Photos: RidgeMonkey · supplied retailer imagery
Cookware · 12V coolboxes · Our take
RidgeMonkey CombiChilla
18L CombiChilla
An 18-litre 12V coolbox and warmer that can keep your bait drinks chilled, or warm your dinner when the rods are doing absolutely nothing.
- 18-litre capacity with room for around 25 x 330ml cans or 15 x 330ml bottles.
- Cools to a minimum of 5°C and heats up to a maximum of 60°C.
- Runs from a 12V DC input, with 46W refrigeration power and 38W heating power.
- Can be used horizontally or vertically and includes a removable shelf plus 12V DC cable.
Make sure it’s the right one. This review covers the 18-litre RidgeMonkey CombiChilla with 12V DC input, removable shelf and both cooling and heating functions.
Tackle Index Score
Tackle Index score
A capable, versatile 12V food-and-drink box that earns its keep if you’ll use both cooling and warming modes.
Desk-research score from specs, price and fishing fit · How we score
- Product Quality8.8/10
- Performance8.6/10
- Impact on Fish Catching7.5/10
- Ease of Use8.8/10
- Value for Money8.6/10
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Who it suits
Is it right for you?
Great for
- Carp and coarse anglers doing day tickets or overnight sessions. It gives you chilled drinks and food storage without needing a huge fridge setup.
- Anglers who want hot food as well as cold storage. The heating function adds proper flexibility when the weather turns or you fancy something warm after a long night.
Maybe skip if
- Anyone wanting a freezer or deep-chilling performance. The cooling function goes down to 5°C, so this is for chilled food and drinks rather than frozen storage.
- Anglers with very limited vehicle or bivvy space. It’s reasonably compact for an 18-litre unit, but the 465mm length and 5kg weight still need planning.
The lowdown
Introducing the RidgeMonkey CombiChilla
An 18-litre 12V coolbox and warmer that can keep your bait drinks chilled, or warm your dinner when the rods are doing absolutely nothing.
- 18-litre capacity with room for around 25 x 330ml cans or 15 x 330ml bottles.
- Cools to a minimum of 5°C and heats up to a maximum of 60°C.
- Runs from a 12V DC input, with 46W refrigeration power and 38W heating power.
- Can be used horizontally or vertically and includes a removable shelf plus 12V DC cable.
Quick verdict
Verdict: a cracking bit of carpy comfort
The RidgeMonkey CombiChilla is a dead handy 12V coolbox with a proper trick up its sleeve: it cools down to 5°C and heats up to 60°C. That makes it useful for everything from cold drinks and fresh food to warming a meal during a long session.
It’s not the smallest bit of kit around, and it needs a 12V supply, but the 18-litre capacity and flexible horizontal or vertical setup make it a smart choice for anglers who like a bit of comfort without dragging a full kitchen onto the bank.
A capable, versatile 12V food-and-drink box that earns its keep if you’ll use both cooling and warming modes.
Desk-research score from specs, price and fishing fit · How we score
- Product Quality
- 8.8/10
- Performance
- 8.6/10
- Impact on Fish Catching
- 7.5/10
- Ease of Use
- 8.8/10
- Value for Money
- 8.6/10
The polypropylene body, PU foam insulation, removable shelf and dual-function design make it feel well suited to regular fishing use.
Cooling to 5°C and heating to 60°C cover the jobs most anglers will ask of it, although it isn’t intended to act like a freezer.
It won’t improve a rig or bait, but better food and drink storage can keep you comfortable, focused and happier through a long session.
The included 12V cable, flexible orientation and removable shelf keep the setup straightforward.
The hot-and-cold functionality offers more versatility than a basic coolbox, especially for anglers who regularly fish longer sessions.
Head to head
How it stacks up
Side by side with the closest kit we've reviewed. This updates as we add more reviews.
RidgeMonkey
RidgeMonkey CombiChilla (this one)
Top scorer
Top scorer
Scores are our own, out of 10. Best in each row is in green. Prices change, so check the latest before you buy.
