The solution? A cooler with wheels.

Hunting for the top wheeled cooler isn’t about just picking any cooler that rolls. You need one that glides over beach sand, dock steps, and bumpy trails with ease. Yet, some wheel designs are flimsy and others might cost you your paycheck.

So, I dove deep into cooler research, sampled a bunch, and tested them like a relentless airport security guard. Finally, I found the crème de la crème, the BEST wheeled coolers.

Here’s our list of of our top picks. Stick around to see how we tested them and what you need to look for.

More of a visual learner? Watch our Best Coolers with Wheels video review here!

DISCLOSURE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Links in this article are affiliate links. If you click on a link we may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

The 6 Best Wheeled Coolers of 2023: Outdoor Empire Reviews

The YETI Tundra Haul is our top pick for the best wheeled cooler, scoring high on ice retention, durability, and mobility. If you’re seeking a budget-friendly option, consider the RTIC Ultra-Light Wheeled or the Coleman Xtreme Roller, both offering solid performance.

1. Best Overall: YETI Tundra Haul
2. Best for the Money: RTIC Ultra-Light Wheeled
3. Budget Pick: Coleman Xtreme or 316 Series Rolling 62 Qt
4. Beach Pick:  Igloo Trailmate
5. Also Great: Lifetime High Performance Wheeled
6. Best of the Rest: Monoprice Pure Outdoor Wheeled Emperor

	Best Overall	Best Value	Budget Pick	Best for Beach	Also Great
Product	YETI Tundra Haul	RTIC Ultra-Light Wheeled	Coleman Xtreme or 316 Series Rolling 62 Qt	Igloo Trailmate	Lifetime High Performance Wheeled
Outdoor Empire Score	4.4	4.1	3.0	3.5	3.9
Portability	Best	Best	Good	Better	Good
Ice Retention (Our Test)	7 days	6 days	6 days	5 days	7 days
Benefits	+ Excellent build quality and rugged so it will last a long time + Smooth wheels roll well on all surfaces + Easy to tow + Holds ice longer than other wheeled coolers	+ High-quality build for a lower cost + Loaded with useful features + Best wheels and tow handle out of all we tested + Lighter than most competitors + Excellent customer service	+ Affordable for nearly any budget + Holds up well to abuse and impacts + Excellent ice retention for the price + Extremely lightweight for easy portability + Great customer service gives confidence in purchase	+ Large wheels and clearance for use on rough terrain or sand + Excellent beach and fishing accessories included + Telescoping handle with built-in butler tray that includes self-draining cup holders + 70-quart capacity allows for storage of up to 112 cans and ice	+ Reasonable price point + Built like a rotomolded cooler + Good warranty and customer service + Great ice retention + Bear-certified
Drawbacks	- Lid prone to warping in extreme heat - Lid leaks when towing which can reduce ice retention - 50% more expensive than next best alternative	- Leaks considerably when towing - Short warranty - No bear certification	- Wheels only function well on hard surfaces - Lid doesn't clamp down - Basic wheels with limited off-road ability	- Bulky and difficult to get in smaller vehicles - Build quality falls short for the price point - Design less versatile than other coolers on this list	- Underbuilt wheels are bad on sand and dirt - Tow handle can rust - Heavy and awkward to lift - Prone to warping
Price Range	$$$ Check Price	$$ Check Price	$ Check Price	$$ Check Price	$$ Check Price

The author of this review, Chase Fly, has had his garage full of coolers for the past year. He takes a different ice chest each time he goes fishing, camping, hunting, or on a Costco run. Chase’s real-world use of these coolers combined with rigorous testing provides Chase with unique insight about how good they really are.

1. Best All-Around Wheeled Cooler

Best Overall

YETI Tundra Haul

4.4

Portability Rank: 2

Approx. Price: $450

Volume: 62 quarts

Weight: 37.8 pounds

Construction Type: Rotomolded

Where Made: Philippines

Warranty: 5 years

Variations: Roadie 48 & 60, 6 colors

View on Amazon View at YETI

Compare prices: Bass Pro Shops, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Cabela’s, Moosejaw, Scheels, Dick’s Sporting Goods

As much as I was kinda hoping to prove otherwise in favor of an underdog, the YETI Tundra Haul emerged as our preferred wheeled cooler. Its robust construction, marked by a dense foam-injected rotomolded design, strong wheel assembly, and rigid handle, set it apart. This quality construction ensures the Tundra Haul can withstand considerable abuse, like falling out of your pickup, without debilitating damage.

The cooler’s durability is demonstrated in part by an IGBC bear-resistant certification, which you need to camp in some places including select National Parks in the Western US. However, the Tundra Haul isn’t invincible, with reports of lid warping in extreme heat, which could affect cooling efficiency.

Despite this, the Tundra Haul excelled in ice retention, maintaining cool temperatures for 7 days in our tests. The compact design of its wheels makes it easier to pack and transport than many alternatives, and their never-flat wheels enable a smooth ride over diverse terrain. Plus, the tow handle is designed to to provide a comfortable walk and pull experience.

The Tundra Haul isn’t without flaws. When your ice melts to water, it leaks when towed, which in turn makes the remaining ice melt faster. Also, the wheels rattle, but that’s not a big deal. It’s heavier than its rivals, so you might need help lifting it. Although it’s the most expensive cooler we tested, it lacks some simple frills like a bottle opener.

Customer service was inconsistent, with the chat function repeatedly failing, but their extensive online support materials and a solid 5-year warranty give peace of mind. Despite its shortcomings, the YETI Tundra Haul’s rugged quality and superior ice retention make it a top choice for outdoor enthusiasts.

2. Best Wheeled Cooler for the Money

Best Value

RTIC 52 QT Ultra-Light Wheeled

4.1

Portability Rank: 1

Approx. Price: $300

Volume: 52 quarts

Weight: 30 pounds

Construction Type: Injection molded

Where Made: Cambodia

Warranty: 1 year

Variations: 3 colors

View on Amazon View at RTIC

The RTIC 52 Quart Ultra-Light Wheeled is a real winner in value-for-money. Its build quality is impressive considering its lower cost, courtesy of smart design choices like injection molding. That makes it cheaper and lighter than rotomolded coolers like the Yeti, but it still feels sturdy and well-made.

And while it’s not bear-certified, it remains tough as manifested in my over-the top durability test where I towed it around behind a side-by-side and tossed it off a roof just to see what would happen. Check out my YouTube video on that below!

This cooler boasts several handy features, including an air-sealing freezer-style gasket that helps it hold ice longer. Convenient tie-down slots and grippy feet ensure stability during transportation, while a standard lock hole protects your adult beverages from little ones. Easy-to-handle grips allow effortless movement, and kid-friendly latches ensure smooth access. Anglers will appreciate the hose-compatible drain plug with a tethered cap for easy drainage off boats. A unique addition is the silicone net in the lid, perfect for quick access items like snacks. And yes, it also includes a built-in bottle opener.

Challenging YETI, this cooler excels with wheels and a tow handle that produce the smoothest overall ride out of all the wheeled coolers we experienced whether on sand, grass, or gravel. Its ice retention stands strong at 6 days in our test, making it an all-round performer.

While it’s lighter than most competitors, at 30 pounds, “ultra-light” is marketing buzzword bologna. And it does leak considerably when towing if there’s a lot of water inside. Customer service responds swiftly, but a 1-year warranty is limiting.

Yet, its portability, durability, and functionality make the RTIC Ultra-Light Wheeled Cooler a great value pick.

3. Best Cheap Wheeled Cooler

Budget Pick

Coleman 316 or Xtreme Series 62 Qt Wheeled

3.0

Portability Rank: 6

Approx. Price: $80

Volume: 62 quarts

Weight: 13.6 pounds

Construction Type: Blow molded

Where Made: USA

Warranty: None

Variations: 50 quart

View on Amazon View at Bass Pro Shops

Compare prices: Sportsman’s Warehouse, Cabela’s

Our best budget pick is the Coleman Xtreme Rolling or its equivalent, the Coleman 316 Series, both 62-quart wheeled coolers. At an affordable price and made in America, these coolers prove that a reliable wheeled cooler need not cost a small fortune.

Constructed from basic plastic, they won’t stun you with premium quality, but they certainly do the job. The 316 Series is practically identical to the Xtreme, and might be easier to find. We tested a non-wheeled 316 and it performed just like the Xtreme. And it appears they upgrade the wheels on the 316 compared to the Xtreme. These unsophisticated coolers are a whole lot less likely to get stolen out of the back of your truck, which is a thing with fancy Yeti coolers.

Lightweight and sturdy, these Colemans can withstand some rough handling. During our drop test, the Xtreme just bounced, showing it won’t easily break. They live up to their promise: simple, functional coolers with good capacity. Their handles make lifting or towing easy, and usable cup holders on the Xtreme are a neat bonus.

Coleman’s customer service is top-tier. When I inquired about a potential issue, they offered a replacement despite the lack of a warranty.

Where they excel is ice retention, keeping ice for 6 days in our test, one day more than advertised, and a match for pricier options.

The downside? Their wheels only work well on solid ground, struggling on sand or dirt. However, their narrow, lightweight design allows for easy dragging in such circumstances. I would advise against the smaller 50-quart versions with retractable handles. While I haven’t tested them myself, past experiences with weak sauce telescopic handles on other coolers leave me skeptical.

In summary, Coleman’s wheeled coolers are a cost-effective choice that delivers on functionality and ice retention.

4. Best Beach Cooler with Wheels

Best for Beach

Igloo Trailmate

3.5

Portability Rank: 5

Approx. Price: $250

Volume: 70 quarts

Weight: 34.4 pounds

Construction Type: Injection and blow molded

Where Made: USA

Warranty: 1 year

Variations: 10+ colors

View on Amazon View at Sportsman's Warehouse

Compare prices: Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Scheels, Dick’s Sporting Goods

The Igloo Trailmate is our top choice for beach and fishing coolers, brimming with features for beach days and surf fishing. However, its build quality and durability are average given the price.

With the largest wheels of any cooler we tested, it’s specifically designed for beach use. Despite being made of basic plastic, they easily overcome obstacles due to its SUV-like ground clearance. The functional telescoping tow handle allows for both wheelbarrow-like pushing or handcart towing.

It’s loaded with accessories: a basket, tray, fishing rod holders, and dry box are included for beach convenience and concealing of valuables. The tethered drain plug is a smart touch to avoid losing it, and the bungee hooks are perfect for loading it up with extra gear.

Customer service responded within 48 hours, but the warranty is only for one year. Ice retention lasted 5 days for me, which is better than advertised.

Its main drawbacks are its bulky size and less-than-premium materials. Occupying 2/3 of an SUV cargo area, it’s not suitable for smaller vehicles but perfect for pickups. Despite these issues, its beach-friendly features, easy towability, large capacity, and good customer service make it a great choice for beach and fishing trips.

5. Also Great

Also Great

Lifetime 65 Quart High Performance

3.9

Portability Rank: 8

Approx. Price: $250

Volume: 65 quarts

Weight: 29.4 pounds

Construction Type: Blow molded

Where Made: USA

Warranty: 5 years

Variations: 55 quart

View on Amazon (without wheels) View at Lifetime

The Lifetime 65 Quart High Performance Wheeled Cooler, while not topping any category, is a worthwhile contender. The blow-molded plastic and budget-friendly components may not seem premium, but it’s built like a rotomolded cooler. Certain features, like the latches, show thoughtful engineering. While it may be mid-grade quality overall, it delivers on its high performance promise, especially in terms of ice retention.

Ice retention is impressive, lasting seven days in our ice challenge, on par with the Yeti Tundra Haul. And it leaks less when towing. It boasts a good feature set for the price, including a gasket, lock holes, and grippy feet. Lifetime’s customer service is laudable with a 72-hour response time and a 5-year warranty.

The cooler is durable and bear-resistant, but the wheels and tow handle could be stronger. The wheels are similar to the budget Coleman coolers and struggle on sand and trails, getting easily gummed up. The metal tow handle, while sturdy, has basic welds and shows early signs of rusting. I’ve also seen some reports of lid warping on Lifetime coolers.

The cooler’s size makes it bulky and hard to maneuver, with the tow handle adding to the difficulty due to its inability to lock in place. Despite these flaws, its good price, reliable warranty, large capacity, and excellent ice retention make it a solid choice, especially in a Lifetime store where they’re even cheaper.

If you don’t need wheels, I think the non-wheeled version of this cooler is a bargain. But since this review is about the top coolers with wheels, it didn’t rank higher simply because portability is its weak point.

6. Best of the Rest

Good Deal

Monoprice Pure Outdoor Wheeled Emperor 50

3.5

Portability Rank: 3

Approx. Price: $200

Volume: 50 quarts

Weight: 33.4 pounds

Construction Type: Rotomolded

Where Made: China

Warranty: 1 year

Variations: None

View on Amazon No Wheels Option

While it may be a generic brand, Monoprice’s Pure Outdoor Wheeled Emperor 50 Cooler offers considerable value for its price. Though its build quality has room for improvement, with rough-cut latches and the like, its rotomolded construction promises decent toughness and ice retention.

The cooler’s durability is commendable, though the tow handle lacks the robustness of models like the YETI or RTIC. Notably, the handle’s welds were not strong enough to prevent bending during our truck toss. And I’m afraid to bend it back as it appears it would break.

For its price, the cooler comes with a nice set of features, including a bottle opener, grippy feet, and a ruler on top. Its wheels, while not top-tier, offer smoother rolling than most, and its ice retention competes with the YETI Tundra Haul, lasting up to 7 days.

Monoprice’s customer service leaves much to be desired. They never responded to my inquiry. However, the cooler’s price, good rolling capabilities, and impressive ice retention make it a compelling budget-friendly choice.

The Emperor 50, despite its cheaper parts and disappointing customer service, remains a strong contender for those looking for affordability without sacrificing functionality. It’s also available without wheels at an even better deal.

3 Coolers With Wheels We Don’t Recommend

The first couple of coolers I don’t recommend may not sit well with a lot of die-hard fans, and you may even find them on the Best Wheeled Cooler lists on other websites. But my guess is the people who wrote those reviews have not used or tested these coolers to the extent I have.

