Tested: EcoFlow's Glacier Is a Win! Makes Ice, Is Quiet, and Cools Like Jack Frost

Folks, EcoFlow was born back in 2017 when a group of "battery engineers" got together and decided they'd take over several industries with their ability to manipulate electricity in all its forms, in the process, developing systems for home, RV, on-road, backyard, and even poolside use. Best of all, they aim to harness the power of the sun, offering free power to those that have the cash to wield it.

This time around, we explore one of their newest addition to their lineup, the EcoFlow Glacier, which, might I add, comes as a direct competitor to another beloved RV brand, Dometic, and their own lineup of fridge/freezers with ice makers. Let's dive in and explore why you should really consider this piece of hardware, no matter if you'll use it in an RV, in your dorm room, or in the backyard.

Design Evaluation

Since we always judge things with our eyes first, let's explore a bit of how the Glacier presents itself. Overall, we're looking at a frosty black body with a frosty and textured grey lid and smooth grab handles on the sides. Also, at the top and occupying the right side of the cooler sits the ice maker, display, and buttons to make this thing purr.

Actually, you won't hear a dang thing when it's on. After turning it on, I was surprised at the fact that I could hear nothing, but the Glacier had already begun to work its magic. If you need to, you can throw on a pair of wheels and a longer travel handle to help you bring it along while it's fully loaded. Let's open that lid, shall we?

To do so, place your hand under that handle integrated into the lid, and lift with ease to expose a modular interior space that can double as both a fridge and freezer at the same time, or either one or the other. To access all 38 l (10 gals) of space, just remove that separator, and the Glacier automatically detects that it's missing, shifting functionality to just the one massive bay. When the divider is in place, you'll see two bay options on the display.

As for the ice maker, it's easily accessible by simply pressing a small button in front of its lid, and if you happen to have ice waiting for you, lift the two flaps of the ice tray, pull it out, and start serving up your cold drinks. We'll get to what all this means for you shortly.

All of this and the cooling functions mentioned above are set in motion by soft-touch buttons that just feel great to touch. It may not sound like a big deal, but remember, some of the more distinctive brands of products pay attention to the small things such as these. It's one reason Apple is where it is today and why EcoFlow is moving across the globe like wildfire!

The final aspect we need to analyze is this beauty's ability to go anywhere and even recharge using nothing more than the power of the sun. Sure, you can plug it into a wall, tap juice from your car, or use the plug-in battery, but it's adding a solar panel to this bugger that really keeps cash in your pocket. All of these methods recharge that battery you see me sliding into the back of the Glacier, offering a wire-free and extended runtime of up to 40 hours!

Real-World Use

With an idea of what to expect, let's see what's in store for future owners of this machine. Sure, I could just cut this story short and say, "Buy the dang thing!" but where's the fun in that; I have to give you some reasons as to why this may be the best addition to your mobile or stationary lifestyle.

Let's start with the Glacier's ability to go anywhere with no cables needed. I need to point out the ways this bugger charges. Standard, you'll receive an AC charger and cable and a car charger too, but the slide-in battery you see is extra and sold separately, and so is a solar panel or power station.

One way EcoFlow is standing apart from others on the market is by providing the ability to completely break away from the grid, and the Glacier does just that. With that removable battery, you can operate this bugger anywhere you want, literally, even while you're soaking in the tub.

I've used it in my living room for nothing more than its ice-making abilities; my home's freezer takes up to 3 hours to make a tray of ice, while upon my first use, the Glacier cooked up some cold stones in under 18 minutes. I literally went out to smoke a cigarette and talk on the phone for a bit, and when I came back, I had ice. What more could you want? And it'll make ice even faster after it's had a few cycles and systems are running hot; in around 12-13 minutes. Push a button, grab your cubes, and serve up to three people with glasses full of ice.

Since it's not the largest and bulkiest of coolers either, you can easily bring this along to the beach, throw it into the trunk or passenger seat of your car or your truck's bed, and off you go. It'll be working the whole time you move around and find your spot.

As for the all-important cooling abilities, like most freezers and fridges, you'll need to let this puppy cool down upon firing it up after a long rest. Still, in under 30 minutes, the internal temperature of the Glacier had reached the settings I had chosen, a chilling -3 C (26.6 F). The freezer side took a bit longer as I forced it down to -23 C (-9.4 F).

Now, 10 gals of space may not sound like much or too little, but I can assure you that it's more than enough for two people to pack everything they need for two to three days of meals. If you're just looking to use this bugger for a day trip to the beach, just load it up with more than enough booze to keep everyone buzzing. The images in the gallery show three big cans of a sort wine cooler, five beer bottles, mustard, cheese, and some lunchmeats you can't see, and there's still space left over for more beer, fruits, meats, and veggies, you name it.

Upon my first impressions, I started by simply plugging the Glacier into a wall socket. Again, not a sound, and the systems were running hot. Next, I tested the slide-in battery, same results here. But the real ticket items that any on-road lifer needs are a solar panel or an EcoFlow power station. Why? It's with these two items that you can harness the power of the sun, assuming your vehicle or RV isn't already equipped with such gear. This means you can camp out near a lake for days and not have to worry about what you'll drink or eat. I do recommend the occasional water, though.

Considering that the battery pack you can opt for can be recharged directly with a solar panel, I highly recommend picking one up because, with as little as one hour of exposure, you'll still squeeze out several hours of use from the Glacier. Don't worry; it has all the internal hardware and software needed to ensure you recharge with proper power levels. Don't overcharge your machine, but you should still keep an eye on things to keep batteries in their peak working order.

As you would expect from a manufacturer of products that cater worldwide, EcoFlow has an app for the Glacier, and with it, you can control absolutely everything from your smart device, as long as there's a Wi-Fi connection between the two. Yes, you can also start the ice maker from here, so go on that hike, knowing you'll have ice-cold drinks waiting for you when you return.

But there are some aspects of the Glacier I didn't like, but they are definitely not a dealbreaker, and funny enough, it's part of the ice maker. Sure, it's easy to use and makes ice faster than a trip to pay the water bill, but it's a messy business. First of all, you need to add water manually, which ultimately means you can get dust and other particles in the tray if there's a gust of wind.

Next, it's the drainage system. When you're ready to go, you'll have to drain this area by exposing a little tube built into the side of the Glacier, and if you're not careful, you can easily soak the side of your machine or any wires or devices found around you. Did I mention spilling it all over your carpet? Since the whole thing doesn't drain completely either, you'll need to dry the area with a paper towel.

As for the sort of cash you need to dish out, if you're looking to go for a complete bundle, ready with the slide-in battery and a 110 W solar panel, EcoFlow is asking you to drop $1,500 (€1,400 at current exchange rates), currently reduced from $1,800. An extra $50 will get you the wheels and carrying handle. Not bad at all, considering the solar panel can be used for an array of systems.

Conclusion

It's quiet, has the capacity to carry quite a load of goodies and drinks, can be operated on free-to-use energy from the sun, and makes ice in the time it takes you to smoke a cigarette! What more could you want? In short, my first impressions of the Glacier are about the same as everyone else's that tested this bugger; Take my money!

Pros

• Fast cooling, freezing, and ice-making
• That ice maker
• Affordable?
• Looks great
• Feels great
• Quiet

Cons

• Some essential gear costs extra
• Messy drainage system