Do you want to enjoy the ice cream during camping or a picnic? In the forest, how can I enjoy the ice cream?

The answer is very simple. If you have the best portable freezers, then you can enjoy an ice cream at any time.

During the long journey in the car, other than a cold drink, ice cream is the basic essential snack.

If you are traveling by your RV or camping van, I think the freezer is the basic equipment during the long journey because it can keep the food longer.

In the market, there are so many different brands and different sizes.

How can I choose the best one for my family?

If you are new or want to change a new one, please read How To Choose The Best Portable Freezers to know more about the different aspects of portable freezers.

I believe you will get more ideas about that.

Out of the options below, my #1 choice is Dometic CFX 65W Black/Gray 12V Electric Powered Portable Cooler (Fridge Freezer) because it features a digital control panel, high-performance compressor, two compartments, and interior light.

Table Of Content

  1. Dometic CFX 100W Black/Gray CFX 100W 12V Electric Powered Portable Cooler (Fridge Freezer) – [THE MOST EXPENSIVE]
  2. Dometic CFX 65W Black/Gray 12V Electric Powered Portable Cooler (Fridge Freezer) – [TOP PICK]
  3. Dometic CFX-65DZ Portable Electric Cooler Refrigerator/Freezer – [EDITOR CHOICE]
  4. Alpicool CX30 Portable Refrigerator 32 Quart(30 Liter) with Trolley – [EDITOR CHOICE]
  5. Alpicool C20 Portable Refrigerator 21 Quart(20 Liter) – [BUDGET PRODUCT]
  6. Whynter FM-45G 45-Quart Portable Refrigerator/Freezer
  7. Whynter FM-65G 65-Quart Portable Refrigerator/Freezer
  8. COSTWAY 54 Quart Portable Refrigerator/Freezer
  9. Whynter FM-62DZ 62 Quart Dual Zone Portable Fridge/Freezers
  10. Dometic CF-018DC Portable Freezer/Refrigerator Personal Size
  11. Engel AC/DC Portable Tri-Voltage Fridge/Freezer w/ABS Plastic Shell
  12. Whynter FM-85G 85-Quart Portable Refrigerator/Freezer
  13. EdgeStar FP630 Portable Refrigerator or Freezer
  14. Engel AC/DC Portable Tri-Voltage Fridge/Freezer
  15. Dometic CDF11 CDF11-DC-A Portable Refrigerator/Freezer
  16. How To Choose The Best Portable Freezers
  17. The Difference Between Semiconductor Freezer And Compressor Freezer
  18. How To Use The Portable Freezers?
  19. Where Can You Place?
  20. Attentions
  21. Conclusion

Best Portable Freezers

Dometic CFX 100W Black/Gray CFX 100W 12V Electric Powered Portable Cooler (Fridge Freezer)


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[THE MOST EXPENSIVE] This is Dometic Portable Cooler (Fridge Freezer) with 88-L capacity and weighs 70.5 pounds. It measures 37.7 x 20.8 x 18.6 inches.

The capacity of this fridge is quite big.

88L capacity is big enough to hold 146 cans at one time.

If your whole family goes camping for a few days, I think it still unable to finish the 146 cans. It’s really big.

Similarly, you can adjust the temperature on the digital control panel.

The lowest temperature you can adjust is -7 degrees F.

Just simply press the set button and press the – or + to adjust.

At the same time, the digital display will show you the temperature.

After the temperature is set and wait for a few seconds, the digital display will show the current cooling temperature.

If you don’t want to press the button every time you want to adjust the temperature, you can adjust it via the app.

you can also monitor the cooling temperature at any time as well. Just simply lay on the bed and pick up the phone.

If you like high-tech thing, I think you would like the design.

It comes with one big basket and one small basket.

In the big basket, there are 2 dividers that enable you to keep the thing separate.

If you want to hold some large thing, just simply remove the divider.

On the bottom, it has a drain plug. This design is very useful when you use water to clean the fridge.

When you open the lid, the LED interior light will turn on automatically to illuminate inside.

This feature is especially useful when you are camping.

This fridge is very heavy. I think it’s impossible to carry by just one person. Always carry it with 2 strong men.

Dometic CFX 65W Black/Gray 12V Electric Powered Portable Cooler (Fridge Freezer)


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[TOP PICK] This is Dometic Portable Cooler (Fridge Freezer) with a 60-liter capacity and weighs 51.2 pounds. It measures 28.5 x 17.9 x 22 inches.

There is a digital control panel on the side. The left one is an on/off button.

Hold the button for few seconds to turn it on and off.

The 2 buttons on the right use to adjust the temperature.

With the high-performance compressor, you can adjust the temperature to -7 degrees.

It’s cold enough to store the ice cream.

No matter where you go such as a picnic or camping, you still can enjoy the ice cream.

The interior has two compartments.

The bigger one is the freezer. The small one can use as a fridge.

If you don’t want food such as egg or water to become ice, you can put it in this compartment.

The freezer compartment comes with a removable basket.

You can take it out at any time to clean the fridge.

There is a removable divider in the middle of the basket for you to keep things separated.

The 60L capacity is enough to hold 106 cans at one time. It’s enough to drink for a few days for family use.

On the bottom, it has a little bung.

You can take it away when you need to drain the fridge for cleaning.

It enables you to clean the interior with a little amount of water directly. This is much better than just use a damp cloth.

When you open the lid, the light will turn on automatically to illuminate the inside of the fridge.

It’s convenient when you use it outside at night.

On both sides, it comes with strong handles.

Both the handles are removable for special use.

