ICECO APL35 37 Quart Portable Fridge Freezer Review: The Ultimate Overlanding & Camping Upgrade?

There’s a moment on every road trip or camping adventure that we used to dread: reaching into the cooler for a crisp drink or a fresh sandwich, only to plunge our hand into a slushy, lukewarm soup of melted ice and floating food labels. The soggy bread, the waterlogged cheese, the constant need to drain water and replenish ice—it was the inconvenient, messy reality of keeping things cold on the go. For years, we accepted this as a necessary evil. But after one too many ruined meals and a growing frustration with the limitations of traditional coolers, we knew there had to be a better way. This quest for a reliable, ice-free cooling solution led us to the world of 12V portable refrigerators, and specifically, to the ICECO APL35 37 Quart Portable Fridge Freezer, a product that promised to revolutionize our travels.

What to Consider Before Buying a 12V Portable Refrigerator

A portable refrigerator, or powered cooler, is more than just an item; it’s a key solution for anyone who spends significant time away from a conventional kitchen. It provides the freedom to bring perishable foods, frozen goods, and perfectly chilled beverages anywhere your vehicle can take you. For overlanders, RV enthusiasts, long-haul truckers, and even families on a weekend camping trip, it eliminates the dependency on buying ice, prevents food spoilage, and opens up a world of culinary possibilities on the road. The main benefits are consistency, control, and convenience—no more guesswork about temperature, no more wasted food, and no more soggy messes.

The ideal customer for this type of product is someone who frequently travels for multiple days, needs to store temperature-sensitive items like medication, or simply values the convenience of having a real refrigerator and freezer on their adventures. It’s for the planner who wants to bring marinated steaks for day three of a camping trip or the parent who needs to keep milk cold for a toddler. However, it might not be suitable for those who only take short day trips where a simple ice chest would suffice, or for individuals on a very tight budget, as these units represent a significant investment compared to a basic cooler. For casual users, a high-end rotomolded cooler could be a more practical, albeit less convenient, alternative.

Before investing in a portable fridge freezer, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: Measure the available space in your vehicle—be it the trunk of your SUV, the bed of your truck, or a specific bay in your RV. A portable fridge is a rigid box that doesn’t squish. Consider not just its footprint, but also the clearance needed to open the lid and for proper ventilation around the compressor. The ICECO APL35’s dimensions (27″ x 14.4″ x 15.7″) are a common size but should be double-checked against your intended location.
• Capacity & Performance: Capacity, measured in quarts or liters, determines how much you can store. A 37-quart (30L) unit like the APL35 is a sweet spot for solo travelers or couples on a long weekend. Performance is dictated by the compressor. Look for reputable brands like SECOP (formerly Danfoss), known for their efficiency, reliability, and low power draw, which is critical when running off a vehicle’s battery.
• Materials & Durability: The casing material impacts both weight and longevity. Plastic models are lighter, while metal-cased units, like the light-duty aluminum on the APL35, offer superior durability and resistance to the bumps and scrapes of outdoor life. An aluminum body can also contribute to better insulation and cooling efficiency, though it often comes at a higher price point.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: Consider the user interface. Are the controls intuitive? Is the digital display easy to read in both bright sunlight and at night? Features like interior LED lights, removable baskets, and a drain plug make daily use and cleaning much easier. Also, consider power options—the best units run on both 12/24V DC for your vehicle and 100-240V AC for use at home or a powered campsite.

Making the right choice transforms your travel experience, offering a level of convenience that, once experienced, is hard to live without. It’s an investment in better meals, colder drinks, and less hassle on every trip.

While the ICECO APL35 37 Quart Portable Fridge Freezer is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: Unboxing the ICECO APL35

Pulling the ICECO APL35 37 Quart Portable Fridge Freezer from its box, the first thing we noticed was its solid, premium feel. The matte silver, light-duty aluminum body immediately distinguishes it from the sea of plastic coolers on the market. At 32 pounds, it has a reassuring heft without being unmanageable for one person to carry. The handles feel sturdy, and the latches click shut with a satisfying authority. There’s no assembly required; it’s ready to go right out of the box. Included are both a 12/24V DC power cord for your vehicle’s accessory port and a 100-240V AC adapter for wall outlets, a crucial inclusion for pre-cooling the unit before a trip. The control panel is straightforward, with a clear digital display and tactile buttons for power, settings, and temperature adjustments. Compared to some competitors, the interface feels robust and less prone to accidental presses. The overall impression is one of thoughtful engineering and a build quality designed to endure the rigors of the road. It feels like a serious piece of equipment, and for anyone tired of flimsy coolers, this is a very welcome first impression. You can see its full feature set and detailed specifications here.

