Excellent associate in your energy station

Fridges aren’t new within the automotive world, however earlier than the latest transportable energy station increase, there wasn’t a lot demand for them outdoors of RVs and long-haul truckers. At $400, Bodega Cooler’s Automobile Fridge undercuts many established cell fridge makers like Dometic by as a lot as $1,000 with out compromising fundamentals like its responsive contact interface, clear temperature readouts, and durable construct high quality. Whereas Bodega Cooler additionally has choices for #VanLife builds, fast day journeys, and every little thing in between, the primary focus right this moment is its 64-quart providing that sports activities a twin zone fridge/freezer system.




We’ve talked about the advantages of energy stations earlier than, particularly throughout disasters and surprising outages, however they are often simply as recreation altering for deliberate outages, like tenting or tailgating. Most energy stations price their salt can simply sort out cellphone and laptop computer charging responsibility with loads of juice left over for loftier trendy conveniences. Bodega Cooler’s Automobile Fridge suits that area of interest completely. As a direct substitute for a cooler stuffed with ice, it nonetheless retains your items chilly, all with out the chance of melting ice seeping into your sandwich baggage for a soggy shock later.

Bodega Cooler 64 Quart Automobile Fridge

With a break up fridge/freezer system, and nearly an identical capability in comparison with premium coolers in the identical worth vary, the Bodega Cooler Automobile Fridge is likely one of the finest direct upgrades you may make to your campsite, offered you have already got energy. Whereas it is not an ideal product, the areas it excels in are certain to take your off-grid expertise from tenting to glamping.

Professionals

  • Quiet sufficient to sleep subsequent to with out subject
  • Energy-efficient sufficient to go greater than a day on a 1kW energy station
  • Sturdy construct high quality that does not skip small touches
  • Detachable heart divider and racks
  • 5-year compressor guarantee
Cons

  • App integration may be very hit-or-miss
  • Considerably heavier and noticeably greater than a standard cooler



Value, availability, and specs

Sizes for each price range

Between the a number of sizes accessible on Amazon, the Bodega Cooler Automobile Fridge line has choices from $300 to $700, largely simply on this blue and grey shade scheme. The 64-quart model we’re overlaying right this moment has a $400 price ticket, and sometimes goes as little as $300, although it’s possible you’ll be extra within the 80 and 32-quart variations, relying in your use case.

What’s good concerning the Bodega Cooler Automobile Fridge?

Nonetheless a worth at this worth


Whereas the $400 price ticket could seem just a little excessive for many who have not been down the tenting aisle shortly, it’s price stating that the Bodega Cooler 64-Quart Automobile Fridge is generally solely $25 greater than Yeti’s 65 qt Tundra cooler. It is virtually the identical capability and worth as a premium cooler, all whereas together with a break up refrigeration unit that may maintain you from leaving camp for extra ice. So, it will be tough to decide on a standard cooler over it.

Whereas one of many huge options right here is that break up fridge/freezer setup, the divider within the center might be eliminated, and the Bodega Cooler will robotically disable the freezer controls, working in a single-zone fridge mode. The racks are additionally detachable, making it considerably simpler to suit lengthy racks of ribs or briskets inside. Eradicating the racks additionally gives entry to the drain plug on the fridge facet, which is a little bit of a necessity for ice removing, because it isn’t frostless. Doing this additionally makes it simple to preload the fridge facet with neatly nestled layers of cans.


The Bodega Cooler Car Fridge with the center divider removed to make room for a long brisket

As anybody with a chest freezer or typical cooler is conscious, having the lid on high of your chilly field of alternative, versus its entrance, is a straightforward option to maintain all of your hard-earned chilly air inside, making temperature upkeep a lot simpler throughout frequent openings. What makes the Bodega Cooler so suited to its job isn’t simply this well-trod thermodynamic precept, it’s that it’s paired with a cooling system that virtually sips energy. In our testing we noticed between a 20 and 50 watt-hour draw at any time when it kicked on, adopted by prolonged intervals of close to zero energy utilization because it sat idle between cooling cycles.


