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
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