I have nothing against the companies who make them. These companies make other coolers and products I really like and there are some things I like about these ice chests too.

There are specific reasons I don’t recommend these wheeled coolers based on actually using them myself. You’ll see why below.

1. Pelican Elite 45QW

The US-made Pelican Elite 45QW Cooler’s build and durability are commendable, with its robust rotomolded design, bear certification, and impressive lifetime warranty. However, it disappoints in its overall user experience.

Better Without Wheels

Pelican Elite 45QW

3.6

Portability Rank: 7

Approx. Price: $450

Volume: 45 quarts

Weight: 38.6 pounds

Construction Type: Rotomolded

Where Made: USA

Warranty: Lifetime

Variations: 65 qt, 80 qt, 3 colors

View on Amazon View at Pelican

Key issues I found include an exposed axle and wheels that often jam under regular use making transportation difficult, especially on sand.  The tow handle’s hand grip is too narrow which causes the cooler to hit your calves when towing. And it’s far more bulky than other coolers of the same size making it hard to move around. Additionally, customer service never responded to my written inquiry, which might cause concern for customers needing support.

Although the cooler boasts a watertight lid and the Pelican brand name, its high cost, merely average ice retention, and especially cumbersome portability make it a less-than-ideal rolling cooler option. It would be better without wheels in its current design.

2. RovR RollR 45

Despite the RovR RollR 45’s feature-rich and versatile design, with bicycle towing option, its enhancements often create problems.

Dealbreaker Handle

RovR RollR 45

3.7

Portability Rank: 4

Approx. Price: $440

Volume: 45 quarts

Weight: 38.9 pounds

Construction Type: Rotomolded

Where Made: USA

Warranty: 5 years

Variations: 60 qt, 7+ colors

View on Amazon View at Moosejaw

The tow handle is a major issue to the point that it’s a dealbreaker for me. You really have to yank on it to make it extend, then it won’t retract easily either. And it feels more flimsy than my cheap rolling suitcase handle when fully extended.

Although the pneumatic wheels ensure a smooth ride, the risk of puncture and handle problems hinder its portability. Disappointingly, the ice retention falls short of what the company claims, and customer service never responded to my message. Given its price, the cooler’s flaws overshadow its innovations. If drawn to RovR, the larger RollR 60 may be a better choice, with a superior handle design.

3. Igloo MaxCold Latitude 62 Roller

The Igloo MaxCold Latitude 62 Roller is a popular model in large part because it has gone on sale at Costco the past couple years in the Spring and Summer. That’s where I got mine. But this cooler fails to deliver quality, with a particularly dangerous and unreliable telescoping tow handle.

Do NOT Buy!

Igloo MaxCold Latitude 62 Roller

1.7

Portability Rank: Last

Approx. Price: $65

Volume: 62 quarts

Weight: 14.6 pounds

Construction Type: Blow molded

Where Made: USA

Warranty: 1 year

Variations: 40, 70, 100 qt, color varies

View on Amazon

The first time we used this cooler the plastic tow handle broke on one side when my daughter was towing it empty from the house into the backyard. Later, when I filled it half way with water to tow it around and compare it to the other coolers on this list, the other side of the handle broke. A remaining shard of plastic sliced a nearly 3-inch cut in the palm of my hand.

See what happened to the handle in the short video below.

Its poor ice retention, flimsy construction, and underwhelming features make it an option to avoid. While it’s cheap and lightweight, the negatives far outweigh the positives.

How to Choose the Best Cooler with Wheels

When selecting a cooler with wheels, there are a few important factors to consider. We used the following criteria for testing and evaluating the wheeled coolers on this list.

1. Construction Quality

Coolers are not just for backyard barbecues – they’re designed to withstand rugged outdoor conditions. Rotomolded coolers typically provide the most durability, with high-quality polyethylene plastics and dense internal foam insulation materials. Non-rotomolded options, while often less expensive, should also be made of robust components and materials to ensure longevity.

There is also a close association with value when it comes to quality. You shouldn’t expect the same build quality in a $100 cooler compared to a $400 cooler. But if you find a $200 cooler that’s as good as other $300 coolers, then it’s a great deal. I looked at this closely when researching and testing these coolers.

By researching specs, visually inspecting more than 30 different coolers, and finally using them for real outdoor activities, I was able to clearly recognize quality based on firsthand experience.

2. Durability

Rotomolded cooler tend to be the most rugged, but they are prone to warping or damage from extreme heat. Injection molded coolers are often a close second in terms of durability, but even cheaper blow molded coolers are tougher than they look when it comes to everyday accidents like rolling down some stairs.

Scuffs and scrapes should be anticipated with any cooler, but rusty or bent handles, mucked up wheel axles, and breakage from minor tumbles are red flags.

Bonus points if a cooler is certified as bear-resistant by the International Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC). This means the company invested extra effort and money into product development and had the cooler tossed in a pen of real live hungry grizzly bears who attempt to break into the cooler to eat what’s inside.

One fun durability test I did involved chucking each cooler off the tailgate of my pickup. While no cooler rolled away unscathed, some took the asphalt better than others.

3. Ice Retention

Ice retention is crucial for a cooler’s effectiveness and is arguably the most important feature a cooler can offer. The longer the ice lasts, the longer your food and drinks stay cold. Some companies advertise some pretty unbelievable claims about how long their coolers retain ice, while others (ahem, Yeti) don’t make promises since there can be so many variables, including how you pack it.

In the end it comes down to insulation and air tightness. So a plastic outer shell with thicker injected foam insulation in the sides and lid make all the difference. The best insulated coolers also have a freezer-style gasket that creates an air tight seal around the lid to keep cool air inside from being displaced by warmer outside air.

In order to test the ice retention on these coolers, I filled each cooler with ice and monitored them over a week outdoors in the heat of summer. I checked ice levels daily, noting when each cooler no longer had any ice left and the food inside was no longer at a safe temperature.

4. Features

Additional features can add convenience and functionality, but not all features offer a real benefit. Things like bottle openers, cup holders, accessories, and tie-down capabilities can all enhance the user experience, or not, depending on how you want to use it. So look for the things that matter to you and don’t be oversold on gimmicks.

I considered overall ease of use of each cooler’s features whether unique like the silicone net in the RTIC or universal like the drain. But the most useful testing was in the form of real-world use. I have had most of these coolers for months as of the time of writing and I have used them on campouts, hunting trips, weddings, and lake days. That’s where I discover what’s really useful and what I don’t care about.

5. Customer Service and Warranty

Coolers have become one of the most expensive pieces of gear in an outdoor goers kit, so expect great service and a satisfaction guarantee from premium cooler brands. A company’s responsiveness and the warranty it provides can also be indicative of a cooler’s quality. If something goes wrong, it’s important to know that the company will back its product.

Customer service was tested by contacting each company directly in writing either by email or by submitting an online form. I submitted the same general inquiry about a hypothetical warranty issue and I recorded their response time and helpfulness. Some responded right away like RTIC and Coleman while others never did like RovR, Pelican, and Monoprice. I found Yeti impossible to contact in writing, but maybe I was looking in the wrong place.

6. Portability

While the above criteria are important to consider for any cooler, portability is paramount for a cooler with wheels. And a cooler’s portability is significantly influenced by its wheels and handles.

I filled each cooler up about half way with water to simulate being packed for an outing. Then I towed them through a “terrain gauntlet”, rolling them across different surfaces including asphalt, steps, grass, sand, and gravel. During this process, I evaluated how well the wheels handled various terrains and how comfortable and efficient the tow handles were. I also noted which coolers leaked from water sloshing inside.

The top wheeled coolers have sturdy wheels that are low maintenance, roll smoothly over a variety of surface types (not just asphalt). They also sport a tow handle that’s sturdy and comfortable to use over long-ish distances. Ideally they’re easy to push as well as pull, which is often not the case, so keep an eye out for that.

Bulky designs can be unwieldy, especially when trying to load, unload, and fit them in a vehicle. The grab handles should make it easy to lift without straining. Size and weight also factor in here. Heavy coolers can be a pain if it takes two people to move them all the time, so they better have some great benefits to make up for that.

Why Trust Us

At Outdoor Empire, we pride ourselves on offering trustworthy gear advice, backed by rigorous, hands-on testing. We didn’t just ‘borrow’ information from the web for this review. Instead, we invested our own money, acquired each wheeled cooler featured in this article, and put them through their paces in real-world situations. We even went the extra mile and used them extensively in our own lives, because we believe in ‘walking the talk’ before recommending any gear.

Although we occasionally accept product samples to enrich our gear guides, we never do paid or sponsored reviews. Our views in this article are as authentic, unbiased, and personal as it gets. After all, we wouldn’t recommend something we wouldn’t use ourselves or suggest to our loved ones.

Finding the Perfect Wheeled Cooler

Choosing the best cooler depends on what you do most. Campers and anglers should get durable coolers with top-notch ice retention. For picnics or tailgates, a light, simple cooler will do.

Check the wheels and handle carefully.

Good wheels are tough, roll smoothly on different surfaces, and give the cooler enough ground clearance to prevent dragging. The RTIC, YETI, and Igloo Trailmate are great at this. On the other hand, the Coleman, Lifetime, and Pelican fail in sand where it feels like you’re dragging dead weight. Good wheels can make the difference between breaking a sweat or not.

A top-notch tow handle lets you stroll upright next to your cooler, not crouched down right in front of it as it bumps you in the calves with every step. The best ones, like on the Yeti and RTIC, let you both push and pull the cooler without collapsing.

Think about extra features. Handy things like bottle openers, cup holders, or storage spaces can make your cooler even cooler. But if you don’t need it or won’t use it, don’t mind it!

Lastly, consider the company’s reputation and warranty. This can keep your cooler protected and you stress-free. Pelican has the best warranty, but they were hard to reach. Coleman doesn’t offer a warranty but was willing to replace a cooler quickly when I reached out.

In the end, the perfect cooler blends durability, cooling, convenience, your needs, and your budget.

Wheeled Cooler FAQs

The post 6 Best Wheeled Coolers of 2023 and 3 to Avoid appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

Luckily, there’s no shortage of excellent options when it comes to coolers crafted on American soil. Whether you need a small cooler for tailgating, a spacious one for a multi-day camping trip, a convenient backpack cooler for when you’re on the move, or a sturdy companion for hunting expeditions, American companies have got you covered.

Discover the truth about coolers made in the USA! Not all popular brands, like YETI, are entirely American-made. But fear not! Look for Igloo, Pelican, Otterbox, Cordova, and more. These American-made coolers keep drinks chilled and adventures exciting.

Who Makes Coolers in the USA?

1. Igloo

Made in: Katy, Texas
Popular US-made models: IMX Collection, Trailmate, Tag Along Too
Best for: Small personal coolers (Tag Along Too), camping coolers in many different sizes (IMX collection), and large-wheeled cooler carts (Trailmate). Igloo is a well-known American brand that produces many rugged coolers for any outdoor adventure.

2. OtterBox

Made in: Fort Collins, Colorado
Popular US-made models: Trooper series
Best for: Durable soft-sided coolers (Trooper), backpack coolers, and tote coolers. Otterbox is known for its protective phone cases, but they also offer a small line of USA-made coolers. Otterbox coolers are best when you need something portable and lightweight that will stand up to most easy adventures.

3. Pelican

Made in: South Deerfield, Massachusetts
Popular US-made models: Elite series, Dayventure series
Best for: Wheeled hard-sided coolers (Elite), heavy-duty backpack coolers (Dayventure), and rugged personal coolers. Pelican offers a variety of options for the person who needs a cooler that will stand up to the elements – and to wildlife. The Elite series is registered as bear-resistant.

4. Cordova

Made in: Nampa, Idaho
Popular US-made models: Basecamp Class series, Backcountry Class series
Best for: Hard-sided coolers designed to keep things cold for days (Basecamp). Cordova Basecamp Class coolers are also bear-resistant. Cordova also offers soft-sided day pack coolers for when you need to bring your cooler on the go (Backcountry Class).

5. Orion

Made in: Sparta, Tennessee
Popular US-made models: Core series
Best for: Kayak fishing, boating, whitewater, camping, and long trips. Orion coolers are made by Jackson Kayaks, one of the most respected names in the kayak industry. Their coolers take on a similar look and feel as their kayaks. Out of 28 coolers tested, the Orion Core cooler won our very own ice retention challenge, holding ice a full two days longer than other popular rotomolded cooler brands like YETI. It has gobs of cool accessories, and it’s just a solid ice chest all around.

6. Grizzly

Made in: Decorah, Iowa
Popular US-made models: Grizzly series, Drifter series
Best for: Coolers made with hunters and anglers in mind. Grizzly’s American-made ice chests are available in any size that you could ever need. They offer some of the largest outdoor coolers on the market in 400-quart sizes. The Drifter series also offers small soft-sided coolers for lunch or cans on short trips.

7. RovR Coolers

Made in: Boulder, Colorado
Popular US-made models: RollR series
Best for: All-terrain wheeled coolers with plenty of accessories (RollR). RovR coolers come with a dry storage bin and a cutting board that can be mounted on the cooler’s side. They also sell additional storage bins that fit into the top.

8. Orca Coolers

Made in: Nashville, Tennessee
Popular US-made models: 20 quart, 58 quart, 65 quart wheeled, 140 quart
Best for: Hard-sided rotomolded coolers in a variety of sizes. Orca offers USA-made coolers from 20 quarts up to 140-quart sizes and several sizes in between for any need. They also have one wheeled model in a 65-quart size.

9. Bison Coolers

Made in: Fort Worth, Texas
Popular US-made models: Gen 2 series, XD series
Best for: Heavy-duty coolers for tailgating, hunting, or fishing. The Gen 2 series features roto-molded coolers with multiple drains and up to 7-day ice retention. Bison also makes soft-sided coolers in 12 or 24-can sizes.

10. Kong

Made in: South Bend, Indiana
Popular US-made models: 20 quarts, 50 quarts, 110 quarts, Kong Cruiser
Best for: Rotomolded coolers in a range of standard sizes, built with extra insulation and sealing to keep ice cold for ten days. Kong also offers a wheeled cooler (Kong Cruiser) in its 50-quart size, a versatile option for camping, tailgating, or other adventures.

