I remember struggling with stagnant air in my home office, especially during warmer months. Even with central air conditioning, certain rooms just felt stuffy, lacking proper circulation. This problem wasn’t just uncomfortable; it affected my focus during the day and made sleeping difficult at night. Relying solely on AC felt inefficient and expensive, creating cold spots in some areas while leaving others feeling warm and stale. I knew I needed a better way to move air around my home, pushing me to seek out effective cooling solutions, particularly high-performance tower fans like the LASKO Apex Tower Fans.
Key Factors When Selecting a Tower Fan
Before diving headfirst into a purchase, it’s essential to consider what you truly need from an air circulating device. Tower fans excel at providing localized cooling and improving air circulation without taking up much floor space, making them ideal for bedrooms, offices, or living areas where you need a focused breeze or want to supplement existing cooling systems. They’re perfect for individuals who want a quieter alternative to box fans, desire more control over airflow settings, or appreciate features like oscillation and timers. However, if you need to cool a very large, open warehouse-like space or require the drastic temperature drop only an air conditioner can provide, a tower fan alone might not be sufficient. In such cases, a portable AC unit or strategically placed industrial fans might be better alternatives. When choosing a tower fan, think about the size of your room, desired noise level, the range of oscillation you need, available speed and mode settings, whether you want a remote control or timer, and if features like air filtration are important to you.
Introducing the Lasko Apex RST200 Tower Fan
The Lasko Apex Tower Fans Oscillating Quiet 42″ – RST200 is Lasko’s offering designed to bring modern cooling and air circulation into your home with a promise of powerful yet quiet operation. When you purchase the Lasko Apex RST200, you typically receive the fan unit, its base, a remote control, a CarbonX filter, and the necessary manuals. Compared to simpler, older models of tower fans, the Lasko Apex tower fan steps up with features like AIrsense technology, a wider range of speeds (6 vs the usual 3), multiple modes, a digital display, and a filter. This specific model is best suited for someone who wants a feature-rich fan for medium to large rooms, values quiet operation for sleeping or working, and appreciates the convenience of modern controls and potentially cleaner air thanks to the filter. It might not be the best fit if your primary need is a heavy-duty fan for a workshop or a fan that physically cools the air rather than just circulating it powerfully.
Here are some pros and cons I’ve noted from extended use:
Pros:
* Generates powerful airflow that reaches across the room.
* Remarkably quiet, especially at lower to medium speeds.
* Offers a great range of speed and mode options for customization.
* The CarbonX filter is a useful addition for reducing dust and odors.
* Convenient remote control and clear digital display with snooze option.
* Sleek, modern design that fits well in most rooms.
* Easy and quick assembly process.
Cons:
* The lowest speed setting is very subtle, almost imperceptible air movement.
* Accessing and manipulating the filter housing can be a bit finicky initially.
* While stable enough for normal use, it feels like it could potentially tip if heavily bumped.
* The 90° oscillation range, while wide, isn’t as extensive as some fans on the market.
Exploring the Lasko Apex RST200’s Capabilities
After living with the Lasko Apex RST200 for a good amount of time, I’ve come to appreciate its design and performance on a deeper level. It’s more than just a motor and blades in a tower; it’s packed with features that genuinely enhance comfort.
Powerful Airflow and Wide Oscillation
One of the standout features is the air movement. Lasko states it pushes air at 29 ft/s, and while I haven’t measured it precisely, I can tell you that on higher settings (4-6), you absolutely feel a substantial breeze across a typical bedroom or living room. It effectively tackles stuffiness, creating a noticeable circulation that makes the room feel fresher and cooler. The 90° oscillation sweeps across a good portion of the room, ensuring the moving air isn’t just hitting one spot. This wide sweep is crucial for circulating air from one side of a room to another or pushing air through a doorway. It prevents that stagnant feeling that comes from stationary fans and ensures everyone in a shared space can benefit from the breeze. This combination of powerful airflow and oscillation makes it an effective floor fan for general room cooling and circulation.
Whisper-Quiet Operation
Lasko advertises this fan as operating as quietly as 28 dB. In practice, this means that on speeds 1 through 3, it’s incredibly quiet. In fact, on speed 1, you have to be quite close to even hear it. This is a game-changer for bedroom use. I’m someone who is easily disturbed by noise at night, and this fan on a low setting provides just enough air movement without being intrusive. On higher speeds (4-6), the sound increases, but it’s still more of a smooth whoosh of air than a rattling or buzzing noise you get from cheaper fans. Even on speed 6, I find it provides a consistent, non-obnoxious white noise that some people find helpful for sleep. If you’re looking for genuinely quiet fans for bedroom use, the Lasko Apex Tower Fans deliver.
