I took this smart cooler camping and can't go back to toting around ice (plus it's on sale)

ZDNET's key takeaways

• The Anker Solix EverFrost 2 is available for $1,100 but currently $200 off.
• This cooler works as a portable mini-fridge, with dual-zone cooling and the capacity to freeze or refrigerate.
• The Anker Solix EverFrost 2 is bulky and heavy, and it only comes with one battery so you have to purchase the second to reach the full 3.2 day capacity.

The Anker Solix EverFrost 2 58L electric cooler is available for $900, at $200 off. The 40L version is also $200 off, available at $700.

As a teenager, I dreaded going camping with my family. The Caribbean weather in my home country made the experiences hot and uncomfortable, and the nature of camping was full of glaring inconveniences for my teenage mind. 

As I got older, I learned to love the disconnection that a four-day weekend at a quiet beach or cool mountainscape provided, though being at the mercy of nature remained a pebble in my shoe.

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Forgotten sunscreen resulting in a second-degree sunburn or, worse, a poorly refrigerated chicken resulting in food poisoning will always be camping memories I could do without. As an adult, I still love camping, but I've opened myself up to certain conveniences that make it all the easier. One of the biggest of which is the Anker Solix EverFrost 2.

As an electric cooler, the Anker Solix EverFrost 2 looks like a fancy cooler you'd find at a store. But it's a true powerhouse: a rechargeable battery has the capacity to cool the interior anywhere you go, just like your fridge or a freezer back home. You can fill your cooler to the brim with perishables without having to make room for ice.

The Anker Solix EverFrost 2 I tested is a 58-liter, dual-compartment model with a built-in bottle opener and handle that doubles as a retractable tray table. Each EverFrost 2 comes with one battery but has the capacity for two, so you can purchase an extra battery to reach up to 3.2 days of functionality. 

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

It also cools down really fast. I used a smart thermometer to measure the cooler's capacity to drop from room temperature to 32 degrees, and it went from 68F to freezing in under 15 minutes. 

While the dual-zone cooler I tested is heavy -- 64lbs when empty -- it does have wheels that make it easy to transport, even over grass. Each unit includes a removable, rechargeable battery, an AC adapter and charging cable, a car charging cable, an accessory container, and two wheel chocks. 

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Once you set up your cooler, you can easily control it with the Anker mobile app, which lets you check and adjust the temperature and see the battery life. The EverFrost 2 has three cooling modes: Max Mode, which is the fastest and most energy-consuming mode; Smart Mode, which intelligently balances cooling and efficiency; and Eco Mode, which maximizes cooling time by up to 13 hours. 

Maria Diaz/ZDNET

The removable battery does more than simply power the cooler. You can also take it out and use it as an external battery pack in a pinch. It's a 288Wh portable battery with 12W USB-A and 60W USB-C ports, so it can charge your smartphone, camera, drone, and other devices.

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You can recharge the Anker Solix EverFrost 2 with a wall outlet, a solar panel, a car cigarette port, and a USB-C port. I've tested recharging it with portable Anker Solix 100W solar panels during winter, and it took just over five hours to charge to 100%. With the right sunny conditions, Anker says it can charge to 100% in 3.65 hours. 

ZDNET's buying advice

The Anker Solix EverFrost 2 is a perfect electric cooler to safely keep drinks and food cold while camping, especially if you bring accompanying solar panels to recharge its battery. However, it can also become a convenient smart device for so much more. You could leave it in your trunk during road trips or tailgating or use it to keep drinks and food cool at a park or during your next backyard cookout. 

The biggest downsides are its price and hefty weight. The Anker Solix EverFrost 2 is available in a single 40-liter capacity cooler with up to 104 hours of operation on two batteries, which weighs 51lbs and costs $900; or a dual-zone 58-liter capacity with up to 78 hours of operation on two batteries at 64lbs that costs $1,100. This is, of course, the weight of the empty cooler, without any drinks or food items inside.