11. Magellan

Made in: Katy, Texas
Popular US-made models: 40-Can Rolling Cooler, Explore Icebox, 30 qt Insulated Bait/Dry Box
Best for: Versatile hard or soft-sided coolers for fishing or camping trips. Magellan is a Texas outdoor retailer Academy Sports + Outdoors brand. Magellan also makes insulated bait/dry boxes for fishing trips (30 qt Insulated Bait/Dry Box). Magellan’s line of cooler backpacks and totes are leak-proof and easy to take on the go; some even convert into rolling coolers (40-Can Rolling Cooler).

12. Lifetime

Made in: Clearfield, Utah
Popular US-made models: 28 quarts, 48 quarts, and 65 quart High-Performance Coolers
Best for: Various uses, such as camping, tailgating, and fishing. Lifetime coolers come in most common sizes up to 115 quarts. They are built to keep ice cold for up to 5 days and are certified to be bear-resistant.

13. Rubbermaid

Made in: Atlanta, Georgia
Popular US-made models: Modern Red Victory Ice Chest, Rubbermaid Water Coolers
Best for: Tailgating or car camping. Rubbermaid is a very affordable option for all-around coolers, available in stores like Walmart or Home Depot. These are a good choice if you don’t need something rugged but want to keep ice or water cold on a budget.

Popular Coolers Made Overseas

Some of the most popular brands, such as YETI, are at least somewhat outsourced to other countries. Some models may be made in America, while some may be made overseas. It’s best to check specifically for the model you want to purchase. But even then, you don’t always know for sure.

Even though they aren’t fully made in the United States, these brands are still known for high-quality coolers.

1. YETI

Made in: Philippines, Iowa, and Wisconsin (select models)
Popular models: Tundra, Hopper, Roadie
Best for: Camping, hunting, fishing, tailgating – when you need something rugged to keep ice cold for days. YETI coolers are extremely popular because of their durability, thick walls, and various designs. They offer traditional coolers (Tundra), wheeled coolers (Roadie), and soft-sided coolers (Hopper).

2. Cabela’s

Made in: China (some models), USA (Polar Cap)
Popular models: Polar Cap
Best for: Lightweight but heavy-duty cooler needs. Cabela’s says their Polar Cap series is made in the USA. These hard-sided coolers are designed to be easy to carry, with glow-in-the-dark handles and insulation without excessive weight. The series also claims to keep ice cold for up to 12 days.

3. Coleman

Made in: China (some models), Wichita, KS (some models)
Popular models: Xtreme series, 316 series, Pro series
Best for: All-around trips or outdoor adventures. Coleman is an affordable option for coolers that will fit most needs. The 316 series is an excellent all-around cooler available in many sizes. Coleman also offers the Pro series hard-sided coolers for something a little more rugged.

4. RTIC

Made in: China
Popular models: Ultra-Light Cooler, Hard Coolers
Best for: Lightweight, portable cooler needs. The Ultra-light line of hard-sided coolers weighs 30% less than competing rotomolded coolers and comes in sizes up to 52 quarts. They also include a wheeled ultralight option.

5. Engel

Made in: Thailand
Popular models: 25 quarts to 320 quart High Performance Cooler
Best for: Hard-sided rotomolded coolers made for any adventure. Engel coolers have an air-tight silicone seal, and Heavy-duty soft-sided coolers made with waterproof ripstop material, built to withstand harsher conditions than most soft-sided coolers.

6. Canyon

Made in: China, using American-made materials
Popular models: Outfitter, PRO, Nomad
Best for: Tailgating, camping, fishing. Canyon is based in Flagstaff, Arizona but assembles its coolers overseas. The Nomad series of soft-sided coolers claim to keep ice cold longer than hard-sided coolers, weighing only 5 pounds. The hard-sided Outfitter and PRO coolers are mostly smaller but durable and convenient.

Why Buy an American-Made Cooler?

Buying USA-made coolers will reduce your carbon footprint. When you purchase anything made overseas, transporting that item to you creates emissions. You can cut back on that by reducing the distance the products you buy need to travel to get into your hands.

American-made coolers will also guarantee, for the most part, that workers making the items will be employed in safe working conditions. Additionally, it will be easier to track where your cooler comes from, and you can buy more confidently.

The quality of American-made coolers may be better than coolers made overseas. Purchasing a cooler made in America will help ensure you’re buying a quality cooler that will keep ice cold for a while.

Finally, you will support the US economy by purchasing a cooler made in the USA. This ensures your money goes to American businesses and people. You might pay more for an American-made cooler, but that money stays local.

See also:
Best Wheeled Coolers
Best Rotomolded Coolers Reviewed

The post 13 Coolers Made in the USA and 6 That Surprisingly Are Not appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

Making homemade ice packs for coolers is easy, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly. By learning how to make ice packs for coolers at home, you can save money and reduce waste.

Not only will these DIY ice pack solutions save you money, but they’re also perfect for keeping your cooler cold or your lunch box fresh during your favorite outdoor activities. Some of these methods can also be used as a cold press ice pack substitute in a pinch.

Here are six easy methods to make your own ice pack alternatives at home.

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase after clicking on one of the links on this page. Learn more.

1. Sponge Ice Pack

Materials needed:

• Large, clean sponges
• Resealable plastic bags (e.g., Ziploc bags)
• Water

Instructions on how to make ice packs for coolers from a sponge:

1. Fully saturate the sponges with water.
2. Place each wet sponge into a resealable plastic bag.
3. Squeeze out any excess air and seal the bags.
4. Place the sealed bags in the freezer for several hours or overnight.
5. Once frozen, add the sponge ice packs to your cooler or as a DIY ice pack for lunch boxes.

Tip: Two standard sized kitchen sponges fit almost perfectly in a sandwich sized resealable bag. You’ll definitely want two inside a quart sized bag and either of these options is almost a perfect size for a kid’s lunch box.

2. Saltwater Ice Pack

Materials needed:

• 2 cups of water
• 1/3 cup of table salt
• Resealable plastic bags

Instructions on how to make this ice pack substitute that stays cold for a long time:

1. Mix the water and table salt until the salt is dissolved.
2. Pour the saltwater mixture into a resealable plastic bag.
3. Squeeze out any excess air and seal the bag.
4. Place the sealed bag in the freezer for several hours or overnight.
5. Once frozen, add the homemade saltwater ice packs to your cooler.

Tip: The more salt you add, the lower the freezing point and, therefore, the colder your freezer needs to get. It can also take longer to freeze. So if you find ⅓ cup of salt to 2 cups of water is too much, use less salt. You can even start with just a couple tablespoons and add more too it if that works fine for you.

3. Dish Soap Ice Pack

Materials needed:

• Liquid dish soap
• Resealable plastic bags

Instructions on how to make homemade ice packs for your cooler that last a long time:

1. Fill a resealable plastic bag with dish soap (about 3/4 full).
2. Squeeze out any excess air and seal the bag.
3. Place the sealed bag in the freezer for several hours or overnight.
4. Once frozen, add the dish soap ice packs to your cooler or lunch box.

Tip: You can also use dishwasher detergent for this. Be sure and double bag it so it doesn’t make a mess.

4. Corn Syrup Ice Pack

Materials needed:

• Corn syrup
• Resealable plastic bags

Instructions on making DIY ice pack alternatives for coolers using stuff from your kitchen:

1. Fill a resealable plastic bag with corn syrup (about 3/4 full).
2. Squeeze out any excess air and seal the bag.
3. Place the sealed bag in the freezer for several hours or overnight.
4. Once frozen, add the homemade corn syrup ice packs to your cooler or lunch box.

Tip: Remember to double-bag or use heavy-duty plastic bags on this one to avoid sticky leaks that could attract bears or bugs.

5. Rice or Dried Beans Ice Pack

Materials needed:

• Uncooked rice or dried beans
• Cloth or fabric (e.g., a clean sock or a small pillowcase)
• Needle and thread (optional, may just tie knot to seal a sock)

Instructions on how to make ice packs for coolers that are dry, but not as cold as alternatives:

1. Fill a cloth or fabric pouch with uncooked rice or dried beans.
2. If using a sock, tie a knot at the open end. If using a pillowcase or fabric, fold and sew the open end shut.
3. Place the rice or bean-filled pouch in the freezer for several hours or overnight.
4. Once frozen, add the rice or bean ice packs to your cooler.

Tip: This ice pack option works well for keeping food items cold without making them wet, as the cloth absorbs condensation.

6. Gel Ice Pack

Materials needed:

• 1 cup of rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol)
• 2 cups of water
• Resealable plastic bags

Instructions on making a soft ice pack that doesn’t freeze solid:

1. Mix the rubbing alcohol and water together.
2. Pour the mixture into a resealable plastic bag.
3. Squeeze out any excess air and seal the bag.
4. Place the sealed bag in the freezer for several hours or overnight.
5. Once frozen, add the gel ice packs to your cooler or lunch box.

Tip: The alcohol prevents the mixture from freezing solid, resulting in a flexible, slushy consistency that can be molded around items in the cooler. If you’re looking for an ice pack substitute that doesn’t freeze solid, this is an excellent choice. It can take longer, or a colder freezer, to gel up nicely though. You can add less alcohol if that’s a problem for you.

Tips and Tricks for Using Homemade Ice Packs

1. Pre-chill or freeze items before placing them in the cooler. This will help reduce the amount of work the ice packs need to do to keep everything cold.

2. Layer the ice packs in your cooler. Place a layer at the bottom, then add items, followed by another layer of ice packs on top. This will help distribute the cold evenly and keep everything cool longer.

3. Fill empty spaces with extra ice packs or crumpled newspaper to minimize air circulation, which can cause your cooler to lose its chill faster.

4. Keep your cooler out of direct sunlight and limit the number of times you open it. Both of these factors can cause the internal temperature to rise more quickly.

5. Use larger ice packs for longer trips, as they will retain their coldness longer than smaller ones.

6. When making homemade ice packs, double-bag them or use heavy-duty plastic bags to avoid leaks. You can also wrap them in a cloth or towel to help absorb any condensation.

7. Label your homemade ice packs with their contents (e.g., dish soap, saltwater) to avoid confusion and ensure they are not accidentally used for other purposes.

8. If you need to keep items extra cold, consider combining different types of homemade ice packs in your cooler. For example, you could use saltwater ice packs to lower the overall temperature, and then supplement with gel ice packs that can be molded around specific items.

Why Make Your Own Ice Packs at Home

By following these instructions and tips, you’ll be able to create effective and reusable homemade ice packs that will keep your cooler contents cold and fresh for an extended period.

These homemade ice pack alternatives are not only perfect for everyday use but are also great for various outdoor activities. Whether you’re going camping, hunting, spending a day at the beach, enjoying a BBQ, fishing, boating, or simply exploring the great outdoors, these DIY ice packs will keep your food and drinks cold and fresh.

These six easy ice pack substitutes are perfect for creating cost-effective, reliable, and environmentally friendly ice packs for coolers and lunch boxes. Try one or a combination of these homemade ice pack options to keep your food and drinks cold during your favorite outdoor activities.

The post 6 Easy DIY Ways to Make Ice Packs for Coolers appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

However, while many people use coolers weekly or daily, they probably don’t know how a “large plastic tub” keeps their beverages or food at the right temperature.

Coolers keep your items cold via air seals and insulation, which combat two major methods of heat transfer. A cooler seals off items from the outside air, which prevents convection from occurring. The ice chest’s insulation prevents conduction by creating layers between the items and external heat sources.

This article covers how a cooler keeps things cold, what coolers are made of, the science of how it all works, and a few other helpful bits to help you understand your cooler better.

How Does a Cooler Work?

A cooler is a portable, insulated container to maintain temperature and freshness for perishable items. Food, drinks, or other perishable items are usually placed inside the container with ice, often in a bag or block, and a top seals the container from outside factors like the sun or temperature.

To understand how a cooler keeps things cool, there are two terms about temperature transfer that are important to understand: convection and conduction.

Convection

Convection is the movement of air throughout a medium, and since warm air cannot flow through a cooler when it is closed, the cooler stays the temperature of the items placed inside it. This is why ice stays frozen for hours or days at a time, depending on the outside temperature and quality of the cooler seal.

The reason coolers are made airtight or have aggressive seals are to prevent the transfer of heat via convection. The better the seal, the more cool or warm air (depending on the cooler’s contents) is retained and not swapped with exterior air.

Additionally, more outside air introduced to the cooler means more energy is required to bring it to the core temperature of the cooler. Essentially, investing in quality seals and airtight coolers ensures your food or beverages retain their intended temperature for longer.

Conduction

Conduction is the other method of energy or heat transfer. This is the transfer of heat across a substance. For instance, if the sun is beating down hard on a cooler, the core temperature of the cooler itself will rise due to the heat transferred through the wall of the cooler. However, coolers with better insulation or higher-quality materials will have lower conduction levels.

Because insulation plays such a significant factor in the cooler’s level of conduction, it’s essential to understand the different kinds used in a cooler.

Recommended Reading: Best Coolers for Ice Retention

Factors That Affect Your Cooler

There are a variety of factors that affect how successful your cooler is at keeping your items at the proper temperature.

• What is the airtightness of your cooler?
• What is the wall thickness of your cooler?
• Is your lid filled or hollow?
• Is the cooler wall filled or hollow?

Each of these plays a major role in keeping the interior of your cooler at the desired temperature.

How Insulation Works

Various insulators are used in ice chests. Some of the most common include fiberglass, rock wool, cellulose, styrofoam, polystyrene, and polyurethane.

Some insulators, such as styrofoam, are budget friendly but have a high conduction level and minimal insulation. Others, like the more expensive polyurethane foam, are far denser and have a low conduction level, making them both heavier and better at long-term insulating items.

While you can do independent research on your specific cooler to determine its conduction level, we compiled a list of insulators to help make your cooler shopping a little easier.

Styrofoam: The lightest and cheapest insulation, styrofoam is highly conductive and prone to breaking.

Polyurethane Foam: Used in higher-end coolers, this pressure-injected foam is durable and provides excellent insulation due to its low conduction level.

