Is the Shark FlexBreeze Worth It? The Versatile Fan Designed for Home & Garden
When the weather starts warming up, having a good fan can make a huge difference. But if you've ever owned one, you'll probably know the problem: traditional fans can be bulky, need to stay near a socket and aren't always practical when you want to move them from room to room.
That's where the Shark FlexBreeze Portable Fan FA220UK stands out.
Rather than being designed for just one spot in your home, the FlexBreeze is built to be used in a variety of ways, both indoors and outdoors. It can work as a pedestal fan, a
tabletop fan or a cordless fan, while the included misting attachment adds another option for hot days outside.
So, is the Shark FlexBreeze worth considering?
Let's take a closer look at what makes this fan different and who it could be particularly useful for.
What is the Shark FlexBreeze?
The Shark FlexBreeze is a hybrid indoor and outdoor fan designed to give you much more flexibility than a standard pedestal or table fan.
It has been designed around the idea that you shouldn't have to buy different fans for different areas of your home.
You can use it indoors to circulate air around a room, move it outside for the garden or patio, or use it in a tabletop configuration when you don't need the full pedestal setup.
According to Shark, there are 12 different ways to configure the fan, including corded or cordless operation, tabletop or pedestal use, indoor or outdoor use and use with or without the misting attachment.
That versatility is arguably its biggest selling point.
7 reasons the Shark FlexBreeze caught my attention
1. It can be used indoors and outdoors
One of the biggest advantages of the FlexBreeze is that you're not limited to using it inside the house.
On warmer days, you can move it outside to the patio, garden or another outdoor area where you want some extra airflow.
Shark says the fan has a UV- and water-resistant design for outdoor use, although the remote control is excluded from this protection.
This makes it particularly appealing if you're looking for something that can be used throughout the home as well as during garden gatherings, relaxing outdoors or summer entertaining.
2. It's cordless
This is one of the features that makes the FlexBreeze considerably more flexible than a traditional mains-powered fan.
Once charged, it can be used without being connected to a power socket.
Shark states that the fan can provide up to 24 hours of cordless runtime, based on speed 1 without oscillation. The manufacturer also says the fan can charge while powered on, helping it stay ready for cordless use.
That could be particularly useful when you're sitting outside and don't want an extension cable running across the garden.
It's also handy inside the home if you want to move the fan between rooms without worrying about where the nearest socket is.
3. You can use it as a tabletop or pedestal fan
Another clever feature is the ability to change how the fan is positioned.
Need airflow across a larger room?
Use it in pedestal mode.
Want something smaller for a table, desk or outdoor table?
It can be used as a tabletop fan.
This means one fan can potentially replace the need for separate fans in different areas.
For anyone who doesn't particularly like having several bulky appliances around the house, that's a definite advantage.
4. Five fan speeds and adjustable airflow
The FlexBreeze has five cooling fan speeds, giving you more control over how much airflow you want.
It also has 180-degree oscillation and 55-degree tilt, allowing you to direct the airflow where you need it.
This is useful because sometimes you want air moving around the whole room, while at other times you may simply want the airflow directed towards where you're sitting.
The included remote control also means you don't necessarily need to get up every time you want to change the settings.
5. It includes an InstaCool misting attachment
This is probably one of the most interesting features if you're thinking about using the fan outside.
The FlexBreeze comes with an InstaCool Misting Attachment, which connects to a garden hose to provide a refreshing mist outdoors.
Shark states that the misting attachment can cool outdoor spaces by up to 5°C in controlled conditions. However, it's important to remember that actual results will vary depending on factors such as the temperature, surroundings and environmental conditions.
So this isn't simply a standard fan with a few extra features thrown in.
It's designed to give you another way of staying comfortable when you're outside on particularly warm days.
6. It could be useful at night
If you struggle with warm bedrooms during the summer, a fan can make sleeping much more comfortable.
The FlexBreeze includes a timer, while its lower fan speeds are designed to provide quieter airflow.
Its cordless design could also be useful if you don't have a convenient socket next to the bed.
Of course, everyone's tolerance for fan noise is different, so if you're particularly sensitive to sound at night, it's worth taking that into consideration before buying.
