We love camping and we love eating well – think rotisserie meat, fresh salads, and cold drinks on a hot afternoon. After a few weekends where our food got ruined because of melted ice and soggy esky water, we decided it was time to invest in a proper camping fridge. We often camp off-grid, so having a fridge means we can keep fresh food and drinks cold for several days without worrying about supplies or finding a shop nearby.
In this article, I’ll share my top camping fridge tips, a quick camping fridge comparison, and why we chose the Kings Escape 50 Fridge/Freezer for our setup.
Camping fridge tips: things to consider before buying
When you’re looking at buying a camping fridge, you need to think of your entire setup from the start. It’s not just about the fridge itself but it’s a lot about how you’ll use it and power it! Here are a few things to think about:
- Capacity and size: For two people, a 40–50L fridge is ideal. Ours is 50L and it’s the perfect balance between space and weight. Remember to check that it fits comfortably in your car, with room for the vents and cables.
- Portability: Bigger isn’t always better. A 50L fridge is already heavy, especially when full. Make sure you can move it safely.
- Dual zone: If you plan to also use your fridge as a freezer, you may be interested in a model with dual zone functionality.
- Power source: Will you run it off your car while driving, or need a battery setup for when you’re parked? The fridge is only half the story – you’ll need to plan how to keep it powered (see our set-up here).
- Temperature control: Some fridges hold the temperature more steadily than others. This will be even more important if you plan to camp in summer or may struggle to power your fridge.
- Reliability and noise: You don’t want it failing in the middle of nowhere or buzzing all night (unless, like us, you leave it in the car so you won’t hear it!).
- Price (not just the fridge!): The cost of powering your fridge (battery, charger, solar) and accessories (cables, cover) will add up and double the overall investment.
But it’s so worth it! It makes it so much easier to prepare gourmet meals, as it can be challenging to plan food when camping without a fridge.
Camping fridge comparison: what we looked at
Before buying, we compared a few models. We mostly compared Dometic and Kings models as Engel models were way out of our budget. Here’s a quick overview of what we found:
| Brand / Model | Key features | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kings Escape 50 Fridge/Freezer | 50L, 12/24V (240V with adapter) | Affordable, good size for 2 people, easy to move | Slight delay in cooling response |
| Dometic CFX3 45 | 46L, 12/24V + app control | Premium quality, efficient cooling, quiet | Expensive, smaller capacity for the price |
| Kings Escape 75 Dual Zone Fridge/Freezer | 75L, 12/24V + 240V | Affordable, dual zone, bigger size | Hard to move, take up a lot of floor space |
In the end, price and size were the deciding factors. With Dometic or Engel, we would have had to go smaller to stay within budget. We bought our Kings Escape 50 during Black Friday sales at a very good price, and it’s proven to be a solid choice for weekend and road trips.
Our experience with the Kings Escape 50 Fridge/Freezer
We’ve used this fridge for over a year now, and it’s handled everything from hot summer weekends to two-week road trips. It runs on 12/24V, or 240V with an optional adapter, and we keep it powered while driving, then switch it to a battery when we stop or to a powerbank (with a 12V socket). With all these options, we never struggled to keep it cold.
Performance-wise, it does the job. It keeps food cold, even in hot weather, as long as it’s plugged in. The only quirk we’ve noticed is that sometimes it doesn’t restart cooling until it reaches around 6–7°C even if set to 2°C, so we occasionally turn it on manually to keep it under 5°C. Noise level is low and it would never bother us at night anyway, as we keep the fridge in the car and sleep comfortably in a tent.
It’s not from the most premium brand, but for the price, it’s been a great investment to allow us to better eat while camping and enjoy our rotisserie. 50L gives us enough space for food and drinks without being too bulky to move. It’s the right size and suits how we travel.
Powering a camping fridge: plan for the hidden costs
A camping fridge isn’t just about comfort – it’s about freedom. You can camp anywhere, eat well, and never stress about melted ice or spoiled food again. But to enjoy this, you absolutely need to think about how you’ll power it; unless you are always staying at powered sites. This is where many people underestimate the real cost.
While driving, we keep the fridge powered from the car. When we park, we switch to our AGM battery and solar panels recharge it during the day – see our full set-up here.
We also have a 12Ah Lithium Portable Power Pack, which is handy for short stops (like a few hours at the beach), though it doesn’t last long. If we bought again, we’d go for the 36Ah model. A tip if you’re using a portable power pack: make sure you use a strong enough charger. We use a 100W USB charger, and even then, it takes hours to recharge.
We also have an AC to 12V adapter to pre-cool the fridge at home, which helps reduce battery drain when leaving for a short trip. We didn’t think that all these different cables and charging options would add up so much!
How to keep your camping fridge cold for longer
Even the best fridge works more efficiently with a few smart habits:
- Pre-chill your fridge at home before you go if you’re not driving long enough to cool it down on the road.
- Pack strategically – put what you’ll use first or most often on top for quick access.
- Plan before opening by thinking of what you need and where it is, so you don’t keep it open too long.
- Freeze meat you won’t need right away – it helps maintain low temperatures.
- Use a fridge cover to improve insulation and protect from the sun.
- Keep it shaded and well-ventilated.
- Avoid overloading so cold air can circulate.
These small steps make a big difference, especially when running on limited battery power.
Maintenance and cleaning tips
- Use microfibre cloths for quick wipes.
- Check the booklet for maintenance advice, especially for longer storage.
- Leave the lid open slightly when not in use to avoid odours.
- During trips, do a quick daily check to make sure everything looks clean and sealed.