Polyethylene Foam: Usually used with soft shell coolers, it’s cheaper than polyurethane insulation but more durable than styrofoam, making it a middle-of-the-road insulator.

Vacuum Insulation: Employed by high-end cooler makers like Yeti, this vacuum between layers in the cooler is effective at combating conduction. With the top seal of the cooler lid, this is the highest level of insulation you can find in a cooler on the market today.

What are Coolers Made of?

Various materials are used to make these modern marvels, depending on the kind of cooler. Soft coolers are usually made from canvas, cotton, polyester, nylon, and vinyl, while hard coolers often incorporate Styrofoam, polypropylene, metal, and other plastic variants.

Here are a few of the more commonly used materials, along with their pros and cons.

Metal: Usually stainless steel or aluminum, these coolers are heavier but incredibly durable and have excellent insulation.

Plastic: Made from various rugged plastics, these ice chests or coolers usually come with wheels or carrying handles and are best suited for outdoor events where damage may occur to the cooler.

Canvas: These low-profile, durable fabric coolers are excellent for single-person meals and can withstand various conditions, from days on the water to work luncheons.

Cotton: This incredibly lightweight fabric is moisture-resistant and a budget-friendly option for picnic-loving persons. However, this insulation is usually weak and isn’t great for all-day affairs.

Vinyl: The most budget-friendly of all the coolers, the vinyl coolers are a great choice if you’re not worried about having this cooler for years to come. The insulation varies by cost, but it’s hard to beat these lightweight containers for the price.

Hollow Lids vs. Filled Lids

Many of the more inexpensive coolers come with hollow lids. This is usually due to the manufacturer attempting to cut costs or weight from a cooler, even though it results in the loss of the insulation properties of the cooler. While many people focus on the insulation placed in the walls of a cooler, it’s essential to take stock of what the lid of your cooler is made of.

The benefit of having a hollow lid on your cooler is that it is both lighter and usually cheaper. Great for the ballfield or midday picnic, these coolers are budget-friendly and can keep your items cool for a short time.

However, long-duration excursions such as fishing trips, camping, or even keeping items insulated when the power goes out mean proper insulation on the top of your cooler. While this will add to the cost and make the cooler heavier, keeping your things insulated is worth every penny.

If you’re looking to upgrade your cooler without purchasing a new one, you can use a drill to make a hole in the cooler lid and inject a spray foam of your choice into the lid for added insulation.

Note: Be careful when injecting foam into the lid of a cooler, as it can cause the plastic or polymer frame to warp as the foam expands. Inject small amounts until the foam is set for proper installation.

FAQs

Here are a few frequently asked questions about coolers.

Does the thickness of my cooler’s wall matter?

Yes and no. While the thickness does increase the weight and distance between outside heat sources, it doesn’t always denote more insulation. A 3-inch thick styrofoam cooler will still be more conductive (and thus heat up faster) than a 2-inch thick cooler with vacuum insulation. Pay more attention to the insulation than the wall thickness.

What is the best insulation for my cooler?

This depends on both budget and type of cooler. For soft skin coolers, the Polyethylene foam will do the job and won’t break the bank. Polyurethane Foam is the most common insulator for hard shell coolers and is not nearly as expensive as vacuum insulation.

How do I maintain my cooler long-term?

Check the manufacturer’s specifications on how to clean your cooler, as some chemicals may destroy the seals or finish in the cooler’s interior. Soap and water are always safe, and never store the cooler while it is still wet, as this can lead to mold and rot.

Can you upgrade to a cheap cooler at home?

Yes. However, DIY projects like this can damage the integrity of the cooler. Adding insulation to walls or lids, upgrading the seals, and painting the cooler are great ways to upgrade your budget cooler, but investing in a higher-end cooler may be better long term.

The post This is How a Cooler Keeps Things Cold appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

When looking for a good cooler, there are many variables to consider. Because there are a million situations in which a cooler is invaluable, let’s go over some different features, then discuss the circumstances during which they might be used.

Though there are many types of coolers capable of holding lots of different things, they all have one thing in common: they keep things fresh.

Related: Best Coolers Reviewed (Budget to Best on The Market)

4 Different Types of Coolers

There are many different types of coolers. There are big coolers and small ones, coolers that you can carry, strap-on or tow, and coolers designed for individuals or groups. We’ll go over the most prolific types that are currently offered.

1. Hard-sided Cooler

Hard-sided coolers have been around for a long time. Metal coolers dominated the scene for years and did quite well, keeping things cold and transportable. They could be heavy, though, and cumbersome.

These days, hard-sided coolers can be made from many types of plastic, resulting in better cooling technologies and extreme durability. From classic blow-molded coolers like your typical sub-$100 Coleman or Igloo, to thick-walled and durable injection-molded coolers from brands like Pelican and OtterBox, you can find hard coolers that vary widely in ruggedness and price.

Hard-sided coolers are great for any application, from a day trip in the mountains, to the beach, to a fishing boat.

2. Rotomolded Cooler

Rotomolded coolers are sometimes referred to as the perfect coolers. They are essentially high-end hard-sided coolers, but since they have grown so much in popularity, they merit a class of their own.

Rotomolding, short for rotational molding, is the means by which plastics are contorted into the desired shape. Large molds filled with plastic powder are heated and rotated on three axes inside of a furnace to produce thick-walled single-piece plastic cooler shells. These shells are then injected with dense foam for added insulation.

Once complete, the coolers are highly durable and high-quality. They also tend to be the most expensive coolers you can buy from reputable brands like YETI.

Rotomolded coolers are best suited for times when you need your items to stay cool for a longer period of time. This might be camping or hunting trips, a hot day of offshore fishing, or a long road trip.

Recommended: Best Rotomolded Coolers Reviewed

3. Soft-sided Cooler

Soft-sided coolers are less cumbersome and lighter than hard-sided coolers. The material is moisture-resistant, and they can do much of what hard-sided coolers can do, just for a shorter period of time. They’re great for on-the-go scenarios because of how easy they are to transport.

20-quart models can be slung over the body or carried in one hand. Larger models made from thicker plastics will stand up to the elements and hard-sided coolers. Many brands offer combination models that incorporate both types of siding.

Small soft-sided coolers are not appropriate for keeping things cold for multiple days. However, they are good for picnics, taking treats for the soccer team, or transporting groceries home on a hot day.

4. Plug-in Cooler

Plug-in, or thermoelectric, coolers are perfect for road trips. They simply plug into your 12-volt power outlet in your car. They are costly, but they can guarantee freshness for days. Some models even have technology that can prevent the cooler from draining your car battery if you found yourself in a situation where the cooler was still running while the car was not.

Important Features in a Cooler

A cooler should be whatever you need it to be. Because coolers come in so many different shapes and sizes and are made from different materials, you should be able to get what you need when you need it.

Starting a new construction job? You’re going to want a small, lightweight cooler bag.

Heading to the beach with the family?  You’ll be looking for something bigger, like a 70-quart cooler, perhaps with wheels and a tow handle.

Coolers are made out of things that don’t allow leakage while preserving foods and drinks in any weather. In the olden days, metal was the material of choice. Today, coolers are made of plastic, metal, polyester, nylon, canvas, cotton, polypropylene, etc. They can be hard or soft-shelled, or both.

Be sure to look closely at these three features of a cooler:

1. Insulation – Insulation performance is the most important aspect of the cooler. If you want a cooler to retain ice for days on end, a rotomolded cooler is best. A slightly bigger model is also recommended.
2. Portability – Consider where you’ll be taking it and how often you’ll need to move it around. You may need a couple of different types of coolers for different scenarios, such as a hard cooler with wheels for camping and a soft-sided backpack cooler for beach days.
3. Storage space – The size of cooler you’ll need will largely depend on the size of your group and the duration of your trips.

Cooler Size Guide

A small, 20-quart cooler could hold food for 1-2 people for a couple of days.

A medium, 40-quart cooler could hold food for the same 2 people for 4-5 days. Or it could hold food for 1 person for a week. If you’re a family of 6, the medium cooler could hold enough food for 1-2 days.

A large, 60-quart cooler (or larger) could hold food for 2 people for over a week. It could also hold food for a family of 6 for 2-3 days.

The Yeti Tundra 65 Cooler offers the space and technology that will keep things cold for days. It features a Fatwall design that will hold up to two inches of Permafrost insulation and commercial-grade polyurethane foam. In short, these details keep the elements out and the freshness in.

Best Cooler Brands

There are many brands of coolers. YETI, Igloo, RTIC, Orca, Dometic, and Coleman produce top-of-the-line coolers. Each offers all of the articles, in some form or other, of what we’ve come to expect from well-made coolers.

Among other details, these brands sell coolers with straps, handles, wheels, sliding tops, drainage plugs, internal shelves, and come in hard and soft sides.

YETI

YETI coolers come in all sizes, from handhelds to tow behinds. They specialize, however, in rotomolded coolers and are known as some of the best. The company’s easy transport models come in both hard and soft sides and feature zippered flip tops and straps for easy transport.

The YETI Tundra 65 is a large hard-sided rotomolded cooler that is as much at home holding the fish you catch on the lake or filled with ice and beverages at the backyard barbecue. It can come with attachable sliding feet, YETI ice molds, and even a fishing rod holder.

Igloo

Igloo is a classic cooler company that’s been around forever.

The Igloo Playmate is probably what older folks remember from the last century. These are hand-held models with sliding tops that workers everywhere use for their lunches. Igloo offers so much more, though.

Today Igloo makes all kinds of coolers from inexpensive models, to injection molded, to rotomolded and everywhere in between.

RTIC

RTIC coolers combine great pricing with competitive ice retention capabilities and versatile sizes that are easy to transport. The company offers hard and soft-sided coolers, day coolers, and backpack coolers. Their hard coolers are nearly identical to YETI, but for a lot less money.

A 52-quart Ultra-Light model weighs about 21 pounds empty and could cost a couple hundred dollars. This can fit into a trunk and service a family on a trip. It is perfect for beach days, road trips, camping, or boating trips.

Orca

Orca coolers range from 20-quart to 140-quart models and can keep things fresh for up to 10 days (8 days in our test). They’re made in the USA and feature a signature cargo net attachment for extra storage. 

Dometic

Dometic coolers have all the standard offerings, plus electric coolers. If you have the money and want to go fully state-of-the-art, electric coolers are worth a look.

The Dometic CFX3 75DZ powered cooler runs at about $1,400. Its connectivity ensures that nothing will go bad on your watch. It’s more or less a little refrigerator and is perfect for long road trips. The powerful compressor cooling technology can be set to -7 degrees.

This smart cooler can be controlled by your phone by downloading an app, at which point you can set different parts to different temperatures.

Coleman

Coleman has relatively inexpensive hard and soft-sided coolers. The Backroads 30-can backpack cooler is ideal for hiking. You could tuck a Camelbak right inside and suck ice-cold water through the hose. The waxed canvas repels dirt and moisture and can keep things cold for up to 24 hours. At about $60, it would make a great gift for any outdoorsy person.

Final Thoughts

Picking the right type of cooler for your next adventure can make all the difference. There’s no need to lug around a 60-quart rotomolded cooler for a few snacks at the ball game when a soft-sided cooler would do the trick. But you’ll sure want that rotomolded cooler on your weekend camping trip!

With the smart purchase of a couple of different types of coolers, you’ll be set to go wherever adventure leads you. And you’ll have some nice, cold beverages to come along with you.

Good to know:

How to Properly Clean and Maintain a Cooler (Even Stains and Smells)

How To Store Coolers So They Stay Clean and Last Forever

The post Types of Coolers: 4 Kinds of Coolers & What They’re Good For appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

The same might be said for the frequent cooler-opening types such as boaters, anglers, and camping families.

You know those snack-foraging kids are as certain to leave the ice chest lid open on a campout as they are to leave the back door open at home when the AC is running. So you need all the help you can get keeping the cold inside!

If ice retention is the most important thing to you as you shop for a new cooler, then you’ve come to the right place.

Watch the ice retention challenge on our YouTube channel!

We acquired 28 medium to large sized coolers of various types of construction and from a variety of manufacturers. Then we bought a load of ice that filled an SUV (1200 pounds) and we put them to the test.

Well, ice cold beverage seekers, it’s time to get down to the business of which coolers are indeed the coolest. Be sure to stick around long enough to find out how we went about our experiment to identify the best coolers for ice retention.

Links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of the links on this page. Learn more.

Recommendations at a Glance

The Cabela’s Polar Cap Equalizer and the Orion Core coolers retain ice and food safe temperatures the longest. While these were among the bulkiest coolers tested, the extra mass enabled them to hold ice for just over nine whole days outdoors in 90-100 degree daytime temperatures.

Here are our top picks for coolers that hold ice the longest:

1. Best Overall: Orion Core 65
2. Also Great: Cabela’s Polar Cap Equalizer 60 Quart
3. Best of the Rest: ORCA 58 Quart Hard Side
4. Best with Wheels: YETI Tundra Haul
5. Best for the Money: Coleman 70 Quart Xtreme Marine

Best Coolers for Ice Retention: Outdoor Empire Reviews

We researched intensely to ensure that the coolers we actually purchased were high quality products to begin with. And it turns out that they were. We were impressed by how many coolers held ice for a full week in record-breaking Idaho heat.

Hands-on testing of these high-caliber coolers enabled us to really help you find the gems that shine brighter than the rest.

These are the best coolers for ice retention based on real-world testing.

1. Best Overall: Orion Core 65

• Ice challenge points: 36
• Ice challenge rank: 1
• Full days with ice: 9
• MSRP: $335

PROS: Best of class ice retention, versatile accessory options especially for anglers, cool colors, 10-year warranty

CONS: No recessed grab point to open lid, hard to open and close one-handed

Jackson Kayak is well-revered for making awesome kayaks for fishing, whitewater, and recreation. But did you know they make coolers too? Orion Core coolers are made by Jackson and as it turns out they are amazing. They use similar manufacturing processes on their coolers as they do their boats. And in our testing the Orion Core held ice longer than 26 other ice chests. If you’re an angler, you’ll love the accessories available for this from pads to rod holders to gear tracks. Four bottle openers might be a bit overkill, but put this on your fishing boat or camp trailer and you’ll have cold drinks for days.