7. You don't have to pack it away every time you move it
Another thing I like about the concept of the FlexBreeze is that it's designed to be moved around.
You could use it in the living room during the afternoon, move it into the bedroom at night and then take it outside when you're enjoying the garden.
Rather than thinking of it as a traditional pedestal fan that lives in one room, it's more like a portable cooling system that can adapt depending on where you need it.
Shark FlexBreeze specifications at a glance
Feature | Shark FlexBreeze FA220UK |
Fan speeds | 5 |
Oscillation | 180° |
Tilt | 55° |
Cordless runtime | Up to 24 hours* |
Indoor/outdoor use | Yes |
Tabletop use | Yes |
Pedestal use | Yes |
Misting attachment | Included |
Remote control | Included |
Weight | Approx. 5.7kg |
Colour | Black |
Guarantee | 2 years |
*Shark's 24-hour figure is based on fan speed 1 without oscillation.
Is the Shark FlexBreeze worth the money?
This is probably the biggest question.
At around £210 from Shark at the time of writing, the FlexBreeze isn't a budget fan.
There are certainly cheaper fans available.
So why would you spend more?
The main reason is versatility.
You're not simply buying a fan that sits on a stand in one room.
You're getting a fan that can be used:
Corded or cordless
Indoors or outdoors
As a tabletop fan
As a pedestal fan
With five speed settings
With oscillation and tilt
With a remote control
With an outdoor misting attachment
That's a lot of flexibility from one appliance.
Independent testing has also highlighted the FlexBreeze's versatility, particularly its ability to work as both a pedestal and tabletop fan and to operate without a cable.
So if you're simply looking for the cheapest fan possible, this probably isn't the product I'd point you towards.
But if you're looking for one premium fan that can be moved around the home and used outside too, the FlexBreeze becomes much more interesting.
Shark FlexBreeze vs a traditional fan
A standard pedestal fan can do its job perfectly well.
But it usually has one main purpose: standing in one location and circulating air.
The FlexBreeze takes a different approach.
Its cordless battery, portable design and multiple configurations mean you can move it around depending on what you need.
That could make a difference if you don't want to buy:
One fan for the bedroom
Another for the living room
Another for the home office
And another for the garden
Instead, you have one fan that can be moved between those spaces.
Who is the Shark FlexBreeze best suited to?
I'd say the FlexBreeze is particularly worth considering if you:
Want a fan you can move around the house Its portable design makes it much more flexible than a permanently positioned fan.
Spend a lot of time outdoors in summer The cordless operation and misting attachment make it particularly interesting for patios and gardens.
Don't want cables everywhere The rechargeable battery means you can use it without being connected to a socket.
Want one fan rather than several Its different configurations mean you can adapt it to different rooms and situations.
Like multifunctional products If you prefer buying one well-designed product that can do several jobs rather than lots of individual appliances, this is where the FlexBreeze makes sense.
Who might prefer a cheaper fan?
It's also worth being realistic.
If you only want a basic fan to use occasionally in one room, spending around £200 may not be necessary.
There are plenty of simpler fans that can circulate air effectively without the additional features.
The FlexBreeze makes the most sense when you'll actually use its flexibility.
If you're never going to take a fan outside, never need cordless operation and don't care about the tabletop configuration or misting attachment, you may be paying for features you don't need.
Final thoughts
The Shark FlexBreeze Portable Fan FA220UK is an interesting option for anyone looking for more than a conventional fan.
Its biggest strength isn't necessarily one individual feature — it's the combination of everything.
It's portable, cordless, suitable for indoor and outdoor use, can be used as a tabletop or pedestal fan and comes with a misting attachment for outdoor cooling.
That makes it particularly appealing for summer, when you might want a fan in the bedroom one day, the living room the next and the garden when the sun comes out.
It's definitely an investment compared with a basic fan, but if you're likely to make use of all that flexibility, it could be the kind of appliance you reach for again and again throughout the warmer months.
If you're looking for a versatile fan for both your home and garden, the Shark FlexBreeze is certainly one worth putting on your summer shopping list.
Comments