Four corners of the fridge are reinforced for heavy-duty use.

This model can be controlled by the Wi-Fi app.

If you go camping, you can adjust the setting via the mobile app at any time so you can enjoy the beautiful night view longer.

Dometic CFX-65DZ Portable Electric Cooler Refrigerator/Freezer


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[EDITOR CHOICE] This is Dometic Portable Electric Cooler Refrigerator/Freezer with 2.2 cu.Ft. capacity and weighs 49.2 pounds. It measures 28.5 x 17.9 x 22.1 inches.

The digital control panel is very simple. It has 4 buttons only.

The on/off button is used to turn the fridge on and off.

The set button uses to adjust the temperature.

When you press it, you can adjust the temperature by pressing the – or + button on the right.

The middle digital display will show you the temperature at the same time. You can set the temperature from -8 degrees F to 50 degrees F.

After a few seconds, the digital display will show you the current temperature of the fridge.

The lid is detachable and reversible.

You can remove it to wash at any time and reverse it to accommodate the different environments to open either left or right.

There are 2 compartments to store your things.

In the freezer compartment, it includes a removable basket with the removable basket that keeps your things separated.

The small compartment uses to store something that needn’t have to become ice such as fruit or some medicines.

There are 2 drop-down carry handles.

When you need to use it, just take it up. Drop down to save space after use.

The fridge body comes with a USB for you to charge your phone, camera, or other devices if your car doesn’t have an extra place to charge.

Both the AC and DC power cords are included.

You can not only use it in the car but also can use it at home.

If you want extra space to freeze more food or have a party, you can use this fridge as well.

Alpicool CX30 Portable Refrigerator 32 Quart(30 Liter) with Trolley


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[EDITOR CHOICE] This is Alpicool Portable Refrigerator with a 32-quart capacity and weighs 25.6 pounds. It measures 23.1 x 14.9 x 14.4 inches.

The control panel is on the top. It also has 4 buttons.

Turn the fridge on with the on/off button.

If you want to adjust the temperature, press the up arrow and down arrow buttons.

The middle digital display will show you the temperature at the same time. You can chill the food or drinks down to -4 degrees F.

It features a trolley design. That means the fridge has a heavy-duty handle and 2 wheels.

You can transport it easily anywhere no matter on the beach or walk along the slope.

On both sides, it also comes with big durable handles. You can use it to carry the fridge as well.

The 32-quart capacity is large enough to hold 38 * 330ML cans, 21 * 550ML bottles, or 12 * 750ML bottles.

With this fridge, you no need to worry about the drink anymore.

It’s enough for family use for the whole day.

The fridge can use both DC and AC power.

Both the power cords are included for convenience.

You can use it in your car during the journey or at home as a compact fridge.

When you are watching a movie with your family at home, it’s really hard to walk away to the kitchen.

Place the fridge in the living room. then you can take the drink at any time.

On top of the lid, there are 4 places to hold your drink.

The fridge can keep your things cool with the thick and high-density foam even you unplug from the power.

It helps you to save energy.

Alpicool C20 Portable Refrigerator 21 Quart(20 Liter)


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[BUDGET PRODUCT] This is Alpicool Portable Refrigerator with 20-L capacity and weighs 27.8 pounds. It measures 22.4 x 12.6 x 12.6 inches.

The control panel is on the top. All the buttons are located there.

The up arrow and down arrow buttons are on the left use to adjust the temperature. You can adjust it at any time.

The lowest temperature the fridge can reach is -4 degrees F.

The digital display in the middle will show you the temperature at the same time.

The display light is white in color.

The on/off and set button are on the right.

You can press the set button to adjust the battery mode setting.

The 20L capacity is only enough to hold 25 cans of cola.

Compared to the previous model, the capacity is relatively small.

It’s also enough to hold 15 * 550ML or 9 * 750 bottles.

If your whole family plans to use in camping, I think it’s only enough to use for 2 days.

You can use DC and AC power to run the fridge.

Both power cords are included for convenience.

When you are not using the fridge in your car, you can use it at home as extra storage for the kitchen.

You can use it in the living room when you are watching a movie.

In your bedroom, you can take the drink at any time if you place the fridge there.

When you are playing a video game, it’s impossible to go to the kitchen for a drink.

The fridge can provide you a great convenience to be used anywhere at your home.

Whynter FM-45G 45-Quart Portable Refrigerator/Freezer


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This is a Whynter Portable Refrigerator with a 45-quart capacity and weighs 45 pounds. It measures 18 x 28 x 20.8 inches.

The exterior is made of metal. It looks sturdy and durable.

It looks like a rectangular box.

If you cannot see the control panel, you may think it’s just a storage box. On both sides, it comes with 2 stainless steel handles.

In the previous models, all the handles are made of plastic.

The control panel locates under the handle. It’s very small.

Similarly, it uses an up arrow and down arrow to adjust the temperature.

The red LED digital display on the left will show you the temperature at the same time.

You can operate it as a refrigerator or freezer by adjusting the temperature.

The adjustable temperature is -6 degrees F to 50 degrees F.

The DC and AC ports are located under the control panel.

Both power cords are included for convenience.

The AC power cord is 8-feet long and the DC power cord is 5-feet long.

2 removable wire baskets are included inside the fridge.

You can take it out at any time.

There is a hole in the bottom to drain the fridge when you clean the fridge.

The insulated lids and walls enable the fridge to keep your things cold and fast.

When you unplug it, it will still cold for a few hours.

You can use the fridge not only in the car but also at home.

You can place it in your bedroom, living room, kitchen, or anywhere you want depends on your needs. it adds extra storage space for your home.

