New Misting Fan Offers Relief from the Heat No Matter Which Skil Battery System You Use
So far, only a few brands have jumped on the battery-powered misting fan bandwagon. The latest to the scene is the Skil misting fan, which runs on either PWRCore 12 or PWRCore 20 batteries. Is it the key to a cooler outdoor experience this summer? I’m analyzing this model to see how it stacks up against misting fans from other brands.
Skil Misting Fan Performance
- Model: Skil MF0700D
- Power source: Skil 12V or 20V battery
- Blade size: 7 inches
- Max runtime:
- 12V: 4 hours (low) w/ 2.0Ah battery
- 20V: 6 hours (low) w/ 2.0Ah battery
- Max air volume: 450 CFM
- 3 power modes
- 2 misting modes
- Max water volume: 0.65 GPH
The MF0700D is Skil’s first misting fan. It features the same 7-inch blade size as Skil’s other 12V/20V fan (FN0700D-00), and has three power modes. At high speed, it reaches air volume levels of 450 CFM and airspeeds of up to 13 MPH in the highest setting.
There are also two misting modes, letting you choose how much water output you prefer. On the highest mist setting, it has an output of up to 0.65 GPH (gallons per hour).
Skil tells us that this fan can run for up to 4 hours using a 12V 2.0Ah battery, or up to 6 hours with a 2.0Ah 20V battery.
Skil has been diving into dual-platform tools recently, which is the case with this misting fan. You can use either a 12V or 20V battery, so no matter which Skil cordless system you’re on, it’ll work for you. There are two separate model numbers depending on which battery you want with it, though. The MF0700D-11 comes with a PWRCore 12 battery, and the MF0700D-12 includes a PWRCore 20 battery.
I do wish Skil offered a bare tool version of this tool for those of us who are already invested in one system or the other and don’t need an extra battery. Nevertheless, it’s never a bad idea to cycle new batteries in.
Skil Misting Fan Design
- Onboard water tank
- Adjustable kickstand
- USB-C port on battery
- Carrying handle
- Removable nozzle
- Waterproof battery cover
This fan features an onboard water tank. This is significant, since most misting fans we’ve seen use siphon hoses that pull from outside water sources to produce mist. It’s not the first major-brand player to include this design—that honor goes to Ryobi’s USB Lithium Misting Fan.
However, the Skil MF0700D is quite a bit larger than Ryobi’s 4V model. Skil doesn’t give us an exact tank capacity, but it looks to be around a 1-gallon tank. There are two fill spouts on the tank, letting you fill it either from the top or the front.
There’s also a handle built into the tank for easy transport.
One of my favorite design aspects of this fan is the adjustable kickstand. It allows you to adjust the airflow angle up to 30°, and doubles as extra support on uneven terrain.
The misting nozzle is also unique on this fan. Skil tells us it’s built with a patent-pending design that disassembles for easy maintenance and cleaning. It would be cool to see Skil sell the nozzles as separate accessories with this removable design, so that you could insert a second nozzle while the first is being cleaned, but so far I’m not seeing that as part of their offerings.
How Does it Compare?
While the Skil Misting Fan is more on the compact side compared to some other misting fans we’ve reviewed, I still thought I’d compare them side-by-side to give a clear picture of how it stacks up.
Keep in mind, both models I am comparing against the Skil model require separate water sources to use with their siphon hoses, as they don’t have onboard water tanks. The EGO misting fan is also much larger and has a higher performance level, but I wanted to offer it as another contextual comparison.
| Skil (this model) MF0700D | Ryobi PCL851 | EGO FN1800 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blade Diameter | 7 inches | 7.5 inches | 18 inches |
| Max Airflow | 450 CFM | 670 CFM | 5000 CFM |
| Power Source | 12V/20V battery | 18V One+ battery | EGO 56V battery |
| Runtime | 6 hours | 6.5 hours | 60 hours |
| Onboard Water Tank? | Yes | No, siphon only | No; siphon only |
| Price | $109 kit | $99 kit | $309 (bare) |
Skil Misting Fan Price
The pricing for this fan varies depending on which kit you prefer. If you’d like it bundled with a 2.0Ah 12V battery and charger, you can find it at Lowe’s for $99. For those on the 20V platform, the kit is available at Acme Tools for $109 with a 2.0Ah 20V battery and charger.
No matter which kit you go with, Skil backs your purchase with a 5-year warranty.
Should You Buy It?
Skil’s first misting fan is a win for both PWRCore 12 and PWRCore 20 users. Its onboard tank offers a streamlined and convenient design that doesn’t require you to be near a separate water source like other misting fans on the market. Though its air volume output isn’t the strongest we’ve seen for its class, its all-in-one design is far more convenient when you’re not close to a clean water source.
If you’re after something to keep yourself cool in the summer heat, Skil’s misting fan will do just that. However, for cooling larger areas, consider stepping up to something like EGO’s 18-inch FN1800.
