My dad, who has been a crossing guard since he retired about a decade ago, recently received an early Easter bag from one of the nearby schools as a small token of thanks. It had some candy in it: Nerds, Starburst, Skittles, etc. All the faves. But the big surprise was a portable fan. This was a particularly thoughtful gift considering how he often has to work in Florida’s sweltering weather.
The Mainstays Pocket Fan with Flashlight, as it’s called, is sold at Walmart for $7.88. It comes in black and white (we got the black one). Naturally, I had to try it out for myself.
Overview
I didn’t get to unbox the fan myself. My dad ripped into it before I could get the proper shots. It is his fan, as my mom repeatedly reminded me.
I didn’t miss much because the packaging is very simple and compact. The box is half the size of a 16.9 oz bottle of water, with roughly the same thickness. It contains the fan—folded up inside of a resalable plastic bag—as well as a USB-C cord and a small instruction booklet.
Operating the fan was confusing at first. I couldn’t even figure out how to open it up. I actually had to read the directions for once! Basically, there’s a notch at the top of the back side that you stick your fingernail in to pull it open. Fully extended, the fan is the same height as the bottle of water that I mentioned before. The part that becomes the handle is hollow because that’s the cubby where the fan end rests when you fold it up again.
Once I got the fan opened, the next question was how to power it. Thank goodness it has a rechargeable battery instead of needing money-sucking disposables. There are three white lights above the USB-C port that blink (or not) to indicate when the device is charging (or is charged). The fan was somewhat charged out of the box, so it only took about an hour to top it off after I plugged it in.
Lastly, there’s a wrist strap attached to the bottom of the front. It’s a nice and necessary touch. The fan fits comfortably in the hand, but it also has a slick surface that makes it very easy for the device to slip out of a sweaty palm. The strap curbs such accidents. It’s made from a thin, silky fabric that feels good against the skin. Loop it around your arm and save yourself the heartache.
The Fan
The fan has two plastic blades that spin to create your breeze. Do not underestimate them! There are three different blade speeds and every one of them can blow your doors off! In fact, that third speed pumps out so much wind that it can get downright cold. The first setting is usually more than enough for me.
The charging indicator lights come into play here as well. The number of lights that are lit up tell you the fan’s current speed setting: one light for the first speed, two lights for the second, and all three for the third. Meanwhile, the power button controls the speed itself. Every time you press it, another light comes to life and the speed kicks up a notch.
The Flashlight
The flashlight is located on top of the fan, above the USB-C port. It’s activated and deactivated by pressing and holding the power button.
There’s not much else to say about the flashlight. The light it emits is bright and reaches a decent distance. It would be great for an emergency light if your car breaks down or something like that.
Power Bank
I kept wondering why there was a USB port underneath the flashlight. The answer came to me when I took a closer look at the box: it’s a power bank too!
I tested it and it works perfectly. However, I don’t want to use it too often. The last power bank we had no longer holds any kind of charge now because I kept playing with it. So while I’m very happy to have the option, I won’t use it unless it’s an emergency.
Conclusion
I’m pretty impressed with this versatile little device. A fan, a flashlight, and a power bank for $8? That is a damn good deal! I feel like going and picking up five more of them.