Wagan boasts many durable and quality products and this Wagan 6-Quart 12V Personal Cooler/Warmer, is just one among many. This review’s aim is to give you all you need to make an informed decision about the Wagan cooler. We will, however, begin with what Wagan as a company represents.
Located right in the middle of Silicon Valley, Wagan is surrounded by innovation and is able to keep up with the current trends and patterns. They do this while ensuring they maintain their high quality and reputable brand name.
Being in this business for over 35 years, Wagan has made life comfortable for thousands of people through their innovative products. They have a lot to show for their time in business such as their many design and utility patents for all their products that have received awards.
Wagan now boasts a wide range of products and has something to meet almost everyone’s needs. They have a line of Power supplies, Solar products, Power inverters, Mobile electronics, and even lots of health and fitness products. However, we are most interested in their tech line which is where their 12V coolers fall under. There are lots of Wagan 12V coolers of various sizes and specifications which are at the same time of very high quality.
At Wagan, the products are made with love and designed with the sole purpose of making people’s lives easier. Their single most important aim is to make your driving experience as an individual as comfortable as possible at the same time making it enjoy
With six branch offices all over the world, Wagan is able to ensure they distribute quality products on time. They are also able to meet customers’ needs and provide amazing customer service
We love brands like this that actually care about their consumers and at the same time produce products of high quality. That is why we recommend this Wagan 12V Personal Cooler/Warmer. Read on to find out if this particular cooling unit is suited to your needs.
Table of Contents
Who Needs the Wagan 6-Quart 12V Personal Cooler/Warmer?
This Wagan 6 quart personal cooler/ warmer just as the name implies is the ideal cooler for a single person. However, this doesn’t mean that it can only be used by one person. With its storage capacity that can hold up to 9 cans which means your friends can join in on the fun and also enjoy this cooler.
What then do we mean by a personal cooler? A cooler that is portable enough to be carried conveniently by a single person even when full as it comes with a strap that makes carrying easier. A cooler with a compact design that fits easily in your vehicle without taking up much room. This also means a cooler that may not be suitable for the needs of a large family. So if you have a large family and you are looking for a portable refrigerator for your family trips, this cooler may not be ideal for you.
This unit just like your mobile phone and GPS is a great traveling buddy. I mean who wouldn’t want cold drinks on the road especially during summer. It is also the perfect thing to give your family and friends as gifts and you can say goodbye to scrambling for Christmas or mother day gifts at the last minute.
A holistic look at all this cooler’s features may better help you decide if this cooler suits your needs and you can keep reading to find out.
Features of the Wagan 6-Quart 12V Personal Cooler/Warmer
Efficient Cooling and Warming
This Wagan cooling unit doubles as a cooler and a warmer. With the aid of a simple switch, you can easily select what mode you want the cooler to be in. It also has indicator lights so you can easily know what mode your cooler is in and can avoid accidents that may cause you to bring out hot drinks from your cooler.
The cooling mode allows your portable refrigerator cool food and drink although like with all cooling units it works better if you pre-chill the items first. This cooler operates using thermoelectric cooling technology. This means its cooling is dependent on the ambient temperature (the temperature of the environment). It is able to cool as low as 36°F below the ambient temperature which is enough to keep your food and drink cold consistently for as long as your cooler is powered.
On the flips side, its warming function is independent of the ambient temperature. The cooler is able to heat up to 140F and keep your soups and leftovers piping hot. It is however not advisable to heat for long periods with your cooler. Apart from the fact that the cooler wasn’t designed to be used in such a manner, it is also against food handling guidelines. We advise that you don’t heat food in your cooler for longer than 40 minutes.
With this cooler, you can enjoy your cold drinks on hot summer days and alternatively your warm soups when the cold begins to set in.
Easy to Use
One thing we love about this cooler is its ease of use. It doesn’t have complex controls that could be difficult to operate. Its simple switch with indicator lights allows you to switch between cooling and heating easily.
Also, this unit comes with a built-in carry-on strap that you can use in carrying your personal cooler from one place to another. The cooler is also rather light even when it is full, thus it can be carried around conveniently by a single person even for long periods of time.
It comes with a very long 12V DC power cable so you can plug your cooler in while your car engine is on. There is also the option of an AC adapter that is essential if you want your cooler to be used in your home, office or hotel room.
Environment-Friendly
This is a feature we really love about this cooler and one we think you would love as well. For those of you that are earth-friendly, you would be pleased to know that this cooler has no refrigerant inside it. It also doesn’t have any CFC (Chloro Fluoro Carbons) that could be harmful to the ozone layer and also the environment. This cooler uses thermoelectric cooling technology which enables it to cool efficiently without bringing harm to the environment.
Another positive effect of this being a thermoelectric cooler is its quiet cooling. Unlike most compressor models, this cooling unit is very quiet and produces minimal operational noises. We are very thrilled about this as no one wants a noisy cooler around them.
Compact Design
This cooler has a very compact and portable design. It allows you to store just the right amount of food and drink without taking up too much room in your vehicle. It is ideal for you if you are at a loss for space.
Pros of the Wagan 6-Quart 12V Personal Cooler/Warmer
i. Quiet cooling
ii. Efficient cooling and heating
iii. Portable and lightweight
iv. Environment-friendly
v. Easy to carry around
vi. Versatile and Practical design
Cons of the Wagan 6-Quart 12V Personal Cooler/Warmer
i. AC adapter has to be bought separately.
Check out these other in-depth articles/reviews…
How Many Watts Does It Take To Run A Refrigerator?
