Dometic  CFX5 35 Powered Cooler

$1,000.00
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Ideal for weekend road trips and camping adventures, the Dometic CFX5 35 powered cooler holds up to 50 cans and has a rugged design with vacuum-insulated panels to ensure exceptional performance.

Color: Slate/Ore
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Location Image for CFX5 35 Powered Cooler
Location Image for CFX5 35 Powered Cooler

Features

  • 35-liter capacity holds up to 50 cans (12 fl. oz.)—a versatile size for up to 4 people's weekend adventures or long solo trips
  • Durable exoframe design with reinforced corners and edges; self-folding aluminum alloy handles help you take it anywhere
  • Easy-to-read, weatherproof, high-resolution TFT color operating display with 18W QC 3.0 USB port and soft-touch buttons
  • Powerful compressor with variable motor speed optimization technology that automatically adjusts speed for optimal performance
  • Optimized ratio of exterior to interior proportions provides maximum compressor efficiency; extended evaporator on inner walls ensures an even distribution of cold air
  • Internal details include a removable wire divider and an interior light
  • External details include a removable textured nonslip lid, TPE gaskets to ensure a tight lid seal, and an integrated bottle opener
  • VIPs—Vacuum Insulated Panels—minimize thermal transfer through superior sealing and air removal techniques for superb energy efficiency
  • Reliable and stable interior; internal components are mounted on calibrated springs to isolate noise and endure sustained vibration off road
  • Temperature range of -7°F (-22°C) to 68°F (20°C); uses less power than a 60W light bulb
  • Control the cooler, track energy consumption and monitor temperature with the Bluetooth smartphone app
  • App can alert you when the lid is left open, monitor history and connect multiple devices at once
  • 3-stage dynamic battery protection system actively monitors inbound power and prevents draining a vehicle battery or allows deep draw on dual batteries
  • Powered by AC (110–240V), DC (12/24V)—or go off-grid with Dometic batteries and Obsidian solar panels (not included)

Imported.

View all Dometic Hard-sided Coolers

Technical Specs

Best Use

Camping

Gear Capacity (L)

35 liters

Gear Capacity (cu. in.)

2,197 cubic inches

Material(s)

32% metal/28% plastic/26% other fibers/14% polyurethane

Dimensions

27.3 x 16.5 x 15.7 inches

Weight

37 pounds

Electric

Yes

Additional Information

Reviews
25 reviews with an average rating of 3.2 out of 5 stars

Ratings Snapshot

Product Rating

12 out of 21 (57%) reviewers recommend this product

Review this Product

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Average Customer Ratings

Insulation Rating

Did not meet insulation expectationsExceeded insulation expectations

Ease of Use

Difficult to useVery easy to use

Most Helpful Favorable Review

5 reviews with an average rating of 4.0 out of 5 stars
Love the concept, impractical for my purposes
midatlanticbackpacker
3 months ago
Received free product
I received these products for free from the REI Trailblazers sampling program in exchange for my honest review. BLUF: Unless you're committed to buying the external battery (or already have alternative access to a power supply), this cooler may be impractical. What I liked: I loved the idea of an electric cooler - no need to run out for ice, no chance of waterlogged food, and dependable chilling. I was curious to see how quickly it would cool down internally, and how fast my items would chill. How did it go: I was able to pre-chill the cooler down to 37 degrees within half an hour. From there, though, the items I put in weren't cool within the hour. I think maybe if I spent more time pre-chilling the cooler cavity, that process could have gone faster. I was able to plug it into an outlet on the outside of my house and use the cooler during a party. I thought it was great for that, but I think that the cooler is too expensive for that purpose alone. I sought it out in hopes of using it on all of our family's camping and road trips. What I didn't like: It wasn't clear to me in the cooler's description that there was no battery included in the system, and that an external battery would be required. I had hoped it would be a great addition to my car camping equipment, but we have a standard Rav4, and after reading through the owner's manual and lots of online blogs, it became clear that using the cooler when the car was turned off would likely kill our battery. In our part of the country, there aren't many campsites available with power, meaning that we wouldn't be able to run the cooler continuously during a trip without a battery. As I started investigating that path, I found them to be very, very expensive. Which, fair, battery tech is still very much in the works. For us, a $500-$700 battery on top of this expensive cooler is too big a commitment for the amount of use it will get, even over 10 years. So - sad to say - it will be back to wet, ice-based chilling for us.
midatlanticbackpackerReceived free product
VA
4 people found this review helpful

