There is no doubt that the heat in Australia can reach world-record levels every year. It doesn't matter if you live north or south, when summer rolls around so do periods of extreme heat that are likely to get hotter in years to come.
While camping is seen by many as something to do to get away from modern conveniences, this view isn’t shared by all. For those who love to camp but have trouble with the heat – you can be made far more comfortable with a portable camping air conditioner.
It may feel a little excessive, but many people from the elderly to children or those with health issues have trouble dealing with heat and having the ability to have a tent or caravan as a cool or cold space on hot days is actually a pretty good idea.
While not cheap, we have reviewed three of the best portable air conditioners on the Australian market so if you need it – you can have the ability to cool right down whilst camping in summer.
| Companion Rechargeable Mini Evaporative Cooler | Coolzy Easy Focus Portable Air Cooler | Coolzy Personal Portable Air Conditioner |
|---|---|---|---|
Best tent ac  |  | Our Pick  | |
*Using coupon CRCSAVE20 | *Using coupon CRCSAVE20 | ||
16 x 36 x 20 cm | 27.5 x 38 x 56 cm | 38 x 56 x 27 cm | |
Plastic | Plastic | Plastic | |
6V DC batteries / 240V AC | 220/240 AC | 220/240 AC | |
12 hours | N/A | N/A | |
3-6 hours (high and low) | N/A | N/A | |
?? | 300 W | 340 W | |
?? | ?? | 1,100 W | |
2.25 kg | 17 kg | 15.4 kg | |
1 year | 2 years | 2 years |
Best Portable Camping & Tent Air Conditioners
Companion Rechargeable Mini Evaporative Cooler
Best For Small Spaces
Portable Air Conditioning (AC) units are not necessarily a new concept, however, AC units for camping are. As such and due to the power requirements for AC units, most of them run on mains power.
However, the Companion Rechargeable Mini Evaporative Cooler is the noticeable exception.
This lightweight and compact cooler is designed for use in small spaces almost anywhere. That can be a room, a tent, a truck cabin or an ensuite awning. The cooling unit does what it says it does and that is cool the air down for you to make it more comfortable.
It does this by using evaporative cooling, which uses water to cool the air. It will not make a room cold however and many people feel it works best when it’s actually blowing on you inside a small space. As it is so small, it’s the quietest portable air conditioner we found.
Customer reviews are mixed, those that use it as a personal cooler appear to be very happy with it, while those who try to use it to cool down larger spaces are not so impressed.
The fact it does work on a battery makes it more flexible than other units, but you will still have to charge it every day for use. Not a bad buy as long as you are aware of its limitations.
Coolzy Easy Focus Portable Air Cooler
Best For Small Tents
This AC unit is certainly a step up from the Companion in its size, weight, output and price. But where the smaller evaporative cooler only works in very small spaces, this AC unit will have your tent cold in a short period of time and will keep it cold for as long as you need it.
It is a simple unit, plug it into a 240V power source, set it to AC or Fan, choose your temperature and away you go.
While it does claim to run on batteries and solar power, you need to buy these systems separately and have an inverter for that to work and to be honest, this is the same system you would use to run anything that you could run in your home so it’s not really a sales point.
Those that have purchased and used this AC unit have all been happy with its performance. The only downside (other than the initial price) is that it really can only be used with mains power which will keep you in caravan parks or powered campsites.
It's also heavy at 17 kg but does have wheels. If you like to have things cold inside your tent or caravan on a hot summer's day, then the Coolzy Easy Focus Portable Air Cooler will get the job done for you.
If you are in a caravan, consider checking out this list of the best caravan aircon units in Australia.
Coolzy Personal Portable Air Conditioner
Best For Large Tents
The Coolzy Pro Personal Portable Air Conditioner is a slightly larger, slightly more powerful and slightly less heavy big brother to Easy Focus reviewed above. It runs at 340 watts, which is more than the Easy Focus 300 watts which makes it more powerful, in turn creating cold spaces faster.
It is a very similar AC unit and also claims to be useable with batteries etc, but as explained above, as nothing is included for this, it's not really a selling point. What this unit does and does well is getting your whole tent cold and keeping it there for as long as you need it to.
Every review is positive for this AC unit and if this cold air is what you need then the Coolzy Pro Portable Air Conditioner will not disappoint.
Like the above model, you will have to stay in places with mains power and again the unit is very heavy, but it does have wheels. The price is not for the faint-hearted, however, coming in at over $700, but if you want to be cold while camping then this is the unit that will get you and keep you there.
What To Look For When Buying Camping Air Conditioners
If you have made the decision to purchase a portable AC unit, there are some considerations you should factor into your process first. None of the units are particularly budget-friendly – in general, the more you spend the better a cooling unit you will have.
Cooling Technology + Size and Power
Everything has to do with the size and power of the unit, the bigger and more powerful, and then the colder your space will be. The much smaller Companion Rechargeable uses evaporative cooling so it’s only really suitable for certain weather conditions and for a one-person space.
Even then is best if it's blowing directly on you. But it's small and portable.
The Coolzy models are much bigger and more powerful and therefore less suited to moving around frequently. However, they will keep you cold, so that’s the trade-off.
Energy Rating Australia has some useful info on typical energy consumptions for portable AC units.
Venting
The larger AC units need to vent the warm air they generate while cooling and as such, they need to be placed with their vent at a tent window or door, or they need to be placed outside with a hose bringing the cold air in.
The smaller evaporative cooler does not have this issue.
Portable Camping & Tent Air Conditioners FAQ
Do camping air conditioners work?
Yes, they do, but just not quite the same as your large AC unit on top of your house. AC units primarily work by removing warm air and replacing it with cool air. As we discussed above, the bigger and more powerful your AC, the colder the air you will receive out of it.
Can you use an air conditioner in a tent?
Yes, you can, but you need to be careful to not just place a unit inside so that both the ventilation of warm air and expulsion of cold air don't happen in the same space. This is easily achieved by either having the unit inside with a hose out or keeping the unit outside with a hose in with cold air (recommended).
How do you cool a tent when camping?
Conditions within a tent are dependent on where you pitch it. If it is in the full sun all day, it's going to be very hot. But by pitching your tent in the shade, keeping it open all day (with the fly screens closed), you can mitigate some of the daily heat.
Fans can be used to try and cool the air inside too, but to really get the air inside cold, however, your best bet is to use a portable AC unit like the two Coolzy ones reviewed above to guarantee a cold and comfortable space.
Smaller ones (like hiking tents or swags), will cool faster than large touring tents.
Final Thoughts
Not everyone wants or needs a portable AC unit whilst camping, but if the heat is the main factor turning you off from this kind of activity, perhaps you should consider the purchase and use of one.
For those that definitely want to have one with them when they camp, consider a more powerful unit that will get you colder faster and more effectively.
As always, if you have any questions, feel free to leave them below.
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Note that while every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information on this page, there may sometimes be errors. Check all specifications with the manufacturer before purchasing any product.
I think you’re missing the point with the Coolzy products. There is noting on the market that can produce cold air for 300-340 watts.
With the price of lithium batteries and solar panels getting cheaper and cheaper, many camper now have the ability to run true compressor air con.