How to Choose Between a High-End Cooler or Portable Refrigerator

Because the gap between the two is quickly closing.

portable refrigerator

High-end rotomolded coolers have stretched the ice-melting barrier up to a week or more, but a portable refrigerator might be an even better option for some travelers. We'll help you decide which product is best for you.

Rotomolded Coolers

We are continually amazed by the performance and durability of high-end rotomolded coolers, from companies like Yeti and Pelican. Their superior ice-retention ensures our food and drinks remain cold for long weekend trips—even when trekking through the desert. We've dragged them across sand, dirt, and grass, with barely a scratch.

Coolers also provide the ultimate in portability as once they are filled with ice, they can be transported in your vehicle, on a boat, or anywhere else you've got space and a need for cold food.

But all this performance and convenience comes at a price—a large 50-quart cooler can run $300-$400. For some, that's a small price to pay to extend their adventures beyond the weekend. For others, a lavish luxury.


The main drawback to all coolers is that eventually the ice will melt, leaving you with soggy spoiled food. Reusable ice packs stay colder longer, and won't make a wet mess, but they also eventually warm up. Ice and ice packs also take up valuable room inside a cooler. It's always best to buy a cooler at least one or two times larger than you think you need to make up for lost volume.

Rotomolded coolers are ideal for the camp, hunt, and fishing crowd. They provide the performance and strength needed to endure tough environments, while keeping food, fish and game on ice.

The Orca 20 is a great grab-and-go cooler that features a heavy-duty stainless steel handle and plenty of fun colors to choose from. The Canyon Cooler 55 Outfitter is big enough for weekend excursions, but also works well for afternoon picnics. When you need something for the long haul and to carry quartered deer or a max limit of fish, Yeti's Tundra 125 is huge or you can go gigantic with their Tundra 350.

Portable Refrigerators

The alternative to a fancy cooler is a portable refrigerators, which are much more popular in Europe and Australia, but are finally starting to catch on here in America.

With a portable refrigerator there is no need to worry about ice melting or taking up valuable space inside the refrigerator. Most fridges can also function as freezers, and some, like the Dual Bin Classic from Snomaster, even have two compartments you can set at different temperatures—from 50 to -8 degrees Fahrenheit. Imagine enjoying ice cream on your next summer adventure.


The Snomaster is AC/DC powered, which means it can run off your vehicle's 12-volt battery system or be plugged into any standard household outlet. Overland travelers have used these fridges for months on the road, which proves their durability over rough terrain. If you don't have a 12V hookup on your vehicle, you can connect them to a battery generator which can be recharged by solar panels. These can also be used in parts of your home where you don't want to install a big refrigerator, but need a long lasting cooler.

Dometic is another big name in the portable refrigerator space, and have been outfitting the RV crowd for years. Their small CDF-11 can fit between your car seats or in your trunk, and their jumbo fridge can carry enough food to last a few weeks.

While portable, these fridges can weigh twice as much as a loaded cooler and are best moved by two people. Ideally, you want your fridge installed on a slide that is bolted to the bed of your truck or cargo area. This makes it easy to access and keeps it secure on bumpy roads.

Quality portable fridges aren't cheap, and can cost 2 to 3 times the price of a high-end cooler. But if you've got the right power setup and plan on being off-the-beaten path for weeks or months at a time, then a portable fridge is likely the way to go.

There's never been a better time to be an explorer, and high-end coolers and portable fridges ensure that you'll have fresh food and cold drinks wherever you go.

Advertisement - Continue Reading Below