Most Helpful Critical Review

5 reviews with an average rating of 1.0 out of 5 stars
Preorders were not honored
Chris
8 months ago
I preordered this as soon as it was announced (September 2024) and was assured I would receive it in October. It's now November and I still haven't received it but the stores in my area have. I was told this was due to a backorder. Why didn't I get mine when the stores did? I've had to reschedule a trip twice now because of this. REI's customer service has offered no help.
Chris
9 people found this review helpful

Customer Images

lawskiier
Received free product
Ohio, United States of America
Rated 4.0 out of 5 stars

Quiet Powered Cooler

6 months ago

I have been pleased with the cooler, and it's ability to quickly get down to a cool temperature and maintain that temperature with little to no power usage. When It is stored in the back of my Subaru, it is nearly silent and I am not even able to tell when the compressor is running to keep it cool. I am more then pleased with the carrying capacity which is more than adequate for a weekend trip with me, my wife and my dog. The cooler app is simple, and does not have any mind blowing features but is an easy way to track energy consumption and active temperature inside the unit. However the range is extremely limited. I am not sure where on the website and description the advertise being able to monitor from "anywhere" There there does seem to be a bit of quick raise to internal temperature if the power is not on, which could be limited if you have a vehicle that doesn't allow trickle charging through a 12v power outlet like my Subaru. However this could be the cooler not being fully filled with stuff, as there is clearly quality insulation in the product as energy usage is very low I feel that the handles are well made, and the design is sturdy. Included are two different power cables and a case to carry them with, as well as a simple instruction book. The built in bottle opener is a big gimmicky, but useful

Age:35–44

Ease of Use

Difficult to useVery easy to use

Insulation Rating

Did not meet insulation expectationsExceeded insulation expectations
Helpful?
Icesk8ie
Received free product
SF Bay Area, CA
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Love it!

5 months ago

I received these products for free from the REI Trailblazers sampling program in exchange for my honest review. I love this cooler! I can use it for so many different purposes, including not having to worry about my frozen items when I'm out running errands and need to go to the grocery store. It uses minimal power when it is at temperature, so I tend to cool it down before I leave the house by plugging it in at home then putting it in the back of the car. This will be great for tailgating games, road trips, and camping. I love the built in bottle opener on the handle, one less thing to have to remember. And it's really easy to use the app to control it.

Age:45–54
Yes , I recommend this product

Ease of Use

Difficult to useVery easy to use

Insulation Rating

Did not meet insulation expectationsExceeded insulation expectations
Helpful?
Kela
Received free product
Seattle WA
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

Dometic cooler

6 months ago

I love this thing. It is not super heavy and is easy to move. I plugged it in and put a case of pop in to see how well it cooled. Everything was cold in a few hours. It is quiet, my dog is the only one that noticed when it would turn on. It is easy to change the temp and the controls are pretty straight forward. You do have to be careful and make sure it latches properly. You have to push down until it clicks. The click can be quiet so you have to listen for it. The lid stays on the unit well, I have had that issue with an older Dometic cooler. It's the middle of the winter in Seattle so I was not able to test it in any heat. I look forward to using this over the summer when we go camping.

Age:25–34
Yes , I recommend this product

Ease of Use

Difficult to useVery easy to use

Insulation Rating

Did not meet insulation expectationsExceeded insulation expectations
Helpful?
INW Hiker
Received free product
Rated 3.0 out of 5 stars

Expected more for the price

5 months ago

I like the idea of this cooler but for the price point I would expect more. It is a large unit but with the compressor you lose a good amount of usage space. The basket inside is nice and easy to take out. The unit is big and heavy especially loaded which makes it very difficult to load into a vehicle. It runs very quiet which is nice and doesn’t take long to get to the set temperature. The instructions it comes with aren’t very user friendly so I’m sure it does more things than I know, but the basic functions are pretty intuitive. I did run a temperature test at 3 different points within the cooler to see if it does in fact get to and keep temperature. There was about a 15 degree difference from the bottom of the cooler to the top ledge which was surprising. It feels like the lid does not insulate very well and you must make sure it latches which is difficult because there isn’t a click or a forceful latch system to keep it closed. Definitely not toddler proof so they can easily open it and leave it unlatched causing the cold air to escape out. I also wanted to test the freezer function for fun and forgot I left the cans in there so yes it does in fact get cold enough to explode a can and bonus points for the cooler it cleaned up very easily! On the freezer temp setting it did get very cold.