Deep Dive: Performance & Real-World Testing

A portable fridge lives or dies by its performance. Looks and features mean nothing if it can’t hold a safe temperature or drains your battery in a few hours. We put the ICECO APL35 37 Quart Portable Fridge Freezer through its paces over several weeks, using it for everything from a weekend camping trip to serving as an overflow freezer at home. Here’s our detailed breakdown of how it performed.

Cooling Power & Efficiency: The SECOP Nano Compressor Advantage

At the heart of the ICECO APL35 is its SECOP Nano Compressor, and this is where the unit truly shines. SECOP is a name synonymous with quality in the mobile refrigeration world, and our testing confirmed why. The fridge offers two modes: MAX for rapid cooling and ECO for energy conservation. Starting from an ambient temperature of 75°F, we plugged it into an AC outlet on MAX mode. The larger compartment reached our target refrigerator temperature of 37°F in just under 25 minutes, while the smaller freezer compartment hit 0°F in about 45 minutes. This rapid cool-down is a massive advantage, allowing you to load up and leave quickly.

However, power efficiency is the most critical metric for any off-grid appliance. We ran the unit for a full 48-hour weekend trip, connected to a mid-sized portable power station. With the fridge side set to 38°F and the freezer at 5°F, and with moderate opening and closing, the APL35 was remarkably frugal with its power consumption. This real-world performance aligns with feedback from other users, like one who noted it “only used about 12% of our Anker solid c800 on the 3 day trip.” The ECO mode further stretches your battery life by running the compressor less aggressively once the target temperature is reached. Furthermore, the unit is whisper-quiet. Rated at 32dB, it’s barely audible, a huge benefit for those who sleep in their vehicle or RV and don’t want to be disturbed by a compressor cycling on and off all night. This combination of speed, efficiency, and silence makes its core cooling performance top-tier. The reliable SECOP compressor is a feature that really sets it apart from cheaper models.

Build Quality & Practical Design: An Aluminum Workhorse

The “feel” of a product matters, especially for gear that will be loaded, unloaded, and bumped around. The APL35’s light-duty aluminum body strikes an excellent balance between durability and weight. It feels significantly more robust than all-plastic models, resisting scratches and flexing far better. We had no worries about stacking other gear on top of it in a packed vehicle. As one user aptly put it, “As far as build quality this thing is beautiful, I could see it lasting quite some time.” The matte finish also does a decent job of hiding fingerprints and dust from the trail.

The 37-quart (30-liter) capacity proved to be a versatile size. We found it perfect for a couple on a 3-4 day trip. The dual-zone layout is split into a larger (approx. 20L) and smaller (approx. 10L) compartment. This easily accommodated drinks, dairy, and produce on one side, with frozen meats and ice cream in the other. For those concerned about downsizing, another user who came from a 55-quart cooler was initially afraid the size would be too small but found it perfectly adequate. At 32 lbs empty, it’s portable enough for one person to move, and the integrated handles are comfortable. The interior LED light is a small but welcome feature, making it easy to find what you’re looking for after dark without a headlamp. It’s a thoughtfully designed unit that feels built to last many seasons of adventure. You can check the latest price and its durable construction online.

The Double-Edged Sword: Dual-Zone Control & A Critical App Flaw

The true dual-zone capability is the APL35’s killer feature. Unlike some models with a single cooling element and a simple divider, the APL35 allows you to set two independent temperatures. You can run it as a fridge/freezer, fridge/fridge, or freezer/freezer, offering incredible flexibility. Want to keep drinks at 35°F and ice cream frozen solid at 0°F? No problem. This versatility is a game-changer, eliminating the need for a separate cooler and freezer. The onboard controls are simple and effective for setting temperatures for both zones. We found the temperature displayed on the screen to be accurate within 2-3 degrees of our own digital thermometer’s readings, which is excellent for this product category.

However, this is where we encountered the APL35’s most significant—and frankly, baffling—drawback: the companion app. While the fridge works perfectly using the physical controls, the app is needed for remote monitoring. The problem, as highlighted by a frustrated user, is that the app “forces an email + one-time code login just to open it.” This requires an active internet or cellular connection. For a product designed explicitly for off-grid, camping, and remote travel, this is a major design flaw. If you’re in the backcountry with no signal, you cannot access the app to monitor or change settings remotely. This oversight turns what should be a convenience feature into a liability for its core user base. While not a deal-breaker since the physical controls are excellent, it’s a disappointing limitation. Furthermore, we must acknowledge a user report of a unit failing to hold refrigerator temperatures and instead freezing everything, coupled with a poor customer support experience. While our unit performed flawlessly, this indicates a potential for quality control issues and is a risk worth noting for any potential buyer. Interested buyers should explore the dual-zone functionality in more detail before purchasing.