Midea 3.1-Cubic Foot Compact Refrigerator — In-depth Review
Upright Freezers: A Complete Buying Guide
Magic Chef 2.4-Cubic Foot Compact Refrigerator [Detailed Review]
Beverage Refrigerators: The Buyer’s Guide
Costway 3.2-Cubic Foot Compact Refrigerator (Single Door) — Extensive Review
Alternatives to the Wagan 6-Quart 12V Personal Cooler/Warmer
More Affordable Option
Nutrichef 7-Liter 12V Personal Cooler/Warmer
We really love this cooler and how it rapidly cools or warms both foods and drink with minimal operational noises. Its energy-efficient cooling is wonderful as it is favorable to both your power bill and car battery as well as the environment.
Our favorite feature is the four cup holder space on the top of the cooler which allows you to keep as many as 4 cups of coffee or juice etc. Most coolers have space for only two cups which is not always enough especially with a full vehicle.
We also love the removable carryon strap that allows you easily carry the cooler around even for long periods of time.
Larger Capacity
Wagan 24-Liter Portable 12V Cooler and Warmer
This is another functional cooling unit from the same brand Wagan so you can be assured that it has the same quality and durability as all other coolers from this brand. It performs the same cooling and heating functions that the Wagan personal cooler does.
On the other hand, still within the same price range, it offers a larger capacity that is almost triple that of the Wagan cooler. It is an excellent choice for those who might want additional space for more food but still want an affordable cooler.
Considering that its cooling is very quiet also this cooler is definitely a must-have for all road trips, camping trips, picnics, and mini parties.
More High-End Option
Black+Decker Portable 12V Travel Cooler/Warmer
This Black+Decker cooler is much like the Wagan cooler in the sense that it is small and portable. Another similarity between the two coolers is the cooling and heating function. We love that this cooler also comes with a 12V DC power cable so your cooler can be powered by your engine.
A big difference between these two coolers though is the price. The Black+Decker cooler is a bit more expensive than the Wagan cooler mentioned above. Its capacity is also a bit larger and it can contain 12 cans as opposed to the 9 held by the Wagan cooler.
Quick Comparison
| Featured Product | More affordable | Larger Capacity | More High-End | |
| Product |
Wagan 6-Quart 12V Personal Cooler/Warmer
|
Nutrichef 7-Liter 12V Personal Cooler/Warmer
|
Wagan 24-Liter Portable 12V Cooler and Warmer
|
Black+Decker Portable 12V Travel Cooler/Warmer
|
| Capacity | 7-Liters / 9cans | 7- Liters /9 cans | 27cans/24-Liters | 9-Liters / 12cans |
| Dimensions | 24.5 inches x 15.6 inches x 16.8 inches | 12.21 inches x 6.7 inches x 10.44 inches | 11 inches x 8 inches x 12 inches | 17.7 inches x 13.6 inches x 10.7 inches |
| Smart Features | Adjustable Carry-On strap, Dual cup holder | Shoulder Strap | Heavy-duty single handle | Shoulder Strap, Dual cup holder |
| Function | Cooler/Warmer | Cooler/Warmer | Fridge/Warmer | Fridge/Freezer |
| Available Sizes | 7-Liters | 7-Liters | 24-Liters | 9-Liters |
| Available Colors | Black | Black | Blue | Grey and Black |
What Users are Saying About the Wagan 6-Quart 12V Personal Cooler/Warmer
The general consensus is that this Wagan personal cooler is a perfect cooler and most of our users love this unit. Many users love that this cooler is very lightweight even when it is full. Its carry- on strap is also an added advantage as it allows you easily move your portable cooling unit around.
Another favorite for our users is its quiet cooling, they were happy that this cooler is not a nosy model with unbearable operational noises.
The heating and cooling options were great bonuses as our users enjoyed being able to cool their food and drink. Enjoying cold drinks on the road or at a picnic had our users loving every bit of this cooler. On the flip side, when winter came the heating function came in handy. And people with these coolers were able to enjoy hot soups and drinks.
There were however some drawbacks of this cooler, one of which being the lack of an AC adapter which has to be bought separately. While this is important, some users argue that most of the places it is taken to such as the park don’t have AC supply so it may not be so necessary.
Check out these other articles…
Are GE Refrigerators Good? [Answered]
How Do You Adjust the Water Level on a GE Ice Maker? [Quick Guide]
GE Refrigerator Does Not Turn On [How to Fix]
GE Refrigerator Making Ice – Issues [Solved]
GE Refrigerator Light – Problems [Solved]
GE Ice Maker Stuck [How to Fix]
GE Refrigerator Leaking Water [Quick Fix]
Our Verdict
We have to give this portable cooler a 5 out of 5 stars cause it definitely gives you your money’s worth. All these amazing features and it is still so affordable.
It’s a must-have for all road trips regardless of their length. With its quiet cooling, you almost won’t notice any of its operational noises especially with your engine on.
This cooler is also the perfect gift to give to your family and friends on their birthdays, at Christmas etc. Who wouldn’t want such a practical gift and it does help that it is pretty affordable too.
It is quite small and may not be suitable for everyone. If you want to have the option of a larger capacity for grocery shopping or for long trips, you might want to invest in a much larger cooler.
That being said, we love this cooler and we would recommend it to anyone looking for a portable personal cooler.
Get Instant Help — Ask An Experienced Verified Appliance Technician
Need expert help? Click here to use the chat box on this page to speak with a verified appliance technician right away. No need for expensive in-home service calls. No appointments. No waiting.
Pingback: The Wagan 14-Liter Portable 12V Cooler/ Warmer-- Detailed Review