The BougeRV Aspen series of coolers comes in three sizes, from 34 to 53 quart, with Pro versions adding wheels and the ability to make ice. I’ve been testing the smallest Aspen Pro 30 for about six months and it’s been excellent.
My test cooler came with the optional 220Wh battery pack, which gives it a bit of truly off-grid capability, but it’s the cooler itself that’s the standout. Here’s what you need to know…
BougeRV Aspen Pro tech details
Across the three sizes (34/43/53 quart), the technical specs and features are the same. All three have a dual-zone design letting you independently set the temperature for each zone.
The Pro models turn the smaller size into a freezer and have a rapid-cooling IceDrive mode that can drop the temp to 0ºF in just 30 minutes. It works for ice cream, freezer pops, and even making ice. I haven’t used this feature much, but it’s a nice addition. The minimal price difference between the standard and Pro models make them a no-brainer upgrade.
The coolers come with two cables, one for standard AC wall outlets and one for 12V DC sockets. When possible, use the DC cable as it’s far more efficient than converting AC to DC, especially if you’re pulling off a battery pack that has to first convert DC to AC.
We used it both ways, leaving it plugged in for days to standard car sockets, my van’s 110V AC sockets, and in my garage.
The cooler is fairly insulated well enough, but it’s no Yeti…which is why they sell an insulating cover. If you need to keep food cold inside while it’s unplugged for a while, or it’s sitting in direct sunlight, that’s probably a good option.
In my garage, the zones started at 42º / 37º F when I unplugged it, and 3.5 hours later they were 53º / 46º. There were only a few drinks in it at the time, so nothing much to hold the cold, but this is where the external battery pack or insulating cover (or just a blanket) would help.
The wheels and handle are a great bonus feature of the Pro models. I haven’t wheeled it around a lot, but it makes it a lot easier to move around when fully loaded. And if you routinely pull it in and out and cart it around, it’s worth upgrading.
Aspen Pro 30 review
Besides using this around the house after overzealous Costco trips, I’ve found that it works really well for a long solo weekend, or a 2-3 person overnighter.
On the small side, I could easily get a half-gallon of milk, bag of carrots, and sandwich fixings (meat, cheese, mustard & mayonnaise).
The bottom section has a clear case with lid, just make sure to put the lid on right side up…it’s hard to grab if you put it on upside down.
It comes with two wire baskets, but I preferred using it without them. The larger side’s basket eats up just enough space that it really cuts down on how many cans I can fit in there.
I also found that stacking the cans on their sides made the most efficient use of space.
The basket on the small side has big gaps – big enough for cans and bottles to fall through when lifting it out, so be careful.
Both compartments have drain holes with plugs, making it really easy to clean. The only missing feature I wish the Aspen Pro had was the ability to turn off either compartment when it’s not needed. As is, both sides are being cooled whether they’re empty or not.
That said, even empty (or stuffed full), I haven’t had any problems with products unintentionally freezing. If you’ve ever had to clean up a cracked/exploded kombucha bottle, you’ll appreciate this.
Part of the trick to that is allowing ample room around the vents on the back end of the cooler, but it’s still a noteworthy kudos to BougeRV’s electric coolers that it’s never happened. It helps that it has huge vents on the back and extra vents on the side, giving compressor plenty of room to breathe.
Auxiliary Battery – 220Wh Power Pack
BougeRV’s 220Wh Power Pack is custom made to clip directly onto the cooler, making it really easy to roll (or carry) the cooler to your campground and leave the cables behind.
It uses the DC-to-DC lighter plug and had auxiliary USB/USB-C ports and a flashlight, making it a viable power pack for other uses, too.
The only downside is, for powering the cooler, it doesn’t last long. Best bet is to keep the cooler plugged in to your car or wall as long as possible, then save this battery for topping off a few hours later. That’ll extend the total cold time as long as possible. If you need something to power the cooler for days at a time, you’ll want a bigger “solar generator” style battery pack.
Pricing, options & final thoughts
PROS:
- Easy to use
- Simple controls w/ instructions on the cooler
- Very quiet
- Works great
- Perfect size for smaller vehicles and short trips
CONS:
- Can’t turn off unused compartments
- Optional Power Pack battery doesn’t last long
The BougeRV Aspen Pro 30 is $429.99 and measures 710 x 410 x 443 mm (28 x 16.2 x 17.5 inches). They measure interior volume in Quarts, but many competitors use Liters, so here’s how they stack up:
- Aspen 30 – 34qt – 32L ($399 standard, $430 Pro)
- Aspen 40 – 43qt – 41L ($460 standard, $480 Pro)
- Aspen 50 – 53qt – 50L ($500 standard, $530 Pro)
If I’m being honest, BougeRV first reached out with news about their “Colorful” line of coolers, which come in cute pastel colors. I asked if I could test the Aspen series instead, but wondered if this was a brand with a cute name that made cute looking products pulled straight from an Asian supplier’s catalog.
I’m happy to say my experience has been really good, and the product is solid. Not just “better than expected”, but actually really good. It held up to my son taking it on a two-week boys trip, my own camping trips, and frequently moving around between vehicles, garage, and house.
I’d highly recommend the BougeRV Aspen Pro coolers. They offer a great price-to-feature ratio and have proven durable and reliable. Use promo code “AWOL” for 33% off Aspen coolers at BougeRV.com through October 31, 2024! Some items also available on Amazon.
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