PoorInRichfield

It looks like there are finally some decent options for indoor trainer fans in 2023 with a remote control at somewhat reasonable prices. Up until now, I've been using a Tornado floor fan and I hate it because it doesn't have a remote which means it's never on a setting that suits my body temperature and I have to get off my bike to adjust it (FAIL!) Anyway, here's a few options I've found as I'm starting to ride indoors again now that it's getting cold and dark in the Midwest, USA. If you know of other options that have worked well for you and don't break-the-bank, post-up!

Vacmaster AM201R Portable Air Mover with Remote Control (Amazon $83.49)



Lasko Pro Performance High Velocity Utility Fan (Amazon $89.99)




Sharper Image FLY 01 High-Velocity Fitness Fan with Remote (Amazon $100.99)



JetBlack Trainer Fan (Zwift Store $149.00)




Wahoo Kickr Headwind Fan (Wahoo Store $299.00)

spelger

can't see spending more than a few dollars on a fan. they all blow air. garage sale is your friend. i'll stick with the one in this picture:

https://www.bikeforums.net/indoor-st...ng-setups.html

MinnMan

I have a couple of inexpensive fans sitting on makeshift pedestals in front and to the left and right of my bike, both with switches within arms reach.
I have to get out of the saddle to toggle the switches, but I don't have to dismount.
So I don't need anything fancy or a remote.

spelger

i didn't mean to be disparaging so hope you didn't take it that way. i do appreciate the heads up on teh fans.

i have a similar remote control like this for my fan (mine is about 50 years old):

https://www.amazon.com/Woods-Indoor-...aEALw_wcB&th=1

MinnMan

Not that I'm the one looking for a remote, but a power cord remote allows on/off, but not high/medium/low. So some may want something more versatile.

kcjc

I had two Lasko 18" Pedestal Fans but it was taking took much space in my office/trainer room. I'm now using a B-Air 1/8 HP Blower Fan and two BlueDri PRO 1/4 HP Blower Fans. The two 1/4HP blowers sits on side tables, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09J2QT149. The 1/8HP blower is on the floor. For remote, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N23GRYD.

unterhausen

I have a pedestal fan pointed at my upper body and head. I'm not convinced that having a fan pointed at my lower body would do anything. I just reach over and change settings.

spelger

you are right of course. with my fan i was able to use this nice remote to change speeds:

https://www.staples.com/coastwide-professional-8-standard-corn-broom-natural-cw57664/product_24420777?cid=PS:GS:SBDLA:CB:NIT823:BAU&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsp6pBhCfARIsAD3GZuYRly8fM7-DiExIWK9OR-TVJLJMErtLh5iJlDfs1oj_VlOCM-sTlV8aAis8EALw_wcB

genejockey 

I have 3 fans. All 3 came from Home Depot and cost less in total than the cheapest fan mentioned by the OP. I'd rather spend my money on bikes, parts, tires, etc, but that's me.

One on the floor to the left of the front wheel, that's angled up toward my face. I can turn it on or off without dismounting, but I do have to stop pedaling and reach way down.

Another sits on a folding chair next to the other side of the front wheel and is pointed toward my legs and upper body. That one I can turn on or off or adjust the speed while pedalling.

The third is only used when it's already really warm in the garage. It's a lot more powerful than the others. I have to get off the bike to turn it on.

dmanthree

Mh 30+ year old Patton 18" air circulator is still working just fine. I think I paid about $25 for it. Can't see spending a ton for a fan. But if you want to vary fan speed with heart rate, have at it.

pbfoot

Yeah the recent Zwift email with the Jet Black offering made me look again too.
I use a Lasko 4905 floor blower hooked up through a Kasa WiFi plug and can hit a delayed shutoff as well as a "turn the smart bike, the monitor, and the fan on" scene. Delayed shutoff good for drying things off.
It is quiet compared to the effective air it moves but it isn't silent., At the time I think I found one for $60 with the added bonus you can dry your floors if you have a disaster.
I'm with you on wanting to control it. On vs off vs getting down and going from low during warm up to high during an event would be nice. Kasa on/off wifi plug without power monitoring cheap enough to automate.
Can't find much on Jet Black specs for sound level or airflow.
I've thought about a using another fan for warmup/cooldown on a separate WiFi plug.
If you are doing circular fan or box fan, any of the blowers will be an improvement.
.
My Lasko supposedly does 300-340cfm on high and 59 dB off to the side but 68dB at the bars. Portable AC on high for humidity control runs 64dB.
The Sharper Image Fly noise level looks similar. Not sure about it doing that many more cfm than what I have at the same/less power consumption.(They are claiming 26mph and 950CFM)
I emailed the Jet Black guys about their spec.
I'll say a blower is a lot better than a fan. $101 for something with remote built in, probably isn't bad but you have another control laying around vs phone/tablet/Alexa. $150? Maybe if DCRainmaker gets around to comparing. KICKR headwind wasn't worth the $300 for a small convenience.

