What is so special about the french one? Bringing it back with you likely would have been useless since trying to use a voltage regulator on something with this sort of current draw would likely be unsafe.

There are lots of these sorts of things sold at all kinds of pricing points here. There is a brand called Windchaser on amazon, others at sharper image, much larger units at industrial supply stores. I think I have even seen these in that useless skymall catalog on every airplane.

Well, lightenup, it's compact, stylish and adorable and looks nothing like any of the misting fans I've seen in the U.S. I'm sold.

I suppose what drew me to it was the smallness of it (don't need a large unit), and I admit--the aesthetic factor. Not that the design is the best thing since sliced bread, but I find it more appealing than the clunkier ones I've seen. And I have looked on Amazon, Sharper Image, etc.

In regards to voltage, I've lived abroad in different countries and I've dealt with various electrical conversion issues in the past so that doesn't strike me as a problem.

Have you tried Ebay France?

I love that fan. It's on sale here too: http://www.lachaiselongue.fr/LCL/aspx/Product.aspx?ReferenceId=27-AC01J&SiteId=1&CategoryId=73&PgBack=1

but they don't ship to the US either. Maybe some kind AT reader in France could help you ship one over?

oops. Sorry, I missed your link to the same store. need more coffee...

What a great looking little fan.

I would also love to have one.... It would be so cute to use on my porch.... Yep. The cute factor sells me. I am easy that way.

Cheer up guys... they DO ship to the USA.

Add the item to your shopping cart and go to checkout. When you check out you have all the regular fields to fill in and a drop down list for country (Pays ou DOM-TOM)... chose "etats unis" which I believe is United States in French.

au revoir. :)

I know they sell them here. I saw one at a vendor's booth at the Gift Show but can't remember who the vendor was. It was cute. I'll probably see it again at the show in Aug. but I guess you want one right now. Sorry I can't be more help. But at least I know they can be had.

Thanks, Pete! I can't believe I missed that! I feel so silly now, especially since I actually can read French.

Squeeze Breeze Misting Fan

The only catch is that it's battery-operated. Not bad for the price, though. :-)

In the US, those are known as "humidifiers", and they're usually used in the winter. Do you love humidity at this time of year?

Alan, I know what a humidifier is, and I even own a couple of them along with dehumidifiers (and an a/c and fans)! Maybe I love humidity; maybe I don't.

so cute!

i looked at the item on the website, and it looks like you pour the water in to keep the air cold (like a cold water bottle, vs. a hot water bottle), rather than having the water released for misting.

then again, i've never seen this fan in person, nor any misting fan in person. yeah!

From the website:

Ce rafraîchisseur diffuse un souffle d'air frais grâce à ses deux réservoirs d'eau glacée.Le flux d'air est orientable et modulable. Puissance : 40 watts Promotion du 09 juin au 08 juillet 2007.

Two reservoirs of ice water give this unit the ability to blow cool air. Air flow can be angled and modulated.

Power: 40 watts.
On sale from June 9th until July 8th.

My French translation skills are a bit rusty ... my apologies. This doesn't appear to actually act as a humidifier, just as an inexpensive, small air conditioner which uses ice water filled cold packs to chill air.

wow, that reformatted the accents interestingly.

Something like this was selling in Sydney last summer (your winter) except it used ice packs. You could buys spares, so you always had some frozen to use.
I didn't buy it because:
1. I wasn't sure it would actually work and create 'cooler than fan' air
2. It wasn't as hot as the year before when it hit 106F/41C.

Has anyone ever used a fan like the one shown here, or the one I described? Is it cooler than an ordinary fan, please?

Tonight is the longest of the year which means it's almost summer again, so I'd like to know!!
Thanks

e_l, you might be interested to read the comments left by cactus89 about this misting fan, which included saying that the fan was louder than a regular fan, cools for 4 hours but first requires 4-5 hours to freeze the water containers, and does not appear to have a well thought out design.

Interesting and very informative...thanks for that link, avere. I guess I'm a lot like Marlaina--the cute factor sells me easily.