3 Reasons You Need an Electric Cooler

Modern electric coolers require little power to operate. (Dometic/)

While electric coolers have been around for quite some time, modern versions have truly arrived as a legitimate alternative to ice coolers. They are still quite expensive, but so are today’s high-end ice chests. When you are shopping around for your next cooler investment, here are a few reasons to consider going electric.

No Ice Needed

One of the great things about electric coolers is you don’t need to continually add ice to keep the contents cold. (Alpicool/)

Obviously, the biggest advantage to an electric cooler is that you do not need ice. There's no running into town when the last cubes start to melt, no water puddling in the bottom to turn sandwiches soggy or hard-earned venison into ugly gray matter. No ice also means more room for beverages and whatever else you need to keep cool in the space normally occupied by something that will only melt away.

Easy to Power

Modern electric coolers can use AC, DC, or solar power to keep things cold. (Dometic/)

Electric coolers are powered by a variety of sources, from 110/240-volt AC home or generator circuits to 12/24-volt DC systems from the car or truck, and even built-in solar units. Electric coolers have come into their own under regular use by overland enthusiasts, van-life nomads, coastal cruisers, and anyone else who stays on the road or on the water longer than they do in a house.

Freeze Up

A dual-zone electric cooler allows you to separate items you want to keep cool with items that need to remain frozen. (COSTWAY/)

A traditional cooler will do only what it says: keep things cool. But a dual-zone electric cooler/freezer can also drop one of its compartments to subzero temperatures. That's plenty low enough to keep any item frozen solid for as long as you keep the cooler powered.