I do a lot of traveling, especially weekend trips, and this caught my eye because I am continually living out of a cooler, bringing ice and dealing with wet and soggy food. A portable fridge/cooler is the solution but many are too small, too loud, or have other flaws that make them more trouble than they’re worth.
This cooler, at least from the product description, checked off all the boxes. Capacity, check. No ice needed, check. Fast cooling, check. Battery saver, check. So I ordered it and I’ve been impressed so far.
This unit strikes a great balance with regard to weight and build quality. Coolers full of ice are incredibly heavy, so you don’t want to trade that for another unit that’s equally heavy. This is light enough to be convenient while having a good solid built quality. Not too heavy, not too light. The light closes well and forms a good seal, unlike most of the coolers I’ve bought.
But where the unit really shines is the rapid cooling. My first test was during my 40-minute commute to work. I put the unit in my car, turned on the power, and placed inside two of my favorite bottles of ginger beer. The unit ran quietly enough that I really couldn’t hear it even though it was right behind me in the back seat. When I arrived to work, the interior was nice and cold and the ginger beer was well chilled. Most coolers can keep items cold (with lots of ice). This unit can get things cold quickly, which is a fantastic feature.
A couple things to keep in mind about any refrigeration unit: The vents can’t be blocked. Refrigeration is about heat exchange, so if the vents are blocked in a tightly packed car, this unit will not work (no fridge will in that case). Also, although this works well to chill items, it’s much easier (takes less energy) to keep things cold versus get them cold. If you’re starting on a weekend trip, better to start out with items that are already cold. Also, if you leave this unit in a hot car without the windows open to let heat escape, don’t expect good results. (This is true for any active refrigeration unit.)
The one feature I haven’t tried yet is the battery saver. This unit will shut off when your car battery starts to get low. This is a fantastic feature that speaks to the thought and engineering behind it. However, I haven’t tested that so I can’t speak to it. Also keep in mind that some vehicle power supplies won’t work when the key isn’t in the ignition. It’s not expensive to buy an adapter to hook directly to the car battery in that case (and the battery save feature will still work if you take this route, as the functionality is built into the portable fridge, independent of a vehicle’s electrical system).
If I have any further notes about longevity, I’ll add those. Initially, this is perfect for the trips I do and I’m excited to be ice free!
| Brand Name | Goture |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 24.2 pounds |
| Package Dimensions | 24.72 x 15.43 x 14.49 inches |
| Capacity | 20 Quarts |
| Noise | 45 dB |
| Installation Type | Freestanding |
| Part Number | C18-W |
| Form Factor | Chest |
| Special Features | Portable |
| Color | Black-20QT |
| Door Material Type | Aluminum |
| Shelf Type | Plastic |
| Certification | FCC |
| Material Type | ABS |
| Inner Material Type | aluminum |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
| Item Weight | 11 Kilograms |
| Number Of Doors | 1 |
