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Rating: 4/5
I’ve tested lots of so-called “portable” air conditioners over the years, and most of them are anything but. They’re heavy, bulky, and take up a ton of floor space—definitely not something to casually toss in the car for a weekend trip. But the BougeRV Portable Air Conditioner is a totally different story.
Best Air Conditioner for Camping
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BougeRV Portable Air Conditioner
This unit is about the size of a toolbox and weighs around 33 pounds. With a large central handle, it’s genuinely easy to carry. When heading off the grid, cooling down a stuffy RV, or just looking for some extra comfort in a tent or small room, this little AC is up for the job. The setup is also surprisingly user-friendly. The included exhaust hose fits through most windows, and the kit comes with rolls of insulation to help block out the hot air once everything’s in place.
Using the unit is refreshingly straightforward. There’s a small, sleek display on the front with simple buttons to toggle between five modes: Cooling, Dehumidifying, Sleep, Strong, and Fan. I just picked the mode I wanted and set my desired temperature—nothing fussy or complicated. It also comes with a handy remote and even has a companion phone app, both of which are as intuitive as one would hope. There aren’t many settings to wade through, which honestly feels like a plus.
Now, about the noise. BougeRV advertises this unit as “super quiet,” but that wasn’t exactly my experience. I tested it in my bedroom on a hot Florida night, and I found it too noisy to sleep through. To be fair, the unit was working hard to cool the space, and when using it in milder temps or during the day, it’ll probably be a bit quieter. Light sleepers like me should keep in mind that with this unit, the components that are responsible for doing the cooling are located inside the room, unlike the design of traditional window units, which place the louder components outside.
That said, I still really like this unit—but only for the right use case. With 3500 BTUs of cooling power, it’s ideal for spaces up to about 212 square feet. I wouldn’t rely on it as a main source of AC in my home, but it’s become a go-to item for road trips and family camping weekends.
If you’re looking for an easy-to-carry, easy-to-set-up AC that can travel, the BougeRV Portable Air Conditioner hits the mark.
