If you’re ready to ditch your cooler and buy a mini portable freezer for your car or RV for this year’s camping expeditions, you’ve come to the right place to learn all about the best portable mini freezers for camping.
These electronic portable mini freezers will keep your food cold, and you won’t have to worry about running out to buy ice every couple of days.
Keep reading to see our current favorite mini portable freezers on the market, plus, we’ll walk you through what to look for when buying a mini portable freezer for camping and questions other buyers ask.
Our Top Picks
Best Value
IECO JP30 Portable Freezer
Best for Budgets and RVs
R.W. FLAME Upright Compact Freezer
Premium Option
ARB 10802692 ZERO Portable Fridge Freezer
Best Value
ICECO JP30 Portable Freezer
![ICECO JP30 Portable Refrigerator WIFI APP Control, 12V Car Fridge Freezer, 31 Liters Compact Refrigerator with Secop Compressor, for Car & Home Use, 0℉～50℉, DC 12/24V, AC 110/240V [Upgraded]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41bUUlr0hjL._SL500_.jpg "The Best Mini Portable Freezer For Camping in 2024: Our Top 5 Picks 2")
The ICECO JP30 Portable Freezer is the best value portable mini freezer for RV and car camping. It can store over eight gallons of food, can quickly switch into fridge mode, and has all the features you need to make the most out of your RV or car camping trip.
It comes with a German SECOP Compressor, ETL Certificate, and Global Product Insurance. This freezer includes a 12-foot-long extended DC cable and an insulated cover.
Pros
- Adjustable temperature from -7 degrees to 50 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can also adjust the temperature to use the unit as a refrigerator
- ICECO is a trusted global freezer brand with five warehouses in the United States to ensure your new freezer arrives promptly
- The compressor is intended to work for energy-saving purposes by stopping operation when the temperature reaches a set temperature, then it will start working again when the temperature reaches six to nine degrees Fahrenheit
- Five-year warranty on the compressor and a one-year warranty on all other parts
- Handles for easy transport
Cons
- If you accidentally switch the mode from eco to max, you will drain your generator’s or car’s battery very quickly
Best for Budgets
R.W.FLAME Upright Compact Freezer
You’re unlikely to find a good mini portable freezer under $100, but the 33-liter R.W.FLAME Upright Compact Freezer is as close as it gets and provides a nice compact freezer option for RVers. The upright freezer is equipped with high-quality stainless steel and six levels of temperature adjustments.
Pros
- Equipped with an energy-saving compressor
- Its noise level is below 40 dB, so it won’t bother you while you’re sleeping
- Features thick sealing strips for more airtight isolation
- Two shelves
Cons
- No handle for easy transport
- A thermometer is not included, so you need to purchase one separately to know the exact freezer temperature
Premium Option
ARB ZERO Portable Fridge
ARB is a leading manufacturer of high-quality products, and the ARB ZERO Portable Fridge seeks to impress with its unique features. Ideal for medium to large SUVs, wagons, and trucks, the ARB ZERO Portable Fridge is a premier mini portable freezer companion for all types of camping trips.
Pros
- Handles for easy transport
- Two compartments–25.4 quarts and 47.6 quart
- Quick-release lid to swap openings
- Front and rear DC inlets
- AC inlet for home and powered-site connection
- USB outlet to charge devices
- Control the temperature with the front panel or wirelessly through the free app on Bluetooth-enabled devices
Cons
- A high price point for a portable freezer
AOOBOSI 12V Refrigerator Freezer
The AOOBOSI 12V Refrigerator Freezer can be used as a refrigerator or a freezer, cooling to ranges between -4 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. A 16-liter empty unit can cool to 32 degrees Fahrenheit in about 15 minutes. This refrigerator/freezer is quiet at 42 dB.
Pros
- ECO Mode available for energy saving
- Smart WiFi enables you to control the temperature with an app on your smartphone, though you can also control the temperature with the smart panel on the front of the unit
- Provides a 3-level protection system to prevent the car power supply from being overloaded
- Professional technical support team if you have questions
- Child lock to prevent children from accidentally controlling the temperature
Cons
- It’s half the size of the top three on this list
WOLFSTORM 12V Refrigerator Freezer
The 15-liter WOLFSTORM 12V Refrigerator Freezer functions to keep meats, ice cream, breastmilk, and more at the desired temperature, reaching temperatures ranging from -5 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit. This unit also reaches 32 degrees Fahrenheit in 15 minutes when empty.
Packaging includes one 12/24 Volt DC power cord and one 110-240V AC power cord.
Pros
- Operates as a refrigerator or freezer
- Low noise at 45 dB
- Takes 55 minutes to go from 77 degrees Fahrenheit to -5 degrees Fahrenheit
- Includes 3-stage battery protection to prevent your freezer from consuming all of your vehicle’s or generator’s battery
- Phone app for controlling the temperature
Cons
- It’s the smallest portable mini freezer on this list
- The phone app disconnects often
Mini Portable Freezer Buyer’s Guide
The following information breaks down all the details you should consider when choosing the best mini portable freezer for your situation.
Power Consumption
Look for mini portable freezers with eco modes and power consumption protection to prevent the appliance from draining your vehicle’s or generator’s battery. (If you’re looking for a new generator, read about the best generators and the best solar generators.)