The full rundown
Everything you'll want to know about the RidgeMonkey CombiChilla
Let’s be honest, mate: a cold drink and a decent hot meal can make a session feel miles better. Especially when the weather’s doing one and the rods are resolutely off. That’s where the RidgeMonkey CombiChilla comes in. It’s an 18-litre 12V coolbox that can chill your food and drinks, then switch over to warming mode when you fancy something hot.
This isn’t just a basic plastic box with a bit of insulation thrown in. The CombiChilla uses a thermoelectric Peltier device and solid-state heat pump, giving it both refrigeration and heating duties. In plain English, you can use it to keep drinks chilled down to 5°C, or warm food and drinks up to 60°C. Handy stuff for a long day ticket or a few nights in the sticks.
Capacity is a decent middle ground. RidgeMonkey reckons there’s room for around 25 330ml cans, or roughly 15 330ml bottles. That’s plenty for a solo angler who likes to stay organised, and still useful for sharing a swim without bringing a massive domestic-style fridge onto the bank.
The internal space measures 350 × 275 × 195mm, while the external dimensions are 465 × 350 × 295mm. So, it’s not a tiny lunchbox. You’ll want to sort a sensible home for it in the car, van or shelter before a big session. The upside is that you get useful storage without going completely daft on size.
One particularly handy touch is the ability to use it horizontally or vertically. That gives you more options when the swim is cramped, or when your boot is already rammed with rods, bedchair, bait and enough tackle to open a small shop. The removable shelf also helps split up cans, tubs and food rather than leaving everything in one big jumble.
Power comes through a 12V DC input, and a 12V DC cable is included. Refrigeration power is rated at 46W, while heating power is 38W. That makes it aimed squarely at vehicle and bank use rather than a standard household kitchen socket. It’s the sort of thing you plan into your session kit, not something you casually plug in beside the kettle at home.
The main body is polypropylene, with PU foam insulation. That’s a sensible combination for a fishing appliance: tough enough for general transport, with insulation helping the box hold onto its chosen temperature. Still, give it a bit of respect. Keep the lid shut when you can, don’t wedge it under loads of muddy kit, and avoid treating it like a seat.
The cooling side is best thought of as chilled storage rather than freezing power. Getting down to 5°C is bang on for drinks, sandwiches, dairy products and prepared meals that need keeping cool. It won’t replace a freezer, and that’s not really what this style of 12V coolbox is for. Pack it sensibly and you’ll get the most from the available space.
Heating to 60°C opens up a different side of the CombiChilla. You can warm prepared food and drinks while you’re waiting for a bite-time, rather than relying on a stove every time hunger kicks in. It won’t cook raw food from scratch, but for pre-prepared meals, soup or a brew-related top-up, it’s a proper comfort upgrade.
Overall, the CombiChilla looks like a cracking option for anglers who want more than a standard coolbox but don’t need a full-blown fridge-freezer. It has useful capacity, flexible positioning and both hot and cold functions. If you’ve got a 12V supply sorted and value a bit of comfort on the bank, it’s well worth a look.
Specifications
The nuts and bolts
- Capacity
- 18L
- Power input
- 12V DC
- Refrigeration / heating power
- 46W / 38W
- Temperature range
- Cools to 5°C; heats to 60°C
- Dimensions and weight
- External: 465 × 350 × 295mm; internal: 350 × 275 × 195mm; 5kg
- Construction and included kit
- Polypropylene body, PU foam insulation, removable shelf and 12V DC cable
Specs checked with RidgeMonkey, Oct 2026.
Spot a model or spec change?
Our take
The angle
This is less about fancy cooking and more about making long sessions easier. A cold drink in summer is bob on, while a warm meal in the colder months can be the difference between feeling sorted and eating a squashed sandwich.
The real appeal is the two-way temperature control. One box handles chilling and heating, with a removable shelf helping you organise cans, bottles, food tubs and general session grub.
What you’re buying
One box, two jobs
The CombiChilla is an 18-litre 12V unit built for chilling and warming. Its thermoelectric Peltier device and solid-state heat pump handle the temperature change, with cooling down to 5°C and heating up to 60°C. That makes it useful for chilled food, cans, bottles and prepared meals.
