The very first thing to think about when shopping for a cooler is how you are going to use it. In case you aren’t heading out for days at a time, you most likely do not want an costly high-end cooler. All of the coolers we have advocate above are able to holding issues at a secure temperature for a day, offered you retain them within the shade. Equally, if you happen to’re navigating rugged terrain, you may want beefy wheels—and if you happen to’re simply going to the seaside, you may not want them.
Laborious-sided coolers: These vary from the outdated inexperienced Coleman coolers—as soon as a staple of each tenting journey—to Yetis, which value as a lot as vehicles did when Coleman began making coolers. You would possibly marvel why the Yetis are so costly. That I am unable to reply, however Yeti did upend the cooler business by introducing rotational molding, or “rotomolding,” the place melted plastic is molded over foam insulation in a single piece. Rotomolded coolers supply seamless, uniform density of their partitions and lids, which drastically improves a cooler’s efficiency. In distinction, these historic, reasonably priced plastic coolers we have all used have thinner partitions, leaky seams, and fewer insulated lids. Whether or not you want the additional insulation will depend on what you are doing and the way sizzling it’s while you’re doing it. Wish to study extra? Our In-Home Know-It-All has a extra thorough insulation clarification.
Laborious-sided coolers usually have the luxurious options you need, like leakproof lids and drain plugs, and a few are even bear-resistant (verify this listing of bear-proof merchandise if you happen to’re headed into ursine nation). The draw back is that these coolers are usually enormous and heavy.
Gentle-sided coolers: Gentle-sided coolers embrace every part from well-padded, impressively insulated sling baggage (just like the Yeti Hopper Flip above) to roll-down, dry-bag-style coolers good for these gentle seaside days. The most effective gentle coolers are simpler to hold, pack away simply when not in use, and have a versatility that conventional exhausting coolers lack. (I’ve used dry-bag-style coolers as, effectively, dry baggage.) Ice does not final as lengthy, however for brief outings the place you do not want a big cooler, these are what we advocate. Our older choose was discontinued; we’re on the hunt for an additional.
Electrical coolers: Certain, they don’t seem to be essential, however if you happen to’re headed out on longer adventures and have entry to energy, you will by no means have to fret about your ice melting.
Different Options to Look For:
- Drain plug: This tremendously simplifies life by making it straightforward to empty the water out of your cooler. In case you’re shopping for a big cooler, ensure that it has one in every of these.
- Divider: Considered one of our high ideas for long-term cooler use is to have two coolers: One you deal with as a fridge and infrequently open, and one other for drinks. If that is not doable, you possibly can obtain among the identical by getting a cooler with a dividing wall in it. That approach you possibly can pack one aspect tightly with ice to maintain that meat at a low temp, and use the opposite aspect for chilling drinks with cubed ice.
- Wheels: Coolers get heavy and wheels are superior. They will not all the time work (good luck wheeling your cooler over tree roots), however after they do, they’re utterly price it.
