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I've had this on a few camping trips and I'd say it is a decent product, within its capabilities, but unfortunately, its capabilities are limited.
You can't expect performance up there with a home fan from a 6" fan powered by 2 D-cell batteries. It just isn't going to be that strong. Unfortunately, for the summers here in MD (and in most of the country) you need a more powerful fan than this to be comfortable. The 2 D-cells do give about the 16 hours of operation it is rated for (I got about 2 1/2 nights on high before the performance noticeably decreased).
Put it a few inches from your head and you'll get some air circulation. It is certainly better than nothing, and if these little camp fans from Texsport and Coleman were your only options, they'd buy you a little more camping comfort. However, for car camping, they are no longer your only options. I'm going to buy one of the O2Cool battery operated fans. 8 D-cells and a 10" blade will make for a much more powerful fan and much more air circulation, and initial price is similar. Even though they take 8 D-cells instead of 2 like the Texsport, they are rated for 40 hours of operation as opposed to this fan's 16hrs, 2 1/2 times longer. So, you won't be spending that much more on batteries (10 batteries for 80 hours of operation for the Texsport, 16 batteries for 80 hours of much more effective operation for the O2Cool, or at about $1.50/battery, about $15 for a mostly ineffective Texsport and $24 for the more effective O2). The O2 is still cheaper to operate for about a week than the cost of an electric site (so you can use a home fan) for a day. The Texsport has the advantage if you have a very small tent and don't have the space for the 10" O2, but need something, or if you are backpacking (though for that, Coleman has similar fans that are even smaller).
The light is useful for changing and getting ready for bed, and being built-in it is a nice space savings. However, it isn't super bright so you wouldn't want to read with it. Also, the lens shape distorts the light a little and makes for some interesting shadows if you try to use it for anything else. The space savings advantage is lost when you consider that you will probably want a flashlight for walking to the bathroom and/or a lantern for the campsite anyway.
Would I buy it again? Nope, I'd buy the O2Cool. It works if you just don't have the room for the O2. If you live somewhere where it doesn't get too hot it may be all you need. It is better than nothing even someplace hot. But, these days, there are better options.
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Edit:
Now that I also own 2 O2Cool fans (a 10" and a 6") I have a few comments about my O2Cool recommendations v. this fan.
Effectiveness: The O2Cool fans are more effectivethe 6" is a little more effective for a little more than half the price of the Texsport, the 10" is a lot more effective for a little less than double the price.
Battery life: While they don't live up to the billing, the O2Cool fans do seem to last longer on a set of batteries.
Durability: I haven't had them long enough to have issues, but the 02Cool fans definitely feel a LOT cheaper. The Texsport seems like it would handle a lot of abuse and keep on working. The 02Cool fans not only seem like they will die with the first good bump, but I doubt they'll last more than a year or so even with normal use. Definitely something to consider for a fan that one may intend to bring camping.
Bottom line: I'm pretty happy with both, just don't expect more from them than what they are. I'm glad I have the Texsport and the 02Cool fans.
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This fan worked well in keeping my head cool and helping with some white noise while I slept. I didn't use the built in light, so I can't attest to that. I tried using it outside while I read a book once, but it was completely ineffectual; this fan is strictly for small spaces in my opinion. My biggest complaint is that I don't really know when the batteries are low. I kept asking myself "Is it blowing less now than it was when I first got into the tent?" Of course, the only way to check is to change the batteries for a set that is known to be good. Such is the curse of analog devices such as this one. The batteries will keep turning that fan until their last gasp of life, even if the fan is only rotating at 1 RPM. The ambiguity about battery life is the only reason I didn't give 5 stars.Best Deals for Texsport Fan/Light Deluxe Combo
will do for the occasional camper or fisher, but not for a dedicated outdoorsman. Rigid plastic blades necessitate a caged housing, mandated safety regs no doubt, but it's likely not needed given that the meager power supply seems to barely push any air at all. The single nose mounted LED is bright, but best suited to covering a small area for detail. The unit's sheer size consumes packing space, but protects well during storage due to the variable positions. The recessed hanging hook is handy, but would mean hanging it too far away from any object or person for an appreciable benefit. There is room inside the housing for a spare button cell to power the LED, but it will drain the two D cells long before that is necessary. In short, I am better served with a folding soft blade four cell unit and separate light source, repairing or replacing when required, rather than an awkwardly larger multi-tasker with nifty but ineffective features. That said, the kids like it very much, and I own two. Enlarge the fans and increase the power and it would be all anyone needs.Honest reviews on Texsport Fan/Light Deluxe Combo
Used this fan this past weekend for camping, along with 2 new coleman fans All I can say is I am so happy I had this one with me. The coleman's failed after just one night! This little guy while not blasting the tent with air was perfect for just one person to feel a cool breeze and have a little noise to fall asleep to! I was very happy with this purchase!Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Texsport Fan/Light Deluxe Combo
The LED light on this fan is bright for a rather small fan but the wind output is just too low.
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