Whynter FM-65G 65-Quart Portable Refrigerator/Freezer


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This is a Whynter Portable Refrigerator with a 65-quart capacity and weighs 62 pounds. It measures 21 x 29 x 21 inches.

It’s a big rectangular metal box.

Normally, the exterior is made of plastic.

But, no matter the body or the lid of this fridge, the exterior is made of metal. It’s much more beautiful and durable.

The 65-quart capacity is enough to hold 107 cans at one time.

The number of drinks is enough to have a party.

If you use it camping, I think it’s enough for a week.

Before, I think it’s impossible to enjoy ice cream during camping.

With this fridge, you can bring a lot of ice cream and enjoy it with your kids when facing the beautiful forest or lake.

The control panel locates on the side. You can adjust the temperature there at any time.

The temperature ranges from -6 degrees F to 50 degrees F.

You can use it as a refrigerator or freezer depends on your need.

There is a LED digital display that always shows you the current inside temperature.

You don’t have to use your own thermometer.

2 removable wire baskets are included. One is big and one is small.

When you want to take all the food or drink, you can simply take the basket out easily at any time.

When you refill the food, you can take the basket to your kitchen, fill it, and put it back in the fridge.

It gives you great convenience without putting the food one by one.

You can connect the fridge to DC or AC power.

Both power cords are included.

The DC power cord is 5-feet long and the AC power cord is 8-feet long.

The drain on the side is convenient for you to drain the water when you clean your fridge.

COSTWAY 54 Quart Portable Refrigerator/Freezer


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This is COSTWAY Portable Refrigerator/Freezer with a 54-quart capacity and weighs 36 pounds. It measures 27 x 13.5 x 21 inches.

The way to open the lid is quite different than other models.

Normally, it opens either left or right. But, this one is the top design.

Just flip it to open. There is a chain connected to the lid and the body.

The location of the control panel is also different. It locates on top of the handle.

When you turn on the fridge, the power LED indicator light will on. Similarly, there are 4 buttons.

The up arrow and down arrow buttons are used to adjust the temperature that ranges from -4 degrees F to 50 degrees F so you can use it as a fridge or freeze.

The green digital display will show you the temperature during the adjustment.

At other times, it will show the current inside temperature.

The set button uses to change the mode between ECO and MAX.

ECO is for energy saving.

When you choose the ECO mode, the economy LED indicator light will on. MAX mode is for fast cooling.

Use it if you want to enjoy the drinks faster.

It features battery protection. There are 3 level settings.

You can set it low, med, and high. Each set represents the battery power level.

This design is used to protect your car battery.

The fridge will shut off automatically according to your setting.

For example, if you choose a high setting, the fridge will shut off when the car battery still has much power inside.

Therefore, don’t use the low setting because the fridge will run off the power of your car battery.

There are 2 compartments inside.

The large compartment comes with a removable basket.

In the middle, it has a divider.

You can keep the thing separated. The small compartment use to put some fruit and veggie.

Whynter FM-62DZ 62 Quart Dual Zone Portable Fridge/Freezers


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This is Whynter Dual Zone Portable Fridge/Freezers with 62-quart capacity and weighs 62 pounds. It measures 18.5 x 28 x 21 inches.

The most remarkable feature is the fridge comes with 2 doors that mean it has 2 separate zones for you to store food or drink.

Both zones have separate temperature control that ranges from -8 degrees F to 50 degrees F.

Each door comes with a lock to keep your thing safely and securely.

Each zone has a removable wire basket.

You can use it to hold anything you want.

When you need to refill, you can take the whole basket to the kitchen.

You can use it as a fridge or freezer depends on your needs.

If your family wants to eat a lot of ice cream on a camping or picnic, you can use it as a whole freezer.

Just simply adjust the temperature in the control panel.

The control panel has 3 digital displays.

The upper one shows you the temperature of the small zone and the middle one shows you the temperature of the large zone.

You can know the temperature of the zone at any time without any guesswork.

The last digital display shows you are using AC or DC.

It also comes with 4 buttons.

When you run the ECO mode, the ECO LED indicator will on.

When you open the door, the interior light will illuminate inside automatically.

It’s useful when the environment is in low light or dark.

On both sides, there are 2 sturdy metal handles for you to carry easily.

But, the fridge is very heavy. I suggest always carry it with 2 people.

On the bottom, there are some vents. Remember not to obstruct them.

The vents use to release the heat from the compressor. Otherwise, it may overheat.

Dometic CF-018DC Portable Freezer/Refrigerator Personal Size


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This is a Dometic Portable Freezer/Refrigerator with a 19-quart capacity and weighs 28.7 pounds. It measures 19.4 x 13.5 x 18.4 inches.

The fridge is quite small. The 19-quart capacity is only large enough to hold 23 cans.

It’s suitable for personal or couple use.

If you have a family of four, I think this one is too small for you.

On the side, you will see the control panel at the bottom.

It’s not digital so you cannot know the current inside temperature.

If you really want to know, you have to buy the thermometer additionally.

The design of the control panel is very simple. There is a temperature control dial on the left. If you want to use it as a freezer, then rotate it to the right. Otherwise, rotate it to the left.

In the middle, it has a red ERROR and green POWER indicator light.

When the fridge connects to either DC or AC, the green indicator light will go.

When the fridge has some errors, the red indicator light will go.

Then you have to refer to the manual.

You can switch HIGH or LOW on the right.

If you choose HIGH, it tells the fridge to keep the high voltage in the car battery and it will shut off automatically.

