Portable electric coolers have become pretty commonplace in recent years. There are tons of options on the market, in all sizes and at almost all price points, but they all do basically the same thing. Choosing which fridge to get ultimately comes down to features once you’ve picked a capacity and decided how much you want to spend.
For me, multiple cooling zones were important, but I didn’t want two totally separate compartments. I also wanted app control and an insulated cover. This narrows things down, and one of my leading contenders is the ICECO APL55 58-quart dual-zone fridge. It ticks all my boxes, and it’s even a few hundred dollars cheaper than options from brands like Dometic or ARB. At $959, is it a good enough deal to forego the more familiar brand name? I think it is. Let me tell you why.
In Short: The ICECO APL55 electric cooler offers huge capacity, dual-zone functionality, lots of quality-of-life features, and awesome efficiency at an affordable-for-the-class price, plus a decent warranty. I love it.
It's big and heavy, but the APL55 from ICECO offers lots of convenience and functionality.
Specifications
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Large capacity
- Dual-zone capable
- App control
- Sturdy carrying handles
Cons
- Weight
- Shorter warranty than competition
ICECO APL55: Features
To start, the APL55 has a 58-quart capacity (that’s 55 liters, hence the name). It’s cavernous and dual-zone-capable, thanks to a removable insulated divider. The cooler also comes with three wire baskets for organization, which is super handy when you need to grab something from the bottom. It feels well-made, with a stainless steel exterior (also available in black) and metal latches that lock securely, so you’ll never be in doubt whether the fridge is open. It even has soft-close hinges so the lid never slams shut.
The APL55 has internal lighting and external lights, plus a simple but effective app that works with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (though I only experience the former). That last one might seem silly, but it’s super helpful for remotely monitoring your fridge while you drive and for adjusting temps on the go.
The fridge also has easy-to-use, easy-to-read physical controls, so you don’t have to use the app if you don’t want to. The APL55 has a temperature range of -4 degrees F to 68 degrees F. Once set, the temperature doesn’t fluctuate much, unless you leave the lid open for a while.
The fridge has two power modes: Max and Eco, depending on how quickly you want it to hit your set temp or how hot it is outside. I use Max only when it’s plugged into my running vehicle or a wall outlet. Eco works well for maintaining the temperature the rest of the time.
Power Moves
Like most portable fridges, the APL55 runs on 12 or 110 volts, so you can plug it into your car’s cigarette lighter socket or a wall outlet. It has cable inputs on both sides and even USB-A sockets, though I’m not sure you’d need them. All the electrical plugs use rubber flaps to keep moisture out.
From a power usage standpoint, the APL55 surprised me with how efficient it was. With both zones set to 35 degrees and ambient temps in the 60s, the APL55 used just 15 percent of my EcoFlow Delta 3’s capacity over approximately 12 hours. This likely helped because the cooler has nearly 2.5 inches of foam insulation, which adds bulk but reduces heat transfer. A thick, soft double gasket for the lid also helps.
Another nice feature is the bottom drain on the fridge. It’s never a good idea to invert any kind of refrigerator or A/C unit, and the drain means you never have to, whether something spills or you just want to use the fridge without power as a cooler.
Bagged Up
My one caveat with this is that I have my APL55 wrapped in its insulated bag, which ICECO sells as an accessory. I’m a huge fan of these; I have one for my old BougeRV fridge as well, because they make a real difference in the high ambient temps I regularly see while camping in Southern California. I suspect that the APL55 would have offered similar efficiency without the bag in my testing, since we’re out of the hottest part of the year. The cooler’s insulated cover isn’t cheap at $119, but I’d recommend it for the best possible experience with the fridge.
One issue I have experienced with the cover, however, is that the reflective inner fabric tears easily. It shouldn’t affect the function much as long as you’re not putting the cover on and off regularly. The non-skid bottom of my cover is also already wearing through in places from sliding it in and out of truck beds. That’s not a deal breaker, but for the price, I’d like something sturdier.
Stocked and Ready to Rock
Overall, I’m a huge fan of the ICECO fridge, but it’s not perfect. Great capacity also comes with pretty large exterior dimensions and a gnarly weight. The APL55 measures 29.7 x 18.9 x 19.3 inches, so if you’re camping out of a relatively small SUV or car, keep that in mind. At 63.2 pounds empty, the weight is manageable for one person, but once loaded, it’s awkward and heavy enough that you should use the buddy system to move it (plus, it’s nice to have someone around to help you drink all the beer you shoehorned in there). Part of that weight comes from the heavy-duty Secop compressor (formerly Danfoss), which is pretty beefy.
So, would I recommend buying the ICECO APL55? Yes, but that recommendation depends on what kind of user you are. If you camp infrequently for short periods, it’s not worth the considerable outlay. Ditto if you don’t need its massive capacity. Luckily, ICECO offers plenty of smaller, more affordable options that might suit you better.
If you’re a serious overlander who goes out for long periods, camps in big groups, or wants an additional fridge/freezer at home when you’re not camping, the ICECO is an awesome option. It’s not cheap, but it’s less expensive than some legacy brands like National Luna or ARB, or Dometic’s highest-rated electric cooler, the CFX55, and you don’t sacrifice much in build quality or features.
The APL55 includes a 5-year compressor warranty and a 1-year warranty on all other components. That’s not bad, but ARB and Dometic, for example, offer a blanket 3-year warranty, which might be worth the extra cost if you’re especially hard on your gear. Just something to consider.
You can buy ICECO fridges directly from the manufacturer or from a handful of online retailers, including Amazon.
