BougeRV 23 Quart Review

The BougeRV 23 Quart is an all-around great electric cooler that stands out with its compact size and equally small pricetag. It's made with a plastic shell that can withstand regular transportation, has solid temperature control, and easy-to-grip handles that make it a breeze to carry longer distances than larger powered coolers.

Temperature Control

The BougeRV is capable of reaching very low temperatures. It doesn't have the most precise temperature control, but we constantly found that it gets colder than we wanted. While this isn't ideal, we'd rather a cooler be too cold than too warm.

In our minimum temperature test, the BougeRV went from room temperature to a very cold -3.2°F. This is colder than almost every other model we tested. The set temperature was -7°F, which is the coldest this cooler claims to get. While it didn't actually reach this temperature, we're impressed with how cold this little cooler got. And, the difference between the set and actual measured temperatures wasn't as significant as with some models we tested.

When we set the BougeRv to 35°F, the actual internal temperature measured 32°F according to our iButton data. This temperature difference is significant, but it isn't as big a discrepancy as some coolers had. Again, we prefer an electric cooler that errs on the side of being too cold, because a temperature that is too warm could lead to foodborne illness. And no one wants food poisoning when they're trying to have a relaxing weekend.

Time to Cool

The BougeRV is smaller than many electric coolers, so it requires less time to go from warm to cold. Its powerful compressor cooling mechanism pumps in cold air, bringing even room-temperature drinks to a refreshing temperature in just over an hour.

When starting at 75°F and containing room-temperature drinks, the BougeRV cooled to under 40°F in just 80 minutes. It took just over two hours — 130 minutes — to reach 35°F. This isn't the fastest cooling time, but given its budget-friendly pricing, we were happy with this speed.

Energy Consumption

Since the BougeRV is smaller, cooling its contents requires less energy. This little electric fridge, which is only 45 watts, won't drain your battery as you rely on it to keep your goodies cold. On average, it requires slightly more power than some models we tested to maintain refrigeration-level temperatures. However, its small size compensates for some minor design drawbacks that impact its energy consumption.

The BougeRV consumed an average of 8.3 watts per hour. This isn't the lowest, but it's better than average.

You'll only need a 500-watt-hour power station to keep the BougeRV running for a weekend trip. It features a 3-level battery protection system that shuts off the cooler if the connected battery voltage drops low enough to prevent your car from starting. This feature also protects the house batteries in a van or RV, ensuring the cooler won't accidentally drain them to the point of damage.

It has two modes: “Eco,” which prioritizes low power consumption, and “Max,” which provides the most powerful cooling. Regardless of the power mode it's set to, the BougeRV doesn't draw any power within the set temperature range.

Portability

The BougeRV excels in portability. It is the most portable compressor cooler we recommend because it balances cooling performance with space—and weight-saving features better than other smaller models.

It weighs 19.8 pounds, less than half the weight of many electric coolers we tested. While its smaller footprint means it can't hold quite as many drinks, we found the roughly 23 by 13 by 13-inch size to be much easier to carry than the massive coolers, which are difficult to wrap your arms around, let alone lift.

The handles aren't the most grippy, but this cooler is light enough that they don't need to be as grippy. It can only hold 23 cans. We wish it could hold a full 24 case.

Ease of Use

The BougeRV is a very user-friendly cooler overall. It has a clear display with straightforward settings. It also has a removable plastic storage tray to organize your food inside. While it didn't blow us out of the water in this metric, we weren't disappointed.

The control panel is very user-friendly. We never had issues with the display or buttons. The buttons automatically lock after a few seconds to prevent anyone from accidentally changing the setting if they sit on the cooler or brush against it as they walk by.

It doesn't have a latch on the lid. Instead, there is a magnetic mechanism that holds the lid shut. However, this mechanism doesn't provide that reassuring “click” when fully closed, so we always felt the need to double-check that the lid was shut.

During testing, we noted that the BougeRv had the most condensation build-up on the interior walls of any cooler. It wasn't enough condensation to make the cooler unusable, but any paper packaging you put inside this cooler will likely get wet and soggy.

Noise

The BougeRV makes some noise, but it's not very loud or disruptive. We were able to sleep in the same room as this cooler without issues.

The quiet, non-intrusive hum the BougeRV emits isn't as loud as some coolers. While it isn't the most silent, the low-pitched hum becomes like white noise when you're in a quiet room. When it isn't actively cooling, it makes no noise, as it turns off when it reaches the set temperature.

Should You Buy the BougeRV 23 Quart?

The BougeRV is an excellent deal for a highly-portable powered cooler that performs better than we expected for such a low-priced model. It's efficient in terms of energy usage, quiet enough to sleep with it in your car, and portable enough for one person to carry over long distances. This is a great option if you only need to keep a day or two's worth of supplies cold. However, if you regularly go out for longer than a weekend and need to carry more volume than a 24-pack of cans, this might not be the best choice due to its small size.

What Other Powered Coolers Should You Consider?

If you're looking for a larger-capacity powered cooler that's still pretty affordable, check out the Euhomy 59 Quart. For a larger cooler with two independently controlled cooling zones that's also not too expensive, check out the Renogy 53 Quart. If you want a highly reliable cooler that costs more but will last for years, consider the Dometic CFX5 45.