Iceman's personal fridge does a small job well. It keeps six small cans or a packed lunch chilled on a desk, in a dorm or beside a bed, flips to a food warmer with one switch, and comes with plugs for both a home outlet and a car. Its size draws praise above everything else, and it runs quiet enough that several barely notice it. What it does not do is behave like a kitchen fridge: it works relative to the room, Iceman rates it at up to 32°F below the surrounding air, and it has no temperature control, so it keeps cold things cold rather than chilling warm ones. Buyers also rate its reliability and durability poorly, and one owner's unit stopped cooling after about a year of constant use. As a convenience for drinks and snacks it is easy to recommend; as storage for anything that must stay cold, it is not.
Who should buy it
- Office workers who want a cold lunch and drinks within reach at their desk
- Students in dorm rooms and anyone in a small bedroom who wants their own space for drinks, yogurt and fruit without a full-size fridge
- People who stay in hotel rooms or work camps without a fridge, who can use the 12V plug on the drive and the home plug at night
- Buyers who want a simple cooler and warmer in one small box and are happy to load it with food that is already cold or already hot
Buy it for convenience, not for food safety. Loaded with drinks and a lunch straight from the fridge, it keeps them chilled quietly in a space too small for anything else, and it warms a hot meal just as easily. Expect it to be cool rather than fridge-cold, expect results to follow the temperature of the room, and keep in mind that buyers rate its durability as a weak point. Chefman provides the one-year warranty.
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