One of the most common questions when buying a camping fridge is also one of the hardest to answer: what size do you actually need?
The conventional advice is simple: buy the largest fridge that comfortably fits your vehicle and your budget. It makes sense. It’s better to have spare capacity than discover halfway through a trip that you’ve run out of room.
But there’s more to choosing a camping fridge than simply buying the biggest model you can fit in your car.
Unlike most camping gear, a fridge can’t just be squeezed into whatever space happens to be left over. It needs to remain accessible, with adequate ventilation around its cooling vents. That means even a relatively compact fridge can occupy a surprising amount of valuable packing space.
Before choosing one, ask yourself a few simple questions:
- Do you need a dedicated freezer section, or will a single-compartment fridge do?
- How long do you typically spend away from home?
- How much space do you realistically have in your vehicle?
- Do you travel with an off-road trailer or caravan?
- Are you likely to expand the way you travel in the future?
WHY MOST PEOPLE END UP WANTING MORE SPACE
For good reason, 50- to 60-litre fridges remain a sweet spot for many campers. They strike an excellent balance between capacity, size and portability, making them ideal for couples, small families and weekend adventures.
Smaller 15- to 40-litre fridges certainly have their place, too. They’re ideal for solo travellers, weekend escapes or as a dedicated drinks fridge. Many people who already own a fridge eventually add a smaller second unit simply because it’s easier to access during the day.
But something interesting tends to happen after people have spent a few seasons camping.
Trips get longer. Families grow. Destinations get further away. And suddenly that fridge that seemed enormous when it was first purchased starts feeling surprisingly small. In other words, you’re not necessarily buying a fridge for the way you camp today. It’s worth considering how you might be using it a few years from now.
IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT MORE FOOD
Extra capacity isn’t simply about carrying more food.
A larger fridge can mean fewer trips to the shops, more room for frozen meals on longer expeditions and less time spent rearranging everything every time you open the lid.
If your ideal fireside drink requires plenty of ice, a dual-zone fridge/freezer can make even more sense. One compartment can handle fresh food while the other takes care of frozen goods and ice.
That’s one reason 70- to 90-litre fridges continue to appeal to overlanders, caravan owners and families who regularly spend extended periods outdoors. For some travellers, running two fridges makes even more sense: a dedicated freezer in the trailer, with a second fridge in the tow vehicle for everyday access.
Ultimately, there’s no single “correct” fridge size. The right capacity depends on the way you travel.
MORE FRIDGE FOR YOUR MONEY
Not that long ago, stepping up to a larger-capacity camping fridge often meant a significant jump in price.
That’s no longer necessarily the case.
National Luna’s budget-friendly Travel Box range has been designed to deliver excellent performance and value without the premium price tag, providing options for campers with very different requirements.
And for those who have reached the point where “I wish I’d bought a bigger fridge” has become a familiar thought, there’s the newest addition to the range: the 75-litre Travel Box (TB75).
Its true dual-zone design allows one compartment to operate as a fridge and the other as a freezer, giving you the flexibility to pack for everything from a long weekend away to an extended overlanding adventure.
It operates from both 12V DC and 220V AC power, making it equally at home in a vehicle, caravan or campsite.
At R8 999, the TB75 offers substantial capacity and flexibility without stepping into the premium end of the camping-fridge market.
Because ultimately, the best camping fridge isn’t necessarily the biggest one you can afford. It’s the one that gives you enough space for the way you actually travel — while leaving you a little room to grow.
WIN A NATIONAL LUNA TB75!
To celebrate the launch of the new TB75, National Luna is giving one lucky South African subscriber the chance to win a prize package worth R10 699, including the 75-litre Travel Box, an Easy-Transit Wheel Kit and a Protective Insulated Jacket.
Entries close on 21 August 2026.
Visit the National Luna TB75 Giveaway page for more info, subscribe to the newsletter, and enter for your chance to win!
