Of all of the merchandise I’ve been skeptical of this yr, this one may take the cake. The concept of a cooler that might operate nicely as an air conditioner whereas nonetheless totally working as a cooler appeared far-fetched. I had cash on the truth that this factor would find yourself being a mediocre cooler and a less-than-mediocre air conditioner.
I discover that almost all combo merchandise are the worst of each worlds. A combo vacuum and mop? No. Simply get certainly one of every. The IcyBreeze felt prefer it may fall into that class of making an attempt to do an excessive amount of and falling brief in all areas. Is that this factor only a swamp cooler that I may throw along with a number of low cost components from my native ironmongery store? I assumed as a lot.
In the long run, I used to be a little bit proper and loads fallacious.
In brief: The IcyBreeze shouldn’t be going to maintain your drinks chilly for per week, and it isn’t going to make your tent an icebox, however it does precisely what it says it does, no extra and no much less. It stored me far cooler than I might have been with out it, and my drinks had been loads refreshing … for some time. The true testomony is that I’ll use it once more. It has discovered a spot in my gear-worth-keeping-around pile, and that shocks me greater than I can say.
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Capability
38 qts. -
Fan
3 speeds -
Battery
Non-obligatory 12V rechargeable - Directional 12″ flexi-hose
- Ergonomic deal with
- Giant wheels for transport
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Does what it claims to do -
Cools air rapidly -
Robust fan energy/airflow -
Mist operate is a bonus
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When used as an air conditioner, ice does not final lengthy -
Too noisy for some
IcyBreeze Evaluation: Cooler + A/C
To make this as easy to know as doable, the IcyBreeze is a cooler with an inside warmth trade system that pulls in exterior air and cools it with ice water. It may be powered by both a conventional plug-in or a lithium-ion battery (consider these energy drill batteries).
The model breaks down how the IcyBreeze works as such:
“The massive secret behind the IcyBreeze is a novel design that sends water by means of a warmth exchanger cleverly positioned within the lid. Contemporary air is drawn from hidden vents within the prime of the cooler, pulled throughout the exchanger, and chilled right down to 35 levels beneath the preliminary temperature. A cool (dare we are saying… ICY?) breeze is then distributed no matter course the unit is going through. The facility and velocity of the air present is corresponding to that of the typical air conditioner present in most fashionable vehicles.”
Testing the IcyBreeze
I’ve the Final model ($500), however there are extra budget-friendly choices, such because the Platinum ($400) and V2 Professional ($300). The lower-end variations have smaller, much less rugged wheels and a much less ergonomic deal with setup, and so they lack the rubber lid latches.
It ought to be apparent that this isn’t a backcountry product, so weight and energy concerns aren’t actually relevant. For this take a look at, I made a decision to run the IcyBreeze on our annual pike fishing camp, which is notoriously scorching and depressing.
Thankfully, we now have fairly direct entry to each ice and energy, so it appeared a becoming place to provide the IcyBreeze a go.
Realizing that is how I might take a look at, I ordered an extra battery and a 4-foot extension tube forward of time. The extra battery allowed me to maintain one battery on the charger and one operating the IcyBreeze whereas the extension hose ran that “icy breeze” up into my Roofnest. I additionally ordered a conventional energy wire, for the events I may plug it in straight.
Battery Perform and Life
I’ll admit, I winced at battery costs. IcyBreeze affords a 2Ah battery ($50) with a 2-hour run time, a 6Ah battery ($70) with a 4-hour run time, and a 10Ah battery ($100) with a 6-hour run time. Sure, these costs sting, however lithium-ion batteries ain’t low cost.
I used it with each a 6Ah battery and the standard wire, since I occurred to be parked in an space with obtainable energy. The battery life was proper on par with what it listed, however the ice within the cooler was obliterated by the 3-hour mark.
That being stated, the air was nonetheless far cooler than the ambient air. For the total size of battery energy, the IcyBreeze pumped cool air my manner and made life only a bit extra satisfying.
General Perform
In a single day, I plugged it into an outlet and let it run with simply water. Even with out ice, the cool airflow in my tent made my nights way more snug than my typical fan ever has.
As for functioning as a cooler, pay attention: you’re pumping scorching air right into a cooler. What do you assume goes to occur?
My ice disappeared rapidly, and my drinks stayed cool, however not chilly for lengthy. For me, this was positive. I wasn’t utilizing it to maintain meals chilly, simply to maintain drinks chilled.
In full transparency, I introduced an extra cooler as a result of I knew precisely what I used to be entering into. This was my air conditioner for the journey and a bonus cool drink-keeper.
What the IcyBreeze Does Properly
To be blunt: It really works precisely how the corporate says it ought to. It blows cool air.
Holy Airflow, Batman
Climbing up into my rooftop tent in summer time can typically be a brutal expertise. Chilly air or not, the airflow that pumps out of this factor is spectacular. Earlier than the air even had an opportunity to chill down, the distinction between the airflow of the IcyBreeze and the airflow of my little rechargeable fan was noticeably completely different. Simply the pushing of that a lot air made my tent instantly cooler.
As soon as it had an opportunity to chill down, I used to be in hog heaven. The chilliness issue was dreamy for my noon, too-hot-to-fish map.
Cool Air
This isn’t only a glorified swamp cooler. It blows noticeably cool air, which, in my specific scenario, cooled my tent down and stored it cool.
Conveniently, even when the ice was gone, it nonetheless did an amazing job of blowing far cooler air than the ambient temperature.
The place the IcyBreeze Falls Quick
Quick-Time period Cooler
The place the IcyBreeze actually falls brief is its efficiency as a cooler if you’re utilizing it as an air conditioner. This makes logical sense. In the event you’re drawing exterior air into the cooler lid at a speedy fee so it may be cooled and blown again out, your ice goes to undergo. As soon as your ice water flows by means of the warmth trade, it’s flowing again into your cooler hotter.
That chilly wind is coming from someplace. The breeze is icy as a result of it’s stealing the coolness out of your precise ice.
Nevertheless it works. It simply isn’t going to maintain your drinks chilly for days on finish.
Now, if you happen to hold the vent closed and don’t flip it on, it makes a positive typical cooler.
Hear the Distinction
It actually isn’t silent. I feel that’s the largest criticism I’ve learn concerning the unit. What I can say is that I anticipated it to be louder than it really was. It’s an air conditioner. Which means motors, airflow, and noise. In the event you want silence, this isn’t the A/C for you.
Who Ought to Purchase the IcyBreeze Transportable Air Conditioner Cooler?
I can see this pet being an absolute gem at a developed campground, on the seaside, on a ship, for a Little League sport, on a golf cart, or on the again of a UTV. It undoubtedly has its place for these single-day or possibly 2-day actions.
Previous that, you truthfully want entry to energy and, extra importantly, entry to ice.
In the event you’re a weekend warrior who doesn’t wish to sweat and doesn’t have far to lug the factor, the IcyBreeze is a deal with on a scorching day. It’ll hold your drinks cool and provide you with a refreshing breeze you in any other case wouldn’t have. This could have saved my bacon again when my children had been in sports activities.
In the event you’re pondering of dragging this to a weeklong camp the place you received’t have charging capabilities or the chance to replenish ice, save your pennies and purchase a hand-held fan and separate cooler.