After seeing the article, Orion Coolers offered our readers a 5% off coupon code! How sweet is that?! Just enter code: DYMFJ9TET571 at checkout on their website. (FYI, this is not an affiliate link, just a little bonus for you!)

2. Also Great

Cabela’s Polar Cap Equalizer 60

Pros:

• Thick insulation, excellent portability, multiple security options, best ice retention

Cons:

• Bulky, prone to leaks, not the best latches

View at Cabela's View at Bass Pro Shops

• Ice challenge points: 36
• Ice challenge rank: 1
• Full days with ice: 9
• MSRP: $300

The Cabela’s Polar Cap Equalizer 60 is thick! And that extra insulation compared to its peers clearly contributes to better ice retention. This is one of the bulkier coolers we tested, which would make it less ideal for loading into a passenger car or SUV. But it has some nice features like a pressure equalizer button and big molded handles that make it easy to carry or lock down to a truck bed with a cable. You’ve got to screw the drain plug in extra tight and we noticed it can leak water out of under the lid if it sloshes around.  But even with that it was a clear leader throughout our ice challenge, and it’s one you can rely on for excellent ice retention.

3. Best of the Rest

ORCA 58

$358.99

Pros:

• Highly durable, useful accessory pouch attached, airtight seal

Cons:

• Heavy, hard-to-open lid latches

View on Amazon View at Bass Pro Shops

08/15/2023 06:22 pm GMT

Compare prices at: Cabela’s, Sportsman’s Warehouse

• Ice challenge points: 33
• Ice challenge rank: 3
• Full days with ice: 8
• MSRP: $360

ORCA has been making their rotomolded hard coolers in the USA now for over ten years. Their super rugged ice chests are shaped slightly more square than most. That shape might work better than the more elongated YETIs or RTICs depending on where you want to put it. The ORCA makes an excellent fishing platform and the accessory pouch on the back is a useful touch. The whale tail handles stand out, but are harder to open than other coolers in its class. But most importantly, ORCA coolers hold ice for a crazy long time.

4. Best with Wheels

YETI Tundra Haul

$450.00

Pros:

• Wheels make it easier to move around, reputable brand, not overly bulky

Cons:

• High price, a bit bulky and awkward to load in and out of vehicles

View on Amazon View at YETI

08/15/2023 07:21 pm GMT

Compare prices at: Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shops

• Ice challenge points: 30
• Ice challenge rank: 7
• Full days with ice: 7
• MSRP: $400

The YETI Tundra Haul is a spinoff of the classic YETI Tundra, but it has built-in wheels. Loaded up with ice and food, these robust coolers are super heavy. The tow handle and wheels definitely make the Tundra Haul easier to move from one place to another, especially if you’re by yourself. While you can buy add-on wheel kits for our top two picks, the built-in convenience of the YETI Tundra Haul made it the best wheeled cooler for ice retention. Out of eight wheeled coolers we tested, three made it to seven days. The YETI had the beefiest wheels and is more rugged than the others. But if you want to save a good chunk of change, the Lifetime High Performance held ice just as well for a lot less money.

5. Best Budget Pick

Coleman Xtreme Marine 70

$234.75

Pros:

• Excellent price, ice retention on par with coolers 4x more expensive

Cons:

• Not rugged, lid doesn’t latch down

View on Amazon

08/15/2023 07:21 pm GMT

• Ice challenge points: 29
• Ice challenge rank: 12
• Full days with ice: 7
• MSRP: $90

The fact that the Coleman Xtreme Marine 70 quart cooler still had ice cubes in it after a full week blew our minds. It is hands down the best cooler for ice retention for the money! Despite a less durable type of construction, it held its own with coolers that cost more than four times as much. The lid doesn’t latch down and it won’t keep a bear out, but it will keep your ice cold for at least five days as advertised. Holding ice for a full week, it really outdid itself in our experience. It even wields cup holders and rulers, fine touches for boaters and fishermen. For well under $100, this well-insulated ice chest is easily the best bang for your buck when it comes to coolers that hold ice the longest.

6. OtterBox Venture

OtterBox Venture

Pros:

• Top-notch ice retention, lots of accessory options

Cons:

• Limited size options, drain valve prone to damage

View on Amazon

• Ice challenge points: 32
• Ice challenge rank: 4
• Full days with ice: 8
• MSRP: $350

OtterBox is known for making air and watertight cases of all sorts and the OtterBox Venture cooler has tons of accessory options to dress it up. The Venture we used was a 65-quart version we’ve had for a couple years. At the time of writing, OtterBox’s customer service confirmed that the Venture 65 has been discontinued, but that the 25 or 45-quart sizes are still in production. You can count on these holding ice longer than most coolers in their class.

7. RTIC 65

RTIC 65

$289.99

Pros:

• Reasonable price for performance, big drain valve and small drain/pressure relief valve

Cons:

• Hard to move around by yourself, only 1 year warranty

View on Amazon View at RTIC

08/15/2023 07:30 pm GMT

• Ice challenge points: 31
• Ice challenge rank: 5
• Full days with ice: 7
• MSRP: $250

The RTIC hard coolers get you all the benefits of the YETI Tundra for 35% less money. They are durable and they hold ice for a long time. Even after the ice is gone they stay cold for another day at least if you leave them closed. While they aren’t the most original design, they make a great backcountry hunting or whitewater rafting cooler.

8. YETI Tundra 65

YETI Tundra 65

$375.00

Pros:

• Proven product, reliable ice retention, effective latches that aren’t too hard to open

Cons:

• More expensive than alternatives, prone to warping over time

View on Amazon View at YETI

08/15/2023 07:30 pm GMT

Compare prices at: Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shops

• Ice challenge points: 31
• Ice challenge rank: 5
• Full days with ice: 7
• MSRP: $375

The YETI Tundra is perhaps the first cooler that people thought of as cool. Before that coolers may as well have been called lamers. YETI has been rotomolding coolers since 2006 and the Tundra sets a benchmark for today’s ice chests. However, you do want to be careful about how you store them. My sister has had one for about five years and the lid has warped over time from being in the hot sun a lot and then on her back porch during the cold of winter. While the YETI Tundra has been bested when it comes to ice retention, it’s still at the top of the chart. And it’s a safe choice if you’re willing to spend the cash.

How Long Do You Need Ice to Last?

Of the 28 coolers we tested, 15 of them still had at least some ice after a full week. We consider this to be pretty awesome and good enough for most folks.

Of those 15, only four made it to eight days, and only two made it to more than 9 days with ice.

The actual ice retention times may vary for you based on the conditions in which you use your cooler and how much you open and close it. You may find it lasts longer on a fall hunt or shorter on a Florida off-shore fishing trip. But here is a run down of how long different coolers we tested held ice.

As Long as Possible (9+ days)

These still had substantial ice when others, including those from big names like YETI, were on their last few cubes. Even after the ice was gone, they held cold air longer to where you could probably squeak out an extra day before you get too worried about food starting to spoil.

• Cabela’s Polar Cap Equalizer 60-Quart
• Orion Core 65

8 Days

When we took daily temperatures inside the cooler, the Orca was often one of the coldest. The OtterBox may have lasted longer than it did if it didn’t have a leaky valve.

• ORCA 58
• OtterBox Venture 65

7 Days

This group consists of almost all rotomolded coolers except for the Coleman and the Pelican. The latter barely made it to seven days with only a few cubes left.

The RTIC and YETI Tundra not only appear nearly identical in construction, but they scored exactly the same in our ice retention challenge. And even though the ice was gone on the morning of day eight, the meat was still at a safe temperature in these two, which can’t be said for the others on this list.

• RTIC 65
• YETI Tundra 65
• YETI Tundra Haul
• Lifetime 65 Quart High Performance
• Xspec 60
• Canyon Outfitter 55
• Pure Outdoor Wheeled Emperor 50
• Coleman 70 Xtreme Marine
• Guide Gear 60
• Engel 65 High-Performance
• Pelican Elite 50QT

6 Days

To be honest, we were surprised that this many coolers made it to six days. I guess our pre-game research was solid in that most all of these are good options.

One trend was clear by day six, which is that smaller coolers of the same construction type don’t tend to hold ice as long. The Cordova Basecamp, RovR Rollr, and Pelican Elite wheeled coolers we had were all under 50 quarts, and they dropped out sooner than their rotomolded peers. We suspect that coolers from these same brands in a larger size would make it an extra day or so, all else being equal.

• RTIC 52 QT Ultra-Light
• Igloo BMX 52 Quart
• Coho 55
• RovR Rollr 45
• Pelican Elite 45QW
• Cordova 48 Basecamp
• Coleman 316 Series Hard Cooler 70
• Coleman Rolling Cooler 62 Xtreme

5 Days

While the Igloos we tested underperformed other brands, they all held ice for at least as long as advertised. The Trailmate claimed four days and it held on until day five.

Meanwhile Grandpa’s Old Igloo is not a model name, it is simply my Grandfather’s old Igloo cooler that I found in his workshop. I’m pretty sure he got it a few decades back when he was taking me fishing as a boy. I thought it would act as a good control, and it proved that even old coolers can hold their own.

• Igloo Trailmate 70
• Grandpa’s Old Igloo

4 Days

While these coolers made it four full days with ice outdoors on hot summer days in our test, we wouldn’t count on that in the real world.

We only opened these ice chests up once per day which allowed them to conserve cool air. They also have no little (Igloo) to no (Coleman) insulation in the lids, so there’s quite a thermal bridge that lets heat gush in.

That said, you get what you pay for and these are inexpensive options that’ll do for a day trip or even a weekend campout.

• Igloo MaxCold Latitude 62 Roller
• Coleman 48 Performance (a.k.a. Chiller)

<1 Day

This little guy doesn’t really fit in with the rest of the herd, but it looked like too much fun not to try. Don’t count on this one for keeping meat cold for even an overnighter. But when I go float the Boise River in an innertube, this little dude will be tagging along behind me.

• The Big Bobber Floating Cooler

How We Tested Ice Retention

We wanted to do a “real-world” test for ice retention that would simulate what it’s like when you take them camping or on a backcountry trip.

This meant the coolers would stay outside the whole time and we mainly wanted to ensure they were keeping drinks cold and meat safe to eat.

Here is how we tested and compared ice retention of 28 coolers over the course of almost two weeks.

Preparation

The night before the ice retention challenge kickoff I brought all 28 coolers inside my house from my garage and left the lids open.

It’s no commercial refrigerator, but that’s what I do the day before I go camping, so that’s what I did here. This way, all the coolers were starting out at the same temperature. It took my whole living and dining room.

Glaciation

The next morning I drove my Honda Pilot to the ice company and bought 1,200 pounds of crushed ice in 20 lb bags. With the seats laid down, it filled the thing up.

I turned on the A/C full blast and drove home.

We moved all the coolers to the backyard and started filling them up. While it was impossible to fill them and close them all at the same moment, they were all done within an hour or two.

We filled each cooler about 80-90% full of ice. We also added five cans of soda and a single hot dog to each ice chest. When you pack a cooler you want it to be as full as possible for the best performance, and this simulated that.

Next, we moved the coolers into the shade under trees in my backyard. This is what I would do if I were camping, so it only seemed fitting to do the same thing while testing. Each cooler got around an hour or less of filtered sunlight throughout the day.

Observation

Starting that first afternoon I visited my cooler friends daily and recorded a set of observations in a detailed spreadsheet. The plan was for this to continue until all the coolers were out of ice whether it took seven days or 21. Ten days later the test concluded.

We recorded four different tests per cooler, per day. Each test was pass or fail. Coolers received one point for each passed test and zero points for a failed test.

At the end of the experiment, the cooler with the most points wins.

The four tests or observations we recorded each day were:

1. Internal temperature

This was measured with an infrared thermometer aimed at the center of the inside of the lid and the temperature limit was set to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

While the air inside was likely cooler than the lid itself, this was a consistent location where the temperature could be measured on each different ice chest. And it was a decent indicator of when the temperature was insufficient to keep drinks cool and slow bacteria growth.

This was generally the last test to fail on any given ice chest because the best coolers would remain quite cold inside for as much as a day and a half beyond when the ice melted. This was particularly noticeable on the Cabela’s, Orion, Orca, YETI, and RTIC coolers.

2. Meat temperature

We measured the temperature of the hot dog in each cooler with an instant-read meat thermometer. If it was 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below the cooler passed. If it was warmer than that it failed, though we allowed for a degree or two of error.

According to the American Meat Science Association, raw meat is considered safe when stored at or below 40 degrees. Above that food begins to spoil and at 50 degrees bacteria begin to grow rapidly.

Most ice chests failed this test just before or after ice was no longer present. The best insulated and most airtight coolers like the YETI and RTIC kept the hot dogs at a safe temperature for more than a full day after the ice was gone.

3. Surface tension

If there was enough ice in a cooler to hold a few cans of soda on top, it passed the test. But once there was more water than ice, cans submerged or bobbed around. This isn’t necessarily problematic but indicates the rate at which the ice was melting.

This was usually the first test to fail on a given cooler and was a pretty good indicator of which ones were going to drop out of the challenge first.

However, a few of the coolers had loose or leaking drain valves. In some cases, like with the Coho, Engel, and Cabela’s there was nothing wrong with the drain plug, it just needed to be tightened more than it was on day one. This was a quick fix.

Our OtterBox Venture, however, is one we have had for a couple years. Somewhere along the way the drain plug got damaged or the seal is missing, so it leaked the whole time. But this is an anomaly.

4. Ice presence

Ice or no ice? This was a simple visual observation of whether or not solid ice was still present.

Once the ice was gone, we noted how many total days the cooler retained ice. But even after the ice had melted, many coolers still scored one or more points for maintaining cold temperatures for another day or so.

All observations were recorded in a spreadsheet. Once every cooler had four zeros for a day, the ice retention challenge was over. The points were tallied, and the high scores won. The chart below displays the results.

Conclusion

Things happened fast at the end, but an impressive number of coolers made it for a week or longer, despite the record summer temps recorded in Idaho at the time.