Inside, the 350 × 275 × 195mm space gives you a sensible amount of room. The removable shelf is useful when you want to separate smaller items from taller bottles. You can also run the box horizontally or vertically, which is a proper bonus when the car or bivvy is packed to the rafters.
Worth knowing. This is a chilled-storage and food-warming unit, not a freezer or cooker. Think cold drinks, fresh food and warming prepared meals. For raw cooking, you’ll still want your usual stove or other cooking gear.
Best on the bank
Comfort without the full kitchen faff
It suits anglers doing day tickets, overnighters and longer sessions who like their food and drinks organised. Around 25 330ml cans is a decent stash, while the bottle capacity gives you another way to pack it depending on your menu and drink choice.
It’s especially useful through changing seasons. In warm weather, chilled drinks and food are the obvious win. In colder weather, warming a prepared meal or drink can feel like absolute luxury when you’re sat behind the rods in a damp hoodie.
Worth knowing. Plan the power side before you leave home. The CombiChilla takes a 12V DC input and includes the cable, so it’s naturally suited to a compatible vehicle or 12V setup. Keep access to the lid clear and avoid burying it under tackle.
The stuff you’ll want to know
Quick answers before you buy
Can it go upright? Yes. The horizontal or vertical orientation gives you more freedom when loading the car or setting up in a tight swim. Just make sure it’s stable and positioned where the lid and controls can be used properly.
What can you fit in it? RidgeMonkey gives an approximate guide of 25 x 330ml cans or 15 x 330ml bottles. Actual packing will vary if you’re mixing drinks, food tubs and taller containers, but the 18-litre capacity is useful for a compact session setup.
Worth knowing. For best results, load it sensibly and keep the lid shut as much as possible. The insulated polypropylene body and PU foam insulation are there to help maintain the temperature, but constant opening will always make the unit work harder.
On paper
Pros & cons
What we like
- Cools and heats, so it’s useful across the seasons.
- A decent 18-litre capacity without being enormous.
- Flexible horizontal or vertical orientation.
- Removable shelf makes organising food and drinks easier.
- Solid polypropylene body with PU foam insulation.
Worth knowing
- It needs a 12V DC supply, so it’s not a plug-and-play kitchen appliance.
- The 5kg weight and fairly chunky footprint take up a reasonable bit of vehicle or bivvy space.
- Thermoelectric cooling isn’t the same as the deep-freezing performance of a compressor fridge.
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Your questions answered
What anglers want to know
The stuff you’d ask your mate on the next peg. Straight answers, no waffle.
01Can the RidgeMonkey CombiChilla heat food?
Can the RidgeMonkey CombiChilla heat food?
Yes. It has a maximum heating temperature of 60°C, making it suitable for warming food and drinks rather than cooking raw food from scratch.
02How many cans fit inside?
How many cans fit inside?
The stated approximate capacity is 25 x 330ml cans. It can also hold around 15 x 330ml bottles, depending on how the inside is arranged.
03Can it be used upright?
Can it be used upright?
Yes. The CombiChilla can be used horizontally or vertically, which is handy when space is tight in the car, shelter or bivvy.
What anglers say
The word from the bank
Our read: verdict: a cracking bit of carpy comfort. The strongest reasons to choose it are cools and heats, so it’s useful across the seasons. and a decent 18-litre capacity without being enormous.; the main trade-off is it needs a 12v dc supply, so it’s not a plug-and-play kitchen appliance..
Our take on the feedback
Why it appeals
Checked Sept '26 — “Cools and heats, so it’s useful across the seasons.”
Best fit
Checked Sept '26 — “Carp and coarse anglers doing day tickets or overnight sessions: It gives you chilled drinks and food storage without needing a huge fridge setup.”
Worth knowing
Checked Sept '26 — “It needs a 12V DC supply, so it’s not a plug-and-play kitchen appliance.”
Tackle Index’s take from the product details and fishing fit we checked. We haven’t found enough independent public feedback to call this an angler consensus yet.
Angler score
What our readers rate RidgeMonkey CombiChilla
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Owner reports
Own this? Help the next angler.
Quick multiple-choice reports from people who say they own the RidgeMonkey CombiChilla. Not verified purchases, and kept separate from our score.
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