Kings Stayzcool 85L upright fridge review: Has Kings fixed the biggest issue?

The Kings Stayzcool 85L upright fridge is tackling one of the biggest complaints in upright camping fridges – cooling consistency.

Anyone who’s used one will tell you they’re incredibly convenient as you can actually see what’s inside. No digging through layers of food like in a chest fridge, no leaning over a tall canopy or lifted tray and best of all, no expensive drop slide just to reach your milk.

But they’ve also carried a reputation for one annoying flaw. Cooling consistency.

With an upright design, cold air naturally falls. Every time you open the door, that cold air spills straight out the front. That can lead to warm spots on different shelves and slower temperature recovery after the door closes. It’s one of the reasons a lot of touring setups still default to the traditional chest fridge.

Now, though, Adventure Kings appears to have tackled that issue head-on with the release of the Stayzcool 85L Upright Fridge Freezer MKII.

And the fix is surprisingly simple.

Kings Stayzcool 85L Upright Fridge: What’s New?

Kings Stayzcool 85L upright fridge specs

• Capacity: 85L
• Freezer: 6L compartment
• Power: 12V / 24V
• Temp range: 0°C to 10°C (fridge)
• Freezer: -5°C to -15°C
• Warranty: 5 years

A mod people were already doing

One of the most common upgrades owners have made to upright fridges over the years is installing a small internal fan. Usually, it’s just a tiny 12V computer-style fan mounted inside the cabinet to circulate air around the fridge. Why? Because it keeps temperatures more consistent from top to bottom and helps the fridge recover faster after the door has been opened. With the new MKII model, the Kings Stayzcool 85L upright fridge has essentially built that mod into the fridge from the factory.

The updated unit now includes an integrated internal fan designed to circulate air around the cabinet, improving cooling efficiency and reducing temperature variations across the shelves. It might sound like a small change, but it directly addresses one of the most common complaints about upright fridges.

The same concept, just refined

Aside from the airflow improvement, the Kings Stayzcool upright fridge keeps the same practical layout, and that’s probably a good thing.

The layout is still based around a vertical 85-litre cabinet with a dedicated 6-litre freezer compartment, making it easy to separate frozen food or ice blocks from the main fridge section. Inside, the fridge uses a modular layout with a bottom drawer and two adjustable shelves, so you’re not digging through a pile of food to find something buried at the bottom.

Door storage has also seen some practical improvements, including adjustable dividers and securing tabs that help stop bottles and containers from moving around when you’re bouncing along rough tracks.

Small detail, but anyone who’s opened a fridge door to find milk or sauce bottles rolling around will appreciate it.

A cleaner, more finished design

Another noticeable change with the MKII is the overall finish. The original model worked well, but the design was fairly utilitarian. The new version appears to have a more refined body and control layout, giving it a cleaner look that suits modern canopy kitchens, camper trailers and caravans a bit better.

Controls have also been updated, with a simple digital thermostat allowing temperatures to be set between 0°C and 10°C in the fridge, while the freezer section automatically runs between -5°C and -15°C.

Like the original model, the fridge runs on 12V or 24V DC power, making it suitable for typical touring setups powered by a dual battery system or a portable power station.

What about the compressor?

One change some keen-eyed buyers might notice is the compressor. Earlier versions of the Stayzcool upright fridge were known for using Secop compressors, which are widely regarded as one of the premium options in portable refrigeration. The MKII appears to move to a different DC compressor platform.

On paper, that might sound like a downgrade, but Kings is still backing the fridge with the same massive 5-year nationwide warranty. That’s a pretty strong signal that the company is confident the new system will hold up to real-world touring use.

Why upright fridges are getting popular

There’s also a bigger trend happening here. As more touring builds move toward canopy kitchens and drawer-based setups, upright fridges are becoming a more practical option.

Instead of lifting a heavy lid and reaching down into a deep chest fridge, you simply open the door and everything is right in front of you, just like a fridge at home. For vehicles with big lifts, tall trays or deep canopies, that convenience can be a huge advantage. It also removes the need for a drop slide, which can save both money and valuable weight in a touring setup.

Is it time to ditch the chest fridge?

Chest fridges still have their place. They tend to be slightly more efficient because cold air stays trapped inside when the lid opens. But upright designs offer a level of convenience that’s hard to ignore.

With the addition of an integrated cooling fan to improve airflow, the new Kings Stayzcool 85L Upright Fridge Freezer MKII appears to have addressed one of the biggest limitations upright fridges have traditionally faced. The core recipe remains the same, 85L capacity, integrated freezer, modular storage and a reversible door, but with some thoughtful improvements aimed at real-world usability.

For anyone building a touring canopy, camper or caravan setup, the Kings Stayzcool 85L might just make the upright fridge option a lot harder to ignore.

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