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Choosing the right fridge size for camping is essential for keeping your food fresh, safe, and easy to access. Knowing the types of fridges and their features, from capacity and portability to temperature control and compartment options, will also help you select the best one for your camping style.
Let’s explore various portable fridge sizes and break down the key features to look for when choosing the perfect one so you can get out and have fun.
Different Sizes of Camping Fridge
Small Camping Fridges
Small portable refrigerators are about 15 – 20L. They are lightweight and affordable, but they don’t have much capacity. While ideal for a quick day trip for a couple, they aren’t big enough for a family or a weekend getaway.
Medium Camping Fridges
Medium models are about the size of a standard cooler, 25 – 50L. This makes them perfect because they are no bigger than we usually pack and have plenty of room for a weekend or even a week-long adventure.
The EcoFlow GLACIER Portable Refrigerator is the best camping fridge because it perfectly balances size, capacity, manoeuvrability, and functionality. It has a fridge and freezer compartment that can also be used as a larger single compartment.
It also has a built-in ice maker, lasts up to 40 hours wirelessly, and can be recharged with solar panels or a portable power station. With its built-in charge and your compact EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro, you can stay off-grid for a week.
Large Camping Fridges
Large portable refrigerators are anything between about 60L and 120L. This makes them much heavier, so good handles on both sides and wheels are essential. You may need two people to move it, especially when it’s full.
These are for going off-grid for long periods. Bring your EcoFlow Portable Power Station with you to keep it running.
Factors to Consider When Selecting the Best Camping Fridge
When looking for a portable refrigerator, what makes the best camping fridge depends entirely on you, your vehicle, your travel companions, and your power supply.
1. Size and Capacity
This is important and depends on how many days you need it, how many people are with you, and what kind of food and drinks you want to bring. Remember that bigger is not always better, as it comes at the cost of portability and extra weight. You also need to consider the space you have inside your vehicle.
2. Power Consumption
Power consumption is also important because you need to know it will last for your entire trip. Not all fridges are designed to hold a charge, so those need a constant power supply. Others, like the EcoFlow Glacier Portable Refrigerator, last wirelessly for up to 40 hours.
Still, you’d want a portable power station like an EcoFlow River 2 Max for extended trips. With EcoFlow portable solar panels, you can recharge your fridge and power station. You could even bring your EcoFlow WAVE 2 Portable AC to relax in cool comfort; it also runs wirelessly on a charge for up to 8 hours.
3. Portability and Durability
Portability when camping is often, but not always, the most important. It might be less important if you have a large vehicle and a drive-in spot. However, if you found the perfect view or lake spot requiring a short hike, even a 5-minute walk carrying a large refrigerator that takes two people isn’t fun.
Durability is equally important since they’re meant to be moved around and used outdoors. They should have rugged carrying handles and well-built sides that won’t get damaged.
4. Compartment Options
Some models have only a single refrigerator compartment and no thermostat, while other single-compartment models may allow you to make it a fridge or a freezer. Another option is the dual compartment and dual thermostat, so you can use them as a fridge and a freezer simultaneously.
Ideally, you should be able to remove the divider and make a larger refrigerator or freezer for greater versatility.
5. Temperature Control
Finally, you want to be sure that your fridge allows you to set the temperature, making it easier to keep it at food-safe temperatures, around 4°C (39.2°F). Without being able to control it, if your fridge is struggling, it may make your food unsafe.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on how long you are going and how many people are with you. However, bigger is not always better, as they become hard to move around. Medium-sized fridges about the size of a standard cooler between 25L and 50L are best.
People typically use medium-sized compressor fridges for camping since they are easy to move around and keep food safe. Some use absorption fridges, but those work poorly when the temperatures rise, making them unsafe in the summer.
Final Thoughts
Selecting the ideal camping fridge is about finding the right balance between size, portability, and functionality. The EcoFlow GLACIER Portable Refrigerator is about the size of a standard cooler, making it the perfect balance between portability and capacity.
You can still go on extended trips with it by packing solar panels or a portable power station to recharge it. Now get out outdoors and have fun.