They say life is about compromising, prioritizing, and choosing accordingly, but Mink Campers takes exception to that saying when it comes to family vacations. No one should have to choose between a small, compact, and convenient towable and the comforts you can only get with a larger RV.
Mink Campers is an Iceland-based manufacturer with a deceptively simple mission: to "provide travelers a way to combine the intimacy of camping in nature with the world of luxury travel" because "all good things are wild & free." The Mink campers are the exception because they're best described as a luxurious yet sustainable take on the classic teardrop trailer – with a price to match.
Mink Campers was founded in 2015 and has been making Mink campers (heh) since 2017. The lineup is small because the focus is on delivering a high-quality product and extended support, and establishing a regional market before being able to expand overseas to the U.S. or Canada.
As of the time of press, the fleet includes just three models: the Mink-S we covered on a previous occasion that's also the flagship model; the Mink-X, which is more like the all-terrain version of the S; and the recently added Mink-E, which is the fully electric take on the flagship model.
Photo: Mink Campers
The Mink-E is also the lightest and most sustainable model in the range, which has earned it the unofficial label of being the world's first fully electric teardrop trailer. It's not an accurate descriptor, but it speaks to its highest selling points.
The Mink-E is the Mink-S, formerly known as the Mink Sports Camper, upgraded for towing with an electric vehicle (EV) or a compact sedan. Weight has been reduced by over 200 kg (441 lbs) compared to the model it's based on, and the entire gamut of home appliances is no longer reliant on gas but runs on electricity from the trailer's solar system, the exterior charging port, or from the towing vehicle's battery.
The Mink-E is a single-axle, fused ABS plastic construction teardrop trailer that tips the scales at just 520 kg (1,150 lbs). It's slightly longer than the Mink-S, measuring 4.1 meters (13.5 feet) in total length, but uses the same layout as the predecessor. That means that you get a Scandinavian queen-size foam mattress inside and an optional fold-down cot for a kid, a comfy backrest, some storage, and a large skylight and wraparound windows to allow you to enjoy whatever spectacular views you get at all times.
Photo: Mink Campers
The frameless Solid Shell Structure features 19-mm-thick (0.7-inch) Armaflex insulation (the walls themselves are 30 mm/1.2 inches thick), and you get a heater and ventilation to keep the space cozy regardless of your favorite time of the year for exploring. Optionally, the third bunk can be replaced with multi-functional shelving. Mink Campers insists that this turns their campers into a family-perfect solution, whether the family includes a kid, a furry best friend, or just a couple.
In keeping with the idea of creating a towable for the electric future, the Mink-E replaces gas-reliant appliances with electric ones. The galley is in the tailgate and now features a small icebox under the countertop and an induction stove in lieu of the gas cooker, both fed by the trailer's integrated battery and solar system. The Webasto diesel heater has been replaced with an electric heater.
The Mink-E is also more sustainable than the gas S, and the upgrade translates into a different but just as memorable color scheme. Whereas the Mink-S wore bright yellow as factory standard, the Mink-E comes in vibrant "electric" blue offset by cool grays.
Photo: Mink Campers
On a less superficial note, the company says that all materials chosen during production are handpicked on considerations of sustainability, so about 25% of them can be recycled at the end of the trailer's lifecycle.
No other details about the newly-introduced Mink-E are available as of the time of press, but a completed unit will be on display at the Motorhome & Caravan Show at the NEC in Birmingham, UK, from October 17 to 22. Given the kind of media interest these quirky teardrops usually generate, we're bound to find out more about autonomy, solar, and pricing then.
Just to be sure, don't expect a Mink-E to go for peanuts. When the Mink-S was introduced in 2020, it came with an MRSP of €14,160 ($15,100 at the current exchange rate) that didn't even include the galley in the tailgate. Reports online are saying the electric model will probably go for twice that amount, so you're looking at some €30,000 ($32,000), not including taxes and shipping.
Photo: Mink Campers
The future of electric campers might be a lot of great things – luxurious and sustainable being one of them – but it's still far from affordable.
Mink Campers is currently shipping to Europe and the UK but plans on bringing the instantly recognizable Mink and all its variations to the North American and Canadian markets soon.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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