Protecting drinks and meals chilly whereas tenting is usually a problem, particularly in the summertime. Although a conveyable energy station hooked as much as a minifridge may help, it is not essentially the most power-efficient possibility in contrast with both an electrical cooler or a standard icebox. I got down to take a look at a “common” icebox-style cooler — particularly, RTIC’s icebox — towards Anker’s new Solix EverFrost 2 to see how it could fare in real-world use towards the very best coolers in the marketplace. To start testing, I picked up two coolers, a shameful variety of cans of soda, a thermometer, and a number of other massive baggage of ice and took my household on a tenting journey. Here is what I found throughout my testing, about cooler efficiency, longevity, cooling functionality and portability. Electrical vs. conventional ice cooler in contrast Product NameAnker Solix EverFrost 2 (40L)RTIC 45 QT Extremely-Robust CoolerInternal size42 quarts45 quarts Empty weight50.71 pounds29.5 poundsBattery288Wh battery N/A Runtime52 hours (one battery), 4.3 days (twin battery)5 days (following cooling ideas)RechargeSolar, automotive, wall outlet, USB-CN/ATemperature range-4 levels to 68 levels FahrenheitVariable Worth (MSRP)$900$300 Electrical coolers:Electrical coolers are principally small, battery-powered fridges. They use a cooling component to decrease the temperature of their compartments, versus conventional ice. They’ll maintain ice however the principle attraction is you do not want it to maintain your meals and drinks cool. Professionals No ice neededNo mess/melted ice Constructed-in extra options like battery chargingConsThey solely final so long as the batteryVery heavyExtremely expensiveWho ought to use it: People who find themselves occurring longer journeys and wish to maintain meals and drinks chilly and contemporary will want an electrical cooler. Electrical coolers might be temperature-controlled. They do not rely solely on ice so if you would like meals stored at a sure temperature, that is doable so long as you might have a battery or enter supply. The RTIC and Solix 2 coolers loaded up behind an SUV. Adam Doud/ Zooey Liao/ CNETRegular coolers:A conventional cooler, or ice chest, is an insulated container whose sole perform is to carry meals, drinks and ice to maintain every part chilly. A lot of the area inside a cooler can be utilized for meals/drink/ice storage. In contrast to an electrical cooler, no electrical energy is required. Professionals Lighter than electrical counterpartsLess costly than electricCools down meals fasterConsRelies on ice for coolingWater from melted ice might be messyOpen meals containers can contaminate cooler ice/waterWho ought to use it: Individuals who will likely be off-grid will want an ice chest as a result of ice is mostly accessible in most locations. You need to be capable of choose it up in nearly any grocery store or gasoline station and so long as the cooler is well-insulated, it ought to final for hours, if not days. Electrical energy is usually a larger ask when tenting and will require a hefty transportable energy station or a number of backup batteries.Anker Solix EverFrost 2 electrical cooler vs. RTIC Extremely Robust QT-45 The RTIC cooler (left) and Solix EverFrost 2 (proper) subsequent to one another. The scale is about the identical, however the EverFrost 2 weighs extra. Adam Doud/ Zooey Liao/ CNETDesign and featuresThe 40-liter EverFrost 2 cooler Anker despatched me to check is fairly chunky, though it is fairly a bit smaller than the 58L mannequin that comes with two compartments. With the scale in thoughts, I wished to check it towards a cooler with the same capability. I landed on the RTIC Extremely-Robust QT-45 cooler as a result of its capability so intently resembles the Anker. By way of 12-ounce cans of soda, the RTIC cooler can maintain round 50 cans with ice, whereas the Anker can maintain as much as 60 cans. The RTIC cooler has extra size however barely much less width and depth than the Anker, probably due to its 2.8 inches of closed-cell foam insulation. Along with … you already know … being a cooler, the Anker Solix EverFrost 2 has just a few additional options you will not discover in ice coolers. Notably, the battery on the cooler can be utilized to cost different units if that you must, resembling telephones, tablets and handheld gaming consoles. Additionally, the Everfrost has a pop-up deal with/desk you need to use for additional desk area once you’re at your picnic or campout. The Anker cooler additionally has an inside mild for locating what you are in search of at midnight. The EverFrost 2 has a pull out deal with that may double as tray desk. Adam Doud/ Zooey Liao/ CNETIf I am being utterly sincere, the pop-up deal with appears tremendous flimsy. I used to be nervous about utilizing it to roll the cooler round absolutely loaded however the image on the web site exhibits it getting used that means, so I figured it could be superb. I