MinnMan

Yeah, I don't have a remote for my fans, but the small side table I've set up next to my trainer is already too crowded with gadgets and things. There's the ipad that I use to connect to Zwift. There's a second ipad that controls my music and that I also use for the Zwift companion. There's my phone - well, just in case. There's the remote for the video monitor. One of the fans sits on it. And on a lower shelf there is the stereo console that receives the bluetooth signal from ipad #2 and sends it to the speakers.

Who knew that getting exercise was going to be so complicated?

SW84

LOL! That's what I thought while reading the posts. I set my bike up on a "dumb" resistance trainer in the living room and turn the Roku tv on. I watch an hour of something and call it good.

MinnMan

I can't do that. I used to try to watch movies while on the trainer. I wouldn't focus and would end up just soft-pedaling. Not really a workout.

Can you do that and work up a sweat?

SW84

I set the resistance pretty high. Today I had to take my t-shirt off because I was sweating too much. When I got done even my butt muscles were aching, LOL

PoorInRichfield

Added Vacmaster AM201R fan to list... lowest price yet at $85.

blakcloud

I just purchased the Lasko Pro Performance High Velocity Utility Fan from Amazon. It received favourable reviews from people who purchased it for training. I have only used it once, so I will delay judgment on it. I will say this thing is powerful and I only had it on the lowest setting.

PoorInRichfield

Do you have a way to control it without getting off your bike? It doesn't appear as though that model has a remote.

ingo

I have two of these Honeywell Turbo 900 fans at about pedal height blowing upwards onto my chest. I don't like the wind in my eyes while riding indoors and won't wear sunglasses like I do outside. The fans are plugged into a dimmer switch box next to the keyboard to control fan speed.
https://www.honeywellstore.com/store...fan-ht-900.htm

blakcloud

No remote for this model. I turn it on low and do my workout.

pbfoot

Same with the Lasko blowers I have they are just local control and set on low but then added the Kasa smart plug for on/off. Alexa, google, or Kasa app.
On low I'm getting about 21mph at the blower and about 15mph at the bars and 12mph by my head.

Also got this back from JetBlack."Thanks for reaching out.

According to our data testing the fan ranges from 54.3-64.8 decibels. Fan Volume per m/s ranges from 9.8-14.8. Power(W) ranges from 0.344- 0.562. The lower range was recorded in level 1 and the higher range in level 4.

Hope this information helps."
So they are like 21mph to 33mph. Looks like these all have about the same speed motor and relatively the same squirrel cage and just the casing and controls a bit different.
So for $150 or whatever I would be adding a multispeed vs on off remote....meh. If I didn't have a blower, the incremental might have been at least worth trying the shaper image. Compromise probably just add a second blower and another smart outlet for off, Z2, and race.

Turnin_Wrenches

Thanks to the OP for posting some good fan options.

I've contemplated getting a nicer fan with a remote, but I don't spend a ton of time on the trainer. I'm using one "contractor grade" floor fan from Home Depot. It has 3 settings and no remote. It's loud, but it's very powerful. Not ideal, but it gets the job done.

For the time being I'll probably stick with my cheap, loud (but powerful) Home Depot special. Maybe I'll splurge for an upgrade in 2024 as we head into the summer season. Using an indoor trainer in a garage in Florida gets hot!

Trakhak

Great post. Never thought of that. I'll bet a bunch of us will be ordering one of those.

PoorInRichfield

Disclaimer: I'm not an electrician nor an electrical engineer.
I considered doing the same but heard from multiple sources that fan motors don't like being starved of electricity by an external source. That being said, if your house hasn't started on fire and the dimmer switch is working, then you win!

jadmt

back in my day we just used an old box fan......
https://imgur.com/a/9LjdBfS