If you choose LOW, the fridge will continue operating until your car battery is low voltage.

It does not recommend using LOW because it will run off your car battery unless your fridge is connecting to the extra battery.

The lid is removable that allows you to easy cleaning.

It has a big handle that enables you to carry it easily.

Inside the fridge, it has a removable divider.

You can use it to keep your things separated.

The divider can flip horizontally or vertically.

You can flip it at any time to fit your needs.

Engel AC/DC Portable Tri-Voltage Fridge/Freezer w/ABS Plastic Shell


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This is Engel Portable Tri-Voltage Fridge/Freezer with a 40-quart capacity and weighs 48 pounds. It measures 25 x 15.5 x 18.5 inches.

Compared to the fridge before, this one is quite colorful.

The reinforced corner is black in color. The body is light grey.

The top of the body is red and the lid is a grey color. In my view, the colors match perfectly.

The shell is made of ABS plastic. It’s sturdy, durable, and corrosion-resistant.

It’s designed for long-lasting use.

There are 2 big handles on both sides. 48 pounds should be heavy for anyone.

With the big handles, 2 people can carry it easily no matter up and down.

The 4 reinforced corners add extra protection to the fridge.

It can protect the fridge if it drops to the floor accidentally.

The lid has 2 locks that can keep the lid always close.

It can prevent your pet or any animal from opening the lid and eat all the food and drink.

This feature is particularly useful when you use an outdoor, RV, camping van, or more.

I think the wild animals will not know how to open the lock.

Inside the fridge, it has only one compartment that includes the removable basket.

All the food and drink have to put together.

If you want to wash it, you can take it out at any time.

There is only one control dial to adjust the temperature.

When you want to adjust the temperature, make sure the power indicator light is on first.

The more you rotate to the right, the colder is the fridge.

Both AC and DC power cords are included for convenience.

When you unbox it, you have to install the handles and reinforced corners by yourself.

Don’t worry, it’s very simple. Just some screws.

Whynter FM-85G 85-Quart Portable Refrigerator/Freezer

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This is a Whynter Portable Refrigerator/Freezer with an 85-quart capacity and weighs 75 pounds. It measures 18 x 28.1 x 23.5 inches.

This fridge is extremely heavy. I think it’s impossible to carry by only one person although it comes with 2 stainless steel handles on both sides.

It really needs 2 people to work together.

If the fridge fills up the food and drink, I think it will be over 100 pounds.

At that time, it needs a trolley.

The capacity is very large, but it only has one lid with 2 locks.

I think the lid is a little bit heavy so always keep your kids away from the fridge when the lid is opened.

85-quart capacity is enough to hold 120 cans at one time.

It’s enough for family use on camping or picnic for a few days.

If you use it in your RV or camping van, you don’t need to refill it for a few days.

Then you can concentrate more on your journey than find the store to refill the food or drink.

It comes with 2 removable baskets. You can take it out to clean at any time.

On the bottom, there is a hole to drain the fridge for cleaning.

Both 8-feet AC power cord and 6-feet DC power cord are included for convenience. You can connect to a different power source as you need.

You can use it as a fridge or freezer by adjusting the temperature on the control panel. The temperature ranges from -6 degrees F to 50 degrees F.

If your family likes ice cream, you can make the fridge full of ice cream and adjust the temperature to the lowest.

On the control panel, the red LED digital display will always show you the current inside temperature.

EdgeStar FP630 Portable Refrigerator or Freezer


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This is EdgeStar Portable Refrigerator/Freezer with a 63-quart capacity and weighs 60 pounds. It measures 17.9 x 28.1 x 20.8 inches.

It’s a big rectangular metal box in a grey color.

The insulated lid comes with a rounded edge and rounded corner. It adds more safety for anyone.

On the side, it has a control panel. You can adjust the temperature by press the up arrow and down arrow buttons.

The LED digital display will show you the temperature during adjustment.

The temperature ranges from -8 degrees F to 50 degrees F.

After a few seconds, the LED digital display will show the current inside temperature.

You can always know the temperature inside without using your own thermometer.

It features a Flash Freeze function. You can activate it by pressing the FF button.

The fridge will cool down rapidly to -8 degrees F.

If you want a cold drink faster, this function is very useful for you.

By adjusting the temperature, you can use the unit as a fridge or freezer.

It totally depends on your needs.

If you want to fill the unit full of ice cream, then you can adjust to the lowest temperature.

If you want to store the fruit or veggie, then adjust the temperature higher.

You can connect the unit to DC and AC power at the same time.

If you do that, the unit will use AC power as a dominant source.

If the AC power is discontinued, it will switch to DC power.

Both the 6-feet DC detachable power cord and the 8-feet AC detachable power cord are included for convenience.

2 removable baskets are included.

One is big and one is small. you can use the small one for meat food and the big one for the beer or other large drinks or food.

Engel AC/DC Portable Tri-Voltage Fridge/Freezer


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This is Engel Portable Fridge/Freezer with a 22-quart capacity and weighs 38.6 pounds. It measures 21.2 x 12 x 18.2 inches.

It has big full-width metal handles on both sides.

2 people can carry it with both hands that make the carry easier.

This is the biggest handle I have ever seen before.

It only has one temperature control dial on top ranges from0 degrees F to 45 degrees F.

It has no digital display so you cannot know the temperature inside the fridge.

You have to buy the thermometer additionally.

It features a top opening lid that comes with a latch to protect your food or drink all the time.

The latch is useful when you use it outdoor.

I think no animal knows how to open the latch and enjoy your food or beer.

There is only one removable basket inside.

