Play it cool: 7 compact coolers tested

You don’t need a 4×4 to own a travel fridge. We tested seven coolers small enough to fit on the back seat of a VW Polo, to see which ones could take the heat.

Also read: The cooler box ice test

Fridge facts & figures

Before you buy, consider your needs. Are you going camping for a week in Namibia where it’s necessary to keep meet frozen for a week in the bundu? Or are you road tripping down to Cape Town and just want a cold coke and frikkadel on the way?

• A thermoelectric cooler will do the trick for a road trip, a picnic in the Pilanesberg or a short self-catering weekend break. They work using a fan to keep the interior a couple of degrees cooler than the temperature outside.
• A compressor-driven fridge on the other hand can freeze items because they use a motor to keep temperatures down. These are the fridges you want for that 4X4 trip to Kaokoland, but they’ll put a dent in the holiday budget.

Test Conditions

We conducted five tests replicating holiday conditions to suss out the abilities of these compact coolers. In each, the coolers were simultaneously plugged into electric ports and run in the same place under the same room temperature conditions.

Test 1: Snowflake test

Two Castle Lite beers were placed into each of the coolers. One beer was opened in order to place a thermometer inside and read the temperature of the beer at regular intervals; all beers read 19°C when the test kicked off. The second beer remained sealed and was monitored to see when the snowflake temperature indicator activated (or changed colour from white to blue).

Test 2: Time vs. temperature test

The fridges were set to 0°C if possible or simply switched on simultaneously. Readings were taken every half hour for five hours until a constant temperature was reached.

Test 3: Chicken test

After the snowflake test finished and the fridges reached constant freezing temperature (0°C), a packet of frozen chicken drumsticks was placed in each cooler. Where possible, coolers were set to their lowest possible temperature. After ten hours the packs were checked for evidence of defrosting, and again after another 10 hours.

Test 4: Packing test

A two-litre Coca-Cola bottle was placed in the cooler to ascertain packing height. The remainder of the space was filled with coke, wine bottles and 330ml cans.

Test 5: Insulation test

The fridges were turned off (temperature measured first) for 15 hours with the lids left closed overnight. Room temperature measured 20°C.

Thermoelectric coolers

1. Mobicool P24 AC/DC Thermoelectric Cooler

R1 199, capeunionmart.co.za and takealot.com

Capacity: 24 litres
External packing dimensions: (Length x Breadth x Height) 390mm x 280mm x 420mm
Power options: 12-volt (12V) system that plugs into cigarette lighter and an inverter for use indoors
Claims: Cooling to a maximum of 18°C below ambient temperature

Pros

• At 3.9kgs, it’s the most lightweight cooler featured here
• Most compact thermoelectric cooler in terms of packing size
• Has great interior packing dimensions fitting two upright two-litre bottles and 20 cans

Cons

• Didn’t quite maintain it’s cooling claims of reaching 15°C below ambient temperature

Test results

Snowflake test: Snowflake activated after 4.5 hours
Time vs temperature: 9°C
Chicken test: Completely defrosted after 20 hours
Packing test: Fits two two-litre bottles standing upright and 20 330ml cans or, minus the bottles, 29 330ml cans
Insulation test: The chicken was warm after 15-hours in the unit with the power turned off and the temperature rose 14°C

2. Camp Master 24-litre Thermoelectric Car Cooler/Warmer

R799, makro.co.za

Capacity: 24 litres
External packing dimensions: 423mm x 313mm x 425mm
Power options: 12-volt (12V AC) system that plugs into cigarette lighter and inverter for use indoors is available as an accessory for R249
Claims: Cools up to 16°C below ambient temperature; fits 30×330#ml cans and 2×2-litre bottles

Pros

• Best cooling ability taking 3.5 hours to activate the Castle Lite Snowflake and reaching a constant low of 7°C
• Best price featured here
• Comfortable carry handle with finger ridges and long cord
• One year warranty
• Maintains its claim cooling to 16°C below ambient temperature

Cons

• At an ambient temperature of 40°C on a summer day in Kruger the cooler will only cool to 24°C, which means very warm beers
• Interior packing dimensions aren’t as good as the other thermoelectric coolers featured here fitting two upright two-litre bottles with only 12 cans
• Poorest insulation ability

Test results

Snowflake test: Snowflake activated after 3.5 hours
Time vs temperature: 7°C
Chicken test: Completely defrosted after 20 hours
Packing test: Fits two two-litre bottles standing upright and 12 330ml cans or, without bottles 30 330ml cans
Insulation test: The chicken was warm after 15 hours in the unit with the power turned off and the temperature rose 14.5°C

3. Natural Instincts 25-litre Thermoelectric Car Cooler/Warmer

R990, outdoorwarehouse.co.za

Capacity: 25 litres
External packing dimensions: 401mm x 297mm x 440mm
Power options: 12-volt (12V) system that plugs into cigarette lighter only
Claims: Cools to between 18°C and 20°C below ambient temperature and heats up to 55°C

Pros

• Long 2.4-metre power cable
• Best thermoelectric cooler insulation ability as temperature rose only 12°C after 15-hours of no power
• Great packing dimensions for it’s capacity – it’s got space for three extra beers despite having just a 200mm extra external packing height on the 24-litre Camp Master

Cons

• Only has a six-month warranty
• According to manual, only operational in ambient temperatures up to 32°C
• It took over six hours to activate the Caste Lite Snowflake
• Reached a low of only 10°C after six hours and didn’t quite live up to its claim of cooling between 18°C and 20°C below ambient temperature as it only managed 14°C

