TOP 5 excellent food coolers for the road

Inexpensive Pinnacle coolers are an affordable way to keep food fresh when you're on the road in the hot summer. These plastic cooler boxes are manufactured by the Indian company Tokyo Plast International Ltd. from Mumbai. The reference to the capital of Japan in the title is not accidental: the enterprise is equipped with modern Toshiba foundry equipment, which ensures high-quality and precise molding of products. Despite this, buyers note traces of flash left after casting, which affect the sloppy appearance after assembly. The Pinnacle Eskimo Primero 25 cold storage box with an internal volume of 25 liters is distinguished by its low price, light weight of 2.8 kg and relatively small dimensions of 39x26x43 cm. The manufacturer's declared cooling time is 60 hours and is provided with a 20 mm layer of polyurethane foam insulation with low thermal conductivity.

The body of the insulated box is molded from impact-resistant environmentally friendly plastic, which does not contain bisphenol (BPA) and does not have foreign odors. And 4 color options (blue, red, turquoise and light green) allow you to make a choice to taste. Removable lid and folding handle, regardless of the color of the body, are white or light gray. The advantage of the handle is the presence of stiffening ribs and a soft grip pad, and its disadvantage is the small thickness, which is not enough for heavy loads. The manufacturer assures that four 2-liter eggplants or up to 30 cans can be vertically placed inside, but we do not recommend overloading the box because of the flimsy handle. In general, the model justifies its price and keeps food and drinks cool for a long time.

American food cooling containers from Igloo Products Corp. have a reputation among motorists for good products that will never let you down. The relatively inexpensive isothermal box Igloo Sportsman 30 with an internal volume of approximately 28 liters is the youngest model in the line. The external dimensions of the compact thermal box are 47x43x34 cm, and the ergonomic design, thought out to the smallest detail, and the quality of workmanship confirm the correct choice. The material for the container weighing 3.27 kg was high-quality impact-resistant plastic. The drawer can be carried using the folding handle with 3 grip points or molded side handles for two-handed lifting. For ease of movement and prevention of slippage, there is a relief patterned pattern on the sidewalls of the case. The lid is non-removable and opens on built-in hidden hinges.

The bottom has a reinforced structure with protruding supports at the corners, imitating legs. Maintaining the temperature for 2 days is facilitated by a layer of proprietary Ultratherm thermal insulation and the original Cool Riser Technology, which provides unhindered air circulation through the gap under the bottom of the container. This eliminates the direct contact of the box with the heated surface, which allows you to keep the cool inside longer. The geometry of the lid is consistent with the contour of the supporting base, which makes it possible to stack thermoboxes stably one on top of the other. This property will be useful if you take several containers with you and want to minimize the space they take up. The height of the drawer and the internal recesses in the lid allow four 2 liter bottles of drinks to be placed vertically, and leave enough space for stowage of food. The model is made at the head plant of the company in the USA.

The Pinnacle Prudence Country Trip Refrigerator is an inexpensive solution in this class that allows you to not only cool food on the outing, but also prepare food for serving hot. The capacity of the device is 30 liters and is optimal in terms of capacity and dimensions. With its dimensions of 43x43x30 cm and weight of 4.8 kg, the model is quite compact and differs little in appearance from a conventional thermal box. Between the outer and inner walls there is a heat-insulating layer of 20 mm thick polyurethane foam. To move the device, a rotary handle is used, similar to that found in the manufacturer's isothermal containers. The case made of light green or turquoise impact-resistant plastic has a reinforcement in the form of a side X-shaped recess, which acts as a stiffening rib.

The device uses the cooling principle popular in car refrigerators on Peltier semiconductor thermoelements, capable of transferring both heat and cold. The absence of moving parts and coolant in the design makes their operation silent. The thermal module and connectors for connecting the power cable are mounted in the hinged cover of the device, which can be removed if necessary. The appliance cools down to 15 °C below ambient temperature and heats food up to 50 °C. The model is equipped with cables with an adapter for working from a 12 V car battery and from a regular 230 V power outlet. Unfortunately, the manufacturer saved on the length of the cables and their maximum length is only enough to place a refrigerator right behind the front seats of the car. The manufacturer also offers a refrigerator similar in design and comparable in price Pinnacle Power, additionally equipped with a fan that improves cooling uniformity.

Gio'Style Lifestyle SpA, an Italian company from Urgnano, is a subsidiary of Co.Ge.Fin. SpA and is located near Bergamo. The company specializes in the production of food containers, kitchen electrical appliances, isothermal bags and boxes, car refrigerators and cold accumulators. The portable refrigerated container Gio'Style Shiver 30 12V/230 belongs to the models of medium capacity (30 l) and, thanks to the dual power supply from the vehicle's on-board network 12 V and a home socket 230 V, is perfect for a trip to the country. The 53 cm high vertical design of the drawer easily accommodates large 2 liter bottles of drinks. The box is made of food-grade polypropylene, which is well suited for safe contact with food. The container has a rather solid folding handle, but it will be convenient for a tall person to carry it. Side handles were not provided here, but they would not be superfluous at all.

The model works only for cooling and has a lightweight design weighing 4.7 kg. The hinged cover with a ventilation grill contains a thermoelectric module, a fan and a control panel with a power connector. When the refrigerator is connected to a 230 V network, it becomes possible to control 3 cooling modes: ECO - at a minimum (energy saving mode), COOL - medium degree and PLUS - maximum cooling level with a guaranteed internal temperature difference of 18 ° C relative to the ambient temperature. Switching modes is carried out by an LED button, which changes colors to green, orange and red, respectively. The manufacturer does not recommend using the device in operation for more than 72 hours in order to avoid a decrease in the cooling potential and unbalance of the electrical system. The model consumes little electricity and corresponds to the A+++ energy efficiency class. A small minus, we note the noise produced during operation up to 34 dB, associated with the operation of the built-in fan.

The compressor portable refrigerator Thermo CBP-C-32 is a top product with a high price tag and outstanding features. This model can not only cool, but also freeze food to a temperature of -18 ° C. The device uses compressor technology and with dimensions of 36x58x43 cm and an internal volume of 32 liters weighs twice as much as thermoelectric models. The advantages of the refrigerator is the versatility of the power supply: it can be connected to a 12 V or 24 V DC car network, as well as to a 230 V household power supply. For ease of connection, the device comes with a power adapter and 2 cables.

Despite being made in China, the fridge has a premium look and excellent molded plastic parts. The lower location of the compressor is given out by a patterned cooling grille, at the bottom of which you can see a connector for the power cable, and in the sidewalls of the case there are 2 short folding handles for transportation. The cover of the device leans back in the longitudinal plane, opening access to a single-chamber internal space and the electronic control panel with touch buttons and the display. Among the noted shortcomings, we note the weak hinges of the lid and the lack of internal illumination of the camera, which simply must be in a device of this class. The control is very concise and consists of 4 buttons: power on, cooling / freezing mode switching and 2 temperature setting selectors, the current value of which is displayed on the display.