Resourceful Traveler: Fridges vs Coolers

So, you’ve built your rig up with the latest aftermarket accessories: a beefy bumper, spacious rooftop tent, and a winch that could pull The Andrea Doria to shore. But whatever your plans are on or off the trail, when the rubber stops rolling, you’re gonna want a cold beverage and perhaps a good meal. And since no one likes a warm drink, you’ll need a cold place to store them.

The cooler and fridge market has exploded right alongside the increased popularity of off-roading and overlanding. What once was a moderately populated segment is now ripe with choices and unique options. So, if you’re new to the game and looking to purchase your first cooler or fridge, there are a few things you’ll need to know.

Let’s start with the basics.

What is a cooler?

A cooler is exactly what you’re thinking it is: a portable box or bag (usually with a handle or strap) used to put your perishables in to stay cold. When I hear the word—as I’m sure you do —my mind immediately conjures up a default cooler image; perhaps one you have now, or one from your past.

When I was younger, my parents had a big blue cooler that they would put in the back of our hideous, moldy-champagne colored Ford Taurus wagon. For reasons I’ve never quite understood, my mom always did her grocery shopping at a supermarket 40 minutes away, so the cooler was necessary. They put a small, meager ice pack in it, and while I can’t say we ever returned home with perfectly chilled groceries, it did the trick. That blue cooler is still kicking around somewhere at my parent’s house. (As for the Taurus, thankfully it is not.)

Chilly Evolution

Quite a lot has changed since that blue cooler made its maiden grocery voyage some 30 years ago. Within the past 10 years in particular, coolers have gotten much better and much more mainstream.

While there were higher-end coolers before it, YETI really forged the modern cooler game. Sure, they cost a good chunk of cash, but people bought them in droves. Soon after, more high-end cooler companies cropped up to compete. Even legacy cooler brands like Coleman and Igloo have felt the pressure from the young guns, and now offer premium options to contend.

These brands – especially the aforementioned YETI – have done a great job not only selling their coolers, but also selling a lifestyle. It still seems a bit strange to me to see a truck or SUV with a huge logo for a cooler company on the back, but that just shows the marketing prowess of these companies.

So, what makes a modern cooler better? Simple: Ice retention.

Just a few decades ago, we’d be lucky to get to the beach a few hours away and have any ice. Nowadays, we can get to the beach on the opposite coast without your cooler breaking a sweat… literally. Better materials, better insulation, better result. The years of the white Styrofoam rectangles have been laid to rest.

What is a fridge?

If you’re looking for more kitchen-like performance for your cold items, a fridge is the solution. Like the cooler, these have been around for a bit, but modern units have gotten really good.

An automotive/camping/overlanding fridge is not unlike the fridge in your home, but is has the form factor of a typical hard cooler—perhaps on average, just a touch larger. Contrasting the cooler, these fridges require an external power source to tap into and keep them running. While most can be unplugged and used portably, they require constant voltage to operate as intended.

There are THREE main types of fridges you should know about. The majority fall under the third category in this list, but you should still know the differences.

Thermoelectric Fridge

Not to get all Bill Nye on you, but these coolers use the Peltier Effect to stay cool. Very simply put, this uses two different electrical conductors to create a difference in temperature. So, one conductor grabs all the heat, while the other stays cool. These are cheaper, but do not get as cold, nor do they operate as efficiently as other types. However, for specific trips and travels this can be a good, affordable option.

Absorption/Trivalent Fridges

These have been a popular choice for RV fridges for quite some time, as many units can run off propane or electricity. These fridges operate using chemical reactions. As the internal liquid changes states from liquid to gas, it can absorb heat and produce cold.

Like the Thermoelectric, Absorption Fridges aren’t super great at generating a massive amount of their own cooling—but they are good at maintaining their current temperature. These should be well ventilated and do operate better at 230V (as opposed to 12V) or if they are using propane.

Compressor Fridge

These are cream of the crop, most popular, and most like that Frigidaire you have back in your kitchen. Due to its namesake—the compressor—they are the fastest cooling and most efficient. Most of these units can be used as a fridge or a freezer, and a select few have zones that let you have both at the same time.