If you want to clean it, you can take it out at any time.

When you need to refill the fridge, you can take the basket to your kitchen instead of taking everything from the kitchen to your car.

You can connect the fridge to AC and DC power at the same time.

The fridge will use AC power as a source automatically.

When the AC power is discontinued or the voltage drops down to the threshold, it will switch to DC power automatically.

Both the DC and AC power cords are included for convenience.

On the compressor side, there are a lot of vents to release the heat from the compressor.

Don’t put anything near the vents. Otherwise, the unit may overheat. It will damage the unit.

Dometic CDF11 CDF11-DC-A Portable Refrigerator/Freezer


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This is a Dometic Portable Refrigerator/Freezer with a 10-quart capacity and weighs 19 pounds. It measures 21.6 x 9.4 x 14.1 inches.

It’s very compact and lightweight.

It’s easy to carry anywhere with an adjustable shoulder strap.

The size is enough for personal or couple use.

If you buy it for family use, I think it’s really too small.

On the top, it features 2 cup holders.

If your car doesn’t have enough cup holders or you carry it fishing, this feature is very useful for you.

There is a soft-touch control panel on the top. When you connect to the power source and turn on the fridge, the green POWER indicator light will on.

If the red ERROR indicator light is on, you have to check the manual to find what’s happening.

The green indicator light will show you the temperature during the adjustment.

You can simply adjust it by pressing the + or – button on the right.

The temperature ranges from 0 degrees F to 50 degrees F.

There is no removable basket and drain hole inside.

Just put all your food and drink inside directly.

When you need to clean it, use the damp cloth instead of using the water hose in your garden.

It features a battery monitor.

When it detects the low voltage of your car battery or any battery the fridge is connected to, it will shut off automatically.

This design can protect the battery from running off.

Remember, this fridge can only use DC power and the power cord is included.

This model cannot use AC power.

If you want to use it at home or place it in your bedroom, you have to buy an AC adapter additionally.

How To Choose The Best Portable Freezer

Whether chilling the food in the outdoor BBQ or taking a can of frozen drink while driving, the portable freezer can bring you the absolute luxury of life.

After the driving recorder, it has become the hottest electronic equipment.

Before, the portable freezer was only seen on luxury cars.

Now, you can buy it for your car. So how to choose the best one?

Size

Of course, the larger the size, the more the capacity.

If you already have a location to place the freezer, I suggest measuring the size first.

Especially if you use a camping van, the size is too large will be very troublesome.

Below are some ideas about that.

  1. 20 liters or less: basically suitable for all models, recommended for ordinary family cars and MPV
  2. 20~40 liter capacity: suitable for small and medium SUV, MPV, etc.
  3. 40 liters or more capacity: for large SUV, modified car, RV, etc.

Temperature Range

Some models can reach a lower temperature.

If you need to freeze something at a very low temperature, you have to pay more attention to the temperature range. Most of them are different.

Digital Display

The digital display is very useful.

It can show you the temperature during adjustment. In the other time, it will show the current inside temperature.

Without the digital display, you have to buy the thermometer additionally.

If you want to know the compressor function properly or not, you have to measure the temperature every time by yourself.

Check The Gasket

If the gasket is deformed or damaged, it can’t be closed properly and cause leakage of cold air, thus increase power consumption.

If the deformation is serious, it should be repaired in time.

Indicator Light

With the specific indicator light, you can know the freezer turn on or not, connect to the power, or not, or has an error or not.

Without any indication, it’s hard to know the freezer function properly or not.

You may find the freezer is not working after an hour.

USB Port

Some models feature a USB port for you to charge your phone, camera, or any compatible device.

If you use it camping, you can charge it just sit next to the fridge. It’s very convenient.

Drain

If your fridge has this feature, you can use the water hose to clean the fridge and drain the water easily.

It’s much faster and better than using a damp cloth.

Wheel

Only Alpicool CX30 Portable Refrigerator 32 Quart(30 Liter) with Trolley comes with this feature.

The freezer has 4 wheels. You can move it like a trolley. It’s much easier to carry anywhere.

Removable Lid

If the lid is removable, it can wash conveniently.

Removable Basket

Most of the freezer has 1 or 2 removable baskets.

It can help you organize your thing easier.

If you need to refill the food or drink, you can take the whole basket to the kitchen. It’s much more convenient.

Divider

Some removable basket has a divider in the middle. It enables you to keep the thing separated.

Interior Light

With this feature, the interior light will illuminate inside when you open the lid.

It’s very useful when the environment is very dark.

It guarantees you will not take the wrong beer or eat the wrong ice cream.

Lid Latch

If the lid has a latch, when you use it camping or outdoor, I think no animal will know how to open it and enjoy your beer or ice cream.

It can keep your thing safely and securely.

Weight

The larger the capacity, the heavier is the freezer.

I suggest always carry it with 2 people. Otherwise, it will get hurt easily.

ECO Mode

If your freezer runs in this mode, the freezer will use less energy during running.

DC/AC Compatible

Most of the freezer is DC and AC compatible. When you buy it, ask carefully.

Solar Compatible

Not all the freezer supports solar power especially the small freezer.

If you will use this kind of energy, pay more attention to this.

The Difference Between Semiconductor Freezer And Compressor Freezer

In addition to the capacity, the car freezer is mainly divided into two categories according to the working principle, it’s the cooler and warmer adopt with semiconductor and the freezer with the compressor(Most of the portable freezer in this post use compressor).

Except for the “cooling” effect, the cooler and warmer can also produce a healing effect, but its “cooling” effect is far less than the freezer using the compressor.

