Living in heat-prone Los Angeles for the last 15 years, I’ve been required to purchase and experiment with a number of different cooling methods be it fans, AC units and anything in between. Never before has one singular fan impressed me to such a chilling degree as the gorgeous Vornado Pedestal VFan, a retro-inspired beauty that I had been ogling for ages but held off buying because of its $250 price tag.
Before you, too, scoff at the idea of spending that much on such a basic home essential, know that the Vornado technology is no basic innovation. In fact, it may be more accurate to call fans by the brand “air circulators,” a function that, yes, most traditional fans already do, except that Vornados are built with the brand’s signature dual-injector air cones at the base of the fan head. These interlaid aerodynamic cones, coupled with five strategically designed propeller blades, powerfully circulate and cool air faster — even in the dead of Southern California summer.
Rooms that would normally feel oppressive and stuffy with heat are instantly transformed into spaces that are more comfortable, temperature-regulated and noticeably fresher. This has been a game changer for summer nights and on those occasions when I don’t want to sit in front of the overly drying and artificially cold blast of the AC.
Another probable cause for the Vornado cost is its construction. Upon heaving it out of its box when I first purchased it over a year ago, I knew right away that it was built to last. No flimsy plastic here, the VFan is made entirely of durable metal.
The fully tilting fan head sits atop an adjustable arm to completely customize the direction of airflow and you can choose from three different fan speeds, each one shockingly quiet. The blades and fan head are also significantly easier to keep free of dust compared to other fans I’ve owned plus, as someone who strongly opposes modern-looking gadgets, I love how “cool” the VFan looks.
It’s available in a jade green color and a sleek cream color, both of which are accented with gold details. And, if the pedestal is too bulky for your needs, the VFan also comes in a non-pedestal version, a smaller three-speed version, a tilting desk fan and a mini desk option — all of which are at cheaper price points than the full-size original.
But don’t just take my word for it. In the list ahead, explore a few other Vornado fan designs, along with words from reviewers who also profess their love for the Vornado name.
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Promising Amazon review: "I actually own three of these fans: the mini, the Sr., and the Sr. Pedestal. All of them are in the off-white color, and they're all great!
I have the mini in my office at work, on my desk. It's a little noisy for a small room, but not overly so; no one can hear it in the background on my Zoom calls. It's very powerful for the size, though, and works so much better than other desktop fans--especially the USB ones. I have the Sr. in my guest bedroom at home, and it works perfectly for summertime. It circulates the air well for a medium-sized room. Finally, I have the Sr. Pedestal in my living room/kitchen area. With the pedestal fan, I don't need to run my PTAC machine except during heatwaves. It was lighter weight than expected, but not cheap-feeling at all; it was very easy to assemble.
It's hard to find a fault with these fans, to be honest. They're all very attractive-looking and all work exceptionally well to circulate air! They're all fairly quiet for a mid- or large-sized room, and they're all very well-built. I have left them running for days (weeks!) at a time before without issue. Even though they're significantly more expensive than the "regular", plastic Vornado circulators, I prefer these because they're so much sturdier. They really feel like investment pieces that will last me a long time." — Katherine
Promising Amazon review: "I've generally been using box fans which work fairly well, and I haven't really paid more than $20 for them. I realize you get what you pay for, and while some have lasted more than a couple of years, they've all tended to be kind of flimsy, especially the plastic grills on the front and the back. And I clean and maintain them regularly. Having said all of that, they are kind of cumbersome and get in the way. This year I figured I'd invest in something a little more expensive, a little more compact, but that serves the purpose of keeping the air circulating in the house.
And this Vornado doesn't disappoint in the slightest. The first thing you'll notice is how compact it is. Which makes storing it or just chucking it in a corner when it's not in use very convenient. Despite its size, though, it's pretty darn powerful. And the circulation is great, even on the lowest of its three settings. Another thing is that for a small unit, it's SO sturdy and heavy for its size. The base is solid and there's very little chance it will even tip over. The unit swivels up and down fairly well, so you can really position it for maximum effect and efficiency." — TrotsDad
Promising Amazon review: "I love vornado products. They are the best fans out. Our living room had no ceiling fan and we bought this one to sit in the corner out of the way and hoped it would circulate the air good enough in a big living room. It does its job and more. Does not bother you with noise and it moves the air great. Would buy again in a heart beat." — Marvin Wilson
Promising Amazon review: "I bought this and a Honeywell turbo from my local hardware store to help beat the heat wave without AC. The compact size of this one felt practical for moving between rooms while working, sleeping, etc. In 100 degree heat, a personal breeze is the only thing to provide relief aside from AC.
After about 15 minutes, I realized this fan is different — amazing, even. The amount of air it moves for its size is impressive and for the first time I felt the Vornado difference. I immediately gained faith in Vornado and purchased another of this model in copper along with the pedestal model 7803 and the VFAN Alchemy." — Little Miss Sunshine
Promising Amazon review: "This fan is great, I’m so glad I invested the extra dollars to get it versus a less expensive option. I got this for our kitchen window above the sink. It’s a smaller window than the rest in the house so standard size fans typically don’t fit this was perfect For the window! I used a couple of the spacers on the sides. I wish they were a little more “squishy“ so they could be squeezed into a space and then expand in the area, but I managed to make them work.
The fan is so quiet, I don’t even hear it until I’m right up near it. All the fans we’ve used in the past, you could hear in the other room. The four settings are perfect because when I’m standing at the sink, I’m very close to it and don’t want it on a turbo speed. However, I do like that when I put it on the highest setting, my long hair blows back as if I’m a runway model!
This fan has been an ideal addition to the kitchen. One requirement was that it have an exhaust option. It helps to take the heat from cooking in These hot temperatures back outside.
I highly recommend this fan and I’m seriously thinking about getting one for the bedroom as well." — Cari
Promising Amazon review: "I've relied on Vornado fans for about 20yrs or more. This is a great floor fan, smaller than most clunky, space-hogging floor fans, but it is powerful for its size, and much quieter than most floor fans. Vornado fans have been reliable work horses for me and I love the fact that they are very easy to clean, fronts come off easily, no tools necessary. They may run a little more expensive than fans that are seemingly comparable, but every time I try to "save money" with a cheaper one, I'm always sorry. Most are difficult or impossible to clean, and so many break down before their time. I've always been satisfied with these fans." — jlhd