Advanced Air Filtration
The inclusion of a Carbon X Filtration system is a thoughtful touch, especially for pet owners or those prone to allergies. While it’s not a true HEPA filter designed to catch microscopic particles, it’s effective at trapping larger dust bunnies and pet hair that would otherwise get drawn directly into the fan’s motor and redistributed or clog the fan. I’ve noticed less ‘floof’ accumulating around the fan intake since using it. The carbon element is also meant to help with odors, which is a nice bonus. Accessing the filter cage for cleaning or replacement is done by detaching a panel on the back. As mentioned in the cons, this was a little tricky the first time until I figured out the tabs, but once you know how it works, it’s manageable. It’s great having a tower fan with a remote that also attempts to improve air quality slightly.
Intelligent AirSense Technology
The AirSense AI technology is an interesting feature. It’s designed to automatically adjust the fan speed based on the room’s temperature, which is displayed on the unit. The idea is that the fan will ramp up when the room gets warmer and slow down as it cools. In my experience, this works reasonably well, providing a set-it-and-forget-it mode if you trust the fan to manage the temperature fluctuations. The built-in thermostat seems reasonably accurate, often matching my home’s main thermostat reading. It’s a good option for maintaining a comfortable environment without constant manual adjustments. It adds a layer of ‘smart’ functionality that wasn’t present in my older room fan models.
Flexible Cooling with Multiple Speeds and Modes
Having 6 fan speeds instead of the standard 3 makes a significant difference in finding the *perfect* level of airflow and corresponding noise. Speed 1 is barely a whisper of air, useful if you just want the display on or minimal circulation. Speed 4 is often my sweet spot – a noticeable breeze that’s still relatively quiet. Speed 6 is powerful but louder. Beyond speeds, there are 4 distinct modes, including a Sleep mode (which typically lowers speed over time), and potentially other modes like Breeze (mimics natural wind) or Auto (AirSense). This versatility ensures the cooling fan for room use can be tailored precisely to your needs, whether you want maximum power during the day or quiet comfort at night. The wide selection means you’re not stuck between “too little” and “too much” airflow.
Convenient Digital Controls and Remote
The digital display on top of the fan is clear and easy to read, showing the current speed, mode, timer setting, and even the room temperature. The buttons on the unit are responsive. However, the real convenience comes from the included remote control. It allows you to access all features – power, speed, mode, oscillation, timer, and importantly, the screen snooze function – from across the room. This is invaluable, especially if you’re using it in a bedroom at night. The ability to turn the display lights off completely is a crucial feature for light sleepers, ensuring the bright digital readout doesn’t disturb your rest. The remote even has a little storage slot on the back of the fan, which is a simple but helpful detail. Having full control via remote control makes adjusting settings effortless.
Sleek Design and Easy Setup
Standing at 42 inches tall with a relatively slim profile, the Lasko Apex Tower Fans fit well into modern home aesthetics and don’t demand a large footprint. The black color is classic and unobtrusive. Assembly was incredibly simple – essentially just attaching the base to the main tower unit, which takes mere minutes. The power cord is a decent length, offering some flexibility in placement. While I did note that the base feels like it could potentially tip if significantly jostled, for normal placement in a room away from high traffic or playful pets/children, it feels stable enough. Its design makes it suitable for various room types, from living rooms to floor fans for home bedroom use.
What Others Are Saying About the Lasko Apex
I took some time to look at what other users thought about the Lasko Apex RST200 online, and the feedback aligns closely with my own experience. Many users highlighted the straightforward assembly process and appreciated the convenience of the remote control. The quiet operation, particularly at lower speeds, was a frequent positive point, with people finding it ideal for sleeping or working without distraction. The included carbon filter for dust and pet hair was also appreciated by many, seen as a beneficial feature for improving air quality slightly. While a few noted that accessing the filter housing could be a bit finicky initially and some felt the oscillation range wasn’t as wide as expected, the overall sentiment regarding the fan’s performance, powerful airflow on higher settings, useful features like the temperature display and screen snooze, and overall quietness was overwhelmingly positive. Users generally found it to be a reliable and effective tower fan.
Final Verdict: Is the Lasko Apex Right for You?
Dealing with stuffy, poorly circulated air can significantly detract from your comfort at home, impacting everything from your ability to relax to getting a good night’s sleep. Ignoring this problem means settling for discomfort and potentially higher energy bills if you rely solely on AC. The Lasko Apex Tower Fans Oscillating Quiet 42″ – RST200 stands out as a great solution. Its blend of powerful airflow and genuinely quiet operation means you get effective cooling without intrusive noise. The wealth of features – from the intelligent AirSense technology and multiple speed/mode options to the convenient remote and useful air filter – offers excellent versatility and control. If you’re ready to improve the air quality and comfort in your rooms with a reliable, feature-packed, and relatively quiet floor fan, the Lasko Apex RST200 is definitely worth considering. To learn more about the Lasko Apex RST200 and see if it’s the right fit for your home, click here to check the product out.