Road tripping and Camping is built into the Australian culture, exploring our great back yard is one of the true wonders of life. Our country offers so many vast and iconic locations there’s almost endless places to see. One problem is the beautiful land down under is hot, bloody hot. Although this makes for great Adventures it’s not much fun if you can’t keep your drinks cold.

For decades us Aussies have been using the classic cooler and ice to keep our food and beverages cold. However, over the last decade 12 volt fridges and freezers have been increasingly gaining in popularity. There are multiple reasons behind this shift.

The first reason for the fundamental shift is technology. When Portable fridges first came on the market, they were large in size but had poor internal storage. They also drained large amounts of power with an engine that was big, noisy and hot. Obviously since then Portable fridges and freezers have come a long way, but unfortunately the perception of them is slow to change. This article will help clarify the magnitude of various benefits and perks 12 volt fridges and freezers have.

 New age construction methods and superior design in installation has allowed 12 volt fridges and freezer designers to create thinner walls to maximize the amount of internal storage they provide. Not only that but continued advancements in technology have reduced the size of motors whilst increasing the power. Plus, they now run cooler at low noise levels.   

Back in the day the inferior transportable freezer and fridges where also a one stop shop when it came to variety, maybe a few different sizes were offered but generally that was about it. Today however the range of 12 volt fridges and freezers is so incredible vast. Not only in the huge range of sizes but also styles. You can get solo a fridge or even a solo freezer but the best models come with ability to transform into either depending on what you set the temp to. But if you want the best of both grab a 12 volt fridge and freezer.  As for styles if you’ve got the room, install an upright fridge with freezer in your rig to easily access and organize your food. Alternately for those who don’t have the room, or for those who want a dedicated snacks or drinks fridge. Then a drawer fridge is a great way to go.

Another major reason people are choosing 12 v freezer and fridges over your conventional cooler and ice box, is us Aussie are more into series camping then ever before. Although short weekend camping trips are becoming extremely popular. I believe the true fundamental shift is the increase of Aussies going on extreme expedition trips. You need a portable fridge and freezer to truly go on an outback adventure exploring the endless unknown in the most remote parts of the country as a cooler box with ice isn’t going to cut it. Firstly, it’s incredibly time consuming to have to stop into a shop to buy ice. But the real reason if you are camping and traveling remote you may not see a shop or even another person for miles or days. So, the ability to be self sustainable is a must, and in food storage the only way to be fully self sustainable is with a 12 v freezer/fridge and a solar setup.

Cost is another driving force behind the shift, again when the original 12 volt freezer and fridges came to the market they were extremely expensive and thus a significantly larger investment than a traditional cooler. These days however with improved production abilities and popularity cost of portable fridge and freezers have come right down. In some cases, renowned camping brands prices are so low they battle the price of premium coolers. Which is crazy when you think that when it boils down to it a cooler is just a big box.  

The quality of modern day 12 volt freezer and fridges is second to none. Obviously not all brands so research is always advised. But those worried about purchasing a portable fridge and freezer over an Ice Box Cooler due to quality need not be. The motor on a 12 volt freezer and fridge is mostly made up by the compressor, SECOP is an extremely well recognized and trusted brand when it comes to compressors. So, look for a model that features a genuine SECOP compressor, so it runs reliably and efficiently at low noise.

Portable 12 volt fridge and freezers now feature various creature comforts and clever design features that not only solve issues but also add to your general camping or adventure experience.  So, one nifty little creature comfort is doubled ended power connections. Some of the larger 12 volt freezer and fridges feature a power connection port at each end, this allows for great versatility when installing it into your vehicle or simply using it at camp. While on the topic of power, models that feature both 12 volt and 240 volt connection are extremely handy. That way you’ll save battery power when wall power is available. Either at a powered camp site or if you’re using it as an extra fridge at Christmas time. In the past once installed into your vehicle the lid hinge configuration became a serious issue. However now the premium 12 volt freezer and fridge brands offer reversable lids. So not only is accessing the fridge from either side possible but some models also feature a lift off lid, which is great for both packing or unpacking. An LCD screen display allows you to set and forget your desired temperature, whilst also offering accurate internal temperatures without the need to open the lid.

As you can see Portable fridges and freezers have come along way, and thus these days offer a vast range of various benefits and perks over a traditional Ice Box Cooler. So, use this article to find a 12 volt fridge and freezer that best suits your adventure needs.