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Let's not go around in circles. No matter where you travel in Australia, it will be hot. Even if this is not the case, you still want to watch the magnificent sunset with a cold beer or crisp wine. The next day, you want the sanger, bacon and eggs to be fresh, and the coffee milk is still "on".
At least I am. I guess if you are reading a review about this refrigerator, you will read it too. Maybe you have read our guide on how to choose the right camping refrigerator. Before the 4-week road trip from Sydney to Kangaroo Island and back, I got the Companion 75L dual-zone refrigerator. I went through the desert on the way and the Great Ocean Road on the way back. Drive approximately 6,000 kilometers under the merciless Australian sun.
I camped on the red sand beaches for several days, picnics on remote pristine beaches, ate in the back seat of the car like animals, switched between camping, RV parks and Airbnbs, and there was no shop or electricity for a long time. I have been using this refrigerator to feed a family of five.
what's the result? Did I get that cold beer? When you are on the road, is the Companion 75L dual-zone refrigerator the best choice for your family? Let's dive in.
When you look at the range of dual-zone refrigerator-freezer options in Australia, the Companion 75L is definitely in the high price range-even though it is at the lower end of the bracket. Thankfully, it comes with all the bells and whistles needed to justify the price.
The big win here is the removable lithium battery. When we talk about performance, I will talk about how great this feature is in practice, but it can be used both as a power pack and as a charging dock, thanks to its 2 USB-A ports. It is easy to pull in and out (not that you need to remove it to charge), and it also provides a good storage location for cables, phones, fishing gear, etc.
It is said that once unplugged from AC power, DC (think cigarette lighter) or solar power, the lithium battery will power the refrigerator for 16 hours, but as I will introduce later, I think this is an underestimation. However, I do want it to come with a USB-C port for more flexibility, or even an AC port, so that it can be independent of a dedicated power station.
The refrigerator-freezer itself uses a reliable two-speed Secop compressor (with a 3-year warranty), which consumes 2 amps per hour. It operates through 240V AC or 12V/24V DC connections (including cables). If you also plug it into the car for a long time, a level 3 battery monitor can provide protection.
It does come with Anderson ports (and cables) for direct connection to solar panels. However, there is no built-in inverter, so it needs to play a role from the solar panel.
There are 2 additional USB-A ports on the front panel of the refrigerator, and 2 on the battery, so you can charge the device without removing the latter.
As for the front panel, it is a bright LED and all the information you need is clear at a glance. That is, the current temperature and the amount of juice remaining in the battery. I found that there is no problem in operating it, although it is too complicated to press the correct combination of buttons to set the temperature of the 2 zones. Maybe a separate button for each area will be more direct.
The Companion 75L dual-zone refrigerator-freezer is ingeniously designed. It has a large capacity (due to lithium batteries), but it keeps a low profile. It is short and thick, with a great handle, not only is it comfortable to hold, but it is also embedded in the chassis. It fits my Toyota Kluger back perfectly-like a glove. And it won't jam anything that slides in or out, even in its lid. In addition, low profile means that your boots have enough space to put things on them.
The refrigerator is made of plastic, but the manufacturing quality is very good. It has a real, tenacious power. When used as a seat, not only can it comfortably support my weight of 100 kg, but it can also be used as a stepladder when needed.
I am also very happy that the design allows you the flexibility of placing the refrigerator freezer. The lid opens in both directions, and both ends have AC and Anderson ports. Therefore, you can easily place the refrigerator in the direction that best suits your car or campground.
The lid is closed with a nice firm wide seal to trap the cold air inside, while the LED light provides you with a little field of vision at night. However, I did find that one of them needs to be closed violently after using it for a week or so. It's as if the lid slightly lost its position when landing. I'm not sure if this is because of my kids or I have used it roughly, but if I say it didn't disappoint me, then I'm lying.
In the months since then, the problem has not gotten worse, nor has it appeared on another lid.
The compressor vent is very low and at one end. At first, I was worried about this because the refrigerator spent a lot of time stuffing the back seat of my car with clothes, bags, etc. But-this is largely related to its efficiency, which I will introduce later-even during long-distance travel, it will not cause any problems.
