I tested Shark's FlexBreeze HydroGo misting fan in a heatwave — and now I can't live without it

The Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo is kicking up a storm this summer. It feels almost cruel to write a glowing review while stock is low and everyone wants one, but in case you're wondering, the rumors are true.

This is a brilliant fan that manages to deliver powerful cooling with a small frame. And the misting function? Oh boy, it has me feeling fresh and gently spritzed, not drenched, like I did with its larger counterpart the FlexBreeze Pro.

Wondering if it's right for you? Keep reading for my full, honest review.

Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo: Specs

Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo: First impressions

The Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo arrives with some charge, which I appreciated because it arrived on a sweltering hot day. Its charger is pretty bulky, but you can also buy a car charging cord on the Shark website.

For $149 / £119, this isn't a cheap option. And there are plenty of cheap fans on the likes of Amazon, so it's not a purchase to make lightly. Luckily, it's been on sale for around $100 / £100 for the past few weeks.

I tested although the Dark Gray colorway, but I'd have loved to try the Honeydew or Lilac shades. I love that Shark sells this fan in a range of bright hues, but it's sold out in a lot of the brand's more fun colors right now.

Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo Misting Fan: was $149 now $99 at Amazon

Now reduced to just $99 in the Grey shade, the FlexBreeze HydroGo Misting Fan is low in stock at Amazon and direct at Ninja, so this is a deal worth picking up fast.

View Deal

Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo: Design

The Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo weighs 5lbs, and while it's not the most compact, I do think it's pretty portable. If you're packing the car for a picnic, there's no reason not to throw it in the trunk. But if you're heading on a hike, it might be a bit too large for your rucksack!

There are some removable stickers on the fan which walk you through the settings. I left these on while I figured the fan out, but its controls are pretty straightforward. There's a power button, a misting button (which you also use to toggle between the constant and intermittent setting) and a fan speed button, which you press to increase the fan speed incrementally from one to five, and then between the two natural breeze settings.

The natural breeze mode undulates to mimic a more authentic experience, which is a nice change from those fans that pelt you with a rush of air straight to the face, which can dry out your eyes and make your throat feel funny.

You can also fill up the water tank on the back of the machine with a flap that lifts and can be positioned beneath a faucet.

Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo: Performance

The water capacity is pretty small. I found that it ran out after around an 45 minutes of constant misting.

As for the battery life? I really can't complain in that department. I used this fan on setting 1 for an entire work day, and by the time I was done, the battery level indicator had only changed from orange to yellow, indicating a battery life of around 60%. So that's 9+ hours of contant use on a single charge, and it could probably deliver at least another 9.

My partner's parents visited when I was testing this fan, and they used it overnight to help cool our sweltering guest room. They had it on high speed, and reported that it only ran out at around 5am, meaning it gave them 6 hours of contant high-speed cooling.

Noise level

Another impressive feature is how quiet this fan is.

I measured the noise produced at a number of levels using the SoundMeter app on my phone. They read:

So the noise level ramps up significantly when you need some serious cooling, but the sound quality is not annoying in the slightest. It's a low whirring without any whiny qualities.

Misting

The misting feature barely makes a sound. It didn't register on my SoundMeter app whatsoever. If I could describe it, I'd say it's like a higher-pitched fizzing noise.

After my run-in with drenching my in-laws with the Shark FlexBreeze Pro, I had to choose a less risky test subject with the HydroGo: Me. And fortunately, I had a much nicer experience.

As you can see, the mist with this fan is super fine. It's got a decent projection, too. I could leave it on my coffee table while sitting on the couch and still get a light spritzing.

It doesn't leave me feeling wet, and my clothes didn't get damp either. I felt pretty confident using it indoors, but I wouldn't leave it on top of my vintage furniture just in case it caused any water damage.

Obviously, there's no oscillation with this fan, but its head does lift and lower manually to ensure you're getting the right angle. Oscillation with a portable tabletop fan would be a lot to ask, but seeing as I find this fan hard to fault, it is one feature that I think could level it up. For now, you'll need to get one for you and one for a friend, because you can't share.

Should you buy the Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo?

Is it worth the hype? Yes. Is it worth the price. Also yes. You can find tabletop fans online for a lot less, but I don't know if you'll find one that offers the versatility, battery power, low-noise, and divine misting capabilities of the Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo.

I do think that an oscillation feature would take this fan to another level, and it wouldn've been nice if the water tank had a little more capacity, but refilling is super easy if you bring a water bottle to the picnic.

So if you've been weighing up your purchase, take it from me: the Shark FlexBreeze HydroGo is the sidekick you need to survive the summer.

More from Tom's Guide

• Shark's new HydroGo fan can be used in the office, on vacation, and even outdoors
• Beat the heat without AC — 7 pro tips for cooling with fans
• 9 essential tips to stay cool during a heatwave