Cool boxes, compressor cool boxes & passive cool boxe

Cooling boxes for camping and outdoor life

The choice of cooling box is mainly about choosing the technology that best suits the area of use. Today, there are mainly three different types of cooling boxes.

Thermoelectric cooling boxes - the classic cooling box
Cooling boxes that have a cooling element that gets cold on the inside and hot on the outside. The advantage of thermoelectric cooling boxes is that they are light, cheap and reliable. The main disadvantage of the technology is that cooling elements in most thermoelectric cooling boxes can only cool the contents about 14-18°C below ambient temperature. On hot summer days, the temperature in the cooling box is often quite high and they never go below 4-5°C. Other disadvantages are that they draw more power which makes it more difficult to run on battery and that they require a fan that cools the element that runs all the time the box is running.

Compressor cooling boxes - Mobile fridge/freezer
Compressor-driven cooling boxes work like a fridge or freezer in the home. The big advantage is that most can be set at the desired temperatures between about -20°C and +10°C, which it then holds regardless of the ambient temperature. Other advantages are that in most cases they are significantly quieter and that they draw less power than ordinary cooling boxes. The fact that they have such a low power consumption makes them perfect for you who are camping with a Power Station or with a battery. With a smaller Power Station, you can manage a weekend and if you supplement with a solar panel of over 100W, you often charge more than you consume (with a few hours of sunshine per day).

Passive cooling boxes
Passive cooling boxes lack cooling elements and rely on good insulation and that you top up with ice packs or lose ice. They are well suited for car trips or day trips as they keep the cold very well. Just remember to top up properly with cooling lamps or ice and do not open it unnecessarily.
 

Other things to keep in mind when choosing a cooling box are

• Does the cooling box work with both 12V and 230V (car and standard socket)
• How big a box do we need: 24 liters is generally enough for breakfast and a meal for a family
• Where are we going: If you travel to the south of Europe in the summer, a compressor-driven cooling box is preferable as they can withstand significantly higher ambient temperatures
• If you want to camp without an electric hob with a Power Station or other battery, a compressor-driven cooling box is much better
• For day trips, a passive cooling box + ice packs is just as good or better as they often insulate better than electric cooling boxes