When I first started camping, I didn’t think that I needed that much gear. But the more trips I went on, the more I realized the importance of camping appliances like a camping stove, air conditioner, or dehumidifier. And out of all of those camping appliances, I still think that a camping fridge is one of the most important ones to have.
With a camping fridge, you don’t have to think how to safely store your food in your car, allowing you to go on much longer trips.
If you’ve browse the market for a while, you’ll already know how expensive camping fridges are, meaning it’s quite rare to come across one that is both good and affordable. One such example is the Alpicool C15 portable fridge freezer, and in this review article, I’ll be going over everything you need to know about this model.
And by the end of this review, you’ll have a crystal-clear idea as to whether or not it’s good enough for your needs.
By the way, The Camping Air Conditioner is sponsored by readers. When you buy through one of our links, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you.
Alpicool C15 Portable Refrigerator Review Summary
While it’s important to know as much as you can about a product before buying it, this can also be pretty time-consuming. But don’t worry; if you’re in a rush and don’t have time to read the entire review, we’ve got you covered.
Here’s a quick summary of the Alpicool C15 review that has everything you need to know.
If you’re in need of a compact and affordable camping refrigerator, this is the right pick for you. It’s easy to use, and it even has two convenient handles to make lifting and transporting it around a breeze. The plastic material is also fairly durable while still being lightweight, which is a nice change when shopping for a camping fridge at this price point.
It even has low battery detection, so it will automatically shut off or adjust depending on the battery level of the power source. All in all, this is a really convenient refrigerator to bring with you when going on a camping trip.
That said, while the product descriptions say that it won’t make ice despite staying at sub-zero temperatures, some customers report that if you leave it on too long, it will start developing frost. Alternatively, you can just get yourself a camping ice maker.
Specifications | Alpicool C15 Portable Refrigerator |
Capacity | 15 Liters |
Weight | 18.92 lbs |
Dimensions | 10.2″D x 23.25″W x 12.6″H |
Voltage | 12 Volts |
Power Source | External battery or power source |
- Can keep temperatures below -4°F (-20°C)
- Can be used for both a fridge or a freezer
- Freezes without ice
- Can be powered up via the lighter socket in the car
- Can't be used as a fridge and freezer at the same time
- Not suitable for accommodating large parties
- Can keep temperatures below -4°F (-20°C)
- Can be used for both a fridge or a freezer
- Freezes without ice
- Can be powered up via the lighter socket in the car
How the Alpicool C15 Portable Refrigerator Works
One thing to keep in mind with this refrigerator is that it’s a compressor refrigerator. This basically means that this refrigerator has a compressor that compresses and pumps hot liquid gas that will cold down and then suck the heat out of the refrigerator. It also has great insulation that you need to keep the temperature inside the refrigerator consistent and prevent the compressor from working too hard.
If you want to understand refrigerator compression a bit more, you can refer to the video below.
In order to run a 12V fridge while camping, it has to be plugged in to a power supply at all times. This is why you need to make sure you have an external power source with you on your trip if you bring this refrigerator. If you don’t, then you won’t be able to use it since it doesn’t come with its own power source or battery.
Alpicool C15 Portable Refrigerator Design & Specifications
I really liked the fact this refrigerator comes in a solid and simple design. It has one silver-ish colorway that works great for outdoor settings. It doesn’t grab too much attention, but the design definitely isn’t boring that it pushes you away.
- Can keep temperatures below -4°F (-20°C)
- Can be used for both a fridge or a freezer
- Freezes without ice
- Can be powered up via the lighter socket in the car
Design & Weight
This is a pretty simple refrigerator. It isn’t dual-zone, which means you only have one compartment to store all of your consumables. While you can store things below zero in this fridge, keep in mind that this means that everything inside will freeze since it doesn’t have a separate fridge compartment.
It has a 15-liter capacity, which is a fair amount. However, I did notice that this is one of the smaller models on the market, so it might not be the best idea for large camping trips with friends and family.
The fridge is largely made out of plastic. However, Alpicool did make sure to use high-quality plastic in making this model, so you can rest assured that it’s durable and will last you a long time.
And despite having a strong build, this is a pretty light fridge. It’s around 18 pounds and has two well-placed handles to ease the burned of carrying it to and from your camping site.
Operating Specifications
This is a 12-volt, 45-watt appliance, so, it doesn’t use up that much power. This is really good since you don’t want your refrigerator eating up all your power and leaving you without electricity after the first day of camping.
That said, this isn’t a three-way fridge, so it won’t be able to run on propane. This can limit you in terms of power sources, but it’s not too big of a flaw for short to medium camping trips.
In terms of power consumption, this is a very eco-friendly device. It can last you a long time even when plugged into a battery, and using the fridge is actually very easy. So, all in all, I would highly recommend getting this fridge if you want something that’s functional. affordable, and will last you for many years.
Ease of Use and Maintenance
My biggest pet peeve with a lot of portable refrigerators on the market is how difficult they are to figure out and get running. Yes, it’s nice to have tons of features at your disposal, but if you have a hard time accessing those features, isn’t the whole thing pointless?
Everything is very straightforward with this model, and it even has automatic car battery protections. So, when it comes to ease of use, this refrigerator scores very high, which is why it’s one of my favorite camping refrigerators on the market today.
- Can keep temperatures below -4°F (-20°C)
- Can be used for both a fridge or a freezer
- Freezes without ice
- Can be powered up via the lighter socket in the car
Alternatives to the Alpicool C15 Portable Refrigerator
Not quite sure about the Alpicool C15? This is how it compares to similar alternatives on the market.
The Dailyint fridge freezer is larger and more powerful but is also significantly more expensive than the Alpicool C15 On the other hand, the Zafro 16L camping car fridge freezer is slightly bigger in storage capacity, and is more affordable than the Alpicool C15.
- Can keep temperatures below -4°F (-20°C)
- Can be used for both a fridge or a freezer
- Freezes without ice
- Can be powered up via the lighter socket in the car
- 20L storage capacity
- Can reach 0 degrees Fahrenheit easily
- Doesn't require ice to work
- Operates extremely quietly
- 16 L storage capacity
- Equipped with DC 12V/24V and AC 100-240V adapters
- Designed with energy saving in mind
- Can reach a minimum temperature of -4℉
Conclusion
And while it would be quite nice to have a two different storage compartments so one can be used as a fridge and the other as a freezer, it’s honestly not that big of a deal.
