Crane Drop Review
Pros: Inexpensive
Cons: Not suitable for larger rooms
Manufacturer: Crane
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Crane Drop | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  | |  | |
| Price | $55 List $39.98 at Amazon | $90 List $79.99 at Amazon | $40 List $35.49 at Amazon | $40 List $41 at Amazon | $75 List |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Inexpensive | Powerful, accurate humidistat prevents over-humidification, convenient remote control, easy to clean | Exceptional output, low lifetime operating costs | Inexpensive, easy to clean, easy to use | Easy to clean, self-regulating evaporative humidifying |
| Cons | Not suitable for larger rooms | Somewhat on the expensive side | Confusing user interface, prolonged cleaning process | Not the most powerful, no advanced features | Requires replacement filters, filter can get moldy if left unattended for too long |
| Bottom Line | A decent choice for small bedrooms, but there are better options in the same price range | A powerful model with all the bells and whistles you could want, perfect for those looking for high-end performance | With excellent performance ratings and low operating costs, this is one of our favorite models | The perfect budget model for smaller (<150 square foot) rooms | This is a good choice if you appreciate the simplicity of evaporative humidifying |
| Rating Categories | Crane Drop | Levoit LV600HH | Levoit Classic 200 | Honeywell HUL520B | Honeywell HCM-350 |
| Humidifying Performance (35%) | |||||
| Ease Of Cleaning (35%) | |||||
| User Friendliness (15%) | |||||
| Operating Cost (15%) | |||||
| Specs | Crane Drop | Levoit LV600HH | Levoit Classic 200 | Honeywell HUL520B | Honeywell HCM-350 |
| Weight | 4.5 lbs | 4.9 lbs | 3.5 lbs | 3.0 lbs | 9.6 lbs |
| Dimensions | 8.6" x 13.4" x 8.6" | 11.3" x 7" x 10.5" | 13.8" x 7.8" x 5.8" | 8.5" x 8.5" x 9.5" | 18.6" x 10.4" x 13" |
| Tank Capacity | 1.0 gallons | 1.6 gallons | 1.1 gallons | 0.5 gallons | 1.0 gallons |
| Humidification Technology | Ultrasonic | Ultrasonic | Ultrasonic | Ultrasonic | Evaporative |
| Estimated Lifetime Cost | $108 | $159 | $99 | $56 | $203 |
| Estimated Annual Electricity Usage | 87.6 kWh | 65.7 kWh | 87.6 kWh | 43.8 kWh | 87.6 kWh |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Crane Drop performs well as a humidifier for small rooms (100 square feet or less), but in that capacity, it is outclassed at almost every turn by other similarly-priced options.
Performance Comparison
Humidifying Performance
The Crane Drop earned an average score in our humidifying testing, which is quite respectable for a humidifier of this size. It took 1 hour and 45 minutes for this model to bring our testing room to 45% humidity and topped out at a humidity of 51.2%. This makes it just slightly more powerful than a few other budget-oriented models, but the differences are likely negligible and would be hard to differentiate without a fancy humidity meter. This model is suitable for small bedrooms, or even a larger bedroom if you don't mind turning the humidifier on a couple of hours before bedtime.
Ease of Cleaning
The Crane Drop is small enough that there isn't too much area to scrub, but it can sometimes be a bit tricky to get all the nooks and crannies. In the end, it earned another average score in this metric. The water tank's opening is 2 inches wide, which can make access a bit difficult. You'll definitely need a long-handled brush to reach every part of the tank. Apart from that, cleaning is fairly easy. The instruction manual calls for a half-hour soak in a white vinegar solution, and many of the harder-to-clean components are dishwasher safe. We spent 15 minutes getting this machine completely clean (not including soaking time), which was on par with most other models.
User Friendliness
The Crane Drop was again an average performer in this metric. It has a simple, single-knob control panel that lets you turn the unit on and select a mist level. The tank opening is only 2 inches wide and the tank is somewhat tall, so it may not fit in shorter sinks.
Operating Cost
The Crane Drop is quite economical and earned a higher score in our operating cost testing. It actually uses a decent amount of electricity for a humidifier (0.02kWh per hour) but its inexpensive list price led to a low estimated lifetime cost of just $108.
Value
The Crane Drop is a fairly high-performing humidifier considering its tiny stature. However, its average list price and average performance can't compare with other models that have similar or lower prices with much better overall performance.
Conclusion
The Crane Drop is a fairly good, low-cost humidifier, but if you're looking for a budget option, there are other models that are superior.
— Max Mutter and Steven Tata