‘I got a Shark handheld fan ahead of the heatwave – it turns rapidly cool’

The new Shark ChillPill 3-in-1 Fan, Mist & InstaChill System launched in early March and Eve Rowlands tested it out ahead of the heatwave to see if it’s worth it

We’ve all seen or owned those £5 mini handheld fans that are either powered by batteries or a cable. Don’t get me wrong, they often do the trick when out and about on holiday (or during a heatwave) and in dire need of some cool air, but in my experience, their lifespan is way shorter than needed.

So, the bank holiday weather is proving to be a scorcher. I thought it best to find a small, portable fan that could actually keep me comfortable during the blazing sun. Now, I will admit it is a bit of an investment, but the Shark ChillPill 3-in-1 Fan, Mist & InstaChill System is a wonder product that had my mind blown with its small but mighty features.

Costing £129.99, the ChillPill is way more than a simple handheld fan. It’s a three-in-one cooling system – reportedly the ‘first’ of its kind – that can blast cool air at you, but also send a stream of mist over your face and even act as a personal ice cube (that doesn’t melt) with its InstaChill System. Not all at the same time, of course. It’s also aesthetically pleasing and comes in six colours – I have green.

Firstly, it’s easy to hold thanks to its lightweight design and rotating base that doubles as both a stand for the fan and a handle. It is also foolproof to set up for each setting. I’m not a whizz with technology, and if I can set it up, anyone can.

The fan comes with three different heads/attachments for each setting: a high-speed fan, an InstaChill cooling plate (which chills on contact to lower skin temperature by up to 9°C) and an ultra-fine misting pod. It’s easy to turn on – just press down on the black plate on its base after ‘unlocking’ the device.

Measuring at 4.5 cm x 8.41 cm x 11.2 cm, it’s compact enough to fit into small handbags, making it ideal not only for holidays abroad but also for trips into the city when the public transport gets a bit too stuffy.

Starting off with the fan attachment, its speed ranges from one to 10 in terms of strength, with one to five being recommended for indoor use, and five to 10 being perfect for outdoors. The fan’s strength is easy to change as its base has a smooth dial that can be twisted to increase or decrease.

It reportedly projects air up to 7.5 meters per second at speed 10 – although that’s something I’ve not yet tested. Read more on that here.

To change the heads, the attachment simply needs twisting to be removed, which then clicks into place when replaced. For the mist feature, before popping it into the fan, it needs to be filled up with tap water (and must have a wick, which comes with the fan, placed at its centre). Once this is done and the machine is turned on, click the black plate to change the setting to show the water droplet.

The power at which the mist is emitted can also be increased or decreased using the dial on the base, and the mist modes can be changed between constant and interval – ie, a steady stream of mist, or pulses for up to 10 minutes.

I tried out this mode when the weather had started to heat up before the bank holiday weekend, when I’d returned from a sweaty gym session, and it was heaven. It wasn’t like being drenched by a hose, but it was unbelievably refreshing and didn’t leave me damp at all – in a good way.

As for the InstaChill Cooling Plate, I was shocked at just how rapidly it became cool once I turned it on and applied it to my skin. I was expecting it to go quite warm within a few seconds of touching – as is often the case with standard metal items – but it remained pretty chilled and helped cool me down rapidly after a run. Honestly, it’s a sweet little gadget that has left me thoroughly impressed.

All three settings are also pretty quiet – the fan is the loudest due to its whirring, but it’s not off-putting nor is it overpowering. Similarly, Dyson’s HushJet Mini Cool, £99, boasts quiet running thanks to its ‘anti-vibration rubber mount to reduce noise and improve tonality’. Although this particular item doesn’t have any other settings besides its fan.

My only gripe is that the Shark ChillPill doesn’t come with any strap or bodily attachment with the product initially – like a strap or a clip. This would be helpful for going hands-free when out and about. Although it is important to state that these can be purchased separately from the Shark Ninja website, starting at £5.99. For those who’d prefer a specific fan for say the neck area, Boots does a Menopause & Me Wearable Neck Fan for £15.99 that can be worn like a necklace.

The ChillPill is also pretty expensive for a relatively small gadget – although if it’s durable enough to stand the test of time (I’m talking years), then it’s certainly worth it, especially for those who enjoy going on mini (or big) breaks to more tropical destinations. Only time will tell…