REASONS TO BUY
Quiet
Filterless
Effective
Compact
Multiple color options
REASONS TO AVOID
Potential issues with motor performance and durability
Light always on
Crane Drop Review
Sleek design, basic features, quiet operation with effective humidity creation
Credit: Abriah Wofford
RELATED: Best Baby Humidifiers
The Skinny
The Crane Drop is a cool-looking compact ultrasonic humidifier with a unique tank shape. This unit has a small design with basic features that make it a simple option that fits almost anywhere. With various available color choices, it can be a nice-looking addition to most nurseries and fun to look at for small children. This unit has a family-friendly price and operates in relative silence, even at high levels. Unfortunately, this product isn't as effective as possible, and the lack of programmability means the humidity levels are harder to control. It is also more challenging to clean with small spaces, and the shape makes it difficult to fill and carry. These aspects make the Crane Drop less desirable than cheaper competitors.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Crane Drop | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  |  |  | ||
| Price | $55 List $49.99 at Amazon | $100 List $91.99 at Amazon | $60 List | $40 List $19.75 at Amazon | $55 List $55.26 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Quiet, filterless, effective, compact, multiple color options | Easier to use, effective, quiet | Budget-friendly, effective, easy to use, cleaning brush included | Price, easy to clean, compact, filterless | Quieter, cute, engaging, multiple animal choices, filterless |
| Cons | Potential issues with motor performance and durability, light always on | Little spendy, somewhat harder to clean | Somewhat louder than average, requires long handle bottle brush, filter | Louder, not as effective, small capacity, frequent refills | Mist output varies by animal, larger footprint, harder to clean |
| Bottom Line | Sleek design, basic features, quiet operation with effective humidity creation | An easy to use, effective, and quiet ultrasonic unit that is somewhat harder to clean than competitors | An impressively effective budget-friendly humidifier that makes a little more noise than the average unit | Compact and easy to clean but not as effective and louder than most | Cutest package with quiet operation and enough mist output for nurseries but harder to clean |
| Rating Categories | Crane Drop | Levoit LV600HH | TaoTronics TT-AH001 | Honeywell HUL520 | Crane Adorable |
| Ease of Cleaning (35%) | |||||
| Effectiveness (35%) | |||||
| Noise (20%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Crane Drop | Levoit LV600HH | TaoTronics TT-AH001 | Honeywell HUL520 | Crane Adorable |
| Mist Type | Cool | Cool and Warm | Cool | Cool | Cool |
| Technology | Ultrasonic | Ultrasonic | Ultrasonic | Ultrasonic | Ultrasonic |
| Tank Capacity | 1 gal | 1.5 gal | 1.1 gal | 0.5 gal | 1 gal |
| Visible Water Reservoir | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Room Humidification Area (Sq Ft) | 500 sq ft | 753 sq ft | 322 sq ft | Small Room | 500 sq ft |
| Max Run Time | Up to 24 hrs | Up to 36 hrs | Up to 30 hrs | Up to 20 hrs | Up to 24 hrs |
| Humidity Output Control | Variable Mist Control | Variable Mist Control Humidistat |
Variable Mist Control Humidistat |
Variable Mist Control | Variable Mist Control |
| Demineralization Cartridge/Filter | Available for Purchase | No | No | No | Available for Purchase |
| Night Light | No | No | Yes | No | No |
| Empty Tank Auto-Shut Off | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions (BGL) | 8.7"W x 13"H x 8.7"L | 7.5"W x 11"H x 11.3"L | 6"W x 9"H x 11.4"L | 8.1"W x 8.8"H x 8.1"L | 9.3"W x 11"H x 9.8"L |
| Empty Weight (BGL) | 2.24 lbs | 5.09 lbs | 1.83 lbs | 2.6 lbs | 4 lbs |
| Max Operation Noise Level in dB (BGL) | <40 db | <40 db | 41.7 db | 45.2 db | 40.2 db |
Show full specification detailsHide full specification details
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Crane company started in 205 with a few designs and continued to add to its collection each year. The company works out of Itasca, Illinois, and is part of the Wachsmuth & Krogmann, Inc (W&K) company. Crane strives to design products that are efficient and stylish with designs that bring a smile to your face. Crane produces humidifiers, air purifiers, fans, and space heaters to increase personal comfort, no matter the climate.
Performance Comparison
You will need a bottle brush or some kind of tool to get the inside of the Drop clean as your hand is unlikely to fit inside.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Cleaning
The base of this unit has only a few small nooks and crannies, which made it relatively easy to clean. However, the water tank presents more of a problem and resulted in the Drop earning a lower score for ease of cleaning.
The lid on the Drop will require a smaller brush to get in all the nooks and crannies.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
The tank opening is too small for hands, and the longer shape makes it challenging to reach the bottom with a standard bottle brush. It does have a minimal number of parts, but keeping the ultrasonic plate clean and free of deposits was difficult and a hit or miss operation that caused a significant drop in mist production if not tended to regularly.
Cleaning the base takes some patience and some smaller brushes to get in the smaller spaces. The manual also has instructions on cleaning more depth.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
We find scraping around the washer increases mist production, but the sensitivity of the ultrasonic plate to cleaning causes concern about the overall longevity of the unit.
This photo shows the dust created by the Drop during a full run until the vessel was empty.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Using filtered water or the accessory filter is highly recommended to reduce minerals and minerals accumulation on surfaces and in the air (aka white dust). The filter (#HS-3161) must be purchased separately. Crane recommends replacing the filter with every 30-40 fillings. Also, they recommend replacement if the humidifier isn't used for an extended period.
The Drop proved to be relatively effective in tests compared to the competition.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Effectiveness
This humidifier produces better mist than some of the competition with a higher than average output. It takes a little longer to get going than similar options, but within the first 14 minutes, it catches up and surpasses the lower-producing machines. Though the size of this unit still makes it best for smaller spaces or right near the crib or bed.
The Drop has a quiet operation compared to the competition with only one option in our tests rating higher.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Noise
This unit is one of the quietest in the group. It is similar to the other Crane we tested and is sure to help little ones stay asleep.
The user interface ON the Drop is straightforward with one dial that turns it on and increases or decreases mist volume.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
The simple design of this humidifier made it easy enough to put together and operate. The single mist jet is easily adjustable to change the direction of the mist, and the continuously variable mist output knob allows for good control over the output. The compact design makes it ideal for placement on a nightstand.
We find the "on" light on the Crane to be distracting at night - and you can't turn it off, but by turning the unit to face the wall, it is less bright.
While there is an obvious handle on the top of the Drop, it also says not to use this grip point as a handle. Wait, what?
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Finally, we were put off by the design of a handle on the tank with a "Do not carry full tank by handle" instruction embossed into the plastic. Although it appears that you can use the handle with an empty tank, we feel that any handle included in the design of a humidifier should be able to support the tank, whether it is empty or full.
Manufacturer Video
—
Wendy Schmitz and the BabyGearLab Review Team
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