Appliance and tech brand Shark is continuing to gain a worldwide reputation for producing affordable but genuinely useful products for the home. Among all of Shark's offerings, from their best vacuums to their best air purifiers, the FlexBreeze fan is a relatively new addition, boasting a few features we don't tend to see in fans.
It's portable, can be converted between a pedestal and tabletop, and has a misting attachment for more serious cooling. It seems to be a response to many of the problems we face in high heat, like being able to take our fans outside so we can still enjoy the sunny weather.
I'm Homes & Gardens' home tech editor, and I've been testing and reviewing the best fans while the weather has been warmer. Here, I see what the Shark FlexBreeze Fan can do, how well it performs, and whether it's worth your money.
Shark FlexBreeze Fan: Specifications
Shark FlexBreeze Fan: Unboxing & setup
As I've come to expect from Shark, the fan arrived in a compact cardboard box with vibrant product packaging inside. Shark's product boxes are often quite colorful (with that distinct Shark purple) and the FlexBreeze is no different - full of text and images showing off what the fan can do.
Included in the box are: the fan head, two pedestal poles, pedestal base, charging cable, fan cover, and misting attachment. You also receive some instructions and a hex key and bolt for the assembly. It doesn't take long; all you have to do is attach the two pedestal poles to the base, screw in the bolt to secure it, attach the fan head then plug in the charging cable. Shark recommends waiting until it's fully charged to use it in cordless mode, but you can use it straight away when plugged in.
Not included with the fan is any plastic packaging, thankfully.
Shark FlexBreeze Fan: Design & features
The USP of the Shark FlexBreeze Fan (and the meaning behind the 'Flex') is its portability. You can charge up the fan to then use it as cordless, freeing it from the cable to be taken outside or to other rooms of the house. I'm surprised and genuinely impressed that I've never seen a fan achieve this to this extent.
In the same vein, you can also remove the fan head from the pedestal and convert it to a tabletop fan. It's so easy to do so that it takes a few seconds: just pull the fan out, position the tabletop legs and it's ready. There's even an additional charging port if you want to keep it in tabletop mode.
There are removable stickers all over the fan with various tips and instructions, like where to press to convert to tabletop mode, or how to make the most out of the buttons and remote. The most informative is on the top of the fan head, where it outlines what options are available and what the fan head's LED lights indicate.
At the back of the fan head there's a carry handle, as well as a magnetic slot for the remote. All of these are thoughtful design inputs to make the fan both genuinely useful and easy to use. The remote itself is pretty straightforward, too, with buttons for fan speed, oscillation, timer, and options to manually move the fan left and right.
Also included is the 'InstaCool' misting attachment that hooks up to your water supply to spray a gentle, cooling mist when using the fan outdoors. It slots right into the middle of the fan, with a long pipe that connects to your water supply, either using the faucet or your own hosepipe if it doesn't fit.
Shark FlexBreeze Fan: Performance
With such a big feature set, how well does it actually perform? I've tested many fans this summer for H&G and, without a doubt, the FlexBreeze is the most powerful and the quietest. I noticed this straight away and confirmed it over weeks of use.
At the highest setting, the FlexBreeze produces a truly powerful airflow that can be felt from at least 60 feet away. The lowest setting is virtually silent while still providing a gentle and noticeably comforting cooling.
I would say the volume only becomes distracting at fan speeds 4 and 5 - but this level of airflow is only needed in super high heat or outdoors, where the noise isn't as noticeable. Otherwise, the fan does a fantastic job of cooling me down without any notable noise which, in my view, is the most important criteria to consider when choosing a fan.
I was lucky enough to test the FlexBreeze to its full effect during a particularly warm week here in the UK. I mostly work from home, and I like to work outside whenever the sun's out to make the most of it.
I took the fan with me, pulled out the tabletop legs, and sat it on my garden table while I worked - and it was so nice. It was comforting, prevented me from getting too hot in the sun, and the quiet performance wasn't distracting or headache-inducing at all - considering I had a full-sized fan a few inches away from me for hours.
This versatility, combined with the fan's power and low noise, makes the FlexBreeze a stronger choice than any other fan I've used. It has everything you'd need with the added bonus of a misting attachment.
Unfortunately, my faucet isn't the right size for the InstaCool attachment, and I don't have a hose to use it. However, I saw it first-hand at SharkNinja's EMEA Launch Event in February 2024. It was a hot day, and the mist was as cooling as Shark claimed. It shoots out as two separate streams, and the fan disperses it to avoid soaking anybody.
Shark FlexBreeze Fan: Price
The Shark FlexBreeze currently retails for $199.99 at Shark, and retailers like Home Depot and Best Buy. In the UK, it's listed at £169.99 at Shark, Currys and John Lewis.
Pedestal fans sell for as little as $30, but more powerful models and those with misting attachments can go for upwards of $300. Considering the feature set on offer with the Shark FlexBreeze – the corded to the cordless, pedestal to tabletop, indoor to outdoor versatility – I think this is as reasonably priced as you can get.
How does the Shark FlexBreeze Fan compare?
You can find plenty of other pedestal fans online for a range of prices. The Lasko Oscillating Pedestal Fan at Home Depot sits on the lower end at $39.98, while this 30-inch Misting Outdoor Oscillating Pedestal Fan at Home Depot sells for $413.12. With that kind of price range, the Shark FlexBreeze sits comfortably in the middle, which is more-than-reasonable considering its features and performance.
Tower fans are another alternative. The Levoit 36-Inch Classic Tower Fan performed well on test, with quiet and powerful fan speeds, a sleep mode and a timer - and it sells for a modest $69.99.
There is a lack of additional features with the Shark FlexBreeze. Air purifying technology, as seen in the Shark Air Purifier 3-in-1 and the Dyson Purifier Cool TP09, would help to improve indoor air quality while indoors. But this often comes at an increase in noise levels and cost - and for a portable fan, it would be over-working itself outdoors.
Other fans have smart features, like the Dreo Smart Tower Fan Pilot Pro S. But, while voice and app control can be useful when you can't find the remote, it does little to add to the functionality of the fan. It will, however, add to the overall cost, which I sense Shark have tried to avoid to keep it reasonably priced.
Should you buy the Shark FlexBreeze Fan?
The Shark FlexBreeze offers everything you'd look for in a fan. It produces a powerful cooling flow of air quietly and can switch between tabletop and pedestal, with the freedom to take it outdoors. The misting attachment will likely be a savior on those really hot days, too.
It lacks any additional features like air purification, app compatibility or voice control. But, in all honesty, these aren't essential, and it's resulted in Shark being able to sell the fan for what feels like a truly reasonable price. After weeks of testing I see no faults at all, and I'd recommend this as the best fan available right now.
