Separate your fridge from the power outlet with the Worx 20V Cooler. This portable fridge/freezer can run on batteries for the ultimate in flexible camping luxury.

The Worx 20V Electric & Battery Powered Cooler is an intriguing option for van lifers, car campers, or anyone just spending the day at the beach. But is this portable refrigerator worth lugging around on your outdoor adventures? We put it through its paces to find out.

Worx has built an entire ecosystem of power tools and lawncare equipment that operate using a shared battery pack. Having a universal power source that is swappable across a wide array of products brings familiarity and convenience to consumers. 

Now the company brings that same philosophy to a line of outdoor products, including a battery-operated cooler. This portable refrigerator uses the same batteries as Worx tools, but this time they’re dedicated to keeping your favorite beverages cold no matter where you roam.

In short: The Worx 20V Electric & Battery Powered Cooler’s ability to keep food and drinks cold — or even frozen — without the need for ice will undoubtedly appeal to car campers, tailgaters, and daytrippers. But the unit isn’t without its quirks, which could ultimately limit its appeal for some outdoor enthusiasts.

Electric-powered coolers have been around for years, with companies like Dometic and Camco offering a wide range of models. But battery-operated versions of these mini refrigerators are relatively new to the market, bringing more freedom and functionality along with them. One such model is the Worx 20V Electric & Battery Powered Cooler, which cuts the power cord in favor of enhanced portability. 

The cooler comes with two 20V battery packs, which are also compatible with Worx power tools and lawn care equipment. A separate battery charger is included in the box, although the power cells will charge in the cooler itself when it’s plugged into a 120V wall outlet or a 12V port in your vehicle.

The unit ships with cables to plug into either of those styles of outlets.

According to Worx, two fully-charged batteries will power the cooler for about 10 hours on average. The actual runtime depends on the unit’s temperature settings, which can range from -4 degrees Fahrenheit to 68F. When set to lower temps, the refrigeration unit must work harder, drawing more power in the process. Of course, it also depends on the ambient air temperature outside and the temperature of things loaded into the cooler.

The cooler also has an “eco” mode that utilizes the batteries more conservatively compared to its “max” mode, which cools the temperature more rapidly.

During my testing, I found that when the thermostat was set to 40F, I could achieve about 10 hours of use on the batteries alone. Raising the temperature extended runtime by an hour or two while dropping it below freezing sapped energy at an accelerated rate. During one test, I barely achieved 6 hours of use with a temperature of 20F.

The cooler has a bright, easy-to-read LCD screen that displays the current temperature in Fahrenheit or Celsius. It also shows whether it is in “eco” or “max” cooling mode and the current charge levels for the battery packs.

If the unit experiences any issues, the screen will also flash an error code indicating its current status. That did not occur during my testing. 

Temperature settings are adjusted using separate “+” and “-” buttons. A third button grants access to the cooler’s settings controls. And a power button turns the cooler off when not in use — but curiously, it doesn’t turn it back on.

To power up the device, users must either pull the batteries out and then click them back into place or unplug them from a power outlet and plug it back in.

This seems rather unintuitive and is made worse by the fact that I couldn’t find any mention of it in the owner’s manual, which mainly consists of equally puzzling diagrams.

Worx says the cooler weighs in at 29.8 pounds, but when I dropped it on the scale with both batteries in place, it was over 33 pounds. Thankfully, it has a built-in handle and a set of wheels that make it easier to move around.

The wheels aren’t especially large, however, so it doesn’t roll over rough ground as easily as we’d like. When taking it to the beach, plan on carrying it across the sand.

The cooler’s refrigerated chamber is also relatively small compared to the unit’s overall size. That’s because the cooling unit and battery receptacles take up a significant portion of the space. Worx says there is room to hold up to 35 12-ounce cans, although I could only squeeze in 32 canned beverages.

By comparison, a similarly sized standard Coleman cooler can hold more than 50 cans, with room left over for 20-plus pounds of ice.

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Whether we powered the cooler using batteries or an AC outlet, it consistently maintained its temperature — with only minor fluctuations — at all times. But unlike some other portable refrigerators, the Worx model only has a single compartment, making it very challenging to carry beverages and frozen foods simultaneously.

Having dual temperature zones would provide more versatility but also further cut down on carrying capacity. 

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Despite a few drawbacks, there is a lot to like about this powered cooler, especially if you’re already in the Worx ecosystem. The company’s interchangeable battery packs give this unit a level of versatility that can’t be found in most other models, most of which remain tethered to an AC or DC outlet.

Integrated cupholders and a bottle opener are also nice additions, as is a standard USB-A port for charging mobile devices. 

This should make the Worx 20V Electric & Battery Powered Cooler a popular option for car campers and tailgaters in particular. But it should also appeal to RVers and van lifers looking for a simple and reasonably affordable option for use at the campsite.

Priced at $499.99, the unit is significantly less expensive than anything in the Dometic line-up, even if it offers fewer bells and whistles.

Kraig Becker is a writer and editor who covers the outdoor industry, travel, and tech. He has contributed to a number of print and digital outlets, including Popular Mechanics, Digital Trends, Business Insider, Outside magazine, GearJunkie, and numerous others. The author of five books, this world traveler has been to Everest base camp, traveled through Mongolia on horseback, swam in the Amazon, and climbed Kilimanjaro twice. If he’s not outside running or mountain biking, he’s probably researching the latest tech trends or testing some new gadget.

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