Buyers buy Ninja’s technologically advanced FrostVault cooler

One of Ninja’s coolest kitchen gadgets of 2024 is back in stock in the UK just in time for the current heatwave. The beloved food company unveiled a Yeti-rivaling fridge last month that works like a fridge and can keep ice solid and food cold for up to five days – and it sold out online within 12 hours.

But now the Ninja FrostVault is back on sale and customers have rushed to snap up this high-end version of the essential picnic and barbecue gear, with many early adopters already posting their reviews online.

Despite the fridge’s hefty starting price of £199, reception has been overwhelmingly positive, with people praising it for everything from keeping food cold on holiday, to being ideal for long-haul truck drivers and even as extra fridge space at home.

The FrostVault is packed with the smart features that the Ninja is known for, with happy customers highlighting everything from the stopper on the side that allows you to empty melted ice without tipping the box, to the separate “Dry Zone” drawer that prevents food from getting soaked, as well as the integrated bottle opener and fully lockable lid. It can even be used as an extra seat when camping.

The box comes in two sizes, although only the larger one is currently available on the Ninja website. The 47-litre box holds up to 80 cans, while the smaller one holds up to 48. Although they’ve only just gone on sale, so few UK consumers have yet to buy the new boxes, the small and large versions of the coolers currently have 4.9 and 4.7 stars out of 5 respectively in customer reviews on the Ninja website.

One happy customer couldn’t hide his delight, raving: “We’ve used it for camping, day trips, BBQs and even to defrost the fridge/freezer. It keeps things frozen for hours and the separate drawer keeps sandwiches and picnic snacks from getting wet, while the main compartment keeps the GandT cool! A great buy,” reports the Mirror.

Another buyer raved: “The FrostVault is super strong and will easily hold the weight of an adult when used as an extra seat. We used it as an extra fridge when we were out and about in the caravan and it was so useful – no more Jenga! It kept the ice for the full five days we were out and about.”

A third chimed in, commenting: “This is a really well thought out piece of kit that combines a crappy traditional fridge with an electric fridge that’s useless unless you have an electricity connection to use it. The bonus for me is that I’ve been able to use it at home too to provide extra cooling space when my fridge is full.”

While some may be hesitant about the price of this cooler, one initially skeptical reviewer was eventually won over, declaring it to be the “best cooler of all the coolers out there” and confessing, “I wasn’t sure I needed this in my life, but now I don’t know what I’d do without it! It’s a spectacular piece of equipment and does exactly what it says on the box, no exaggeration!”

Another delighted customer raved about its “brilliant” performance: “I brought this cooler to work as I’m a long-distance truck driver. Very solid construction, kept everything cold, absolutely brilliant product.”

Despite the overwhelming praise and high ratings, buyers warn that the large capacity of the FrostVault has a catch – when it is filled to the brim, it becomes quite a heavy load, the safe movement of which will often require the work of an entire team.

“The King of Coolers,” as one satisfied user called it in his four-star review: “While I’m impressed, it does have one drawback, and that’s its size. If I filled it with ice and food, I wouldn’t be able to lift it. The handles are so far apart that you’d have to stretch your arms to grab and lift it. It’s easy enough for two people, but for one, well, you might need very long and very strong arms! It does have to be big enough to be well-insulated, though, so there’s not much you can do to change that. Maybe an optional base on wheels would help.”

Another point to consider, the reviewer says, is the price: “It’s pretty expensive for what’s basically a big plastic box, but if you think you’ll use it often enough, it’s definitely worth the investment. It’s very sturdy and well-made, and I think it’ll last you years.”

Ninja is a well-known brand that initially took the UK by storm with its innovative air fryers. Last year, they expanded their reach outdoors with the introduction of a grill and smoker. They were quickly joined by a pizza oven and a Bluetooth-connected, extra-large grill, beloved by none other than David Beckham, earlier this summer.

The original Woodfire grill, currently reduced by over £100 in the Ninja sale, has become the UK’s best-selling grill. Despite recently launching a revolutionary double-height airfryer, ideal for small kitchens with limited counter space, the introduction of the FrostVault indicates that Ninja has no plans to permanently retreat indoors just yet.

With the launch of the FrostVault, Ninja is taking on direct competition from fridge and camping equipment brand Yeti, whose sturdy and colourful iconic fridges can cost up to £500, depending on size and specification.

Despite its huge popularity in the US, the initial launch of the Ninja in the UK seems relatively subdued, with only the larger 47L cooler currently available in a single colour – slate grey. A second large option, in frost white, is due to launch soon, along with smaller 28L versions in both colours.

The starting price for the smaller version is £199.99 and the larger one £249.99, but buyers can receive a 10% discount if they subscribe to the Ninja newsletter.