Black and Blum Propello Fan
Dimensions 27cm x 26 cm x 18cm
Price £79
Speeds 1 Tel 020 7580 8223
Website Click Here
Its designers claim the Propello Fan will make you feel cool even when it's switched off. It's certainly the most stylish fan we tested (as well as one of the most expensive), and, the only one that shuns the conventional design of blades surrounded by a finger-saving metal cage. But how do they do it without setting themselves up for a nasty accident to happen? The trick is that the blades are made from soft rubber, which if anything like a finger or elbow fouls them, simply stop turning – great if there are children running around. It doesn't have a speed control, however – just one very quiet, gentle setting – but the airflow direction can be altered by raising or lowering the legs at the back. This model will definitely do the job in warm spring weather, although you might want a little bit more oomph if a sweltering heatwave sets in.
Verdict A style statement as much as a fan, and a rather pricey one at that.

Bionaire Tower Fan
Dimensions 70cm x 24cm x 24cm
Price £34.99
Speeds 3
Tel 0800 052 3615
Website Click Here
Proving that not all fans have to be circular, the Bionaire Tower Fan is shaped as its name suggests – a useful design if surface space is at a minimum in your caravan. It also offers features that you don't get on your average fan. Top among these is the sleep setting, which allows the fan to turn itself off after one, two, four or eight hours, although because it comes with a remote control you could just as easily stretch an arm out from under the duvet to turn it off when you're on the brink of nodding off. A handy storage compartment on the top of the tower keeps the remote handset from getting lost. Another interesting feature is the 'breeze' setting: air doesn't move at a constant speed in nature, so why should it in your caravan? The breeze setting allows the fan to randomly select a speed and change it every few seconds, to give a more natural effect.
Verdict Space-saving and feature-packed fan for slightly unconventional tastes.

Homebase Chrome-Finish Desktop Fan
Dimensions 34cm x 27cm x 24cm
Price £14.99
Speeds 2
Tel 0845 616161
Website Click Here
Value-for-money fans don't just come in white, as this one from Homebase proves. The chrome look (it's actually made from plastic) will look at home in any modern caravan. The controls – one for speed, one to make it oscillate – are all hidden away at the back, keeping the front neat and gleaming. Although it has only two settings, the lowest one is pretty powerful (if a little noisy) and can be felt more than three metres away. The head can be tilted up or down and it also turns through 90 degrees.
Verdict Stylish, powerful and good value.

Heals Mini Desk Fan
Dimensions 15cm x 10cm x10cm
Price £19.95
Speeds 1
Tel 020 7636 1666
Website Click Here
It might look like an office gadget and was probably designed with that purpose in mind, but this miniature fan certainly shouldn't be left on a shelf with the perpetual momentum balls. If you only want to cool a small, confined space, the Mini Desk Fan from Heals works surprisingly well. It runs off three AA batteries (although it does have a jack for an adaptor that will plug into your mains), and it turns on and off with an ergonomically designed switch on the back. It's solid, quiet and small enough to be left lying around a caravan cupboard until summer makes its presence felt again.
Verdict Small and effective in cramped spaces.

Homebase 6-inch Clip Fan
Dimensions 30cm x 20cm x10cm
Price £4.99
Speeds 2
Tel 0845 616161
Website Click Here
This fan must have been designed by someone who knows how tricky it is to find a place for everything. A strong, spring-loaded clip with rubber pads mean that it can be positioned exactly where you need it. It won't get in the way while you prepare food in the kitchen, and can be easily moved to attach to an overhead locker above the bed at night-time. The head can be moved to face in any direction, and on its low setting is quiet enough to go unnoticed at bedtime. It doesn't oscillate, though, so it's more suited to on-the-spot cooling rather than aerating the whole caravan.
Verdict Supremely practical, versatile and discreet.

Argos 7-inch Desk Fan
Dimensions 31cm x 21cm x 19cm
Price £8.99
Speeds 2
Tel 0870 600 3030
Website Click Here
You'd be surprised at what you can get for under a tenner. This fan from Argos might be small, but its head tilts, it has two speeds, it oscillates, and if you're within two or three metres of it, it really does its job. When it comes to packing it away, even its box is small enough to fit in a locker or in a bed box. You don't get a lot of style or extra features for that money, but with your £1.01 change, you could always buy some colourful stickers to put on to the front of it to cheer things up.
Verdict A functional, bargain fan.

Bionaire Retro-Style Fan
Dimensions 38cm x 28cm x 23cm
Price £24.99
Speeds 3
Tel 0800 052 3615
Website Click Here
This retro-style fan looks lovely and is very quiet for its size. At low speed there's hardly a hum or a rattle while it sits in a corner and gets on with its job. Not only that, but it looks great and feels substantial, too. In the 'off' position the blades look delicate and elegant, the concentric circles on the guard give it a classy feel, and the metal base gives it a solid presence. The head can be tilted up or down depending on where you need to the air to flow and the carrying handle actually has enough room to put your hand through – quite novel for a fan.
Verdict All the class and performance of a far more expensive model.

Cinni Electric Fan
Dimensions 42cm x 32cm x 23cm
Price £129
Speeds 3
Tel 020 7831 1071
Website Click Here
This fan is for those who like the finer things in life – and are prepared to pay for them, too. It is a very good-looking fan that will add to the character of your van while it does its job. From the cast-iron motor housing to the stainless steel blades and strong black guard, this fan is all about quality. It has three speeds, the fastest of which is a little on the noisy side, though it oscillates and tilts. Its practical carrying handle is a good addition because the fan is fairly heavy – which in itself means that the Cinni Electric should withstand the odd bump in transit.
Verdict Cool style comes at a high price.

Argos 12-inch Desk Fan
Dimensions 50cm x 36cm x 30
Price £14.99
Speeds 3
Available from Argos
Tel 0870 60 30 30
Website Click Here
No nonsense, no fuss. This plain white plastic fan makes a real difference to air flow, even in a larger vans. The head can be tilted up or down, so even when placed on the floor it can chill the air above the bed. It also rotates through a little over 90 degrees. The lowest setting is almost silent but still effective at creating a breeze. It comes in pieces which you have to assemble, but construction is clear and easy, and means that at the end of the holiday you can pack it neatly away into its box rather than leaving it collecting dust until the following year.
Verdict A case of function triumphing over form.