That minuscule draw makes it good to make use of with most small to medium energy stations. Linked to a Jackery Explorer 1000, it estimated over a day of energy on this responsibility cycle, which might simply be prolonged when paired with a photo voltaic panel or two. For those who’re devoted sufficient to have two of Jackery’s 200W panels, two hours within the solar will purchase you a whole day of refrigeration, making it simple to remain off-grid for weeks at a time, as long as you continue to have groceries to maintain chilly.

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Even with out steady energy, the Bodega Cooler is nonetheless well-insulated, and frozen bottles of Gatorade left inside have been nonetheless chilly and slushy two days later. With how low the ability draw is, together with how spacious it’s inside, it’s hardly a shock how lengthy it takes to get all the way down to its rated temps, although. From room temperature, the fridge facet took the higher a part of six hours to achieve 35 levels Fahrenheit, and Bodega Cooler recommends a day and a half for issues positioned within the freezer facet to grow to be frozen. This subject might be resolved simply by plugging it right into a wall outlet a day or two earlier than you allow for camp, so it is hardly a deal-breaker.

What’s dangerous concerning the Bodega Cooler Automobile Fridge?

Not as sensible because it lets on


Probably the most irritating subject with the Bodega Cooler Automobile Fridge, by far, is the hit-or–(largely) miss app expertise. Whereas I wouldn’t name controlling your fridge out of your cellphone an pressing want, it’s a kind of options that I’d a lot relatively not have than have a lackluster model of. Given the selection of spending one other half-hour making an attempt to attach my Pixel 8 Professional to the Bodega Cooler and strolling over to press the buttons in meatspace, I favor the latter possibility.

In comparison with the Yeti Tundra 65 talked about earlier, the Bodega Cooler Automobile Fridge measures 2 to three inches shorter alongside its X and Y dimensions however stands six inches taller at 21.5 inches, and weighs 15 kilos extra — an additional 50% of the Yeti’s weight — whereas empty. In its protection, it roughly has the heart of a dorm fridge shoved inside, so it’s not price knocking any factors off its rating. And it’s unlikely that further heft will matter whereas it’s absolutely loaded and being wheeled round.


The fridge side of the Bodega Cooler Car Fridge, with the smaller handle and its wheels visible.

Very like the aforementioned dorm fridge, the Bodega Cooler Automobile Fridge isn’t frostless, so whereas it might not want any ice to maintain your cans chilled, a lot can construct up inside over time. That is a lot much less of a difficulty right here, because it sports activities a drain within the backside, making it considerably simpler to keep up than your collegiate beer stash. The massive concession with this design, when in comparison with a standard fridge, is that it relies upon extra on direct contact versus conditioned air blown in to relax its contents, resulting in for much longer timeframes to relax or freeze something you add inside.


Do you have to purchase it?

One of many first upgrades I might make

The Bodega Cooler Car Fridge charging from a Jackery Explorer 1000 at a red picnic table.

Prolonged chill time and hefty measurement apart, it’s onerous to disclaim the worth proposition the Bodega Cooler Automobile Fridge provides. With a standard cooler, it’s fairly typical to finish your weekend getaway with it half-full of tepid water and the ten weight-reduction plan Sunkists nobody was determined sufficient to drink. Conversely, with the Bodega Cooler, you’ll be able to really make the most of the area usually occupied by ice, heading into the wilderness with considerably extra refreshments with out taking on far more area.

The largest concession right here is that the Bodega Cooler is at its finest if you have already got an influence station, together with some photo voltaic panels to maintain it topped up. If that’s the case, an improve to your off-grid actions like this is likely one of the first quality-of-life enhancements I’d recommend.


The Bodega Cooler car fridge in a white background

Bodega Cooler 64 Quart Automobile Fridge

Coming in at virtually the identical worth as a premium cooler of the identical measurement, however with the addition of a full refrigeration unit, the Bodega Cooler Automobile Fridge is likely one of the easiest-justified upgrades you will make to your tenting setup. The one caveat is that it is at its finest when paired with a transportable energy station. In any other case, you will make simply as many runs for ice as you used to.

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