If you need things to stay cold for a long time, or you are using a cooler in extremely hot temperatures, you will surely benefit from a rotomolded cooler versus a classic blow-molded or even an injection molded cooler. They tend to cost a lot more, but they simply hold ice longer. As you can see 13 of the 15 coolers that lasted a week or more with ice were rotomolded.

However, that Coleman Xtreme Marine hung in there as long as coolers that cost almost five times as much!

Many of us don’t actually need a cooler that holds ice for a full week or more because we don’t spend that much time outdoors in one go. In that case there may be other features you are more interested in and you should check out our article on the best coolers overall.

Cooler Ice Retention FAQs

1. How do you increase ice retention?

No matter the cooler you have, there are things you can do to retain ice as long as possible. Here are some quick tips:

• Pre-chill the cooler by putting ice in the night before you pack it to go on your trip. Drain excess water the next morning before you pack it up.
• Pack it full with your stuff and ice. Air heats up the fastest, so fill ‘er up.
• Use block ice in the bottom and pour crushed ice over top of your food and drinks.
• Consider dry ice for even longer ice retention.
• Use a foam layer (like a cheap camp sleeping pad) as an insulating layer between your ice and meat on the bottom and other food items on top.
• Don’t drain the water from melted ice.
• Keep your cooler in the shade as much as possible.
• Open the cooler as little as possible. And when you do, be quick about it.

2. Do bigger coolers keep ice longer?

Larger coolers do tend to retain ice longer than smaller ice chests. More volume allows for more ice, and when you combine that ice with the larger cooler itself you have more mass overall. Objects with more mass take longer to heat up or cool down.

In our testing we observed that the medium sized coolers that ranged from 35-54 quarts tended to drop out of the ice retention challenge earlier than coolers with a higher capacity. Only two “medium” sized coolers made it to a full week with ice and they were the Pelican Elite 50 and the Pure Outdoor 50. The two winners were 60 and 65 quarts large.

We estimate that coolers like the Cordova Basecamp (48 qt) and the RovR Rollr (45 qt) in larger sizes would hold ice for an additional day or so, which would be more on par with the rest of the rotomolded pack.

3. Does the color of a cooler affect ice retention?

Barely. Color may have a minor effect on ice retention, if at all. All else the same, you may see a few extra hours of ice retention, but not days. In our testing, white coolers did not perform noticeably better than those of darker colors.

However, a darker cooler in direct sunlight might get hotter to the touch on the outside. So if you plan on sitting on that cooler on a boat or a fishing kayak, a lighter color might suit you better. However, white coolers show stains more than darker colors.

4. Is it better to drain water from a cooler?

We recommend that you not drain the water from a cooler until you can replace that volume with fresh ice or food. The ice water will keep the cooler and its contents cold longer than if you drain it. Draining it leaves more air in the cooler, which heats up more quickly and will reduce overall ice retention.

We observed this in some of the coolers we tested where the valves were loose or leaking the first few days. That accelerated ice melt.

5. How long will ice stay frozen in a YETI cooler?

Based on real world testing, a YETI Tundra 65 or a YETI Tundra Haul cooler will retain ice for just over seven full days in the heat of summer, so long as it is kept in the shade and opened infrequently.

In use on a family camping trip with the kids getting into it all the time, I would expect to make it five full days comfortably.

As long as the ice chests are packed full of ice, food, and drinks, expect a couple days less for smaller YETI coolers below 60 quarts. And for larger ones, perhaps a couple days more.

6. How long does ice last in a RTIC cooler?

RTIC hard coolers retain ice as long as YETI coolers. When tested, the RTIC 65 made it just past seven days with ice remaining when it was kept in the shade during the heat of summer and opened infrequently. It then stayed cool for another day after that when left closed.

The RTIC Ultralight 52 quart cooler doesn’t hold ice for quite as long, however. In our testing, it lasted six days with ice, then warmed more rapidly once it was out compared to the standard RTIC hard cooler.

Why Trust Us?

We actually handled, used, and thought a lot about coolers in preparation for this article.

We know it’s hard to find gear advice you can trust. At Outdoor Empire we aim to provide honest, objective, hands-on reviews rather than just regurgitating information found somewhere else on the internet. Our process is continuously evolving and improving.

Here are a few reasons you can trust our advice in this article:

• We actually acquired every product mentioned in this article.
• We objectively tested and ranked each product listed here.
• Besides “testing”, we use this gear in real life over time.
• We spent our own money on products and expenses related to this article.
• While we occasionally accept product samples or discounts to help stretch our gear budget further so we can produce more gear guides, we do not accept paid or sponsored reviews.
• The opinions, experiences, and results expressed in this article are our own, authentic, and unbiased. Nobody paid us for our favorable opinion.
• We recommend the same products to you that we do to our friends and family.

The post Best Cooler for Ice Retention (We Tested 28 to Find Out) appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

Indeed, a cooler is one of the essential pieces of hunting, fishing, and camping gear, but you don’t want the stench of your last bounty to linger and leave its mark on your fresh meat. You also don’t want your cooler to become a source of offensive odor when you bring it home.

You can keep your cooler fresh by regularly cleaning it with baking soda, soap, and water. Dry it thoroughly, then store it in a cool, dry place indoors. Place a bag of desiccant inside to prevent mold or odor buildup. If stored in a garage, keep the cooler off the ground and out of direct sunlight.

If you’re wondering how to store coolers, you should check the instructions from the manufacturer and adhere to their guidelines. Both cleaning and storing your cooler properly are essential steps to extending its lifespan and preserving its condition.

Many high-end coolers — including models from brands such as Yeti, Orca, and RTIC — cost several hundred dollars. Needless to say, protecting your investment is essential.

If you don’t know how to store a Yeti cooler, you may find yourself dealing with mold, stench, and other unsavory problems. Learn how to store an ice chest, combat these problems, and ensure your cooler serves you well for years to come.

Proper Cooler Storage is Essential

When you’re not hauling your cooler with your bounty in tow, you need to know how to store coolers to preserve their condition.

Neglecting to store your cooler correctly can result in a permanent stench, mold growth, discoloration, and a shortened lifespan.

Rotomolded coolers, such as a Yeti, are built to last a lifetime. Of course, how long it lasts is ultimately determined by how you treat it.

A standard plastic cooler that’s cleaned regularly and well maintained will likely last longer than a rotomolded cooler that’s neglected and rarely cleaned.

If you’re wondering how to store your ice chest in a way that prevents damage, consider the following tips for guidance.

Where Should I Store My Cooler When Not in Use?

Many people wonder how to store coolers when they aren’t being used, and there’s no single answer to this question. You should first consult any literature that accompanied the cooler, and if you don’t see any answers, you should find a cool spot out of direct sunlight and safe from moisture.

Generally, though, how to store coolers is more important than where you store coolers. A cooler that’s thoroughly cleaned and kept in a small closet will retain its condition better than a cooler that’s neglected and kept in the garage. You should avoid storing it in places such as the following that are susceptible to overheating:

• Trunk of a car
• Uninsulated garage
• Outdoors
• Attic

Most of these spots are not climate controlled, so they may get extremely hot in the summer or cold in the winter, which can damage your cooler. Rather than store it in any of these spots, you should look for an indoor space that’s safe, dry, and at a moderate temperature. Perhaps you have space in your basement?

How to Store Coolers in a Garage

Storing a cooler in a garage may not be the optimal choice, but sometimes it’s the only option — especially if you want to keep the cooler’s contents out of your house. If you need to store a cooler in your garage, there are a few key tips you should follow:

• Store in an area away from any potential hazards
• Keep away from windows that may cause sunlight exposure
• Put on a shelf if the ground might attract moisture

These tips can help you safely store your cooler in a garage, but it’s important to clean it thoroughly before storing it anywhere.

How to Store Your Ice Chest So It Doesn’t Smell

There’s nothing worse than a stinky cooler. After storing raw meat and fish for days, though, it might seem like an inevitability. Contrary to this belief, you don’t have to accept a cooler filled with foul odors. You can combat these smells and keep your cooler as fresh as ever by simply maintaining consistent cleaning practices.

You should first remove any smelly substances from the cooler as soon as possible and transfer them to a freezer. The longer you have raw fish and meat hanging out in your cooler, the more likely you’ll be dealing with a stinky problem.

Related: How To Properly Clean a Cooler

Once the cooler is empty, you should open it up and clean it thoroughly using a mixture of the following agents:

• 1 Tbsp baking soda
• 2 Tbsp dish soap
• 2 cups warm water
• 1 tsp rubbing alcohol

You can use this solution to clean the inside of your cooler and sanitize any bacteria that may remain. After doing so, you should leave it outside for a few hours to let any lingering stench naturally air out. After you’ve thoroughly cleaned your cooler, a desiccant can minimize moisture and absorb any odor that may still be present.

How to Keep Your Cooler From Molding

The smell isn’t the only concern you may have when caring for your cooler. You’re probably also concerned about how to store coolers so that they won’t grow any mold.

Even the high-end rotomolded coolers from brands such as Yeti, Igloo, RTIC, and Orca are susceptible to mold. Mold can grow in nearly any place where moisture is left to accumulate.

Minimize the condensation in your cooler and rinse out any grime that might be left behind. It’s best to do this as soon as possible after you’ve removed the contents of your cooler. Leaving the gunk to sit will increase the chances of mold, stench, and stains.

After you’ve cleaned out the cooler, you should leave it to air dry and wipe it down with a microfiber cloth to ensure no lingering moisture remains.

If you plan on leaving your cooler in storage for a while, check on it periodically to ensure no moisture has accumulated. Even if you believe it is in a dry area, moisture can creep in and cause mold to proliferate.

Leaving a desiccant inside your cooler during storage is a great way to prevent mold buildup.

How Climate Can Affect Your Cooler

Did you know that climate can also have a big impact on your cooler? Indeed, different environments play a big part in the condition and keeping of your cooler.

You should know how to store coolers in high humidity environments, for example, if you’re planning on traveling to the South in the summer. Humidity can increase the risk of mold growth, and it may necessitate a new cleaning routine.

Take note that extreme cold weather may make your cooler susceptible to cracking. Plastic tends to become brittle when exposed to cold temperatures for an extended period. Rotomolded coolers are far less likely to crack than a traditional plastic cooler is, but that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

A rotomolded cooler may crack in cold weather or develop indentations. To avoid all of these possibilities, you should keep your cooler in an area where it’s protected from extreme weather — both hot and cold.

Major fluctuations in temperature can exert stress on your cooler and cause it to expand and contract, further increasing the likelihood of damage.

Insulated, climate-controlled areas of the house are ideal.

Keeping Your Cooler Safe

If you want to extend the lifespan of your cooler and ensure that it stays in great shape, you need to think about smells, mold and climate-related damage.

Protecting your cooler against these hazards might seem annoying, but it’s worth your time when you’re protecting such an expensive piece of outdoor gear.

Store coolers in a way that keeps them free from moisture, sunlight, and extreme hot and cold temperatures. This includes preparing a cooler for storage by cleaning it thoroughly and keeping it in a cool and dry spot.

Putting these tips into practice will help you get your money’s worth out of your cooler and ensure that it’s ready for use the next time you’re going on a hunt or a camping trip.

The post How To Store Coolers So They Stay Clean and Last Forever appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

Improperly packing a cooler can lead to consequences that range from merely inconvenient to dangerous. Warm drinks or soggy bread are a bummer and food poisoning is a trip killer. Learning how to pack a cooler properly can help keep your food cold, tasty and safe.

How To Pack a Cooler

We’ll get into the nuances of different scenarios later, but here are the main steps to packing a cooler properly.

1. Don’t start until you are finished packing everything else for your trip.
2. Add a layer of ice to the bottom of the cooler.
3. Pack items that need to stay the coldest, such as meat, dairy, and eggs.
4. Add another layer of ice.
5. Pack your produce and cold cuts.
6. Continue to add layers of ice and food until everything is packed.
7. Don’t load the cooler into your vehicle until you have loaded everything else.

Related: Best Coolers Reviewed (Budget to Best on The Market)

You’re probably wondering if the above steps make sense for your situation. It’s true that there are many different cooler types and uses. Let’s dive into more detail.

How To Keep a Cooler Cold the Longest

Several factors determine how to pack a cooler to stay cold the longest.

Follow these tips to get the most cooling time out of your cooler.

1. Cool Your Cooler

If you put cold food and ice in a hot cooler, your ice will begin to melt before you’re headed out. Your food is going to get warm!

48 hours before you plan to use it, move your cooler into a room temperature location (or colder). The night before your trip, pack the cooler with ice to pre-cool it overnight.

2. Prepare Your Food

Take these steps to get your food ready to go into your cooler:

1. Chill your food in the refrigerator. 
2. Prep your ingredients before you pack.
3. Remove as much food as possible from the original packaging and put it in resealable storage containers or bags.
4. Keep your food separated and packaged by type, just like you’ll pack it in the cooler. 

These steps help reduce the space your food takes up in the cooler and protect your food from getting wet.

They’ll also make it easier to find what you need later so you aren’t leaving the cooler open longer than you need to.

3. Freeze Your Meat

The key to how to pack a cooler with meat is starting with cold meat. Frozen meat helps keep your cooler cold and buys you an extra one to two days of safe storage time.

The meat will typically thaw in a standard cooler in about two days. It’ll stay frozen longer in a well-packed rotomolded cooler like a YETI, Orca, or RTIC.

If your meat isn’t completely thawed by the time you are ready to cook, it is safe to cook it from frozen. Expect it to take up to 50% longer to cook though.

If you are worried that your steaks won’t be good if cooked from frozen, consider that some chefs recommend always cooking meat from its frozen state.

You should always keep meat at 40ºF or below. Buy a thermometer and attach it to the inside of your cooler to make sure you are maintaining a safe temperature.

4. Use Plenty of Ice

Unless you’re just taking a day trip, aim for twice as much ice as contents in your cooler. Fill gaps with cubed ice.

If everything won’t fit, opt for a second cooler instead of using less ice.

5. Put Your Cooler in the Shade

How you pack a cooler matters, but how you store and use it also plays a role.

Bright sunlight will heat your cooler quickly. Store it in the shade and cover it with a light-colored blanket or towel.

