Shark FlexBreeze Fan review: Brilliant like a cool breeze

BTTR is independent, but we may earn money when you purchase through links on our site.

It’s impossible for me to look at the new Shark FlexBreeze fan and not compare it to the AcerPure Cozy Air Circulator model I reviewed earlier this year. T

The main fan unit looks eerily similar, which makes it effortless to clean, and both models can be used in both table-top and pedestal modes.

But despite these surface similarities, there are plenty of differences underlying the two fans. For a start, the Shark model is battery powered, so you can take it with you and use it anywhere.

The fan itself comes with its own integrated stand, so you don’t have to carry the base around as well. The model I tested also came with a water misting attachment, letting you use it outdoors to help cool you down when it gets too hot.

After using the fan for a few weeks over some stupidly hot days, I’m confident that this is a fan perfect for Australian Summer.

What is the Shark FlexBreeze Fan offering?

I’ve reviewed a whole heap of Shark and Ninja (they’re the same company) products this year, and what I’ve been most struck by is the commitment to intelligent design across the board.

With Shark’s first fan product, the FlexBreeze, the attention to detail is obvious.

For a start, the colour scheme is unlike the traditional pedestal fan’s off-white tedium. The FlexBreeze is a matte charcoal colour, with glossy copper highlights, that look fantastic. It does stand out a bit in more beige/white coloured rooms, but I found it worked in quite well with my concrete and oak furniture.

There is also a white version if you prefer lighter coloured appliances, but the charcoal looks much better.

The main fan unit is just under 29 cm in diameter, but it produces a remarkable amount of air movement. There’s a handle integrated into the top of the fan that lets you easily pick up and move the fan. The whole unit weighs in at 5.7 kg, which is easy enough to move around one-handed. A small remote magnetically attaches to the back of the fan as well for easy remote control.

The FlexBreeze comes with a 4.5 metre power cord that’s rated for both indoor and outdoor use. It plugs into the bottom of the pedestal, and can be quickly plugged in or unplugged to move the fan to wherever you need it.

But when I talk about intelligent design, what I’m really referring to is the transition from pedestal to tabletop mode. Where the Acerpure effectively saw the stand get removed, with the fan plugging into the same base, Shark has instead designed the fan with its own four-prong fold down stand.

Because the battery is in the fan, it means you can move the fan – but not the base and pedestal – wherever you need with no effort at all. It’s exceptionally convenient and well-designed.

What does the Shark FlexBreeze Fan do well?

The FlexBreeze blows air, and it blows air well. You get five fan speeds, and the fan is remarkably quiet on the lower settings. Even at full speed, it’s not exactly loud, though it’s definitely audible.

There are three levels of horizontal oscillation, helping to share the air, so to speak. Depending on your need, it can sway in a narrow arc, a wide arc, or an ultra-wide arc.

If you don’t want the fan to move from side to side, you can remotely move it across 12 different positions using the remote, across. Full 180 degrees. That said, the remote sensor is on the front of the fan, so if the fan is facing away from you, you’ll have to move to give the remote line of sight for control.

So from an air movement perspective, the FlexBreeze is fantastic. But the best thing about it is its versatility.

Being able to pop the fan out of the pedestal and bring it on a picnic is just genius. Battery life on the fan is solid – I managed to get a few hours of it running, oscillating in a wide arc on the third-highest fan speed.

Shark says it will last for up to 24 hours on low speed with no oscillation as well.

The model I tested also came with a misting attachment, which is genius for the Australian summer.

The attachment simply clips onto the front of the fan, with a hose that connects to your garden hose for water. It will spray a fine mist of water as the fan blows to help keep the air cooler.

It works reasonably well, too. The hose connector did leak a little bit for me, and the mist was maybe a little intense, but my kids loved it. In a hot summer, it’s a genius inclusion for an already versatile product.

What could the Shark FlexBreeze Fan improve?

There’s no vertical oscillation, You can adjust the vertical angle manually, but the fan doesn’t move up or down. This isn’t a common feature, though it was one of the highlights of the Acerpure model I tested, and it would have been cool here.

The one thing I did find challenging was understanding the battery level. The subtlety of the display on the front of the fan doesn’t give you a massive level of information about the battery status.

There is a battery symbol on the display, but it’s so subtle you will likely miss it. If the fan’s been blowing on battery mode for a while, it’s very easy to exhaust the battery without realising it was almost dead.

There is also a “BreezeBoost” mode, which cranks things up significantly. Shark says it means you can feel the air up to 20 metres away.

I couldn’t really tell the difference between BreezeBoost and the fan at full power. It may have been more powerful, but it wasn’t noticeable.

Verdict

This is one of my favourite products of the year. As we come into summer, finding ways to keep cool is important, and I love that the Shark FlexBreeze lets me use it inside or outside, in pedestal or tabletop mode.

And when it gets really, hot, the misting attachment is a great addition to help keep the temperature a bit more manageable.

At $249 for the fan only, or $299 for the fan with the misting attachment, it’s definitely on the pricier side compared to other pedestal fans. But it’s also a lot more versatile than most of those products, and I’d argue it’s worth it, every day of the week.

Buy the Shark FlexBreeze Fan online

Shark FlexBreeze fan with Mist attachment

RRP: $299.99

Check Price @ The Good Guys