For those of us in the UK, summer means days of flag-cracking sunshine, as temperatures soar and our poor British bodies, utterly unacclimatised to such bombardment of solar rays, wither in the heat. That is, unless you happen to have one of the best neck fans to hand.Naturally, portable fans are another obvious answer to spells of intense heat, offering personal cooling. But what if you want to go hands-free at home, in the garden, while you’re out and about or while sunbathing on the beach? Neck fans offer the ultimate smart solution and a wholly practical, hands-free and efficient way to help you avoid tipping into sweaty-mess territory. Ahead of the upcoming heatwave, I’ve been busy testing the best models – and have found options for every budget. Read more: Best portable air conditionersI put a range of neck fans to the test during warm weather (Stuart Pritchard/The Independent)Read more: Best fans, tried and tested The best neck fans for 2026 are:Best overall and cheapest neck fan – Status rechargeable neck fan: £9.99, Amazon.co.ukBest advanced model – Ranvoo aice lite max: £219, Amazon.co.ukBest powerful neck fan – JisuLife portable neck fan 3: £30, Currys.co.ukBest quiet fan – Geepas 2000mAh 3-speed quiet neck fan: £24.99, Amazon.co.ukRead more: Best air coolers, reviewed