Age:25–34

Ease of Use

Difficult to useVery easy to use

Insulation Rating

Did not meet insulation expectationsExceeded insulation expectations
Helpful?
Amanda P
Received free product
Seattle, WA
Rated 1.0 out of 5 stars

Over-engineered cooler requiring fuse replacements

5 months ago

Overall, this is a rugged cooler that leans towards being over-engineered. It holds a surprising amount, however the electric compartment takes up a bit of space so there isn't as much real estate as it appears on the outside. Built in bottle opener and functionality as a seat are an appreciated plus. I had high hopes for this cooler on road trips, but it fell short right out of the box. I'm hoping I just got a lemon. After charging for a few hours in the house, I went to test it out. There's a lot of anticipation to see how this cooler performs and...it won't turn on. After spending an embarrassingly long time confirming that the right plugs are plugged in and I'm pushing the right buttons, it's a brick. I consulted Dometic's Help Center directly, which quickly confirms the issue is not me, but the cooler itself. It recommends that I replace the fuse. Why am I checking fuses on a brand new, out-of-the-box cooler? Where's my screwdriver? This is a lot of effort to keep a 12 pack of La Croix and my summit cheese cold. My struggle is that Dometic's step-by-step instructions to replace the fuse do not provide guidance on where to actually FIND the fuse - instructions state to start by unscrewing the housing. In my attempt to find the fuse I take off the back panel, secured with 6 screws. I explored the compartment but I don't feel comfortable digging around anywhere where there's wires and a charged battery. I don't find anything that looks like the diagrams from Dometic support. I request a support ticket, which to Dometic's credit is responded to within 1 business day. The representative provides a number of potential solutions, including a factory reset, changing the battery protection level settings, and some vague direction of where the fuse is. They also offer to start a claim for me. None of the solutions that require the cooler to turn on work, and the instructions to find the fuse are too vague (no diagrams or images provided). I am still lost. At $900 I would expect this cooler to not only have functioning fuses, but turn on and serve my drink for me. If you feel the need to spend the better part of a grand on a cooler, do yourself a favor and just get the Yeti and a lifetime's worth of ice.

Age:35–44

Ease of Use

Difficult to useVery easy to use

Insulation Rating

Did not meet insulation expectationsExceeded insulation expectations
Helpful?
JamesTX
Rated 1.0 out of 5 stars

Disappointed in quality control

8 months ago

I was excited to get this cooler since I saw it announced, and eagerly awaited its release. I finally got my hands on one from REI yesterday and unfortunately I'm going to have to return it immediately. Out of the box, the construction seemed rougher and cheaper than my CFX3 75, definitely not as premium. But the fatal killer is that the lid will not latch, no matter how much I jiggle the lid around (and there's quite a lot of play in it) the latch will not catch and there's nothing keeping it closed. Really expected more from a $900 premium product, very disappointed. I posted a video of the problem on YouTube.

Age:35–44
No, I do not recommend this product

Ease of Use

Difficult to useVery easy to use
Helpful?
midatlanticbackpacker
Received free product
Virginia
Rated 4.0 out of 5 stars

Love the concept, impractical for my purposes

3 months ago

I received these products for free from the REI Trailblazers sampling program in exchange for my honest review. BLUF: Unless you're committed to buying the external battery (or already have alternative access to a power supply), this cooler may be impractical. What I liked: I loved the idea of an electric cooler - no need to run out for ice, no chance of waterlogged food, and dependable chilling. I was curious to see how quickly it would cool down internally, and how fast my items would chill. How did it go: I was able to pre-chill the cooler down to 37 degrees within half an hour. From there, though, the items I put in weren't cool within the hour. I think maybe if I spent more time pre-chilling the cooler cavity, that process could have gone faster. I was able to plug it into an outlet on the outside of my house and use the cooler during a party. I thought it was great for that, but I think that the cooler is too expensive for that purpose alone. I sought it out in hopes of using it on all of our family's camping and road trips. What I didn't like: It wasn't clear to me in the cooler's description that there was no battery included in the system, and that an external battery would be required. I had hoped it would be a great addition to my car camping equipment, but we have a standard Rav4, and after reading through the owner's manual and lots of online blogs, it became clear that using the cooler when the car was turned off would likely kill our battery. In our part of the country, there aren't many campsites available with power, meaning that we wouldn't be able to run the cooler continuously during a trip without a battery. As I started investigating that path, I found them to be very, very expensive. Which, fair, battery tech is still very much in the works. For us, a $500-$700 battery on top of this expensive cooler is too big a commitment for the amount of use it will get, even over 10 years. So - sad to say - it will be back to wet, ice-based chilling for us.

