The Best Camping Fridge: A Complete Guide

An ARB fridge freezer is a great choice if you’re serious about spending time outdoors.

This ARB refrigerator freezer is good quality and comes in various sizes, from 36 to 101 quarts. It is a 12v camping fridge freezer with a super tough outer to cope with all conditions. There is even a USB outlet so you can charge your phone, while bluetooth means it can also be controlled via portable devices.

A removable internal basket system provides versatility, and the product can accommodate even tall items like large bottles. 

Pros:

• Cools down really quickly
• The removable divider gives flexibility
• Good power consumption, so it lasts a long time on a generator

Cons:

• The app isn’t that great (it’s adequate, though)

If you’d like to find a solar powered fridge for camping, then take a look at this LiON small portable refrigerator freezer.

It comes complete with a rechargeable battery that can be powered via a 12v DC adaptor, 120v AC or a 12-36v solar panel. Ice is not required and it has a 13 gallon capacity.

It’s also very portable. With a telescopic handle and strong wheels, this travel refrigerator with freezer bears some resemblance to a wheeled suitcase. There is also a digital smart panel control system. 

Pros:

• Good energy efficiency
• Lightweight for its size
• Lots of charging options

Cons:

• A little ‘plasticky’

Looking for a Whynter refrigerator and freezer? This one is our top pick in terms of portability – and it attracts great reviews too.

With a 34 quart capacity, the ‘fast freeze’ mode cools food quickly to -8°F. The clever controls on this small portable freezer and cooler mean it can be connected to both AC and DC power at once. It will then prioritize AC, but if this fails will switch to DC for its power supply.

There is a useful low power indicator, as well as removable baskets for organizing your fresh produce.  

Pros:

• Good energy consumption
• Gets really cold and holds the temperature you set
• Pretty quiet

Cons:

• Quite heavy

This electric camping cooler from Setpower is compact, affordable, portable and practical.

It can be used as a 12v portable fridge freezer, or powered via the mains. A compressor means it’s efficient, and users can choose between max and eco modes as they wish.

This fridge freezer comes with the back-up of a year’s warranty – with 2 years for the compressor. An LED light and removable baskets make it easy to find what you want, even at night. To cap it all, an anti-tip design means that even bumpy roads are not a problem. 

Pros:

• Quiet
• Gets really cold and keeps temperature well
• Sturdy

Cons:

• Doesn’t come in really big sizes

This Euhomy product is one of the best 12v fridge freezer models around. It is divided into 2 sections – a 45-liter freezer and a 10-liter fridge.

In addition to camping, it can also be used in the home or car, and has 3 settings so you can protect your vehicle’s battery. A non-slip base, smooth finish and handle mean it’s easy to take with you whenever you head off for the weekend.

It can be controlled remotely via bluetooth and also has an LCD touch screen. This product features low energy consumption and runs with minimal noise. 

Pros:

• Good capacity/ size
• Gets cold quickly and stays that way
• Can be used as a fridge or freezer
• Low energy usage

Cons:

• No drain hole at the bottom to let excess or spilled liquid out

A Dometic 12v fridge is another popular option. This trusted brand also offers several size options, so you can choose whether to prioritize space or size and weight. Removable baskets make the interior easy to organize, and you can see your way thanks to an LED light.

Modern technology includes WiFi connectivity and a USB port. This Dometic camping fridge has 2 compartments which can be set up as 2 fridges, 2 freezers or a fridge freezer as required. 

Pros:

• Very quiet
• Cools quickly and stays cool
• Flexible options for fridge/ freezer

Cons:

• App can be a bit glitchy

If you want something compact, then this Alpicool mini portable fridge freezer might just tick your boxes.

A key feature of this battery powered mini fridge is that it has 3 levels of operation – low, medium or high. This can be used to preserve your vehicle’s battery power.

Shaped like a cool box, it’s one of the top options for those seeking a small portable fridge freezer for camping. No ice is needed for freezing, either. This lightweight, durable mobile fridge can be taken just about anywhere. 

Pros:

• Low power usage
• Gets cold quickly
• Good value for money

Cons:

• The settings are a bit fiddly to work out and monitor

An Engel freezer and fridge is also a top choice. This three-way fridge for camping features tri-voltage, and uses AC or DC power with AC being given priority. Its compressor is efficient and whisper-quiet as well as highly vibration resistant.

This 12 volt compressor refrigerator has a top opening and removable baskets to place inside for sorting. Strong handles on each side also help to make this one of the best mini portable refrigerator cooler options on the market. It comes with a two-year warranty. 

Pros:

• Keeps temperature really well
• Durable
• Quiet

Cons:

• The latches aren’t the same great quality as the rest of it

AstroAl products are also popular with campers. This is designed as a car cooler, so it’s smaller, but also can plug into your car’s cigarette lighter. It’s therefore a very portable fridge cooler, but can also be used as a travel freezer.

The powerful compressor means it can cool to the lowest possible temperature in just an hour. There are three battery protection levels to stop your vehicle’s battery from running too low, while a USB port means you can charge a smartphone from it.

A 1-year warranty comes with this one and the LED display panel lets you keep an eye on things.  

Pros:

• Very portable
• Versatile charging options
• Easy to use

Cons:

• Not as quiet as other options

Our final pick is this cost-conscious product from Costway. Its efficiency means it’s also kinder to the environment.

Capable of chilling up to 18 bottles of wine, this camping mini fridge produces a lower level of noise while operating. Dual handles make it easy to transport and store.

There is a control panel so you can set the temperature and 3 modes mean you can protect your car battery.  The shock-proof design also means it can ably cope with rugged or uneven terrain. 

Pros:

• Quiet
• Good power usage for its size
• Good price

Cons:

• Doesn’t have separate controls for the two sections

• Best Portable Solar Panels for Camping
• Best Generators for Camping
• Best Dutch Ovens for Camping
• Best 4-Person Tents
• Best 6–Person Tents
• Best 8-Person Tents
• Best Truck Tents
• Best Yeti Coolers for Camping
• Best Large Tents for Camping 
• Best Portable Hot Water Showers 

• Best Tents for Beach Camping
• Best Winter Tent With Stove Jack
• Best Tent Stove
• Best Air Mattress for Camping
• Best Tent Heater
• Best Tent Fans
• Best RV Generators
• Best String Lights for Camping
• Best Solar Lights for Camping
• Best Portable Air Conditioner for Tent Camping

• Other Travel Products    

James Ian has dedicated his life to travel and has traveled to 82 countries and all 7 continents.  He’s visited all of the main national parks in the United States, as well as many national monuments and state parks.

As a national park expert, James has contributed to many publications, including Time Business News, Savoteur, and Wired. He also has several published detailed itineraries in addition to many free online guides.

James has rafted through the Grand Canyon; rappelled down slot canyons near Zion and Arches; hiked among the hoodoos in Bryce and the enormous trees in Sequoia; admired the waterfalls in Yosemite and the colored hot springs in Yellowstone; seen moose in Grand Tetons and seals in the Channel Islands, and much more.

Read more…