Balmuda NatureWind Studio Review: A Better Breeze

Dyson fan It costs around $400, which is to be expected from a brand known for status symbol devices. But what if I told you that there is a fan that costs more?

Although the brand may not be a household name in the United States, Tokyo-based Balmuda is well known in Japan for its sophisticated yet simple devices such as Drink and Toaster (There too the hour, speakerAnd… Teppanyaki). Its latest release, a pedestal-shaped fan, is not called “The Fan” but rather NatureWind Studio. It is priced at $429 and is available in white and black.

The NatureWind Studio looks like a windmill trapped on a wide tripod. It does not include a remote control, any smart features, or compatibility with any app. It has only one purpose: to mimic a natural breeze outdoors. One could argue that most fans can achieve this simply by working at low speed. But the NatureWind Studio’s patented dual-blade design results in a nice, fairly wide output that’s effectively silent.

The Balmuda rates the NatureWind Studio at just 9dB at its lowest settings. I haven’t been able to verify this independently, as the ambient noise level in my home is higher, but I can say that in a silent room, the fan was completely inaudible. That’s impressive, but after using the NatureWind Studio in the middle of my living room for three weeks, I’m not confident its features justify the premium price — especially without the remote.

Built to last

Unlike most The pedestal fans I’m testingwhich typically includes just a base and leg, the NatureWind Studio arrives in multiple pieces. I had to attach the blades to the motor, assemble the protective cover, and slide it onto the sturdy tripod legs. This wasn’t a difficult process, but it took about 20 minutes to make sure everything was connected correctly. However, the advantage of the setup is that I know how to easily disassemble the parts for cleaning – something many pedestal fans miss. Many of the NatureWind Studio’s components, including the blade and motor housing, are made of metal and feel precisely engineered, which is to be expected at this price point but still nice to see.

NatureWind Studio is not a new model for Balmuda; It’s been available in Japan since 2010 (where it’s called “GreenFan Studio”), but is new in the US as of early June. Its defining feature is its dual-blade technology, where the slow-moving inner blade and fast-moving outer blade create a combined airflow meant to feel like — in the words of the marketing materials — “wind through an open window rather than a mechanical fan.”

While the fan’s height isn’t adjustable, and the NatureWind Studio doesn’t have a rechargeable battery for wireless operation, it does have a long, 10-foot fabric-wrapped cord, which has a small hook on the back of the fan’s leg to replicate the extra length.