camping advice - worth getting mini fridge?

phizzimum

We're newbie campers needing some advice - we went camping last summer but it was a bit of a disaster (for one reason or another!) but friends have tempted us to give it another go.

I'm thinking about getting one of those mini fridges so that I can keep a couple of bits cool ie milk, bit of bacon - not a huge amount, obviously.

argos have a 4litre one for £13 and a 6 litre one for £20, but the reviews say they are quite noisy.

Do any of you experienced campers have any advice? Should I bother buying one? I know it's best to use tinned and packet food generally, so it would only be to keep a couple of things cool for breakfast.

Bongedone

I'd be interested to know how well a car battery lasts whilst one of these is connected.

Anybody?

Silk

Do you already have a cool box ?
Even if you don't I would consider one of the ones with 12volt 240 volt cooling.
We bought one last year for an addition and its great for camping ours is 24 ltr and we can plug it to the car whilst driving round to keep it cool plus if you are at a site with 240 volt hook up you could plug it in the mains but of course you can just use it as a normal cool box and purchase the frozen blocks from the camp shop when available.
Ours was about £30 from Sainsbury's but saw them in go-outdoors for around that

davetrousers

Silk wrote: »

but of course you can just use it as a normal cool box and purchase the frozen blocks from the camp shop when available.

Not with a 6 litre one you couldn't, there'd be no room left.

Ms_Chocaholic

We also have an electric coolbox and think they're fab. We put frozen cool blocks in it when we set off and when we get to the camp site, plug it in (we found that if we didn't make it cool first with the blocks, it took ages to get the wine cold enough to drink - hic (I hate warm wine). It is a bit noisy but we unplug it overnight and, as it's not opened, everything stays cool.

HTH

nomoneytoday

In my experience, frozen chips keep stuff chilled for ages - even longer than ice blocks

Myt

phizzimum

Silk wrote: »

Do you already have a cool box ?
Even if you don't I would consider one of the ones with 12volt 240 volt cooling.
We bought one last year for an addition and its great for camping ours is 24 ltr and we can plug it to the car whilst driving round to keep it cool plus if you are at a site with 240 volt hook up you could plug it in the mains but of course you can just use it as a normal cool box and purchase the frozen blocks from the camp shop when available.
Ours was about £30 from Sainsbury's but saw them in go-outdoors for around that

brilliant! I think I'll go for one of those then.

creased-leach

Bucket of cold water kept in the shade has served us well for years!

Silk

davetrousers wrote: »

Not with a 6 litre one you couldn't, there'd be no room left.

Hi Dave,
Sorry only just read your post, I don't think I've seen a 6 ltr cool box they must be pretty tiny :eek:

phizzimum

It was me who mentioned a 6l mini fridge I'd seen, but I've decided to go for a 24 l coolbox instead!

sooty&sweep

Hi

Have a look on www.ukcampsite.co.uk you'll find lots of camping advice on there.

To be honest I don't think you need an electric coolbox or fridge in this country unless its really hot. Most campsites will refreeze ice blocks if you ask and you would also need an Electric Hook Up to power it.

Jen