Our tests showed some key differences between these two products that are worth considering before buying: You This product is capacious and well made. However when you first use the cooler, you must let it run empty for 24 hour on its high setting so tht the refrigeration gases can settle down and do their job. Don’t not panic if it doesn’t seem cool enough for the first 8 to 12 hours. It will then become very cool and preserve the food ie milk, butter, yoghurt etc. But like any refrigeration (i know it is not a refrigerator), it needs to be left on and empty for 24 hours initially then it works very well. We were impressed that it can also heat the contents up to ~65°C. Obviously this isn’t hot enough to actually cook food, but it means you can keep your fish and chips warm if you’re busy – watch out for bacteria though – the heating should just be for short blasts after you’ve actually cooked the food. Think of it as maintaining temperature rather than reheating. Absorption cool boxes Similar in size and design to compressor cool boxes, but you can also power these with gas. We love the fact that it comes with an internal basket, a built-in LED light for viewing your grub at night, and an adjustable thermostatically-controlled temperature system. There is a digital display too which we found legible and easy to use. Cooling Ability

Hi-Gear 20-Litre 12V Cooler | GO Outdoors

Electric cool boxes Don’t require ice but they do require power. You either plug the box into your car (12V), the most common type of charger, or into the mains by a UK plug. They require constant power, though will still keep contents cool for a few hours if you unplug. You can get battery-powered boxes, but they’re less common and far more expensive. The handle, which can also help keep the lid in position when you need the box open, is super-strong and handy. As for the interior of the Hi-Gear, it isn’t partitioned – however, as a result it can easily be cleaned using water and a small piece of cloth without any fuss. It also features two removable shelves inside so you have plenty of space for anything – from your favorite beer to a good old Cornish pasty! The Outdoor Revolution cooler range all provide similar performance. The only difference is the sizes on offer. For the 45 litre, the main attributes are: Delivered Monday to Saturday 8am-8pm, excluding bank holidays. Once despatched you will receive updates from the courier.

To help find you the most portable cool boxes, we tried carrying each half-filled cool box on an identical route so we could evaluate and identify any discomfort. Cooling is by the thermoelectric effect and again is a little limited. It will get you to around 10°C in our experience on a standard UK spring day (i.e. not too hot outside). Vonshef actually suggest 12°C as the minimum temperature which is way off from where we would prefer to be – around 5-6°C. Still, it can definitely chill and is great for cooling drinks in this respect, when you don’t have to be completely ice cold.

Best Electric Cool Box UK - the Ultimate Camping Fridges Best Electric Cool Box UK - the Ultimate Camping Fridges

The 45l ECO Deep offers the convenience of using either AC (240V) or DC (12V) power connection. Current draw is low at only 5 amps, even on 12V power which means a typical 100Ah leisure battery will not get drained until after about 20 hours of continuous operation. The alternatives to electricity include gas powered fridges which can take cannisters of propane/butane to provide the chilling action. The problem with this is both cost and supply – you might run out when you need it most! However, most gas fridges can also run off electricity, but cost more than pure electric alternatives. Date tested: May 2023. Capacity: measured with 330ml soft drink cans. We are not able to show every retailer and cheaper prices may be available. The electric cool boxes we tested Thermoelectric cool box – these are well insulated coolboxes which use a Peltier cooler (12V or 240V powered usually) and electric fan to drive heat out of the box and keep your food and drink chilled. The best thermoelectric coolboxes can lower the temperature by about 30°C below the ambient temperature which means they can be used all year round in the UK. Downsides are fan noise, but in a tent you’re unlikely to hear it.In our opinion, no electric cooler combines greater simplicity, affordability, and efficiency than the Outdoor Revolution Eco Deep Extreme. This is a full-on compressor-based fridge which also has a separate freezer section which can keep ice cream frozen! Yes it’s an expensive cool box, but really delivers the goods in our view. Quite frankly, few items are as important in a camp environment as having a top-performing electric cool box. From our experience, it is important to carefully examine the features of a particular product to make sure it will match up to the conditions under which you will be using it.

Best Cool Boxes 2023 for chilled food and drink - Which? Best Cool Boxes 2023 for chilled food and drink - Which?

Gets lovely and cold inside, only took 15 minutes plugged into the mains, and the capacity is fantastic

We think 20 – 30 litres is the sweet spot for a camping trip away for one to four people. It can store just enough stuff to keep you all going for a few days, and the fewer of you there are, the longer you can last between reloading! This is fantastic for camping and picnics, and is definately one of my 'better buys', I have yet to use it in the car but the car lead is nice and long, in my little car i can put this cooler in my boot and the lead will still reach into the ciggy lighter. The best cool boxes keep the contents chilled better for longer. The best electric cool boxes cooled the chilled bottles of water to an even lower temperature by the end of the day than when we put them in. Leakproof