Various factors will determine how much power your mini portable freezer uses, including:
- The size of the freezer
- The outdoor temperature
- The freezer’s insulation quality
- How often the door is open, and the length of time it is opened
Depending on the above circumstances, a modern portable mini freezer uses between 30 and 100 watts when plugged in continuously. You can convert amps to watts with the following formula: Amps X Voltage = Watts
Insulation
Pay attention to the insulation specs. Some portable mini freezers come with insulation covers, which help keep the cold air in longer and require less power consumption.
Insulation covers can also be purchased separately for many mini portable freezer brands.
Plug-in Types
Most vehicles use 12V plug-ins, so it’s unsurprising that most mini portable freezers include 12V plug-ins. The best portable mini freezers should come with AC and DC inlets for easily plugging in these types of power cords.
AC power cords attach to your standard walls, so you can cool your freezer quickly before putting it in the car (which will save your car’s battery). DC power cords will allow you to connect your appliance to the car.
Compressor
The compressor is one of the main components that allow your mini portable freezer to operate. Over the lifetime of the freezer, common issues can arise that result in the compressor needing to be repaired or completely repaired.
Pay attention to the brand of the compressor in case you ever have to replace it. It’s also a good idea to buy a mini freezer with a top compressor brand known to last like:
- Secop
- LG
- Sawafuji Swing Motor
- Domestic Waeco
- Blue-Gen
Noise Level
There’s nothing worse than a noisy freezer that keeps you up at night. Pay close attention to the decibels (dB) noise the portable mini freezer makes when it’s sitting idle. Note that a whisper is about 30 dB.
Usage Options
Most mini portable freezers can also be used as a refrigerator.
It’s great to have the option to turn your freezer up to refrigerator settings because this will allow you to keep beverages cool without worrying about freezing. Then you can turn the appliance down to freezer temperatures for ice cream, popsicles, and all your favorite frozen treats.
Portability
The whole purpose of a portable mini freezer is that it’s easily transportable. Great portable freezers will have handles to easily place them in your trunk.
Consider the weight before stocking to help determine if you will need assistance moving the freezer around. No one wants to throw out their back!
Control Options
Many of the best mini portable freezers for 2023 come with the ability to control your freezer’s temperature from a smartphone app. This is helpful if you’re keeping your freezer in the RV or car, so you can keep an eye on the temperature without actually going to the freezer.
Size
Decide how big of a mini portable freezer you need before you buy. Measure the space(s) you plan on storing in your mini portable freezer, such as your trunk or RV counter space.
Bigger will hold more food, but a larger mini freezer is useless if you can’t fit it where it needs to go.
Warranty
The standard warranty for mini portable freezers is one year, though some brands may offer an additional warranty on the compressor.
Mini Portable Freezer Frequently Asked Questions
How many years should a mini portable freezer last?
Mini portable freezers are not expected to last as long as full-sized home freezers, but if they are properly cleaned and maintained, many can be expected to last ten years or more.
Many factors will determine how long your mini portable freezer will last. Overfilling will cause your freezer to work too hard, resulting in it dying sooner.
Freezers stored in hot cars, garages, or outside tend not to last as long either, so storing your freezer in a cool environment, such as your basement, when not in use is important.
Keep your mini portable freezer clean and well-maintained to get the most out of it. Your freezer should be defrosted and deep-cleaned every six to eight months.
Does a mini portable freezer need its circuit?
There’s no need to wire a special circuit to your mini freezer, but you will want to be careful not to overload the circuit. If you plug it into a car, you probably won’t want to plug it into anything else or you’ll risk killing your car battery.
If you are plugging your mini portable freezer into a generator, you will need to know how many watts per hour your generator can handle, then you will need to calculate all of the appliances. This involves calculating the watts per hour usage of everything plugged in.
You can easily plug your phone and mini freezer into the same circuit, but you’re not going to want to plug it into the same circuit as a space heater.
How long will a portable mini freezer last without power?
Generally speaking, food will stay safe for 24 hours in a half-full freezer or 48 hours in a half-full freezer. This assumes that your mini freezer was operating at 0 degrees before you took away power. If you were operating on refrigerator settings, food will only stay safe for about four hours.
What is the difference between ETL and UL Listed Freezers?
ETL stands for Intertek Testing Services (formerly Edison Testing Laboratories), and UL stands for Underwriters Laboratories. The biggest difference between these two certifications in freezers is who tested and approved the freezer.
Both of these laboratories are Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratories (NRTL) in the United States. In the US, all NTRLs are required to follow the same standards and use identical testing procedures.
Although they have the same testing regulations, there are some reasons why manufacturers prefer UL certifications over ETL. UL is considered prestigious in some regard because it’s developed some of its standards in addition to those created by other NTRLs.
UL also has better consumer recognition than ETL, though its waiting lists create a backlog of products awaiting approval. Therefore, you will also see companies stating a product is “ETL Listed to UL Specifications” to attract buyers.
Wrapping up the Best Mini Portable Freezer for Camping
Now that you know all about the best mini portable freezers for camping in 2023, you’re all set to start comparing and contrasting your favorites. The ICECO Portable Refrigerator Freezer is certainly a great value with its eco mode and 5-year compressor warranty.
Make sure to check out the top 10 RV kitchen accessories for cooking and meal prep next.
- About the Author
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Nicole Kinkade grew up in campgrounds in the Midwest with her family in their RV and has many fond memories around the campfire. She and her husband took many tent camping trips at the beginning of their relationship, and she looks forward to sharing the outdoors with her young son as he gets older.
She loves discovering new camping techniques and sharing them with the world. With a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and Media Communication, she is a passionate writer who loves sharing her knowledge online.
Nicole can be reached at nicolek.author@gmail.com