The very first thing to think about when shopping for a cooler is how you are going to use it. For those who 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 suggest above are able to holding issues at a secure temperature for a day, supplied 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 seashore, you won’t 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Laborious-sided coolers: These vary from the outdated inexperienced Coleman coolers—as soon as a staple of each tenting journey—to Yetis, which value as a lot as automobiles did when Coleman began making coolers. You may surprise why the Yetis are so costly. That I am unable to reply, however Yeti did upend the cooler trade 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 historical, inexpensive 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 be taught extra? Our In-Home Know-It-All has a extra thorough insulation rationalization.
Laborious-sided coolers typically have the posh options you need, like leakproof lids and drain plugs, and a few are even bear-resistant (test this record of bear-proof merchandise if you happen to’re headed into ursine nation). The draw back is that these coolers are typically large and heavy.
Mushy-sided coolers: Mushy-sided coolers embrace the whole lot from well-padded, impressively insulated sling baggage (just like the Yeti Hopper Flip above) to roll-down, dry-bag-style coolers good for these delicate seashore days. The perfect comfortable coolers are simpler to hold, pack away simply when not in use, and have a versatility that conventional arduous coolers lack. (I’ve used dry-bag-style coolers as, nicely, dry baggage.) Ice would not final as lengthy, however for brief outings the place you do not want a big cooler, these are what we suggest.
Electrical coolers: Certain, they don’t seem to be mandatory, however if you happen to’re headed out on longer adventures and have entry to energy, you may by no means have to fret about your ice melting.
Different Options to Look For:
- Drain plug: This vastly simplifies life by making it straightforward to empty the water out of your cooler. For those who’re shopping for a big cooler, ensure that it has one in every of these.
- Divider: Certainly one of our prime 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 attainable, you may obtain a number of the identical by getting a cooler with a dividing wall in it. That manner you may pack one facet tightly with ice to maintain that meat at a low temp, and use the opposite facet 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.