Test results

Snowflake test: Snowflake activated after 6 hours
Time vs temperature: 10°C
Chicken test: Fully defrosted after 20 hours
Packing test: Fits two two-litre bottles standing upright and 23 330ml cans or, without bottles 36 cans
Insulation test: The chicken was warm after 15 hours with the power turned off and the temperature rose 12°C

Compressor Coolers

4. Engel 21-litre Chest Fridge/Freezer

R6 595, 4x4megaworld.co.za

Capacity: 21 litres
External packing dimensions: 538mm x 306mm x 462mm
Power options: 12V system that plugs into cigarette lighter and a 240V option for use indoors
Claims: Temperature range from 5°C to -15°C and fits 29 x 275ml cans

Pros

• Speediest cooling ability taking just 1h30 to activate the Castle Lite Snowflake and reaching its lowest constant temperature the quickest
• Good reputation
• Three-year warranty
• Sturdy carry handles
• Removable basket

Cons

• The temperature gauge works on levels from one to five so there’s no fine temperature adjustment
• Can either be used as fridge or freezer, not both because there are no separate compartments
• No internal light
• Have to force two-litre bottles in side by side

Test results

Snowflake test: Snowflake activated after 1.5 hours
Time vs temperature: -3°C
Chicken test: Still frozen after 20 hours
Packing test: Had to force them in, but two two-litre bottles fit in side by side with 18 330ml cans OR 36 cans
Insulation test: Chicken was defrosted after 15-hours but still cold to the touch and temperature rose 16°C

5. ARB 35-litre Fridge/Freezer

R8 395, 4x4megaworld.co.za

Capacity: 35 litres (the smallest ARB has to offer)
External packing dimensions: 705mm x 285mm x 428mm
Power options: 12V system that plugs into cigarette lighter and a 240V option for use indoors
Claims: Cooling from 10°C to -18°C

Pros

• Best insulation ability of the compressor fridges featured here
• Removable basket
• Recessed carry handles for easy packing
• Drain plug for easy cleaning
• Interior light
• Digital thermostat so you can finely adjust your fridge to the desired degree
• Separate fridge and freeze compartments
• Three year warranty

Cons

• The biggest and heaviest fridge here at 20.7kg
• Doesn’t fit two-litre bottles upright, but does have enough height for 750ml wine bottles
• Priciest fridge here, but considering the bigger size, it’s understandable

Test results

Snowflake test: Snowflake activated after 1.5 hours
Time vs temperature: 4°C
Chicken test: Still frozen after 20 hours
Packing test: Two-litre bottles don’t fit upright but does have enough height for 750ml wine bottles. Without bottles, fits 46 330ml cans
Insulation test: Chicken was defrosted after 15 hours but still cold to the touch and temperature rose 15°C

6. Snomaster 11-litre Console Fridge

R5 000, snomaster.co.za

Capacity: 11 litres
External packing dimensions: 515mm x 185mm x 400mm
Power options: 12V system that plugs into cigarette lighter and inverter for use indoors is available as an accessory
Claims: Temperature range from 10°C to -18°C

Pros

• The most compact size compressor fridge featured here (can fit on the floor between the back and front seat)
• Fits an impressive amount for small 11-litre capacity: one upright two-litre bottle and eight cans
• Interior light
• Digital thermostat so you can finely adjust your fridge to the desired degree
• Separate fridge and freezer areas
• Three-year warranty on compressor and one year warranty on electronics

Cons

• It took the longest to activate the Castle Lite Snowflake and reach a low constant temperature of 7°C (despite being set to 0°C)
• It’s pricey for its size (considering you can buy the Engel which is double the size and costs R1000 more)

Test results

Snowflake test: Snowflake activated after 3.5 hours
Time vs temperature: 7°C
Chicken test: Still frozen after 20 hours
Packing test: Fits one upright two-litre bottle and eight 330ml cans or, without bottles, 16 cans
Insulation test: Chicken completely defrosted after 15 hours but still cold to the touch and temperature rose 15°C

7. IndelB 31-litre Travel Box

R5 750, nationalluna.com or frontrunner.co.za

Capacity: 31 litres
External packing dimensions: 585mm x 345mm x 375mm
Power options: 12V system that plugs into cigarette lighter and a 220V option for use indoors
Claims: Temperature ranges from 10°C to -30°C

Pros

• Best insulation ability of the compressor fridges featured here
• Best temperature range with a low of -30°C
• Great internal packing dimensions fitting 45 x 330ml cans (one less than the ARB despite it having 5-litres of extra volume)
• Digital thermostat so you can finely adjust your fridge to the desired degree
• Energy-saving function
• Internal light
• Three-year warranty

Cons

• Doesn’t fit upright two-litre bottles but does have enough height for 750ml wine bottles

Test results

Snowflake test: Snowflake activated after 1.5 hours
Time vs temperature: 3°C
Chicken test: Still frozen after 20 hours
Packing test: Doesn’t fit two-litre bottles upright but does accommodate 750ml wine bottles. Without bottles, fits 45 cans
Insulation test: Chicken completely defrosted after 15 hours but still cold to the touch and temperature rose 12°C

Quick comparison charts

Beer temperature test graph

Vertical axis = degrees Celsius
Horizontal axis = time elapsed in half hour intervals

Two-litre Coke Bottle packing Test

Vertical axis = number of 330ml cans/ number of two-litre bottles

Related Posts

Trialed and tested: our top camping chairs

3 August 2022

Nothing ruins sundowners or fireside chats like the lack of a camping chair. We scoured... read more

Now this is the (van) life – nomads who live on the road

19 August 2021

Can anything quite compare to the freedom of having all your needs behind you and... read more

Hiking gear that won’t break the bank

7 April 2021

It’s no secret that expensive hiking gear usually means lower weight, higher quality and a... read more