A portable fridge is one of the biggest upgrades you can make to your camping setup. No more soggy food floating in melted ice, and no more daily trips to buy bags of ice. Here's how to pick the right one.
1. Work out the size you need
As a rough guide:
- 40–60 litres – a couple, or short weekend trips
- 60–75 litres – a small family, or longer trips for two
- 90 litres and up – families, long touring trips, or if you want a separate freezer section
Remember drinks take up a surprising amount of room. If space in the car allows, most people find they'd rather have a bit too much fridge than not enough.
2. Check the power options
Most camping fridges run on 12V/24V DC from the car or a battery, and many also take 240V AC when you're on a powered site or at home. For trips where you're off-grid for a few days, you'll want a dual-battery system, a portable power station, or a solar panel to keep it running.
3. Chest or upright?
- Chest-style fridges keep the cold in better when you open them and suit the back of a wagon or ute.
- Upright models are easier to reach into and suit caravans, campers and setups where you're accessing it from the side.
4. Fridge, freezer or both?
A dual-zone fridge lets you run one section as a freezer and the other as a fridge – handy for longer trips where you want frozen meat to last. Single-zone units can usually be set to either fridge or freezer temperatures.
5. Think about where it lives
- Measure the space in your vehicle, including the height with the lid open.
- Leave room around the vents for airflow – a fridge that can't breathe works harder and uses more power.
- Use tie-down points so it can't move while driving.
- Keep it in the shade at camp; an insulated cover helps a lot in summer.
6. Tips to save power
- Pre-chill the fridge and food at home before you leave.
- Pack it full – a full fridge holds its temperature better than an empty one.
- Open the lid less often by planning what you need before you open it.
Our camp kitchen range includes GECKO portable fridge freezers from 57L up to 95L, including the GECKO 70L and upright 95L models. Check each product page for its exact power options and dimensions.