18/20
#1 — Dometic CFX5 35
The one I'd buy with my own money — the benchmark every other 12V cooler gets measured against.
C$1,307.20Checked Oct 6Check price
Black Friday · 12V Coolers
Black Friday 12V cooler deals
Big-ticket gear gets the biggest discounts. These are the coolers worth waiting for.
Updated October 5, 2026
A 12V cooler is the highest-ticket item most drivers buy — which makes it the best Black Friday target. But a deal is only a deal if the cooler is worth owning at full price. Every cooler below scored 14/20 or higher on our rubric, so when the price drops, you're buying quality at a discount, not just a discount.
Worth watching
18/20
#2 — Dometic CFX5 45
The 45-litre sibling of our top-scoring cooler. Same CFX5 series design, more room for longer hauls.
C$1,490.00Checked Oct 6Check price
16/20
#3 — BougeRV 23 Quart
The budget door-opener. Does the job for weekend trips; long-haul drivers will want more.
C$209.99Checked Oct 6Check price
16/20
#4 — BougeRV CRD45
A 45-litre dual-zone 12V fridge that undercuts the premium brands. Scored 16/20 in our cooler rankings.
See priceCheck price
15/20
#5 — Alpicool CF45
The value pick that embarrasses coolers twice its price. Not perfect, but close enough to make you question the premium.
C$283.04Checked Oct 6Check price
15/20
#6 — Alpicool CF55
Our best mid-range pick. Compressor cooling without the premium price tag.
C$400–600Check price
14/20
#7 — Koolatron P27
Cheap for a reason. Fine as a drinks chiller; don't ask it to keep food safe through a hot week.
C$195Check price
Buy the cooler once. Cry once. A cheap cooler that dies in July costs more than a good one on sale in November.
Side by side
| Cooler | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Dometic CFX5 35 | 18/20 | C$1,307.20 |
| Dometic CFX5 45 | 18/20 | C$1,490.00 |
| BougeRV 23 Quart | 16/20 | C$209.99 |
| BougeRV CRD45 | 16/20 | See price |
| Alpicool CF45 | 15/20 | C$283.04 |
| Alpicool CF55 | 15/20 | C$400–600 |
| Koolatron P27 | 14/20 | C$195 |
How we score coolers
Cooling performance, build quality, power efficiency, and value — 20 points total, no sponsored picks. See the full cooler buying guide →
More Black Friday deals
Coolers are one category. See Black Friday power station deals and the full Black Friday deals hub.
Questions, answered
Do 12V coolers actually go on sale for Black Friday?
This is the category with the most reliable discounts — premium coolers are high-ticket items where retailers have real margin to cut.
Should I buy a cheap cooler on sale instead?
No. A 20% discount on a cooler that can't hold temperature is still a bad buy. Stick to scored models — that's what this list is.
Compressor or thermoelectric?
Compressor, every time, for a truck. Thermoelectric coolers can't keep up in summer heat. Every cooler on this list is compressor-based.
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— Marcus
Disclosure: The Driver Gear is reader-supported. When you buy through links on this page, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Scores reflect our editorial comparison methodology — how we test.