Some better cooler and warmer, the “cooling” effect is only about 20 °C lower than the ambient temperature, so it can cool down only.

The freezer using the compressor is the real car freezer.

The cooling speed is fast, some products can even reach -18 °C.

However, its shortcomings are also very obvious.

It does not have a heating function.

The price is much higher than the cooler and warmer.

It also has many restrictions such as direction (non-invertible) when used.

Other than the different working principles, these two types of car freezer have some differences in the functional design.

Compared to the price, the cooler and warmer has an absolute advantage in price.

The price on the market ranges from 30 to 100 bucks. The low price is widely accepted by most consumers.

Semiconductor Freezer

Also known as the electronic freezer, it differs from other freezers with the compressor.

Using the principle of semiconductor refrigeration, the Peltier Effect is used on a smaller semiconductor chip.

In a circuit composed of two different conductors, the direct current circuit releases heat at the junction of the metal piece.

Through the different current flows achieve the ultimate goal of cooling and heating.

With the continuous improvement of technology, some manufacturers upgrade the cooling capacity of the traditional cooler and warmer by increasing the area of ​​the cooling sheet.

But they are still affected by the ambient temperature. Except that the cooling speed is faster than that of a single cooling system, there is no improvement in cooling capacity.

Therefore, this kind of cooler and warmer is more suitable for family cars.

Compared with trucks with larger cab space, the space of the family car is much smaller, the cooling effect is more obvious.

Freezer With Compressor

In principle, it same as your freezer at home.

The internal temperature is lower by the process of continuous internal circulation.

Because of portability, its size will be smaller.

Because its core component is the compressor, it is much more expensive than the semiconductor freezer.

On the market, the appearance of the freezer with a compressor is much different than the low-cost cooler and warmer.

The price can be higher more than 1,000 bucks. It always comes with its own temperature control function which is also the distinction between them.

Since the environment of the car accessories is more demanding than the home freezer, the requirements for the shock resistance of the products are much higher than those of the household appliances.

More investment is needed in R&D testing costs. This is one of the factors that some car freezer prices are higher than the home freezer.

On the other hand, compared to the more durable cooler and warmer, this kind of freezer is relatively more expensive.

Although some products claim that their compressor can work normally under the 45° slope, we also need to pay attention to avoid accidents such as bumps and flips during daily use.

In short, compared to the single-function cooler and warmer, the freezer with compressor is better in terms of cooling capacity, better insulation, precise temperature adjustment, battery protection, and other user-friendly details.

But its only and fatal flaw is that the price is too high.

How To Use The Portable Freezers?

When you buy a portable freezer, you also need to purchase another cigarette lighter adapter.

The reason is to ensure that the portable freezer is used in the car, and other devices such as the lamp for the car and the hands-free device can be used at the same time.

In addition, if you buy an AC adapter, it can be used at home which is very convenient.

When using it, try not to let the water enter the air inlet to avoid damage.

If you need to switch from one temperature to another when using the car refrigerator, you need to cut off the power for about 10 minutes before you can reuse it.

For the food placed, it may not be too hot or corrosive, otherwise, it will damage the interior.

Where Can You Place?

You can choose it according to the size of our car.

For the small portable freezer, you can place it in the co-pilot position or in the middle of the rear seats.

If it is larger, consider placing it in the trunk of the car, but because the ventilation is not very good, it is recommended not to place it too long.

Attentions

When using a portable freezer in a car, keep the vents unobstructed. In addition, don’t insert any items there.

At the same time, keep away from the heat source in the car.

If you are cleaning the car refrigerator, you need to turn off all power and should not use a strong detergent for cleaning.

Conclusion

When you are having some outdoor activities, it’s really nice to have a cold drink or ice cream.

For someone who lives in an RV or camping van, it’s necessary equipment.

In my opinion, if you always have outdoor activities with your kids, you should have one.

It can use to store different food also. I think no one wants to have a warm drink in the summer.

Different fridges have different functions. It totally depends on your situation.

It’s better to know more before making any decision.

If you want to know more about different indoor or portable fridges, you can read my post to know more.

I hope my post is helpful for you to choose the most suitable freezer for your family.

If you have any comments, opinions, or questions, please leaves them below. I’d love to hear that.


26 Comments

Alex · November 29, 2019 at 9:32 pm

Thank you for the very detailed comparison CT, you saved me a LOT of time!
I am hoping for a good deal this winter season, in order to be well-prepared next summer 🙂

    CT · November 29, 2019 at 10:23 pm

    It’s really nice to hear my comparison table saves you a lot of time. I hope it can help you shorten the time to compare the different portable freezers and lets you understand it quickly.

    Thank you so much. If you have any questions in the future, please feel free to ask me at any time.

Strahinja · November 30, 2019 at 2:26 am

Thank you for going in deep with the descriptions. I really found them useful. I am often in the nature and my old portable freezer needs to be replaced with newer and better model. I think I will go for Alpicool CX30, since it is also your choice and has all the amazing features and even better price that goes along with my budget.

Thank you for that.

    CT · November 30, 2019 at 11:48 am

    Nice to hear from you Strahinja. The portable freezer is really convenient when you are in nature especially the weather is hot. You can enjoy a cold drink or ice cream at any time. If you have children, I believe they will love it so much.

    Alpicool CX30 features a trolley design. It’s easy to transport along the road or walk along the slope. If you always move it, the trolley design will help you so much.

    If you have any questions in the future, please feel free to ask me at any time.

Nimrodngy · November 30, 2019 at 2:51 pm

Thanks a lot for this awesome content. You really got me.