figured appropriately, a lot to my shock.I used the single-battery model of the cooler. You should buy additional batteries for $220 and you may insert a second one to make the cooler last more. In keeping with Anker, it may run for 52 hours with one battery and as much as 4.3 days with two batteries. That mentioned, I wished to judge the cooler in its most typical configuration, so I caught with the default battery. The EverFrost 2 comes with a single battery with 52 hours of runtime on paper however you possibly can choose up a second one to have it final for 4.3 days. Adam Doud/ Zooey Liao/ CNETTesting the weightTo take a look at the load, I used 12 oz cans of soda and put 50 cans in every cooler. Then I added all of the ice the RTIC cooler would deal with. The EverFrost 2 has a dry weight of about 50 kilos, whereas the RTIC cooler checks in at about half of that. Add within the ice, and the coolers checked in at 96.6 kilos for RTIC versus 78.8 kilos for the EverFrost 2. Looking back, I may have guessed that. As a result of I added the identical variety of cans to each coolers, the one variable was the ice itself. The Anker Solix EverFrost 2 loaded up with 60 cans of soda. Adam Doud/CNETTo match 50 cans into the RTC, I needed to stuff them in a bit, they usually simply barely made it. On its web site, RTIC claims the cooler can deal with 60 cans, so it was somewhat disappointing to see it not stay as much as this. Due to that, I used to be solely capable of handle round 10-12 kilos of ice into the cooler. Take a 25-pound weight differential and subtract the ice weight and there you go. On this specific case, the load at capability — how a lot the cooler weighs when full — is the extra essential determine. EverFrost 2 with its cooling {hardware} outweighs (by virtually double) the RTIC cooler, even with ice. After they’re full, a 15 to twenty pound distinction is not that important, however the EverFrost 2 continues to be virtually 20% heavier. On this case, the ice cooler wins the battle, though the built-in wheels on the EverFrost 2 cooler make it simpler to maneuver round (however to not carry into or out of a car). The EverFrost 2 has wheels that make it extra transportable than the RTIC. Adam Doud/ Zooey Liao/ CNETFast cooling testWe’ve all been there. You’ve got bought a celebration beginning later that day and also you forgot to throw the drinks right into a cooler, so now you must hustle. Which can quiet down your drinks quicker? As a way to take a look at this, I set each coolers out and open to heat to room temperature, or about 70 levels Fahrenheit. Equally, I had a number of instances of soda sitting out, additionally warming to room temperature. As soon as each the cooler interiors and soda warmed up, I loaded up each coolers with these 50 soda cans and tossed 10 to 12 kilos of ice into the RTIC cooler. Moreover, I opened a can of soda in the midst of the highest layer and backside layer of cans. From there, I used a temperature gun to take readings. The EverFrost 2 cooler has a digital readout of the temperature on the within of the cooler. To measure the RTIC cooler, I measured the temperature of the within wall. I additionally measured the temperature of every can of soda. I did this each quarter-hour for 5 hours and the outcomes are recorded within the chart beneath: Adam Doud/CNETAs you possibly can see, though the EverFrost 2 bought colder quicker, the cans themselves didn’t comply with go well with. Actually, the RTIC ice cooler cooled each the cooler and the cans quicker than the electrical cooler. The one situation I had with the RTIC was after about two and a half hours, the water collected on the backside of the cooler overflowed into the underside can, which spoiled the readings a bit. You may discover a sudden downward slope when that occurred at 9 a.m. We’ll tackle that extra in a bit. The EverFrost 2 can carry 60 cans of soda in comparison with 50 within the RTIC. Adam Doud/ Zooey Liao/ CNETLongevity One other state of affairs you would possibly cope with is tenting, and in that case, you are not going to be frightened about cooling down your meals and drinks shortly, however how lengthy they’ll keep that means. To check this, I loaded up each coolers with simply 40 cans of soda. I wished to pack in additional ice into the RTIC cooler, and depart room for an inside thermometer to see how lengthy it stayed chilly. I examined this for 2 and a half days, primarily a protracted weekend journey. The EverFrost 2 has added bulk from the fan and cooling {hardware} put in. Adam Doud/ Zooey Liao/ CNETFor this take a look at, I put the Anker cooler into Eco mode and stuffed up the RTIC cooler with much more ice. This time, I didn’t open and verify the coolers each quarter-hour. I left a number of hours between checks as a result of once you’re tenting, you are not consistently going into the cooler for every part. Additionally, this was a multi-day take a look at, and I wish to sleep.Nevertheless, even when opening the