NewsBite

The best summer buy has home entertaining AND camping sorted

"Who knew one added feature could be such a game-changer?"

How to camp right in Australia : What you need to know

These products are hand-picked by our team to help make shopping easier. We may receive payments from third parties for sharing this content and when you make a purchase through the links in this article. Learn more

 

Any camper who hits the road with a regular esky or cooler box to keep their food and drinks fresh will tell you how much they HATE having to navigate their way through melted ice only to get to soggy food.

I've personally lost count of how many times we've had to toss fruit and veg because of it. It does my head in every time we go camping. But we just don't have the set-up to support a portable fridge (right now). 

It seems as though I'm not the only one who complains about it and the common problem has prompted one company to release a cooler that solves all of that mess while out and about. 

Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this.

The Ninja FrostVault Hard Cooler is here!

After selling out in the UK just 12 hours after launch, our pals at Ninja have finally introduced their cult Ninja FrostVault to Australia. 

"An esky? You're excited about an esky?" I hear you ask. 

Well, this isn't just a regular ice box!

The FrostVault is heavy-duty and built to handle the most rugged outdoor conditions with up to 7cm of insulation, which means the ice won't melt the instant your shade turns to sun. In fact, it can keep ice solid for days. 

Home entertaining is sorted! Image: Leah Goulis / Kidspot
Home entertaining is sorted! Image: Leah Goulis / Kidspot

For its first outing (and to see if the ice could really survive the summer heat!), we took the 47L hard cooler to our favourite spot to camp and swim down the south coast. An overnighter in summer was the best test to see if this tops our regular esky. 

While the ice did melt a little, the FrostVault definitely kept majority of it solid and cold. 

But I'm not here to bang on about solid ice. This cooler is all about an added feature that no other gadget or appliance like it has.

RELATED: Camping in the outback is the best experience you can give your kids

The drawer feature is a game changer. Image: Leah Goulis / Kidspot
The drawer feature is a game changer. Image: Leah Goulis / Kidspot

The dry zone is a game-changer

The standout feature of the FrostVault is no doubt the Dry Zone Drawer. 

Located at the bottom of the cooler box, this drawer is the spot for all those items you don't want to get soggy from the ice, but definitely still want cold like the rest of the items in there. 

As the ice drops to the bottom of the cooler box, the cold transfers to the dry zone. Fruit, veggies, cheese, and other perishable items are perfect for this compartment, which will stay dry and under 4 degrees for days.

No more digging through melted ice to get your soggy food. Score! Putting meat in these drawers also means less cross-contamination. 

Introducing our new podcast: Mum Club! Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode.

RELATED: $5 Kmart camping hack has the internet in a spin

My verdict

Using the FrostVault while camping definitely made things easier but I was also chuffed when using it while hosting friends and family at home. 

Nothing screams "Aussie BBQ" quite like an ice box full of drinks for people to help themselves to. And while this handy appliance did allow that, the DryZone drawer allowed us to put some garnishes and added extras for our guest's drinks.

One side boasted things like bottle openers and corkscrews while the other had frozen slices of lemon and lime for those gin and tonics. If you're feeling adventurous, you could also put ice in the drawers, but I can't guarantee how long they'll stay solid for. 

10/10 a game changer for camping and home entertainment. And if you're quick, you might even be able to squeeze it in for Christmas!

The Ninja FrostVault Hard Cooler is available in two sizes (28L, RRP $299.00 and 47L, RRP $399.99) and in three colours (Lakeshore Blue and Slate Grey and Cloud White). Check them out via the Ninja Kitchen website.

Originally published as The best summer buy has home entertaining AND camping sorted

Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/lifestyle/the-best-summer-buy-has-home-entertaining-and-camping-sorted/news-story/c7018b915ecebe585a964f9253116113