Brand: Campart

The Campart Helsinki CB-8690 is a 42-litre hybrid cooler, made by Dutch brand Campart Travel. Its distinguishing feature is its two separate cooling systems: a genuine 230V compressor, able to drop as low as -15°C regardless of ambient temperature and thus double as a mini-freezer, and a 12V thermoelectric module for nomadic use in a car, cooling down to 20°C below ambient temperature. Its stainless steel front and sturdy built-in handles give it a refined look, equally at home in a garage or utility room as in a vehicle's boot.

I tested it at home, plugged into mains for several weeks, before taking it along for a long weekend by car. On 230V mains, the genuine compressor more than delivers: dropping down to -15°C means real freezing, something a simple thermoelectric cooler can't do, handy as a backup freezer in a garage or utility room. Once unplugged from the mains and switched to the cigarette lighter during the drive, the thermoelectric module takes over with a much more modest temperature drop, enough to maintain the cold already built up rather than to cool down from ambient. The stainless steel front and sturdy handles genuinely feel like quality, far from the plasticky look of many electric coolers. My only gripe: switching between 230V and 12V mode isn't automatic, you need to plan the changeover depending on the trip. For mixed home and travel use, with a genuine need for occasional freezing, it remains convincing.

The Campart Oslo CB-8624 is a 22-litre thermoelectric electric cool box, made by Dutch brand Campart Travel, part of the Tristar group. Running on a vehicle's 12V cigarette lighter socket, it cools down to 16°C below ambient temperature thanks to its Peltier module, with no compressor or refrigerant gas. At only 2.8 kg with a built-in handle, it's easy to carry to the beach, a park or a festival, for light nomadic use.

I took it along for a day at the beach, plugged into the cigarette lighter during the drive then unplugged once there. At just 2.8 kg, the lightness is the first thing that strikes you, easily carried in one hand thanks to its built-in handle, a real contrast to much heavier classic passive coolers once filled with ice. The 16°C temperature drop below ambient stays modest compared with a compressor cooler, enough to keep drinks cool for a good part of the day, but not for storage over several days in hot weather. The lockable lid is reassuring for car transport, avoiding surprises on the odd sharp turn. For light, occasional use between the beach, a park and a festival, it remains a sensible, very affordable choice.