ice cooler a number of occasions per day, the ice lasted all the two and a half days, though it was principally water by the tip of the take a look at. Regardless of that, the ice cooler stayed beneath 40 levels Fahrenheit all the time. The EverFrost 2 cooler within the meantime, additionally stored beneath 43 levels Fahrenheit all the time (though the cooler was set for 40 levels). The EverFrost 2 cooler sat at 13% battery by the tip of the take a look at interval. So, each coolers carried out their required duties for the long run, which was good to see. The EverFrost 2 might be manually set to a sure temperature, not like the RTIC, which relies on the ice and insulation. Adam Doud/ Zooey Liao/ CNETPrice The 40-liter Anker Solix EverFrost 2 cooler retails for $899, although as of this writing, it is onsale for $629. There’s additionally a smaller, 23-liter model accessible for $799 full worth ($599 on sale) and a a lot bigger, 58-liter model for $1,099 ($759 on sale). By comparability, the 45-quart RTIC cooler I examined prices round one-third that worth, at $300 (presently discounted to $239). Sure, you get lots of bells and whistles within the EverFrost 2 cooler: the bottle opener, the additional desk area, the wheels, the cleaner setup and storage. Nevertheless, one has to surprise if that is well worth the worth. Anker is not precisely reinventing the wheel right here. It is only a completely different sort of wheel. There are many enter and output choices on the EverFrost 2. Adam Doud/ Zooey Liao/ CNETElectric cooler vs. regular cooler: Which do you have to purchase? The important thing argument in favor of the electrical cooler is the shortage of mess — there is not any ice or ice water to cope with for instance. Every thing that you must maintain cool suits contained in the cooler and there is not any want to go away room for ice. Plus, regardless of a barely smaller footprint, it really has extra capability for soda cans — 60 versus the RTIC’s 50, regardless of the corporate claiming in any other case. Every thing that you must get the EverFrost 2 cooler to do its job is self-contained (you do not have to run to the shop to get ice). There’s additionally the mobility provided by the wheels.The adjustability of the EverFrost 2 cooler can be good. I bear in mind just a few occasions once I would head out tenting and discover that a number of the meals was ruined as a result of the ice was too chilly, or one thing leaked into the water, and also you needed to wholesale change the ice. That will not occur right here. If something leaks, it is only a matter of cleansing it out and placing every part again. Plus, you possibly can regulate the temperature to be barely above freezing if you don’t need every part to be actually ice chilly. You may recharge the EverFrost 2 with photo voltaic panels, a automotive charger and energy outlet. Adam Doud/ Zooey Liao/ CNETOn the opposite hand, the EverFrost 2 is dear and none of these issues actually justify the additional cash in my thoughts. After all, your mileage might fluctuate. However when you’re questioning which cooler I will advocate in your subsequent tenting journey, it is the RTIC cooler. Electrification is fairly cool and you may’t deny the truth that the EverFrost 2 cooler is useful. However for cooling issues down quick and holding them cool, the old-fashioned RTIC cooler works simply in addition to new college, and for a 3rd of the worth and 20% much less weight. What are the disadvantages of thermoelectric coolers? The most important drawback of a thermoelectric cooler is its weight. On this situation, the electrical cooler has a dry weight twice that of the ice cooler. Even factoring within the weight of the ice, they’re nonetheless about 20 kilos aside, favoring the ice cooler.The opposite principal drawback is the electrical energy required. As soon as an electrical cooler runs out of battery, you possibly can add ice to it to make it last more. Nevertheless, you then’re lacking the purpose of getting an electrical cooler. How lengthy will ice final in an everyday cooler? The length that ice can final in a traditional cooler relies upon vastly on how usually it’s opened. Each time you open a cooler, you are releasing cool air and letting in hotter air, which is able to soften extra ice. Throughout testing, a cooler opened each quarter-hour misplaced most of its ice inside hours. Then again, when the cooler was solely opened just a few occasions per day, ice lasted for over 2.5 days (though a lot of it had melted by then) Can electrical coolers run on batteries? The Anker Solix EverFrost 2 cooler runs on built-in batteries. You may have a single battery or a double battery configuration, which prices extra. How lengthy the battery lasts relies on a number of elements, such because the cooler’s mode, how usually it’s opened and the way a lot it’s holding. On paper, you possibly can count on 52 hours with a single battery on the 40L EverFrost 2 and 4.3 days with a twin battery.