6. Don’t Open It More Than Necessary

Only open the cooler when you need to. Grab your drinks then shut it tight fast.

When preparing meals, take everything you need out at once instead of going back for individual items.

7. Don’t Drain Your Cooler

If you can replenish your ice supply, go ahead and drain the cooler and replace the ice.

Otherwise, leave the water in there. It will help keep both the food and the remaining ice cold.

4 Cooler Packing Scenarios

Perhaps you’re looking for tips on a specific cooler packing situation. We’ve got you covered.

1. How To Pack a Soft Cooler Bag

Many of the tips for packing a regular cooler apply to cooler bags.

Ice packs usually work better in cooler bags than regular ice. Regular ice takes up more space, and when it melts, the water can leak out of some cooler bags.

For longer trips, place ice packs in the bottom of the bag where they will last the longest. For short trips, place the packs on top, where they will keep everything the coldest but thaw out faster.

Ice packs placed between items help avoid some items being warmer than others. The expected thawing time falls between the other two methods mentioned.

2. The Best Way to Pack Wild Game in a Cooler

Here are the steps to preparing a cooler for a hunting trip:

• Before heading to the field, fill your cooler about a third of the way or so with block ice.
• Place a layer of thin foam pad (like the cheap camping pads) over the ice.
• In the field, leave your harvested and quartered game in game bags.
• Lay the bags of meat over top of the foam pad and ice in the cooler.
• Pack the cooler as full as possible, but make sure it c.oses tight.
• Avoid covering the meat with ice so the meat doesn’t get waterlogged.

Proper field dressing is the key to keeping your wild game safe in a cooler. Ideally, you should remove the organs within 30 minutes. These spoil faster than the meat and can ruin your whole animal if you don’t take them out. If you want to eat them, clean them and immediately pack them in ice in your cooler.

Related: Best Rotomolded Coolers Reviewed (Top Picks)

3. How To Pack a Cooler With Drinks

Use one 10 pound bag of ice for every 12 drinks in your cooler. A six-pack of soda or beer at room temperature needs more than a pound of ice to chill, so chill drinks before packing.

Using a separate drink cooler can be beneficial for several reasons:

• Drinks use a lot of the space in your cooler.
• If you plan to drink directly from the can or bottle, you risk exposing yourself to bacteria that could have seeped into the ice melt from your food containers.
• People usually get drinks out of the cooler more often than food. Opening the cooler frequently to get drinks raises the temperature of the cooler and melts ice faster. Warm drinks may taste bad, but they won’t give you food poisoning.

4. How To Pack a Cooler for Camping

Select a durable and well-insulated cooler that is just large enough to hold everything you need. 50+ quart coolers work well for camping trips up to six days long.

If you know you’re going to need to move around a lot or park a ways from your camp spot, choose a cooler with wheels.

Related: Best Wheeled Coolers Reviewed (Coolers That Roll)

Be vigilant about eliminating as much packaging from food items as you can before you pack your cooler. Leaving trash all over your campsite is bad camping etiquette, and you never know when the bins might be overflowing. Getting rid of the packaging in advance eliminates a lot of garbage.

While cooking over the campfire sounds romantic, you can save yourself some time and hassle at the campsite by cooking your food at home. Then you freeze your meals and pack them in the cooler neatly. Once at camp you only have to warm them up. Less effort, less mess, more time to relax!

When you get home from your camping trip, be sure and clean your cooler.

Pro tip: Save space at home by using your cooler to store some of your camping gear.

Cooler Ice

Do You Put Ice on the Top or Bottom of a Cooler?

Layer your ice like a lasagna.

• Start with a layer of ice cubes, ice blocks, dry ice or ice packs on the bottom.
• Pack the items that need to be the coldest.
• Add another layer of ice on top.
• Continue to add layers of food and ice until everything is in the cooler.
• Finish with a final layer of ice.

Ice blocks tend to last the longest and make an excellent base layer.

Make sure you fill any gaps with cubed ice. Your cooler should be filled to maximum capacity when you close it. If there are empty spaces, your ice will need to cool the air in those spaces, and it will melt faster.

You might find this article helpful too, Best Cooler for Ice Retention (We Tested 28 to Find Out).

Pro tip: To prevent your food from sinking into the gaps between the ice, add a sheet of cardboard between the food and ice layers.

Dry Ice vs Regular Ice

Dry ice is the frozen form of carbon dioxide. At -109° F, it cools about three times as well as regular ice.

Because you don’t need as much dry ice to get the same cooling power, using dry ice saves weight and space in your cooler. That means you can pack more food, meat, fish, or drinks in your cooler with the same cooling effect.

However, it isn’t safe to handle dry ice with your bare hands because it’s so cold. Use gloves, oven mitts, or hand towels and keep children away.

When dry ice melts, it emits carbon dioxide, which can be dangerous in areas with poor ventilation. Open a window when transporting a cooler with dry ice in a car.

Dry ice can cause food to freeze, so you may want to pack dry ice in the bottom of your cooler. Place items that can be frozen in the layer over the dry ice. You can then use regular ice for the remaining layers.

If you can’t find a place to buy dry ice, consider block ice instead. You can make block ice at home by freezing water in square food storage containers.

When Not To Use Ice

If you have food items that aren’t stored in watertight containers, or you are using a soft-sided cooler with a zipper closure that might leak, consider using ice packs instead of ice.

Conclusion

Safety and efficiency are the most important things to remember when learning to pack a cooler. Efficiency will help you fit everything you want to take with you in your cooler and keep it cool for your entire trip. Safety will ensure that all your tasty treats are safe to eat when you get there.

Recommended: How To Store Coolers So They Stay Clean and Last Forever

The post How To Pack a Cooler Properly (Drinks, Camping, Day Trips, Meat) appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

It’s easy to toss the dirty cooler in the garage and save the cleaning for the next time you need it. But bad smells will form without routine maintenance and cleaning. Left too long, the mold may even set in.

With this guide and a few simple household items, your cooler will look as good as new. For hard-hitting stains and smells, we will walk you through cleaning agents with a little more power. All it takes is a little time and plenty of scrubbing.

Before you dig into a dirty cooler, be sure you have the right cleaning tools and know the proper techniques.

The Best Way To Clean a Cooler: A Step-by-Step Guide

To get started, you will need the following:

• Warm water
• Soft dishwashing rag
• Paper towels
• Liquid dish detergent
• Baking soda
• Mr. Clean Magic Eraser (not required, highly recommended)

Every cooler starts with the first basic steps, and then some need a little more care later. If you need to know how to remove a foul smell or stains from a cooler, we’ll cover how to do that later on in this guide.

Let’s get to cleaning!

Step 1: Soak with warm water

Add enough warm water to the cooler to cover the bottom.

If the cooler is small enough, put it in the sink and use the force of the sprayer to give it a good rinse to start.

Step 2: Add soap

Add a small amount of dish detergent to the water. A strong detergent, such as Dawn, will break up the dirt and hard water scum with ease.

If you only have powdered dish detergent, just sprinkle it in warm water. It will work just as well.

For soft-sided coolers, you may want to keep the water in a bowl and dip your rag.

Step 3: Scrub away

Use the dishrag to clean everything.

Pay close attention to the corners and around the drain. Mildew and hard water grime like to build up in these areas.

Step 4: Spot clean

If you have spots that prove more difficult to clean and you need more power, mix baking soda with just enough water to form an icing-like paste.

Dip the rag or a soft-bristled brush in the paste and scrub in a circular motion.

Step 5: Clean the outside

Run the rag through some fresh warm water, add a little more detergent, and clean the outside.

You will probably run into more hard-to-reach places here. If the rag is not enough, there are household items that may help.

Use an extra toothbrush if you have it, or wrap the rag around a butter knife to give you a more pointed edge. 

Step 6: Rinse and repeat

If your cooler has a drain, allow the water to filter through and clean the drain.

Dump out the dirty soap water inside and go over it one more time. Or as many times as you feel are necessary.

Step 7: Let it dry

Leave the cooler somewhere that it can air dry with the lid open.

If you prefer to put it away immediately or you simply hate water spots, wipe it down with paper towels or a dry cloth before you store it.

Don’t Use Abrasive Tools

When learning how to clean a cooler, a general rule is not to use more abrasive cleaning tools. Things like SOS pads or metal scrub brushes will scuff up most plastic surfaces.

These are likely too harsh for the liner of a cooler and will leave scratches on the inside and outside. These scratches then become little harbors that collect dirt, grime and bacteria.

How To Clean Mold Out of a Cooler

Any cooler is likely to have water pool up which can lead to mold. Improper mold removal may result in contaminating the items that you keep inside.

For standard mold cleaning, you need:

• Dish soap
• An outdoor water source
• Baking soda
• A sponge
• Warm water in a bucket
• Bleach
• This guide!

Follow the steps to remove mold from your cooler:

1. Wash the cooler out with a garden hose to remove any loose dirt.

2. Combine warm water, dish soap, and baking soda to form a cleaning solution. Use your judgment to determine how much baking soda to add to the solution. The more sturdy the mold appears, the more you may need.

3. Use the sponge to apply the solution to the cooler. Scrub the inside and outside thoroughly.

4. Rinse the cooler with the garden hose again.

5. Dump the original solution and create a new one using equal parts warm water and bleach.

6. Using the sponge, apply the mixture everywhere, particularly in corners and crevices. This is especially important for rotomolded and hardshell coolers, which have more nooks and crannies. 

7. Let the solution soak on the cooler for at least 15-20 minutes before washing it away and towel drying.

A key element in how to clean a cooler is the regular maintenance that follows. Cleaning your cooler after every use and storing it in a dry place is the best way to avoid mold.

How to Remove Stains From a Cooler

Stains come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and strengths. Naturally, you may need a different solution for different stains. You can use any stain removal techniques below on any color cooler.

What You Can Use

Isopropyl rubbing alcohol applied with a paper towel or cotton swab may remove a stain immediately. Or it may need time to soak.

High-pressure wash sometimes provides the force you need to remove a stain, especially those with a raised surface.

Melamine foam is found in the well-known Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. The magic it performs is actually just something akin to very fine sandpaper. Wet the magic eraser with warm water and wipe away the stain.

Denture cleaner is an unconventional approach, but it cleans the stains from dentures and will do the same for your cooler.

Bleach is usually the first approach to mold and stains. For dark stains or general discoloration, you can leave a bleach/water solution to soak for up to an hour.

Purple Power is a name-brand stain remover known to take stains from plastic. You can even use it with a magic eraser for extra power.

Vinegar mixed with carbonated soda is an easy option to remove light stains. You just mix the two and use a rag to scrub the stain. It may just lighten a darker stain, so you might need something stronger to finish it.

Steel Wool Users Beware

Some guides on how to clean a cooler or remove stains from a cooler recommend using steel wool for the most difficult stains. If you decide to go this route, proceed with caution.

If you are not concerned with the aesthetic of the cooler and just want to get it clean, steel wool is definitely an effective option. It will scratch away the stain, but it will also scratch up the cooler. These scratched areas will likely get dirty more easily too, making your job harder next time.

Removing a Foul Smell From a Cooler

Anyone who has ever attempted a cooler cleaning after holding raw fish or game meat knows that getting that smell out requires much more than soap and water.

Smell removal is most effective if you do it right away.

Once you clean off all the dirt and grime, it only takes a few simple steps to remove a smell from a cooler:

• Combine natural vinegar with lemon juice and a drop of dish soap. Mix it and allow it to sit for around a half-hour.
• Pour the mixture into the cooler and use a soft-bristled brush to distribute it everywhere.
• Rinse and repeat the process until the smell is gone.

How to Make a Cooler White Again

The most effective way to restore the cooler after discoloration from stains is to use bleach. You can mix it with warm water, scrub it with a sponge, and rinse.

You can also allow the solution to sit for 30 minutes to an hour for better results.

How Often Should You Clean Your Cooler?

Ideally, you would clean your cooler after every use. However, that is not always feasible.

If you are on a camping trip, you may use it every day for several days without access to everything you need to clean it properly.

Additionally, you should never carry unnatural cleaning chemicals and dump them into a natural environment, especially waterways. This risks endangering wildlife and their habitat.

You can always use the above guides for stains, mold, or smells later when you can contain the wastewater.

What Can You Do To Maintain Your Cooler?

Regular use of harsh chemicals and scrubbing to get rid of stains and mold will wear down your cooler quickly. Leaving it in direct sunlight for extended periods will dull its color or cause it to warp and degrade.

Keep your cooler in excellent condition by cleaning it with soap and water regularly and taking it inside to store in a dark, dry place.

By now, you should have a better understanding of how to clean a cooler, how to remove stains from a cooler, and how to remove odors from a cooler.

Maintain a cleaning routine after every use, and you should avoid hard stains and mold. Odors are sometimes unavoidable, but at least now you have a simple solution.

Related: How To Store Coolers So They Stay Clean and Last Forever

Check out our Cooler Buying Guides:

Best Coolers Reviewed (Budget to Best on The Market)

Best Rotomolded Coolers Reviewed (Top High-end Cooler Picks)

The Best Wheeled Coolers Reviewed (Coolers With Wheels)

Best Cooler for Ice Retention (We Tested 28 to Find Out)

The post How to Properly Clean and Maintain a Cooler (Even Stains and Smells) appeared first on Outdoor Empire.

Now, almost every manufacturer has entered the market, and new makers are popping up every day.

Let us help you navigate the growing selection as we share our own research and reviews into which are the best overall, best for the money, and even what is available for the penny-pinching outdoorsman. Plus, we will offer tips concerning what to look for in a roto-molded cooler so you can do your own shopping with confidence.

DISCLOSURE: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Links in this article are affiliate links. If you click on a link we may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no additional cost to you.

