan, which – with its built-in misting function – promises to be a summer saviour by helping me keep my cool, whether I’m indoors or out. I’ve spent the past few weeks testing it, here’s how it fared.

Compact yet powerful, the Shark FlexBreeze Pro Mist Fan can be plugged in or used cordless; fully charged, it offers up to 24 hours of cord-free run time. The sleek black-and-chrome design, which can be easily adjusted to different heights, looks good inside your home – none of that horrible white plastic here. The oscillation is strong, but the fan feels tough and sturdy so there’s none of the worry about it falling over, which you might have experienced with other models. That said, one person can move it between locations without any bother. Another plus: even on the highest power function, moving enough air around to cool down an entire room, it’s practically silent. But the big bonus feature is its three misting modes, with their 10ft/3m range, which also work when the fan is cordless. This means you can even mist yourself when out and about, making it a great choice for outdoor parties or camping trips.

Absolutely not. I put the Shark FlexBreeze Pro Mist Fan right next to my bed and can barely hear it. Other fans I’ve tried are so loud they keep me awake – and get serious complaints from my partner. There’s no silly beeping or noisy whirring, yet the power is unmatched. It can cool down a whole room quickly, quietly and without any fuss.

Anywhere. That really is the case. I’m a big fan of the seemingly endless 8.5m cable length and easy cable rewind. But, because it’s chargeable and portable, the Shark FlexBreeze Pro Mist Fan doesn’t have to be put near a plug socket. The 24-hour cord-free run time means it can also keep you cool in the garden, or even your local park. During a heatwave it would be tempting to take it with you everywhere: on the bus, into work, on a road trip… It could finally solve the problem of overly-hot, clammy tents when camping.

This isn’t a cheap product but I would recommend it to anyone who needs a new fan (in fact, I already have done). Compared to other models I’ve used, it’s powerful, energy efficient and has great noise restriction. The fact that it’s cordless is a great plus, and the additional misting feature would be truly fantastic during a heatwave. Even if you never use the misting function, it’s still a great-value fan. As the name suggests, the Shark FlexBreeze Pro Mist Fan makes keeping cool a breeze, and I wouldn’t be without it.

★★★★★