What Other Users Are Saying

Across the board, the sentiment for the ICECO APL35 37 Quart Portable Fridge Freezer is overwhelmingly positive. Many users echo our findings, praising it as a revolutionary upgrade from traditional ice coolers. One user’s story stands out dramatically, stating, “This little fridge/freezer is amazing!” after it became an essential lifeline while living in hotels following a hurricane. This speaks volumes about its reliability in critical situations. Others focus on the practical benefits, with one happy camper noting it “worked perfect for our 2 night camping trip” and was incredibly efficient on their portable battery. The build quality is another common point of praise, described as “beautiful” and built to last.

However, the feedback isn’t universally perfect, which gives a balanced real-world picture. The most common and valid complaint, as we also discovered, is the app’s frustrating requirement for an internet connection to log in, a significant issue for off-grid users. More concerning is the isolated but serious report from a user whose APL35 would not hold a refrigerator temperature, instead freezing all their food. Their negative experience was compounded by what they described as “awful” customer support. While this appears to be an outlier, it’s a crucial data point for potential buyers to consider.

How Does the ICECO APL35 Compare to Alternatives?

The 12V portable fridge market is competitive. While the ICECO APL35 37 Quart Portable Fridge Freezer stands strong, it’s important to see how it measures up against other popular models. Here’s a look at three key competitors.

1. ICECO VL35 ProS 37 Qt Portable Refrigerator Freezer

As a sibling product from the same brand, the VL35 ProS offers a different take on the 37-quart capacity. The “Pro” line from ICECO generally features a more rugged, heavy-duty construction with enhanced corner protection and often a thicker metal casing. While it also features a high-quality SECOP compressor, it’s designed as a single-zone unit. This makes it simpler to operate but lacks the APL35’s key advantage of simultaneous refrigeration and freezing. The VL35 ProS is an excellent choice for users who prioritize maximum durability and only need a single temperature zone—either all fridge or all freezer—for their travels. If you’re a serious overlander who values bombproof construction over dual-zone flexibility, the VL35 ProS is a compelling alternative.

2. Alpicool T50 53 Quart Portable Car Fridge Freezer

The Alpicool T50 is all about maximizing capacity for the price. With a cavernous 53-quart interior, it’s significantly larger than the APL35, making it a better fit for families, groups, or those on extended trips who need to store a lot more food and drinks. Like the APL35, it offers dual-zone temperature control, giving you that coveted fridge/freezer combination. However, Alpicool is generally positioned as a more budget-friendly brand compared to ICECO. This can sometimes mean differences in compressor brand, overall build materials, and long-term warranty support. For those whose primary concern is maximizing storage volume on a tighter budget, the Alpicool T50 presents a strong value proposition, but potentially at the expense of the APL35’s premium build and renowned compressor.

3. BODEGA 53 Quart Dual Zone Portable Refrigerator

The BODEGA 53 Quart fridge is another high-capacity, dual-zone competitor that often goes head-to-head with Alpicool and ICECO. It matches the Alpicool’s large volume and dual-zone functionality and is known for having a user-friendly app that (unlike the APL35’s) typically works well offline via Bluetooth. This makes it a technologically appealing option for those who want reliable remote control. The choice between the BODEGA and the ICECO APL35 comes down to a trade-off: do you prioritize the larger capacity and functional app of the BODEGA, or the superior build quality, proven SECOP compressor, and more compact footprint of the ICECO? For large groups who are more tech-savvy, the BODEGA is an excellent alternative.

Final Verdict: Is the ICECO APL35 37 Quart Portable Fridge Freezer Worth It?

After extensive testing and analysis, our conclusion is a resounding yes, with one important caveat. The ICECO APL35 37 Quart Portable Fridge Freezer is a superb piece of equipment that delivers on its core promises. Its SECOP compressor provides fast, efficient, and exceptionally quiet cooling. The durable aluminum construction feels built to handle years of adventure, and the true dual-zone functionality is a game-changing feature that adds incredible versatility to your mobile kitchen setup. It strikes a perfect balance of capacity, performance, and portability for solo travelers, couples, or small families.

The only significant mark against it is the poorly implemented app that hamstrings its remote-control capabilities when you’re off-grid. If you are someone who plans to rely solely on an app for control in the backcountry, this could be a deal-breaker. However, since the physical controls are intuitive and reliable, we see it as a missed opportunity rather than a fatal flaw. For anyone ready to ditch the inconvenience of ice and elevate their travel, camping, or overlanding experience, the ICECO APL35 is a fantastic investment that will pay dividends in fresh food and cold drinks for years to come. If you value premium build quality and top-tier cooling performance, we highly recommend you check out the ICECO APL35 for your next adventure.