A breeze you wear.
In short: a fan jacket or fan vest has two small fans that blow outside air through the garment. The moving air helps your sweat evaporate, and that is what cools. A vest leaves your arms free. A jacket airs your arms as well and keeps the sun off them. Both work best in dry to moderately humid heat. In very humid air, or in air hotter than your skin, the effect drops.
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Gløde does not sell fan jackets or fan vests (yet). This article compares types on how they work and on what institutes and manufacturers state. It is not a test and we did not try the products. We name no brands.
New to the subject? Start with our guide to cooling clothing →
The types compared
| Type | Where the air goes | Power | Runtime | Where it stops | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fan vest, sleeveless | Over your torso; out at the collar, armholes and hem | Its own battery or a 5 V USB power bank | Often about 4 to 10 hours, by fan speed and battery | Very humid air, very hot air, tight layers on top | Garden, workshop, festival, DIY |
| Fan jacket, long sleeves | Over torso and arms; out at the collar, cuffs and hem | Its own battery or a 5 V USB power bank | Often about 4 to 10 hours, by fan speed and battery | The same as the vest | Outdoor work in full sun |
| Fan jacket with a higher-voltage pack | The same, with more airflow | The maker's own battery pack | Depends on the pack | Does not run on a standard USB power bank | When you want more airflow |
How a fan jacket works
Many people search for it as a Japanese fan jacket. The idea is simple. Two small battery-powered fans, usually at the back or sides, blow outside air into the garment. The air flows over your torso and leaves at the collar, sleeves and hem.
That airflow does not chill the air. It speeds up the evaporation of your sweat, and evaporation takes heat away.
The two honest limits
Humid air
A fan garment relies on sweat that evaporates. Humid air cannot take up much more moisture, so the effect is smaller on a muggy day. One manufacturer puts the turning point at a humidity of about 70 to 80 per cent.
Air hotter than your skin
Your skin is about 35 °C. When the air is hotter than that, moving air also brings heat to your body. UK public health guidance says to use electric fans if the air temperature is below 35 °C. The World Health Organization says to use them only below 40 °C; above that, fans will heat the body. We state both and do not pick one.
In extreme heat, cooling clothing does not replace shade, water and breaks.
What to look for
Where the fans sit
The fans draw in outside air, so they must stay uncovered. A seat back or a rucksack can cover fans at the back. If you sit or carry a lot, fans at the sides stay clear more easily.
Fit and fabric
The air travels between the fabric and your skin, so it needs some room there. It must be able to leave at the collar, cuffs and hem. Under a rain jacket or another windproof layer the air has no way out. The principle then works poorly, which follows from how the garment is built.
Power: 5 V USB or the maker's own pack
Many fan vests are built for 5 V USB. They run on the supplied battery or on a standard USB power bank. Some models use their own battery packs at a higher voltage for more airflow. Check the stated input before you count on a power bank.
Runtime per fan speed
Manufacturers often state about 4 to 10 hours. The long figure belongs to the lowest speed: one maker states up to 8 hours on low and up to 4 on high for the same vest.
Noise and washing
Fans hum. In a quiet room that stands out; on a building site it does not. Check that the fans and battery come out before the garment goes in the wash.
Fan vest or fan jacket?
- Gardening and DIY: a fan vest. Free arms, less fabric.
- Outdoor work in full sun: a fan jacket. The sleeves keep the sun off and the air reaches your arms.
- With a hard hat: a fan jacket airs your neck too. See helmet cooling for the head itself.
- Humid heat or a quiet room: no fans. A PCM vest fits better; see our cooling vest comparison.
- For an employer: a fan jacket is a personal measure. Technical and organisational measures come first. Read the rules for working in the heat.
Interested? We'll let you know.
Gløde is considering adding a fan vest. Leave your email and we'll send you one message if we launch it. No newsletter unless you ask for it.
We only use your email to send you one message about this. More in our privacy policy.
What Gløde offers today
We do not make fan jackets or fan vests. What we do have is power: a fan garment built for 5 V USB runs on a USB power bank, and ours supply 5 V USB. We have not measured runtimes with fan garments, so we give none. We make no promise for garments from other brands: check the stated input first.
Both are in our power banks collection. Not sure which size you need? Read our power bank guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best fan jacket in 2027?
It depends on your use. For gardening and DIY a sleeveless fan vest is enough. For outdoor work in full sun a fan jacket with long sleeves fits better. Check where the fans sit, the runtime per speed, and whether it runs on 5 V USB.
How does a fan jacket work?
Two small fans blow outside air into the jacket. The air flows over your torso and leaves at the collar, sleeves and hem. It speeds up the evaporation of your sweat, and that is what cools. The air itself does not get colder.
Does a fan jacket work in humid weather?
Less well. A fan jacket relies on sweat that evaporates, and humid air cannot take up much more moisture. In dry to moderately humid heat it works best.
Does a fan jacket work above 35 °C?
When the air is hotter than your skin, about 35 °C, moving air also brings heat to your body. UK public health guidance says to use electric fans below 35 °C. The World Health Organization says below 40 °C.
How long does the battery of a fan vest last?
Manufacturers often state about 4 to 10 hours, depending on fan speed and battery capacity. The longest figure usually belongs to the lowest speed.
Can you run a fan vest from a power bank?
Yes, if the vest is built for 5 V USB. A standard USB port supplies 5 V. Some fan jackets use their own battery packs at a higher voltage, so check the stated input first.
Does Gløde sell fan jackets or fan vests?
No, not at the moment. Leave your email in the form on this page and we will send you one message if we launch one.
Interested? We'll let you know.
Gløde is considering adding a fan vest. Leave your email and we'll send you one message if we launch it. No newsletter unless you ask for it.
We only use your email to send you one message about this. More in our privacy policy.
All our heated clothing comparisons →
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