I am from Romania and here during the summer it is very hot. Whenever we go with friends to a barbecue, we have a problem with beer which is very hot. This year I proposed myself to buy a freezer to help us with this.
I think I will choose EdgeStar FP630 Portable Refrigerator. The dimensions are ideal for the trunk of my car. It is very simple to set the temperature by simply pressing the up and down button.
The price of $ 112 is only perfect for this product and I think it is the best investment.
Good luck I hope to see more posts like this.

    CT · December 1, 2019 at 1:23 pm

    Hello Nimrodngy, nice to hear from you. In the summer, the cool beers are necessary for outdoor activity. Having a nice barbecue, I think no one will enjoy the water. At that time, cool beers are the right beverage.

    The operation of EdgeStar FP630 Portable Refrigerator is really simple. It also features a Flash Freeze function so you can cool your beer in a short time.

    If you have any questions in the future, please feel free to ask me at any time.

Ashley · November 30, 2019 at 2:57 pm

Hi. Me and my family were looking for a small portable freezer as an extra fridge (we don’t have enough space for another fridge in out home, but we have very little space left in the old one). Do you think it would be okay using a portable freezer instead of a fridge – or we should go for a mini version of a regular fridge. We just loved the idea of a portable freezer because we could also move it around the house, in case the kitchen was too crowded at one point. Out of these 15 portable freezers, which would you recommend for our needs (doesn’t have to be light or very professional, just as spacious as possible)?

    CT · December 1, 2019 at 5:09 am

    Hi Ashley, nice to meet you. If you plan to buy a mini version of a regular fridge, I think it can’t fulfill your portable requirement. If you will want to move the freezer around the house, I think the portable freezer is more suitable for your needs.

    When you are watching TV, you can move it to the living room. If you are cooking, you can move it to the kitchen. If you are reading books on the balcony, you can move it there also.

    Moreover, if you have a car, you can place it in your car and bring it outside for different outdoor activities such as a barbecue, picnic, beach, and more. You can move it anywhere you like so you can enjoy the cold drinks at any time.

    Out of these 15 portable freezers, many people interested in Alpicool CX30 model because it features a trolley design. You can move it easily without any effort no matter walking along the slope or beach. The 32-quart capacity is large enough to hold 38 * 330ML cans, 21 * 550ML bottles, or 12 * 750ML bottles.

    I hope my suggestion can suit your needs. If you have any questions in the future, please feel free to ask me at any time.

arzu hosan · November 30, 2019 at 2:59 pm

Much obliged to you for diving in deep with the portrayals. I truly discovered them helpful. I am frequently in the nature and my old versatile cooler should be supplanted with more current and better model. I figure I will go for Alpicool CX30, since it is additionally your decision and has all the astonishing highlights and surprisingly better value that accompanies my spending limit.

    CT · December 1, 2019 at 1:37 pm

    Hey arzu hosan, nice to hear from you. Many people interested in Alpicool CX30. I think the most important reason is the trolly design. It helps you to move it anywhere without much effort.

    As you know, the portable freezer is very heavy. Sometimes, you need to fill the drinks from the kitchen. After that, the portable freezer will be very heavy. It’s really hard to move it by your hands. At that time, the wheels will help you a lot.

    Have a nice day. If you have any questions in the future, please feel free to ask me at any time.

H. Tracy · November 30, 2019 at 3:00 pm

Thanks for these very detailed recommendations. My husband and I plan on going camping in the summer and we started looking for necessary stuff in this period (many sales due to holidays). Portable freezers were also on our list, but we had a hard time deciding on one. We don’t have a very large budget and don’t want something necessarily large (we’re not going to take a lot of food with us), but something we can afford and that will not be too heavy. Which of these fifteen would suit us best, what do you think?

    CT · December 1, 2019 at 4:23 pm

    Hello Tracy, it’s good to hear you plan to go camping with your husband. I like camping too. Ten more years ago, I always go camping that is the happiest memory in my life. On the camping site, no matter how simple is the food, it’s always delicious. If I have a portable freezer at that time, I believe my food will be more versatile.

    If you don’t have a very large budget, you can choose the BUDGET PRODUCT – Alpicool C20. It’s small and lightweight. The 20L capacity is enough to hold 25 cans of cola, 15 * 550ML or 9 * 750 bottles. For 2 people use, I think it’s more than enough.

    I hope you will have nice camping. If you have any questions in the future, please feel free to ask me at any time.

Gomer · November 30, 2019 at 3:02 pm

Among these portable freezers that we can carry inside our Recreational Van, I’d like to ask which one of them is made in China. If you can point out one of them, then it will be first in the list to be eliminated so the only ones that are made in the USA, Japan or Europe that will remain among the list or options for me to buy. I want a the highest quality of portable freezer to buy this is my criteria before I finally buy.

    CT · December 1, 2019 at 6:33 pm

    Hi Gomer, nice to meet you. In my post, I have mention 6 brands. They are Dometic, Alpicool, COSTWAY, EdgeStar, Engel, and Whynter.

    According to a few hours of research online. I find Alpicool is a China company. Therefore, the portable freezer definitely made in China. Although COSTWAY and EdgeStar are not China companies, many people point out that the portable freezer of those brands is made in China.

    You can first eliminate the brands above from your list.

    However, I can’t find where are Dometic, Engel, and Whynter fridges manufactured. I’m so sorry about that.

    I hope my research is helpful to you. If you have any questions in the future, please feel free to ask me at any time.

