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Best fans and air con in stock LIVE tracker – keep cool in the heatwave
It's humans versus heat, as the UK braces for rising mercury
It's been a searingly hot week, hasn't it? And just when you thought it was over, that red warning gets extended for yet another night. Yes, the mercury is set to remain high – although peak temperatures shouldn't hit 38C again. Hopefully not, anyway!
You can help combat such temperatures with portable AC, personal fans, fixed air-movers and other keeping-cool gadgets and accessories – from paddling pools to ice-cream makers – but everyone is scrabbling to grab dwindling stock right now. Indeed, there's little to nothing left for rapid delivery!
Fortunately – and in tandem with Amazon's Prime Day sale – I've been scouring the internet far and wide to find the worthwhile products still in stock to help you keep cool during this heatwave (and any that happen in the future, but of course).
I've tried to include those items with rapid shipping, making note of those that could take longer to arrive at your door. So get to it if you want to fight the current heatwave, as stock is limited and won't last for long.
I'll be updating this live blog regularly with new finds and updates, so keep checking back for top value additions – from multiple sources, not just Amazon's Prime sale.
Best Portable Fan deal
UPDATE: Main stock sold out, but some of the more vibrant colour options remain available – at £129.99, so £10 more than previous.
We've long raved about this personal fan, which delivers on-the-go cooling relief. It's a handheld and pocket-sized lifesaver.
The 3-in-1 aspect refers to its Fan, Mist and InstaChill modes.
Any downsides? It's surprisingly loud at times, and we think its mist option could be improved.
Still, with this 20% off deal, and the given heat we're experiencing, this is a buy-now-ask-questions-later instabuy.
Best Portable Air Conditioning
No 'savings' here, per se, but a rare opportunity to still be able to buy a portable air conditioner – that's designed for small rooms.
UPDATE: Well, that didn't last long. B&Q stores that did hold stock are in very short supply – but I'm now unable to locate any with stock.
Best Fixed Fan deal
Delivery tomorrow? NO – next week
UPDATE: John Lewis did have stock, but that's now dried up (even for collection). Amazon is showing as available, just not with the speediest shipping.
I own one of these fans (and a couple of the pedestal versions, too) and rely on it daily during the summer. So it's a heatwave must-have that's worth its full asking price.
Best For Baby
How about this for a genius idea? You add water, which creates a cooling mist in the bedroom, helping keep baby cool – and hopefully asleep during the heat.
It's in stock right now and also has a tasty discount as part of Amazon's sale. Thousands have reviewed it, with an average score of 4.4-stars certifying its success.
Best for Commuters
If you've got to sandwich yourself on a train that's as hot as the sun itself, then you're probably not going to care how you look.
Which is why you should absolutely bag one of Sony's 'personal air conditioners', the Reon, which clips around your collar and effectively blows cool air down your shirt.
In weather like this, it could be the lifesaver you never knew you needed – niche a product as it is. Plenty are in stock, with rapid shipping available.
LIVE: Latest Updates
The Aircon Con
Looking for a portable air-conditioning unit? Well, the good news is you can buy one. The bad news? It'll take multiple days, if not weeks, to be delivered.
There's unsurprisingly been more demand than usual for such products, but I shall continue to scour the web to see if any last-minute additions crop up – even from more unusual sources.
That said, if I find a final in-stock unit then you can't blame me for buying it for my home office instead...!
Protect that PlayStation
Okay, so this might be a rather 'keeping cool' adjacent purchase... but if you're going to be using a Sony console for anything then, well, it's gonna cook.
Therefore, I really like this Kiwihome offering – with different versions made for PS5, PS5 Slim, PS5 Pro – that clips onto the console's rear to amp up the fan output and keep things cool.
It's 4.4-rated on Amazon, a score derived by many thousands of reviews, with many buyers claiming it enhances the cooling – so long as you've cleaned any dust out of the way.
