There's nothing like having a 12/24V volt refrigerator in your van or at your campsite to really bring the comforts of home on the road. Refrigeration means you can store fresh food and other cold items – like vegetables, dairy, meat, "booch," and beer. It means you don't have to fuss with a cooler full of ice and water-logged food. And even though the best 12/24V volt refrigerators for campervans aren't cheap, having one means saving money (and eating healthier) by cooking your own meals. A good 12V/24V fridge is one of the biggest investments you'll make when building your van. And you need to know that the fridge you're getting will meet your needs and hold up to the daily grind of life on the road, all while staying within your budget. In this post, we help you wade through all the vanlife refrigeration options, from cheap to top-of-the-line to DIY. We go over the pros and cons of the best 12/24V refrigerator models. We discuss whether those expensive 12/24V volt fridges are really worth the cost, and what you may be giving up with the cheaper units. Compressor fridges are the most common type of 12/24 volt refrigerator you'll see on the road, and for good reason. These 12/24 volt fridges are often designed for use in 4×4 vehicles and boats, and they're built with durability and efficiency in mind – two things you really need in an off-grid adventure vehicle. These 12/24 volt portable fridges have highly efficient, variable speed compressors that draw very little power, they can be used as a refrigerator, freezer, or both, they come in a variety of configurations – including chest-style, upright, and dual-zone fridge/freezers–and they typically have the ability to run while at an incline of up to 30 degrees (other types of fridges need to be kept perfectly level when running). This combination of features makes these 12/24 volt portable fridges perfect for vanlife. Even though compressor fridges are awesome, they do have a downside – cost. These 12/24 volt refrigerators are more expensive than other options, and that's before you factor in the need to add auxiliary batteries and a means to charge them (like solar panels or a battery isolator). But if your goal is to turn your van into a comfy, off-grid mobile dwelling, investing in a high quality 12/24V compressor fridge is totally worth the cost.