Rutz · November 30, 2019 at 3:02 pm

I love the fact that they are portable freezers and they are two in one.  I love mountain hikes but I have never thought of carrying a portable fridge despite the fact that we walk for so long and get so thirsty along the way. You have given a very comprehensive review which will guide anyone who is interested in the fridges to make an informed decision.

    CT · December 1, 2019 at 6:45 pm

    Hello Rutz, nice to meet you. I love mountain hikes too. I love the view and nature. It makes me feel relax and forget everything unhappy. At that time, if I have a cold drink. I think it would be nice.

    With a portable freezer, you can enjoy the drinks in front of the beautiful view. You can even eat ice cream too. If you can do it with who you love, it would be wonderful.

    I hope you can enjoy it on the next mountain hike. If you have any questions in the future, please feel free to ask me at any time.

Jessie · November 30, 2019 at 3:03 pm

Thank you for the awesome reviews!  My wife and me go to a different state two times a year in our RV, and we camp out at some of the nicest campsites in each one.  We have been needing a good portable freezer for a while now, but haven’t really gotten one because we weren’t sure if they work good.  I really like the Domestic CFX 65W!  It has everything we would need in a portable freezer.  Thank you for the review!

    CT · December 1, 2019 at 7:02 pm

    Hey Jessie, nice to meet you. It’s so nice to hear you can go to different states 2 times a year. I really admire your life. If I retire, I will consider to live like yours. Enjoy the nature all the time.

    In Dometic CFX 65W, it comes with 60L capacity that can hold 106 cans at one time. I think it’s big enough for you to enjoy the cold drinks and store enough food at the campsite for a few days.

    Moreover, you can control and monitor the temperature via the Wi-Fi app. When you are enjoying the silence at night, I think you won’t like to walk to the machine and check the temperature correctly or not.

    I hope you will have a beautiful in every camping. If you have any questions in the future, please feel free to ask me at any time.

JealousLi · November 30, 2019 at 3:08 pm

Thank you so much for reviewing so many Portable Freezers. My mother was still telling me last week, let me buy one online on Black Friday. I would have forgotten this thing one if I did n’t see your post.
I read your blog carefully and I found that this product Whynter FM-45G 45-Quart Portable Refrigerator / Freezer can meet my requirements, I have added it to my shopping cart, thank you for your recommendation.

    CT · December 1, 2019 at 7:13 pm

    Hello Jealous, nice to meet you. I’m glad to hear from you choose the Whynter FM-45G 45-Quart Portable Refrigerator that meets your requirements. If you have a car, if you always have outdoor activities, it really helps you a lot.

    I hope you will enjoy it. If you have any questions in the future, please feel free to ask me at any time.

Carmen · November 30, 2019 at 3:11 pm

An extremely documented presentation. You’ve done a lot of research for her. Thank you for taking the time to share with us. They are new and very useful models. If I had to choose, I don’t know what I would choose. I think one with USB port would fit me. I have an old model, for short trips in nature. I don’t like to be away from home for more than a day

    CT · December 1, 2019 at 7:48 pm

    Hi Carmen, nice to meet you. I think you buy it for yourself, right?

    For personal use, I suggest Dometic CDF11 CDF11-DC-A Portable Refrigerator. It only weighs 19 pounds. Compared to other models, it’s really lightweight. It features an adjustable shoulder strap so you can carry it anywhere conveniently.

    If you plan to use it for only 1-day outdoor activities, I think it’s enough for you to carry enough drinks.

    Unfortunately, it doesn’t come with a USB port. As my research, the USB port only in some bigger models. The smaller model will not have a USB port.

    I hope the information above is helpful to you. If you have any questions in the future, please feel free to ask me at any time.

Antonio · November 30, 2019 at 3:18 pm

Hi

Thank you for writing this detailed review on the 15 best portable fridge freezer combos. I can Imagine they will be useful for those who take plenty of road journeys, as means of preserving food or keeping drinks chilled. You want the best price for your needs but you always want a product that does not do damage to the environment. I know that CFCs have been banned and have better coefficient of performance than that of the past. Of all the 15 that you have reviewed who h one is the best for the environment, and produces less emissions?

I think all of these freezers look good but I would not like to carry one by myself.

Thanks

Antonio

    CT · December 1, 2019 at 8:02 pm

    Hey Antonio, nice to hear from you that cares about the environment so much. But, I can’t get the detail information about that. I’m sorry about that.

    If you have any questions in the future, please feel free to ask me at any time.

Robert · November 30, 2019 at 3:21 pm

This was an awesome review and one that I am happy I came across. Thank you! I am currently in the market for a new cooler that I can use for some upcoming camping trips down south that will also include fishing. I was looking to get two coolers one for the fish to keep on ice and the other for the rest of the food and drinks. I never considered a portable refrigerator and freezer.

I am definitely consider one of these instead of a second cooler. I think the cooler for the fish and a refrigerator/freezer for the rest would be ideal for what I need. I especially like that Alpicool CX30 with the handle and wheels. The cooler I am getting for the fish has a handle and wheels too. I also like that it is solar powered too. Does this give it sufficient power to run the compressor?

    CT · December 1, 2019 at 8:28 pm

    Hello Robert, it’s good to hear you will have a nice camping trip down south. If I have time, I want a vacation too.

    Among these 15 portable freezers, most people ask about the Alpicool CX30 because it comes with a trolley design that is convenient.

    According to my research, I can’t find any complaints caused by solar power. Moreover, some people say it works great with the solar power that can keep the drink chilled. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about that.

    I hope I can solve your problem. If you have any questions in the future, please feel free to ask me at any time.

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