We’ve put out a few posts about staying cool recently because we’ve had one heck of a hot summer here in North America. Staying cool in your RV is not only a comfort issue but also a health issue. We’ve dealt with topics related to RV air conditioning, but what about a camping fan or even a tent fan? Are fans worth having? Are they up to the task of keeping you cool?
In this post, we look at the value of having a camping fan (yup – we’ve got one ourselves) and which ones are best based on effectiveness, features, and power consumption. It’s heating up out there again, so let’s get right to it!
What Is a Camping Fan?
So, what exactly do we mean when we use the term “camping fan”? Well, of course, it’s a fan to take camping, but what sets a camping fan apart from any other type of cooling fan? Let’s take a look!
Battery-Powered Fans
Battery-operated fans are probably the most common type of fan used for camping. Tent fans are usually battery-powered, for example. They provide tent campers with a way to have some air circulation inside the tent, while eliminating the need for a separate power source.
Many campers take a portable camping fan on a camping trip. These types of personal fans often have a built-in hook allowing campers to hang the fan inside the tent, in a vehicle (if you’re car camping), or in a truck, van, or RV to blow some air on them as they relax or sleep. Battery life varies, as does the power of the airflow. So those are features one should keep in mind when reading specs and reviews of battery-powered fans.
Some battery-powered fans have a rechargeable battery, often using a USB connection for recharging. The power source may be an RV’s power system, a solar generator or solar panel with a USB outlet, or even a small power bank.
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12V DC Fans
The 12V outlets in a car, van, or RV can power 12V fans. They can also be powered by a solar generator with a 12V outlet and are often equipped with a clip, allowing them to be clipped onto something positioned near a bed, couch, or dinette. 12V fans are useful for car or van camping (or for RVing), but unless you have a small portable solar generator, they’re not the best choice for tent campers.
120V AC Fans
These fans require a standard 120V AC power outlet to run. That power can be supplied by shore power, by an inverter, by a solar generator, or an RV generator. 120V fans often have larger fan blades, multiple speed settings, and the ability to oscillate. Many floor fans are 120V.
We’ve actually used a small 120V fan that we really love – the Vornado 460. We’ll feature it in the 120V fan section of our fan buying guide below.
What Are the Best Fans for Tent Camping?
If you’re a tent camper, you’ll likely want a battery-operated fan. These can be rechargeable or use replaceable batteries, but it’s essential that you find the tent camping fan with the best air circulation possible, because battery-operated fans are not generally the strongest. You’ll also want to make sure the fan is capable of running for at least as long as you’re trying to sleep in the tent!
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular battery-operated fans for tent camping.
Coleman CPX Lighted Tent Fan With Stand
We’re including the Coleman CPX because it’s popular with tent campers for the combined features found in both a battery-operated fan and a camping light. The LED light has two settings: one that lights the tent for activities and another that allows it to serve as a soft night light.
Made of alloy steel, this fan weighs 3 ¼ pounds (more when you add the batteries) and can attach to the ceiling of the tent with a provided clip and hook. It also has a stand that allows it to be set on a table or stool, though reviewers note that the stand is relatively unstable.
The four fan blades of the Coleman CPX are soft and not dangerous to little fingers, but bear in mind that there’s no cage over the blades, so they’re probably capable of entanglement of some sort. The fan operates with 4 D-cell batteries, which are not included.
Although this is a popular fan among tent campers, we should note that some reviews are lukewarm, noting that the 4 D-cell batteries will only last one night before requiring replacement, and the fan on the highest of its two speeds produces only a light breeze.
- Versatile Use: Ideal for camping, survival, power outages and more
- User-Friendly: Features stand for stability and lightweight design for easy transport
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Treva 5-Inch and 10-Inch Desk Fans
Treva (formerly O2 Cool) offers two small, lightweight fans that move a surprising amount of air. The 5-inch Treva runs on 2 D-cell batteries and has two cooling speeds and a tilting design. Remember, though, that these fans are intended to sit on a surface rather than hanging from the tent ceiling.
The 10-inch Treva is more powerful but doesn’t have the ability to tilt and requires 6 D-cell batteries to operate. It’s also capable of being powered with an AC adapter. But that’s not likely to do you much good in a tent unless you’re camping with a solar generator.
Both of these fans have literally tens of thousands of reviews on Amazon, so be sure to check them out for more opinions and details.
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Ryobi ONE+ 18V Hybrid Portable Fan With Battery & Charger
A more expensive (but higher-powered) option is this 6 ½-pound, heavy-duty fan from Ryobi, powered by an 18V Ryobi rechargeable lithium-ion battery OR with an AC adapter if you have a solar generator handy. We should note that the battery that comes with this package is listed as Riobi’s 2 AH battery. This is estimated to give you about 6 hours running on low, but only 2.6 hours on high.
You’d probably do well to purchase an additional battery or buy the fan only (as opposed to the package) and a stronger battery to go with it. Ryobi’s 6AH battery, for example, should give you somewhere around 18 to 20 hours of runtime on low speed and about 8 hours on high speed.
This fan gets very high marks from campers for producing a very strong breeze. The head of the fan rotates so that you can position it according to your needs, and the overall construction is well-rated.
- Extension cord sold separately
- Stands up to frigid weather conditions
- Lithium-ion chemical composition resists drainage when idle
What Are the Best 12V DC Fans for RV/Van/Car Camping?
If you’re car, van, or RV camping, you should have no problem choosing a 12V DC fan. Here are a few of the most popular options:
Scirocco II by Caframo
This omnidirectional 12V/24V gimbal fan is popular with both RVers & boaters, though less so with car campers, as it’s not really a portable fan. Scirocco cabin fans are known for drawing very little current while offering a good 360-degree directional airflow. These fans have three speed settings and four timer settings. They’re easy to install and can fold flat up against a wall when not in use.
