Of all the products I’ve been skeptical of this year, this one might take the cake. The idea of a cooler that could function well as an air conditioner while still fully operating as a cooler seemed far-fetched. I had money on the fact that this thing would end up being a mediocre cooler and a less-than-mediocre air conditioner.
I find that most combo products are the worst of both worlds. A combo vacuum and mop? No. Just get one of each. The IcyBreeze felt like it might fall into that category of trying to do too much and falling short in all spaces. Is this thing just a swamp cooler that I could throw together with a few cheap parts from my local hardware store? I assumed as much.
In the end, I was a little right and a lot wrong.
In short: The IcyBreeze is not going to keep your drinks cold for a week, and it isn’t going to make your tent an icebox, but it does exactly what it says it does, no more and no less. It kept me far cooler than I would have been without it, and my drinks were plenty refreshing … for a while. The real testament is that I will use it again. It has found a place in my gear-worth-keeping-around pile, and that shocks me more than I can say.
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Capacity
38 qts. -
Fan
3 speeds -
Battery
Optional 12V rechargeable - Directional 12″ flexi-hose
- Ergonomic handle
- Large wheels for transport
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Does what it claims to do -
Cools air quickly -
Strong fan power/airflow -
Mist function is a bonus
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When used as an air conditioner, ice doesn’t last long -
Too noisy for some
IcyBreeze Review: Cooler + A/C
To make this as simple to understand as possible, the IcyBreeze is a cooler with an internal heat exchange system that pulls in external air and cools it with ice water. It can be powered by either a traditional plug-in or a lithium-ion battery (think of those power drill batteries).
The brand breaks down how the IcyBreeze works as such:
“The big secret behind the IcyBreeze is a unique design that sends water through a heat exchanger cleverly placed in the lid. Fresh air is drawn from hidden vents in the top of the cooler, pulled across the exchanger, and chilled down to 35 degrees below the initial temperature. A cool (dare we say… ICY?) breeze is then dispensed whatever direction the unit is facing. The power and speed of the air current is comparable to that of the average air conditioner found in most modern automobiles.”
Testing the IcyBreeze
I have the Ultimate version ($500), but there are more budget-friendly options, such as the Platinum ($400) and V2 Pro ($300). The lower-end versions have smaller, less rugged wheels and a less ergonomic handle setup, and they lack the rubber lid latches.
It should be obvious that this is not a backcountry product, so weight and power considerations aren’t really applicable. For this test, I decided to run the IcyBreeze on our annual pike fishing camp, which is notoriously hot and miserable.
Fortunately, we have pretty direct access to both ice and power, so it seemed a fitting place to give the IcyBreeze a go.
Knowing this is how I would test, I ordered an additional battery and a 4-foot extension tube ahead of time. The additional battery allowed me to keep one battery on the charger and one running the IcyBreeze while the extension hose ran that “icy breeze” up into my Roofnest. I also ordered a traditional power cord, for the occasions I could plug it in directly.
Battery Function and Life
I’ll admit, I winced at battery prices. IcyBreeze offers 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. Yes, those prices sting, but lithium-ion batteries ain’t cheap.
I used it with both a 6Ah battery and the conventional cord, since I happened to be parked in an area with available power. The battery life was right on par with what it listed, but the ice in the cooler was obliterated by the 3-hour mark.
That being said, the air was still far cooler than the ambient air. For the full length of battery power, the IcyBreeze pumped cool air my way and made life just a bit more enjoyable.
Overall Function
Overnight, I plugged it into an outlet and let it run with just water. Even without ice, the cool airflow in my tent made my nights far more comfortable than my conventional fan ever has.
As for functioning as a cooler, listen: you’re pumping hot air into a cooler. What do you think is going to happen?
My ice disappeared quickly, and my drinks stayed cool, but not cold for long. For me, this was fine. I wasn’t using it to keep food cold, just to keep drinks chilled.
In full transparency, I brought an additional cooler because I knew exactly what I was getting into. This was my air conditioner for the trip and a bonus cool drink-keeper.
What the IcyBreeze Does Well
To be blunt: It works exactly how the company says it should. It blows cool air.
Holy Airflow, Batman
Climbing up into my rooftop tent in summer can often be a brutal experience. Cold air or not, the airflow that pumps out of this thing is impressive. Before the air even had a chance to cool down, the difference between the airflow of the IcyBreeze and the airflow of my little rechargeable fan was noticeably different. Just the pushing of that much air made my tent immediately cooler.
Once it had a chance to cool down, I was in hog heaven. The chill factor was dreamy for my midday, too-hot-to-fish map.
Cool Air
This isn’t just a glorified swamp cooler. It blows noticeably cool air, which, in my particular situation, cooled my tent down and kept it cool.
Conveniently, even when the ice was gone, it still did a great job of blowing far cooler air than the ambient temperature.
Where the IcyBreeze Falls Short
Short-Term Cooler
Where the IcyBreeze really falls short is its performance as a cooler if you’re using it as an air conditioner. This makes logical sense. If you’re drawing outside air into the cooler lid at a rapid rate so it can be cooled and blown back out, your ice is going to suffer. Once your ice water flows through the heat exchange, it’s flowing back into your cooler warmer.
That cold wind is coming from somewhere. The breeze is icy because it’s stealing the chill from your actual ice.
But it works. It just isn’t going to keep your drinks cold for days on end.
Now, if you keep the vent closed and don’t turn it on, it makes a fine conventional cooler.
Hear the Difference
It certainly isn’t silent. I think that’s the biggest complaint I’ve read about the unit. What I can say is that I expected it to be louder than it actually was. It’s an air conditioner. That means motors, airflow, and noise. If you need silence, this isn’t the A/C for you.
Who Should Buy the IcyBreeze Portable Air Conditioner Cooler?
I can see this puppy being an absolute gem at a developed campground, on the beach, on a boat, for a Little League game, on a golf cart, or on the back of a UTV. It definitely has its place for those single-day or maybe 2-day activities.
Past that, you honestly need access to power and, more importantly, access to ice.
If you’re a weekend warrior who doesn’t want to sweat and doesn’t have far to lug the thing, the IcyBreeze is a treat on a hot day. It’ll keep your drinks cool and give you a refreshing breeze you otherwise wouldn’t have. This would have saved my bacon back when my kids were in sports.
If you’re thinking of dragging this to a weeklong camp where you won’t have charging capabilities or the opportunity to replenish ice, save your pennies and buy a hand-held fan and separate cooler.
