GoSun Chillest Review (2025): The End of Ice Runs?

You know the feeling. It’s day three of your camping trip. You reach into the cooler for a cold drink and your hand plunges into a lukewarm soup of melted ice, floating food wrappers, and waterlogged hot dog buns. It’s a camping rite of passage, sure, but it’s one I am officially done with. That’s why I had to tell you about the absolute game-changer I just took to the lake for a week: the GoSun Chillest Portable Electric Cooler. This thing isn’t just a cooler; it’s a portable refrigerator and freezer that has completely changed my definition of “roughing it.”

So, What Actually IS This Black Magic Box?

Alright, let’s get down to it. The GoSun Chillest is a 45-liter portable cooler that doesn’t need ice. Ever. It uses a compressor, just like your fridge at home, to actively cool its contents. The crazy part? It has two separate compartments, each with its own temperature control. You can set one side to be a freezer (down to -4°F!) and the other to be a fridge. Or make them both fridges. Or both freezers, if you’re some kind of ice cream-hoarding monster.

I’ll be honest, I was skeptical. I’ve seen “electric coolers” before—those cheap thermoelectric ones that barely keep a soda cooler than the air around it. This is not that. This is a legitimate appliance you can take into the woods. It has a built-in 87Wh battery that can run the thing for hours, you can plug it into your car’s 12V socket, a regular wall outlet, or—and this is the best part—hook it up to a solar panel. It’s freedom, man. Freedom from the tyranny of melting ice.

The Specs That Actually Matter in the Wild

Forget the marketing fluff. Here’s what makes this thing tick when you’re miles from civilization and craving a frozen pizza (yes, I did that).

• Dual-Zone Cooling: I can’t overstate how awesome this is. We had steaks and burgers frozen solid on one side, while keeping beer, cheese, and veggies perfectly chilled on the other. The included divider is thick and actually works.
• Power Versatility: The built-in battery is the star. We ran it for about 5-6 hours on battery alone with a full load. When driving, it sips power from the car. At the campsite, I hooked it up to my GoSun solar panels and it just ran itself all day. You never have to worry about draining your car battery overnight.
• Real-Deal Compressor: This thing gets COLD, and it gets there fast. I plugged it in at home before we left, and it went from room temperature to freezing in about 45 minutes. It’s quiet, too. You can hear a faint hum when it kicks on, but it’s nothing compared to a generator.
• Surprisingly Smart Design: It has big, all-terrain wheels and a sturdy telescoping handle. It’s heavy (about 42 lbs empty), but it’s easy to move around camp. Plus, it has internal lights, a drain plug (for cleaning, not ice!), and even a bottle opener on the side. They thought of everything.

Putting It Through the Wringer: Real-World Testing

I didn’t just plug this in my backyard. I took it on a 4-day trip to a state park with no hookups. Here’s how it held up:

1. The Bumpy Ride In: The cooler was strapped in the back of my truck, bouncing around on a gravel road for the last two miles. Everything inside stayed put, the compressor didn’t skip a beat, and it handled the vibrations like a champ.
2. The 90-Degree Day Test: On our hottest day, I left it sitting in partial sun, running off a 100W solar panel. It held the freezer at 0°F and the fridge at 38°F without any issue. The insulation is legit; the compressor only kicked on periodically to maintain temps.
3. The Overnight Battery Challenge: I wanted to see if the battery could last the night. I charged it fully during the day, then disconnected the solar panel around 7 PM. It ran all night long, and by morning, it still had about 20% battery left. I was seriously impressed.

What ‘Jobs’ Can You Hire The GoSun Chillest For?

Think of gear as employees you ‘hire’ to do a job. Here’s what the Chillest is exceptionally good at:

• “Keeping Ice Cream Frozen on Day 3”: This is its star talent. You can bring dessert that was previously impossible on a multi-day trip.
• “Never Buying a Bag of Ice Again”: This cooler pays for itself by eliminating the constant, expensive, and messy need for ice.
• “Preventing ‘Cooler Soup'”: It keeps your food dry and safe. No more cross-contamination or waterlogged packages.
• “Being the Hero of the Tailgate”: Roll up with a portable fridge/freezer and you instantly become the most popular person in the parking lot.
• “Powering My Weekend Off-Grid”: With its battery and solar capability, it allows you to have refrigerated food without needing a powered campsite.

My Week of Glorious, Ice-Free Camping

So, the moment of truth. We loaded up the Chillest and headed out. At first, it felt weird not stopping for ice. Like I was forgetting a critical step. But when we got to camp, instead of draining melted water and arranging everything just so, I just… opened the lid. And everything was perfect. The ‘Aha!’ moment came on the third night. My buddy pulled a semi-soggy pack of bacon from his traditional cooler while I grabbed a perfectly frozen brick of breakfast sausage from my side of the Chillest. His face was a mix of jealousy and awe. That’s the new reality. No more food Tetris. No more “is this still good?” guesswork. Just fresh, cold, or frozen food, day after day. It felt less like camping and more like we had a tiny, portable kitchen with us. It’s a luxury, for sure, but it’s one that completely elevates the entire experience.

The Good, The Bad, and The Must-Know

Alright, no gear is perfect. Here’s the honest breakdown after putting this thing through its paces.

The Good Stuff

• The dual-zone cooling is a legitimate game-changer. It’s not a gimmick.
• Incredible power flexibility. The built-in battery plus solar input is genius.
• Excellent insulation and an efficient compressor keep power usage low.
• Super tough construction. The wheels and handle make moving it a breeze.
• You will never, ever have to buy bagged ice again. Hallelujah!