What I am not too interested in is the basket provided. When I checked the Companion 60L refrigerator, I regretted the size of the net and it was too large, allowing the food to slip through and making it difficult to balance the bottle. The 75L Dual Zone tightens the grid, which is good, but it still has no separation. Maybe the 2 baskets on one side are stacked on top of each other, and the vertical divider on the other side might provide easier access and greater flexibility. I started to feel annoyed at not being able to easily organize and then access specific elements-i.e. having to pull out the food to find a cold beer at the bottom!
However, in general, the Companion 75L dual-zone refrigerator has been carefully designed. The bells and whistles—such as easy access to the screen even when installed in the car, 2 corkscrews, built-in storage space and drain plug—make sure it meets all requirements.
I am ecstatic about the performance of the Companion 75-liter dual-zone refrigerator. It does a good job of effectively reaching and maintaining temperature. Because of its very good insulation-I highly recommend using a lid to improve this-I found the compressor to be very relaxing and I am happy to only cushion the closing and opening when absolutely necessary. This reduces noise (I wouldn't call it noisy anyway) and lower power requirements.
For me, the game changer is the built-in lithium battery. Every penny is worth it. Under typical Australian "sunny and 25 hours" conditions, the time I get from it is also much longer than the 16 hours advertised. Even if you cannot plug in a power source or get solar energy, your food will remain fresh, which is already your second day of peace of mind.
To be fair, I have not encountered any 40 degree heat wave, but any refrigerator will struggle in this situation.
During most of the last week of our trip, we often drove to see the sights near our accommodation, and it never ran out. I will throw it into a 12v cigarette lighter, and it will boost the battery level so much that it won’t even get close to a low battery level. Soon, the refrigerator appeared on our team's day trip, because it can sit in the car happily and keep it cold all day when we are hiking or on the beach.
I personally think that there is no need to take the battery out of its place to charge or power the device, but I suspect this will become more useful in future trips. I appreciate that it is detachable, and it couldn't be easier to take and take out.
Earlier in this review, I complained about the included basket and the lack of a built-in solar inverter, so there is room for improvement. But these are small complaints, really. All of this is very positive when it comes to large items. It is user-friendly, flexible, sturdy, and its performance as a refrigerator is admirable. Then the included battery takes it to another level.
If the Companion 75L Dual-Zone comes with a protective cover, it would be amazing, but alas, you need to pay another 130 to 150 dollars. The cheapest one I have seen is $129. However, if you are considering spending a serious time in the jungle, the investment is worth it. It's easy to put the refrigerator in it, you can use all the key ports-including the corkscrew-and it provides some very convenient storage bags.
I did find that I had to open the lid at least two-thirds, if it was not kept open, to enter the side of the refrigerator. This is really tiresome, and I wonder if the zipper in the middle allows you to open either side may be a better design. But fortunately, the lid will not expand the size of the refrigerator too much, nor will it easily hang on other equipment. Therefore, I did not find that it would affect my ability to get the refrigerator in and out of the car.
The Companion 75L dual-zone refrigerator retails for $1,779.99. However, you will find it cheaper at most retailers. You can expect to pay around US$1,400 to US$1,500, which is a good value for a refrigerator with such a versatile function. Similarly, the cover retail price is $179.99, but we have seen it for less than $140.
I have used the Companion 75L dual-zone refrigerator on several camping trips and long distance trips for several months. During that time, I walked from the desert to the sea, stocking enough goods for a family of five to eat.
Chris Stead is the innovative editor of Finder. He is a game, technology and sports journalist with over 24 years of writing and editing experience. He has previously worked at Game Informer, GamePro, Maxim, MCV Pacific, Gameplayer, Grab It, University of New South Wales, Krash, It Girl and Fortnite Magazine. He has contributed to IGN, GameSport, NBN, Rooster Teeth, Fandom, Sydney Morning Herald, FilmINK, Brag, Popular Science, Foxtel, PC World, Hyper and Red Bull. Chris holds a Bachelor of Advanced Science in Biology from the University of Sydney. As the father of three children, Chris is passionate about traveling, photography and surfing.
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