The Scirocco II comes in black or white and weighs 2 pounds.
- 185 CFM on high (314 m³/hr), Current draw on low 0.06A (24V) and 0.12A (12V), Current draw on high 0.21A (24V) and 0.35A (12V).
- Unique gimbaled design allows complete 360° airflow with ultra quiet operation (54dB on high).
Schumacher 121 Oscillating Fan
This 12V clip-on fan can be placed anywhere in a car, van, or RV as long as the cord can reach a 12V outlet. It has two speeds and oscillates to keep the air circulating. It’s made of heavy-duty plastic and weighs in at just over two pounds.
Reviewers include some long-haul truck drivers who are satisfied with the fan’s performance, which is why we included it here as well as in our post on how to stay cool in an RV without air conditioning.
- COOLING POWER: Effective air circulation for cooling cars, trucks, buses, RVs, or boats; works with your vehicle outlet
- QUIET OSCILLATION: Quiet, reliable air flow and oscillating motion for full-coverage cooling
Caframo Ultimate
This 12V fan from Caframo features two speed settings and a very low power draw, making it ideal for cars, vans, trucks, and RVs. It’s also lightweight, weighing in at just under 1 ½ pounds. It has no cage but has finger-safe fan blades that reportedly produce very good airflow. It has an adjustable tilting head and can be easily installed via a suction cup (included) or used in conjunction with an optional clip.
Reviewers report the Caframo Ultimate to be efficient, quiet, and very effective at moving air.
- 200 CFM on high (340 m³/hr), Current draw on high: 0.41A, Current draw on low: 0.28A.
- Grill-free, whisper quiet with Shock-absorbing FingerSafe blades.
What Are the Best 120V AC Fans for Camping?
And finally, let’s take a look at a couple of 120V fans that can be run when you’re connected to shore power or if you have an inverter, generator, or solar generator.
Vornado 460 Small Whole Room Air Circulator Fan
Our #1 choice in this category is the Vornado 460 because we have one in our own RV (that we use all the time) and we love it! As a matter of fact, we love it SO much that we bought two others for use in our sticks-and-bricks home, too!
The Vornado comes in several sizes: personal (160), small (460), medium (560), and large (660). The Vornado 660AE is another model that is Alexa-compatible (voice-controlled), if that’s important to you (when it’s hot out, being able to turn the fan on without getting up COULD be a godsend). Our 460 has three speeds and uses Vornado’s Vortex air circulation to move air across an entire room, despite its small footprint.
The Vornado 460 has multidirectional airflow and can move air a distance of up to 70 feet. It weighs 4 ¼ pounds, the grill is detachable for easy cleaning, and it is available in black or white. This little powerhouse moves a LOT of air, and takes up every little space. And Vornado’s blade design makes oscillation unnecessary.
The top five picks for Best Fan by the NY Times Wirecutter (like Consumer Reports, subscription required) were ALL Vornado models of various sizes and styles. We concur — they’re awesome! Oh – and if you don’t like your Vornado, they’ll replace it. For 5 years!
- POWERFUL VORTEX ACTION — Utilizes Vornado's signature Vortex air circulation to more effectively move air throughout the entire room. No matter...
- SIMPLE CONTROLS — With ease of use comes peace of mind - easily dial in your comfort level using the 3-speed manual controls.
Dreo Cruiser Pro Tower Fan
And finally, the Dreo Cruiser Pro is a quiet, bladeless tower fan with 12 modes and a 12-hour timer. It’s a floor fan and stands 40” tall. It has an LED ambient temperature display, touch control, and remote control. This is a 90° oscillating cooling fan with a long wind curve that allows air to be distributed throughout a room.
This fan weighs in at just under 7 ½ pounds and gets 4- and 5-star recommendations from 89% of its 13,500 Amazon reviewers.
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So, is a camping fan worth it? You bet it is! And there are many types and styles from which to choose, depending on your style of traveling and camping. Stay cool!
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Al
Saturday 16th of August 2025
Remember- Mosquitoes can't fly in winds over 1- 1.5 mph!!! My fan is a great repellant!
Jerry
Saturday 19th of August 2023
Any idea for a 12 volt low profile ceiling fan
TheRVgeeks
Tuesday 29th of August 2023
Stay tuned, Jerry... we have an article about that very topic coming up in the next couple of weeks! 😉
sparky1
Saturday 19th of August 2023
@Jerry, i found one on e.bay 3 blade 12 volt DC w/ alligator clip, hangs up via hook.forgot price 20.oo?? richie
Bill Schroeter
Friday 26th of August 2022
We bought two Dyson fan/heaters a few years back. They worked well for about two years but eventually filled with dust and stopped working. It is close to impossible to disassemble, and dealing with getting them fixed, especially on the road, not worth it. Both ended up in the trash. You do have to clean fans periodically, so one that can be taken apart easily may be better. Thanks Bill
TheRVgeeks
Friday 26th of August 2022
Thanks so much for sharing your experience, Bill. Cleaning is an important consideration.
Stephen Lamb
Tuesday 23rd of August 2022
Thanks Gentlemen, we have the Ryobi 18V fan. I bring my 18v screwdriver/drill with me anyway incase I need it while on the road. I also bring the 18 volt Ryobi dust-buster. Plus this unit works on AC when at a plug in campsite. Enjoy your info blogs very much, thanks again ~ Steve
TheRVgeeks
Tuesday 23rd of August 2022
Sounds like you’re getting your money’s worth from the Ryobi products, Steve! ???? Always great when things can serve double-duty!