Shark FlexBreeze review

Shark FlexBreeze: Introduction

Back in February at its first-ever EMEA Launch Event, SharkNinja took the covers off of the Shark FlexBreeze Fan; a nifty-looking fan that’s designed for both indoor and outdoor use.

I know what you’re thinking, that there’s already an outdoor fan – the wind – but the FlexBreeze is designed to be used outdoors on those ever-increasing heat wave days where it’s too hot to venture outdoors.

That’s because you can get an extra blast of cool thanks to an included accessory whereby you can attach your garden hose and spray a fine mist in the air.

Designed to be both a table top fan and also a pedestal too, you can just pop the top part out and it can run off of batteries for up to 24 hours.

I’ve had the Shark FlexBreeze Fan cooling me down for the past few weeks, read on for my full review.

Design and components

At first glance, the Shark FlexBreeze looks just like a typical pedestal fan. With dimensions of 94 x 35 x 35 cm, it has an adjustable head to direct airflow where it’s needed.

However, on closer inspection you’ll find some very nifty design choices that massively expands its use cases beyond a regular fan.

In addition to mains power, the FlexBreeze also has an internal battery, so you’re not tied to a power socket. When it is plugged in, it’s charging the battery and a full charge takes around 5 hours from empty.

To plug it in, there’s a port at the bottom of the main pedestal, just above the base, which is held in place with a long screw – you get a tool in the box to tighten it up.

But there’s also a second charging port too, because the FlexBreeze isn’t restricted to just being in a pedestal form factor, the fan head can be detached and used on a desktop too; and this is also the optimal mode for picking up the fan and taking it outside.

Switching from the tall to the small form factor is a breeze, no pun intended.

You simply push a release button on the pole and the main unit, along with a small section of pole will pop out. But look closely and you’ll see it’s not just a pole; it’s a tripod leg setup, which simply pops out so you can stand the FlexBreeze up wherever you want.

Cooling down

The main attraction with the FlexBreeze is that it comes with a misting feature, which I think justifies it being classed as an outdoor fan.

The misting attachment simply pops onto the front of the fan and is then easy to connect to a hosepipe via a flow regulator.

Once you fire up the fan, the FlexBreeze can then spray a refreshing mist, similar to what you get at theme parks and festivals on hot days.

It’s a great addition to an overly hot garden and my kids have also enjoyed using it as part of their slip and slide setup in the garden.

Simple controls on top let you turn the fan on and off, or activate the oscillation mode. There are three oscillation modes, with up to 180° horizontal sweep, though vertical adjustment is manual using the remote control.

In control

In the box you’ll get a remote control so you can adjust the settings without leaving your seat.

The remote offers the same controls as the fan itself, but there are also controls that only the remote can achieve, such as moving the fan’s direction remotely, starting the gentle or strong breeze modes, or setting timers – none of which can be achieved by the three buttons on the FlexBreeze unit itself.

So it’s super important that you don’t lose the remote, especially as there’s no connectivity or app controls as there are with the likes of the Dreo Air Purifier Tower Fan or the the Dyson Purifier Big+Quiet Formaldehyde.

However, when not in use, the remote control magnetically attaches to the back of the fan, so you’re less likely to lose it.

A basic LCD at the top shows fan speed using five indicators, which also double as timers ranging from one to five hours.

However, I found the indicators not only very clear – there’s no way I could memorize all the light combinations and what they relate to – and it’s also tricky to see in bright sunlight, which is also the case with the battery status light that changes color to display the remaining charge.

It would have been better to use icons, letters and numbers as you’d get with Dreo or MeacoFan models.

Performance

The Shark FlexBreeze delivers everything from a subtle breeze to a powerful gust.

During testing at the Candr Media Group labs, on its lowest setting, we measured airflow at 1.1m/s at 15cm and 0.8m/s at 1m, which just enough for a gentle breeze. Impressively, it was quieter than ambient noise, registering just 32.1dB.

At medium speed, airflow increased to 3.2m/s at 15cm and 2.4m/s at 1m, with a slight rise in sound levels to 38.1dB, which is still very quiet.

At its maximum setting, we recorded airflow of 4.6m/s at 15cm and 3.6m/s at 1m. Even at this higher power, the noise only reached 50dB, making it impressively quiet for its performance level.

Battery life ranges from 24 hours on the lowest speed to two hours on maximum, so you can easily find a setting that offers sufficient cooling for outdoor activities or for keeping you comfortable during the night.

Final thoughts

The Shark FlexBreeze is much more than a regular fan, with its dual form factor mode and the excellent outdoor-focused features.

The misting attachment is a brilliant addition. While it isn’t suitable for indoor use due to the water it disperses, outside it made a noticeable difference, providing a cooling effect that’s far superior to just air alone. The mist was pleasantly refreshing, especially on hot days.

How we test

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