There are many times when I’m headed over to a friend’s house for a few drinks, and I don’t need a full-sized cooler. I’m looking for a grab-and-go solution, and the Chill Systems Chiller does an excellent job. It’s a molded container that holds either three cans or a bottle of wine that you toss in your freezer overnight. There’s not much to it, but it’s quite effective.

The Chiller is filled with freezing gel that will keep your drinks ice cold for 6 hours, and over a few weeks of using it, I found that to be true. It doesn’t take long before you start to appreciate the simplicity of it. I grabbed it from the freezer, stuck it in the carrier (or one of the two bags they make), and was out the door. There’s no messing with ice or anything else. When I get home, back in the freezer it goes.

I found the build quality of the Chill Systems Chiller to be impressive. I’d almost say that it’s overbuilt. I can’t imagine what you’d have to do to break it because I’m pretty sure I could stand on it, and it would be fine.

Chill Systems makes two insulated bags for it that allow you to carry more items (and more beverages). The Adventure Pack is great if you’re hitting the trail and want a more mobile option. It allows you to carry six drinks or two bottles of wine. The Picnic Tote is perfect for meeting friends at the beach or park. With this one, you can bring 12 beverages or three bottles of wine, and there’s enough room for snacks and a picnic blanket. Because both bags are insulated, it increases the cooling time from six to 24 hours.

Not using ice means conserving water, and I also appreciate the fact that Chill Systems donates a portion of each sale to support clean water projects around the world. It always makes me happy when a company is trying to do the right thing, and I think they’re on the right path here.

The Chill Systems Chiller is easy and always ready to go, and that’s what I ended up liking most about it. If you want more than three beverages (quite possible), you can cycle them through, so you always have cold ones on deck. At the end of the day, I thought it was a pretty good alternative to lugging a full-size cooler around.