Okay, confession time: as a travel blogger, I’m a sucker for anything that promises to make life on the road smoother. So, when the CGTENBS 15L Car Refrigerator popped up on my radar, I had to check it out. A mini-fridge for both the car and home? Sign me up! Fresh off a week-long camping adventure with this thing, I’m ready to spill the beans.
First off, this fridge is surprisingly light. The plastic build? Yeah, it’s not winning any awards for luxury, but it feels like it can handle the bumps and bruises of travel. The 15L size is pretty sweet – just right for stashing a day’s worth of drinks, some snacks, and a couple of those little Tupperware containers. Plus, it snuggled right into my passenger seat without hogging all the space. Thumbs up for that!
Now, let’s talk performance – the real reason you’re here, right? The big draw is the whole cooling and heating thing. I mostly used it for drinks on this trip. And let me tell you, it kept them cold. Not, like, “glacier” cold, but definitely a step up from lukewarm. Seriously refreshing. That 22°C below ambient claim? Seems legit. On those scorcher days (think 30°C and up), it struggled a tiny bit to get things super frosty, but it kept a solid chill.
I even put the “heater” function to the test with some pre-made soup. It warmed it up, eventually. But let’s be real, you’re not going to be cooking a gourmet meal in this thing. For keeping something already warm… well, warmer, it’ll do.
The Wins:
- Jack-of-All-Trades: Car and home? Love it. I’m already picturing this thing chilling my drinks in my home office.
- Goldilocks Size: 15L hits that sweet spot between “portable” and “actually useful.”
- Chills Like a Champ: Keeps drinks and snacks nicely cool.
- Hush-Hush Operation: That “mute noise reduction” thing? It works! It’s not silent, but the little hum didn’t bug me, even when I was trying to catch some Zzz’s in the car.
- No Food Fights: Keeping stuff separate to avoid cross-contamination? Smart move.
The Bumps in the Road:
- Plastic Fantastic (Not): It does feel a tad on the cheap side. I’m side-eyeing its long-term durability.
- Heating? Meh: Don’t expect to bake a potato in this thing.
- No temperature control: It would be great to have some control over the temperature.
The Verdict:
All in all, the CGTENBS 15L Car Refrigerator is a solid buy if you’re after a portable way to keep things cool (or, you know, slightly warm). It’s not perfect, but its versatility, decent size, and pretty good cooling make it a worthwhile splurge, especially if you’re a road warrior, a camping enthusiast, or just someone who likes a cold drink at their desk. Just go in knowing the heating isn’t its superpower, and that the plastic might not survive a zombie apocalypse.
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
Would I tell you to buy it? Yeah, I would… with the little warnings I mentioned. It’s a handy little gadget that’s already made my adventures a little more comfy. And who doesn’t want that?