Need a fan before the hot weather settles in? These are the desktop models that blew us away last summer

Temperatures are starting to rise, and although we're not quite at the ice cream-and-sun hat stage of the year, it's a good time to start thinking about your hot weather survival kit. There will come a point, not too long from now, when a good fan will become a daily essential. The thing that keeps you sane while you work, and enables you to get a decent night's sleep rather than simply dissolving in a pool of sweat.

We put the legwork in and tested a whole load of fans last summer, from a range of brands and at a range of price points. You'll find all of our top picks in our official best fan ranking, but for this article I've focused on desktop models specifically.

These are compact fans that are designed to be positioned on a surface, and are easy to move about to exactly where they're needed (in contrast to pedestal or tower fans, which sit on the floor). Below, I've pulled together six models that you can rely on to keep you cool when the warm weather really sets in.

The coolest desktop fans we've tested

There are three standout models in our review back-catalogue. If you're looking for something that's simple but effective, you'd struggle to beat the Meaco Sefte 8in. Our tester was impressed that it could "blast out impressively strong airflow at a pleasingly low volume", commenting that it was so effective she ended up choosing it over more expensive models when it came to keeping the testing office cool last summer.

Next, the Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo. This one is designed with portability in mind, and comes with a useful carry handle. You can even take it outside with you. There's a misting attachment for when you want to up the cooling ante (traditional fans don't actually lower the temperature in a room, but misting does). Our tester called it "a great companion for summer adventures".

Finally, if you fancy splashing some cash on something more premium, consider the Dyson Cool CF1. The bladeless design is sleek and stylish, and it operates whisper-quietly, making it a strong choice for keeping you cool while you're trying to get to sleep.

More options...

Not sold on any of those options? Here are some alternatives to consider. We haven't tested these specific models, but they come from brands we rate highly and would confidently recommend.

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