But with all these pros, there has to be a con. These are by far the most expensive, often costing as much as an entry-level kitchen refrigerator, and may be out of reach for many looking to build on a budget. As we compare fridges and coolers, though, when we say fridges, we’ll be talking about the compressor variety.

A Few of our Favorites

Budget Cooler: RTIC Ultralight 52

RTIC’s motto says it all: Overbuilt, not overpriced. Whereas similarly-sized competitors can go for two times the amount, the RTIC Ultralight 52 packs all the features you’d want in a rotomolded plastic cooler while reducing weight by 30% — and staying under $200.

With 3 inches of closed cell foam insulation, the ice retention of the Ultralight matches or exceeds its close competitors. Toss in a 64-can capacity and a half-dozen fun colors, and the RTIC Ultralight is a phenomenal cooler for not a lot of cash.

Premium Cooler: YETI V Series

We couldn’t talk about coolers and not mention the brand that is credited for pioneering the category. We’ve all seen the hard rotomolded plastic coolers YETI is known for, but have you seen their stainless-steel V Series?

A combination of the Tundra lineup and stainless drinkware, the V-Series has a retro styling which is a breath of fresh air in a sea of colored hard plastic. It gives off old-school Coca-Cola ice chest vibes while still packing all the technical features to keep your beverages cold for days. And for you wine lovers, it holds standard bottles upright!

Most Versatile Cooler: RovR RollR Series 45/60/80

The worst part about heavy ice and beverage-filled coolers is that they can prove to be a bit unruly when moving from site to vehicle and back again. You often need a few pairs of hands, and this slows things down when loading or unloading. Well, the RollR Series by RovR makes thing a bit easier.

Sure, some coolers have wheels, but do they have tires as capable as what’s on your vehicle? The RollR’s 9-inch, all-terrain tire and five-spoke hubs look great and go over absolutely anything. The cooler itself carries ice up to 10 days, and RovR has a ton of accessories including prep boards, bike mounts, and special beach wheels to add-on.

Engineered with the world’s best cooling and organization design on the inside, the RovR RollR is built to carry your campsite, tailgate or party on the out.

Budget Fridge: Smittybilt Arctic

Look, you won’t want to hear this – but in the name of honesty, this fridge used to sit comfortably under the $800 mark. Unfortunately, inflation, electronic shortages, and overall category popularity has bumped this up to about $850 as of August 2022. But it’s not just the Smitty getting a price bump, it’s pretty much all overlanding fridges. And even with the half-Benjamin price hike, we can still comfortably recommend this unit—it’s a damn fine fridge.

While most entry-level fridges still fall around the $1K+ mark, Smittybilt’s Arctic manages to pack everything you’d want in a fridge while still having cash left over to fill it up a few times. At 52 quarts, the Arctic is a great size—large enough for prolonged travel, but not too big that it takes up a massive amount of precious cargo space. It’s ultra-efficient compressor and 55MM thick polyurethane insulation combine to produce temperatures as low as -22F. Its easy-to-use power controls and removable basket and dairy section make this a versatile yet simple to operate choice.

Best Overall: Dometic CFX3 55IM

Just like YETI with coolers, you can’t mention automotive/RV fridges without saying Dometic. They’ve really flexed their innovative prowess over the past few years and taken the reins as a top dog in the category.

We could honestly recommend any unit from Dometic’s CFX3 series, but we’ll highlight the 55IM. At 55 quarts, once again this fridge hits that sweet spot right in the middle of the popular fridge sizing range. The “IM” means ice-maker. The Dometic CFX3 55IM has a top freeze plate with silicone trays for rapid ice production. We love the modern black and silver design, but its rugged, lightweight ExoFrame and fender frame protection makes it more than just a nice-looking chest. Power options include AC, DC, and solar, so you’ll rarely ever need to worry about power to keep your goods cold. And our favorite part of the Dometic? It’s got an app! No need to rock, paper, scissors to see who needs to check on the fridge. Just pull out your smartphone and control/monitor temperature right from where you are.

So, which is better for you? A cooler or a fridge? Stay tuned as The Engine Block will help you decide between the two for your next adventure!