Camp Kitchen & Refrigeration
Camp Kitchen & Refrigeration for vanlife, overlanding & off-grid living
Eating well on the road is what separates a rig you love from one you tolerate. A cold beer after a long forest-road day, real coffee at sunrise, and dinner that isn't another freeze-dried pouch all come down to picking the right fridge, stove, and cooking setup for how you actually travel.
What's in this collection
We feature 12V compressor fridges like the Dometic CFX3, premium coolers from YETI (including the YETI Roadie), Coleman Classic propane stoves, and integrated backpacking systems like the Jetboil MiniMo. Prices span roughly $50 for a solid two-burner Coleman to $1,200+ for a large 12V dual-zone fridge-freezer — we cover weekenders, van conversions, and full overland builds.
How we pick what to feature
Every fridge, stove, and cooler here has been used in our own vans and trucks through hot desert summers and cold mountain nights — not just spec-compared. Amazon fulfillment means legitimate warranties and painless returns. We include a budget option, a mid-range workhorse, and a premium pick because a $200 cooler is right for one traveler and completely wrong for another.
Frequently asked questions
12V fridge vs powered cooler — which is right for vanlife?
A true compressor fridge (Dometic, ARB) freezes on demand, pulls 30-50Ah/day, and lasts a decade. Powered coolers are cheaper upfront but pull far more power and only hold temp a few degrees below ambient. For full-timers or hot climates, the fridge wins fast.
Propane or induction for a camp kitchen?
Propane (Coleman, Camp Chef) is cheap, works in any weather, and doesn't tax your battery. Induction is cleaner and safer indoors but needs 1500W+ inverter capacity. Most vans we've seen keep propane for outdoor cooking and a small induction burner for rainy days.
Is a YETI cooler actually worth it over a cheap Coleman?
For weekend trips, no — a cheap cooler with good ice management works fine. For multi-day trips in heat, a YETI or comparable rotomolded cooler holds ice 2-3x longer and pays for itself in ice runs.