Age:25–34
No, I do not recommend this product

Ease of Use

Difficult to useVery easy to use

Insulation Rating

Did not meet insulation expectationsExceeded insulation expectations
Helpful?
BethD
Received free product
Los Angeles CA
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

The cooler that is super COOL!

5 months ago

This cooler is super cool! (No pun intended!) I packed this up for a weekend of pickleball! It easily fits a case of Liter sized coconut waters as well as a case of 12oz cartons! (I drink a LOT of coconut water especially while playing) So This size the CFX5 35 can hold a LOT! In addition to all the food that I eat while playing such as fresh fruit, a smoothie and more! It is super easy to control the temperature as well which will be super handy as the weather gets warmer my stash will stay cool! I can see keeping ice pack and such in there during the summer tournaments to keep me cool while playing! This will also be a great addition to my car camping set up! Will be able to keep liquids cold for post hiking hydration as well as packing anything from cheese to eggs to deli meat and such and not worry about anything going bad while out in the wilderness for a few days.

Age:45–54
Yes , I recommend this product

Ease of Use

Difficult to useVery easy to use

Insulation Rating

Did not meet insulation expectationsExceeded insulation expectations
Helpful?
ryandegrunt
Received free product
Colorado City, AZ
Rated 1.0 out of 5 stars

Overpriced and impracticable cooler

5 months ago

I would not recommend purchasing this product, especially for the price listed. There are many negatives, starting with the weight of 36.6 lbs. This results in a very heavy cooler that is bulky and not very portable, despite being advertised as such. Very disappointedly, as seen in the blue circled area of attached picture, the area on the right of the cooler near the hinges is only 7.5” in length and 5” height. This is because the compressor takes up the rest of this space, which results in a greatly reduced amount of usable space. Anyone considering this product should definitely take this into consideration because it is not well advertised or explained in the product labeling or information, and it would be easy to think that the cooler would contain the same amount of usable space as it looks from the exterior. A final major downside is this really is not a great option as a camping cooler as advertised. If you are camping for 1 or maybe 2 nights, you may be able to provide acceptable vehicle power to cool your food. But beyond that, you’re not going to be able to power the cooler unless you leave your vehicle running idle constantly or purchase the very overpriced external battery (Dometic PLB40). Positives include a relatively fast cooling period, the ability to freeze to -7 F (although there is no separate compartment for the freezer so you must either set it to freeze or refrigerate), and sturdy construction, advertised as “highly efficient Vacuum Insulated Panels [that] deliver outstanding insulation” (this statement and actual insulation efficiency was difficult to measure and not exactly determined). The value and price of this product combined with a major design flaw really makes this product impracticable in my opinion. If you have a truck, campervan, or RV this may work for you – that is if you want to spend a small fortune to cool a relatively small amount of food. Also, if you’re making trips transferring food to locations with electrical outlets, this product may be practical for you.

Age:45–54
No, I do not recommend this product

Ease of Use

Difficult to useVery easy to use

Insulation Rating

Did not meet insulation expectationsExceeded insulation expectations
Helpful?
Vicente
Davis, CA
Rated 5.0 out of 5 stars

CFX5 a nice upgrade

6 months ago

Definite improvement on 2 fronts from CFX3 model. Noise: Overall quieter compressor, although when it is cranking up to full speed it's high pitched and I don't like it. But overall it has LESS volume of noise and runs less often than CFX3 does. Efficiency: I ran my old CFX3 and new CFX5 side by side for a day, with a Watt meter on each. The CFX5 definitely used significantly less power, meaning my power station could run it for longer. I see a complaint about the latch. Mine would close and latch fine, but it was a soft latch not the satisfying CLICK to let you know it was fully closed. So a point off for ergonomics. But my example works great and I sold my CFX3 off to help offset the cost of the new one.

Age:55–64
Yes , I recommend this product

Ease of Use

Difficult to useVery easy to use

Insulation Rating

Did not meet insulation expectationsExceeded insulation expectations
Helpful?
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