Stay safe out there, folks
If you are venturing out and about then don't forget that sun protection. I burnt my knees cycling at the weekend – and it was nowhere nearly as hot or UV apparent then – so a strong SPF factor is a must.
This Nivea bottle is reduced in price, plus you can Subscribe & Save (and then cancel) for an additional 10% discount – making a very solid price for this product, delivered to your door in double-quick time.
Slushie, anyone?
This deal has been available all month, but it's still a great offer – with a sizable £100 off. Ninja's Slushi is one of the best frozen drink makers on the market and an ideal buy if you want cooling drinks on tap.
It looks great, too: available in blue and grey, the Slushi delivers a look that's as tasty as the drinks it makes. However, the deal is only on the stone and gold version, if that suits your visual tastes.
Pools for kids – and adults
My colleague has already written about the best tub and paddling pool details available this Prime Day. They range from basic for the kids, to more permanent and designed for adults.
My pick of the lot, however, is this affordable option – because of its more family-size appeal, not just because of the elephant feature. It's 2-meters long and, yes, you can get it delivered by tomorrow too.
B&Q to the AC rescue!
As you'll see in the 'always up top' section up page, I've finally found a portable AC unit that you can actually buy – so long as you can get to a B&Q store to collect!
Delivery tomorrow? NO – Click & Collect from B&Q Stores
B&Q's own brand, GoodHome, is a good deal cheaper than many top tier competitors. I can't vouch for how it performs, having never seen one, but desperate heatwaves equal desperate measures.
A sleep hack like no other
Now, I know this is an expensive solution – indeed, it costs about as much as a fancy mattress in itself.
However, my boss swears by this product, which delivers a water-cooled layer that auto-adjusts to your body temperature, as set by you, for perfect sleep.
It might seem hasty to buy one just for this heatwave, but this is a 'lifer' product – because it can also heat, when the weather goes the other way.
It'll never be 'hot' nor 'cold', though, as it's set by you, for you, and is reactive to your changing body temperature.
A different approach
So, clearly, this is neither an aircon nor a fan – but it is a key part of the equation when it comes to staying cool in a heatwave: water. You need to stay hydrated to have any hope at all of avoiding headaches and heatstroke.
This bottle has some hidden smarts, though, in the form of sensors and an app that can keep track of how much you've drunk each day. You can set reminders to ensure that you remember to drink enough each day, which is a huge benefit.
Of course, it's also just a great water bottle on its own, with insulation to keep your water cold for hours, which means it's a truly great option for this heatwave and the many to come.
Stock updated
I've updated the main picks up page to reflect the reality of stock running thin or out completely.
I realise that doesn't reflect the 'in stock' title sell – so will continue to look for suitable replacements online!
'Personal air conditioning'
If you've no idea what a 'personal air conditioner' might look like then, well, check out Sony's Reon. Now in its fifth generation model, this wearable clips around your neck and will cool your body down by funnelling cool air down your shirt. It's a commuter stealth secret – and probably a product you'd never thought about buying before now.
A rare AC Find
One for the weekend – as in delivery! While there are no 'savings' here, as such, it's a rare in-stock opportunity to obtain a small AC unit designed to cover small room sizes only.
Lidl to the rescue
As covered in my standalone piece about Lidl's AC unit, it's worth checking the official site to see if your local store has stock.
Mine does – woo! – and this £149 cooler is one heck of an affordable way to get that much sought-after cooling.
Check out Lidl's portable AC unit – in stock right now (stores vary)
The end is in sight – even if stock isn't
Well, we've made it this far. If you've managed to snag one of the handful of portable AC units from Lidl or similar then congrats! For everyone else: by the time the weekend is over, it'll be cooling a little, so we can get back to normal life. In the meantime buy a Shark ChillPill in an outrageous colourway and keep that sweat level down!
We've long raved about this personal fan, which delivers on-the-go cooling relief with its three modes: Fan, Mist and InstaChill.
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