What I’d Change

• It’s heavy. At 42 pounds empty, this is strictly for vehicle-based adventures. Don’t even think about carrying it far.
• The price tag is a serious investment. It’s much more expensive than a standard roto-molded cooler, so you have to be committed to the ice-free lifestyle.

Is The GoSun Chillest Actually For You?

• You, The Car Camper: YES. This is your new best friend. It will revolutionize your camp kitchen and make multi-day trips so much more enjoyable.
• You, The Overlander or RVer: Absolutely. It’s built for this. It’s a perfect secondary or primary fridge that can go wherever your vehicle can.

While it’s an absolute game-changer for vehicle-based trips, I’d obviously never take it backpacking. It’s a specialized piece of gear. If you’re going on a float trip where you have to carry gear down a trail to the river, its weight could be a problem. This cooler is at its best when the car is doing all the heavy lifting.

• But, You’ll Probably Hate It If…: You’re an ultralight backpacker or someone who camps on a tight budget. The cost and weight are significant, and it’s total overkill if you just need to keep some drinks cold for a day trip.

The Questions I Keep Getting Asked

My buddies have been blowing up my phone about this thing. Here are the answers to the most common questions.

How long does the battery really last?

GoSun claims up to 10 hours. In my real-world test, setting it to fridge/freezer temps on an 80-degree day, I got a solid 6-7 hours. If you’re just using it as a fridge, you’ll get closer to that 10-hour mark. It’s enough to get you through the night.

Is it noisy?

Not at all. You can hear a low hum when the compressor kicks on, but it’s very quiet, around 45 decibels. You won’t hear it from inside your tent.

Can you really use it as a freezer?

100% yes. It gets down to -4°F (-20°C). It kept my sausages and burger patties frozen solid for four days. It’s the real deal.

Is it hard to use?

Nope. The controls are super intuitive. You have up/down buttons for each zone and a clear display. If you can use a microwave, you can use this.

How much can it actually hold?

The 45-liter capacity is pretty generous. GoSun says it holds up to 60 cans. For me, it was plenty of room for 3-4 days of food for two people, including drinks.

Is the GoSun Chillest waterproof?

It’s weather-resistant, not waterproof. It can handle a light rain shower, but you shouldn’t leave it out in a downpour or submerge it.

Do you need GoSun’s solar panels?

No, you can use any solar panel that has the right connector (8mm) and is within the voltage/amperage specs (12-30V). But their panels are designed to work seamlessly with it.

Is it worth the money compared to a YETI?

It’s a different beast. A YETI is passive and depends on ice. The GoSun is an active appliance. If you hate dealing with ice and want a freezer, the Chillest is absolutely worth the extra cost. If you just need simple cooling for a day or two, a YETI is a great, simpler option.

Will it drain my car battery?

It has a built-in battery protection system with three levels (low, medium, high) so it will automatically shut off before it drains your vehicle’s battery too much. Plus, you should be running it off its own battery when the car is off!

How durable is it?

It feels really solid. The body is a tough plastic, the handles are robust, and the wheels are beefy. I wouldn’t throw it off a cliff, but it’s clearly built to handle the bumps and scrapes of outdoor life.

The Final Word: Is It Worth a Spot in Your Pack?

Okay, it won’t fit in a pack, but is it worth a spot in your truck? Absolutely. The GoSun Chillest solves the single most annoying problem of multi-day car camping: the inevitable failure of ice. It replaces that frustration with the glorious reality of having a working refrigerator and freezer wherever you go. The price is steep, there’s no denying it. But this isn’t just a cooler; it’s a fundamental upgrade to your entire camping experience. If you’re a serious car camper, overlander, or RVer, stop buying ice and start investing in your future happiness. You won’t regret it.

Top Alternatives to the GoSun Chillest

Look, the Chillest is my new favorite toy, but it’s not the only player in the game. If you’re shopping around, here’s how the competition stacks up.

Alternative	Rank	Rating	Best For	Key Differentiator	MSRP / Price Point
Dometic CFX3 45	#1 – The gold standard if you don’t need a battery.	4.9/5 – Built like an absolute tank and super efficient.	Serious overlanders and van-lifers.	Its VMSO3 compressor is insanely efficient and durable. Basically the industry benchmark.	$999, which is a lot, but you are buying the best in class for power efficiency.
Anker EverFrost	#2 – My pick if you’re already in the Anker ecosystem.	4.7/5 – Slick design and great battery tech.	Tech-savvy campers who love smart features.	The swappable 299Wh battery is huge and integrates with other Anker power stations.	Around $799, but often on sale. You’re paying for that sweet Anker battery tech.
Jackery Portable Cooler	#3 – A solid, if less exciting, choice.	4.6/5 – Reliable and does the job well.	Folks who already own and trust Jackery power stations.	Seamless integration with the Jackery power ecosystem is its main selling point.	$899. A bit pricey for not having a built-in battery.
ICECO VL45ProS	#4 – The tough guy for a lower price.	4.5/5 – Not as refined, but tough as nails.	Budget-conscious builders and off-roaders.	It uses a world-class SECOP/Danfoss compressor and has a 5-year warranty, which is incredible for the price.	$629. You get a top-tier compressor for a mid-tier price.
BougeRV 12V Refrigerator	#5 – The best budget option, hands down.	4.4/5 – Amazing value for what you get.	Campers who want to try a powered cooler without a huge investment.	Its price. You can often find their 45L model for under $400. It’s an unbeatable entry point.	~$399, which is insanely cheap for a real compressor cooler.