The 6 Best Rotomolded Coolers: Outdoor Empire Reviews

1. Best Cheap #1: Pure Outdoor Emperor Cooler
2. Best Cheap #2: Pelican ProGear Elite
3. Best for the Money #1: RTIC
4. Best for the Money #2: Engel Coolers High-Performance ENG65
5. Best on the Market #1: YETI Tundra
6. Best on the Market #2: ORCA Extra Heavy Duty

Category	Best cheap	Best for the money	Best overall
Product	Pelican ProGear Elite	RTIC Outdoors	" width="100" height="100" /> YETI Tundra
Capacity	30 QT/ 23 cans	65 QT/ 64 cans	45 QT/ 26 cans
Insulation Thickness	2.10 in	3 in	3 in
Weight	21.67 lbs	36.5 lbs	22 lbs
Ice Retention	10 days	Up to 10 days	10 days
Interior Dimensions	14.60 in x 10.20 in x 11 in	26 in x 12 in x 13 in	25.75 in x 16.13 in x 15.4 in
Cost	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price

1. Best Cheap Roto-molded Cooler #1

Pure Outdoor Emperor Cooler

Pros:

• Designed for extreme temperature, both hot and cold
• Lockable steel reinforced corners
• Tie-down points for secure transportation in a boat or vehicle
• Lifetime warranty

Cons:

• Very thick wall design equals less storage space vs. overall size
• Other than the bottle opener, there are not accessories available

View on Amazon

Buying a roto-molded cooler is likely to cost more than some of the other designs available, but that does not mean it has to cost more than most of your other outdoor gear combined. Pure Outdoor offers a line of top-quality roto-molded coolers with many of the features competitors are famous for, but at a fraction of the price.

Extra-thick walls constructed of pressure-injected, commercial-grade polyurethane foam and thick rubber seals keep items cold for up to 150 hours.

Steel-reinforced corners, lockable padlock slots, and heavy-duty rubber latches will keep items secure both from curious campers and wildlife. There is even a convenient bottle opener included.

2. Best Cheap #2

Pelican ProGear Elite

$218.43

Pros:

• Rugged, bear-resistant construction
• Economical entry into rotomold cooler ownership
• Molded cup holders, something many similar models lack
• Dual handles for easy transport alone or with a partner

Cons:

• Although latches are very secure, they can be very difficult to operate as well
• Industrial design: great for camping with the boys, but not as attractive on the family get away

View on Amazon

08/15/2023 08:55 pm GMT

The Pelican ProGear Elite is doing something many of its higher-priced competitors have been trying to do for many years—giving YETI a run for the money but doing it on the cheap.

It is one of the most affordable alternatives on the market and is reported to outperform many of the more expensive models when it comes to ice retention. Plus, it comes with some nice accessories.

Aside from the thick, insulating roto-molded walls, there are twin handles, both molded and fold out, for easy carrying alone or with a partner. It also has a push button that clicks to lock latches, and they are so secure that they are bear resistant even without the use of additional padlocks.

Repeated tests have found that ice retention equals or exceeds that of the YETI.

3. Best Roto-molded Cooler for the Money #1

RTIC 65

$289.99

Pros:

• Reasonable price for performance, big drain valve and small drain/pressure relief valve

Cons:

• Hard to move around by yourself, only 1 year warranty

View on Amazon View at RTIC

08/15/2023 07:30 pm GMT

If the YETI is the benchmark of roto-molded coolers, then RTIC is the benchmark of those competing with YETI. The RTIC slogan is “Overbuilt, not overpriced,” and their coolers are specifically designed to provide the best value for the money without sacrificing quality.

Not only does the RTIC line cost less than their YETI counterparts, they actually exceed YETI in two vital areas. First, they meet or exceed the YETI in terms of ice retention, something confirmed by many tests both in the field and laboratory. Second, they offer more storage space.

While many advertise a specific storage capacity, say 45 quarts, they fall short by a few quarts. Not the RTIC. Each cooler offers exactly the storage advertised.

4. Best for the Money #2

Engel Coolers High-Performance ENG65

$349.99

Pros:

• Lightest cooler in its class, weighing only 11.38 pounds
• With 1-inch thin walls, it over greater storage space vs. overall size
• Bear resistant, IGBC certified

Cons:

• Does not come with any accessories
• Does not have molded cup holders

View on Amazon View at Bass Pro Shops

08/15/2023 08:55 pm GMT

Compare prices at: Cabela’s

Engel is not yet a widely recognized name in coolers, but it is only a matter of time. If you are a serious camper, you owe it to yourself to pick one up before they become so popular that they are hard to find and difficult to afford.

While they are making a name for themselves is a perfect time to purchase a cooler with many features at a fraction of the price.

The ENG65T offers 65 quarts of storage in a single-piece, roto-mold design with 2 inches of high-density closed-cell polyurethane insulation. Thanks to the airtight silicone gasket and adjustable marine-grade compression latches, you receive not only the highest overall performance but also a bear-resistant unit.

It is also dry ice compatible and backed by a 10-year warranty.

5. Best on the Market #1

YETI Tundra

$375.00

Pros:

• Superior insulation and brim seal for maximum cold retention
• Heavy-duty construction for years of hassle-free use
• Now available in a variety of colors and sizes

Cons:

• No cup holders

View on Amazon View at YETI

08/15/2023 07:35 pm GMT

Compare prices at: Sportsman’s Guide, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Cabela’s, Bass Pro Shops

YETI has established itself as the premier maker of high-end, heavy-duty coolers. Once marketed to the hardcore fishing community, they have now become a favorite among a wide range of sportsmen and the benchmark by which other coolers are measured.

The Tundra offers all the features YETI in known for—thick polyurethane walls, all-around brim seal, heavy-duty rubber latches, and dual interlocking hinges.

The Tundra is guaranteed to provide days of cold ice and years of faithful service. The rugged design can withstand anything you can throw at it in camp, on the boat, or bouncing around the back of the truck. This cooler was built to be your best outdoor partner.

6. Best Roto-molded Cooler on the Market #2

ORCA Extra Heavy Duty

$235.00

Pros:

• Extremely durable roto-molded construction with few parts that can break or malfunction
• Designed for maximum ice retention with minimal pre-use prep
• Available in a variety of sizes and prices
• Made in the USA with a lifetime warranty

Cons:

• Very thick walls mean less-than-ideal storage space vs. overall size
• Does not include many of the accessories available with other models

View on Amazon View at Sportsman's Warehouse

08/15/2023 09:05 pm GMT

Compare prices at: Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s

OCRA is quickly becoming one of the leading names in roto-molded coolers, and this cooler is one of the reasons. It offers the perfect combination of strength, durability, insulating ability, and ease of use. Once you have it you will want to take it on every adventure.

The single-piece, molded design makes this cooler nearly indestructible. With easy-to-use whale tale latches, flow-through drain, and ergonomic handles, it is perfect for the user who wants and engineered cooler but don’t want to be an engineer to use it.

The advanced insulation technology and gasket lid seal will retain ice for up to 10 days. It is available in a variety of sizes, so there is sure to be one that meets your needs and budget.

What is Roto-Molded Cooler?

While roto-molded coolers have taken the industry by storm, many owners and potential buyers are still in the dark when it comes to what they actually are and what makes them so different from traditional coolers. The key is the manufacturing process: rotational molding.

Poly-based powders are placed in a mold and heated, and as they melt, the mold is rotated. This process allows the plastic to fill every void, creating a single piece construction without seams or opening of any kind.

Not only is the end product free of imperfections or seams through which air (and cold) can escape, it is also extremely thick and durable. The end product provides superior insulation and the ability to withstand heavy loads and impact from dropping, banging, and even being used as a seat.

In many cases, the poly-resin material is also UV resistant, which prevents sun damage and increased interior temperatures when left exposed. Some are also specifically designed to withstand attacks by curious wild animals, although the ability to withstand a prolonged attack often depends on the use of secondary locks.

Although not a direct result of the roto-molding process, the majority of these coolers also feature heavy-duty seals of rubber or neoprene, strong rubber latches, and even rubber feet. These combined features allow for airtight conditions for better insulation, increased durability, and better protection.

But the real question is, how do they compare to traditional coolers?

PROS

Increased Insulation

Airtight conditions and extra thick walls coupled with heavy-duty seals result in the ability to retain cold temperatures for longer periods of time. Most traditional coolers will keep ice for one or maybe two days at most. Roto-molded coolers have the ability to retain ice for several days, even as many as 6 or 10 days.

Increased Durability

One of the first roto coolers was not built specifically to hold ice for extended periods; rather, its purpose was to provide a tough cooler rugged enough to withstand the demands of extreme outdoor adventures.

Due to the poly-resin make up, it is not only rugged enough to withstand bumps, drops, and even being thrown, it is also resistant to UV rays and does not become brittle or warped over time.

Lightweight

Although the larger models can still be heavy, they are nothing compared to a traditional cooler of the same size. This is due mainly to the fact that the use of metal is not necessary to obtain the desired strength.

CONS

Increased Cost

At first, the higher cost was chalked up to being new or in high demand. However, as time passed, it became obvious to users that molded coolers where simply more expensive to produce.

Although there are quality designs that sell for far less than earlier models, a roto-molded cooler will still cost significantly more than a similarly sized traditional cooler.

Decreased Storage Space

While it is true that you can buy very large roto-molded coolers, even large enough for several days’ worth of food and drink, they do suffer from decreased usable storage space. Due to the extra-thick walls, a roto-molded cooler with have slightly less interior space, as much as several quarts, than a traditional cooler of the same size.

Limited Choices

It is possible to purchase a traditional cooler in almost any shape, size, or color your heart desires. Roto-molded cooler offer far fewer choices.

The typical roto-molded cooler will be a basic box shape, available in 20 quarts or larger, and primarily white, tan, or light blue. Although additional colors are becoming available, most are still a single solid color.

Why are They So Expensive?

Cost is a matter of both production cost and demand. The process of producing a roto-molded cooler is more expensive than that used for traditional coolers, requiring more costly equipment and supplies.

Thus, the base cost is increased. Next, there is an increased cost in terms of production due to the superior attention to detail. Most companies are targeting the high-end fishing and hunting communities, so they strive to produce a more reliable, and thus more expensive, end product.

Finally, there is the matter of supply and demand. Although the production cost was very high in the beginning and continues to be higher than that of traditional coolers, it has decreased over time.

However, demand continues to be high. Sportsmen have come to recognize the value of these coolers, especially if they spend a lot of time in the field and rely on their coolers to protect their supplies and catch. The end result is that the price often reflects what the market can bare.

Are They Worth It?

Whether or not a roto-molded cooler is worth the cost is a personal decision. If you are an occasional angler or hunter looking for a cooler for the back deck when friends or family visit, then the cost is probably not worth it.

Having a YETI or Grizzly sitting next to the sliding door is more a matter of status than need. However, if you spend more time in the field than behind a desk and rely on your cooler for cold, safe provisions for days on end, then cost is matter of what your food, catch, and even health is worth.

Asking if the price of a roto-molded cooler is worth it is like asking if the Penn reel is worth the difference in cost when you could buy a knock off for half the price. If you rely on it and use it heavily, the cost is more like an investment.

While you could buy a cheaper cooler for a fraction of the price, it is unlikely it will survive under harsh conditions or extreme abuse. In the end, you are faced with the possibility of spending $400 up front or $100 four times over the next few years.

How to Choose

How will it be Used?

If you are searching for a roto-molded cooler, there is a good chance you will be using it in extreme conditions—exposure to high or low temperatures, harsh adventures that threaten it with damage from drops, bumps and tumbles that would ruin other designs, and repeated use that would test any piece of gear.

This is what roto-molded coolers are designed for. But not all coolers are created equal, and that applies to roto-molded coolers as well.

The benefits of a roto-molded cooler are not truly experienced until it is put to the extreme. Hunting, fishing, boating, camping, and even tailgating are what they were built for.

As stated before, those who will place the cooler on the back deck, invite friends over, and sit by it while watching the sunset can still benefit from its advantages, but they are buying name or trademark, not an ability to perform.

Feature Breakdown

Many manufacturers follow a similar path when it comes to design. Regardless of maker, these coolers look similar and can often be confused if the logo is not visible. However, there are some differences that impact overall quality and others that impact performance under specific extreme conditions.

Wall Thickness

Thick walls are standard features in roto-molded coolers. They are a product of the molding process and impact the overall temperature retention rate as well as bulk. Look for a design that maximizes insulation capability while keeping walls from being overly thick.

You will also need to balance wall thickness and the associated loss of interior space with the overall size of the cooler

Latches, Seals, and the Ability to be Locked

Aside from providing increased insulation, quality latches, seals, and aftermarket locks increase a cooler’s ability to withstand wild animal damage. This is especially important when adventuring in remote bear country where protecting your supplies from attack is an everyday concern.

Handles

Due to their size and weight, roto-molded coolers can be bulky and difficult to carry or transport. This makes the need for quality handles a must, and some are better than others.

Molded handles provide a superior handhold, especially when being moved solo. Rope handles, which usually include a rubber or plastic hand piece, are more suited for larger coolers moved by more than one person. Retractable handles can be both comfortable and easy to use but are more prone to damage.

Wheels

The ability to wheel you cooler into place can make the difference between a short trip and an adventure you will remember for a lifetime. Of course, if you are to benefit from having wheeled cooler, you need to ensure they are constructed of quality materials and have a design that will allows for reliable, easy use on uneven terrain.

Otherwise, you will end up carrying the cooler (and wheels) anyway. You will also want to ensure the wheels are paired with a suitable handle that is long enough to allow for a natural posture and that is strong enough to withstand pulling the weight of a fully loaded cooler on rough terrain.

Other Accessories

There are times when a basic cooler is not enough. Having accessories available, or having the ability to add accessories later, can be the tiebreaker when comparing one cooler against another. Popular accessories include:

Exterior Storage – This allows you to store dry goods and non-food items without sacrificing valuable cold storage space.

Cup Holders – Although once a staple on coolers, many designers have decided to forego their inclusion. This is a shame. Having a cup holder molded into the top of the lid means you always have somewhere to place a cold one.

Dry Storage – Aside from exterior storage, you may also want to have dry storage available, a tray or partition that will protect specific items from direct contact with ice or water that forms when it eventually starts to melt.

Ability to be Locked – Reinforced corners and the ability to place a padlock serves two purposes. First, it protects your goods and food stores from curious onlookers, both human and from the wild kingdom. Second, they allow you to push your cooler harder when traveling. You can store gear and valuables inside while en route and then replace them with food at the last minute.

You might also want to check our article, Types of Coolers: 4 Kinds of Coolers & What They’re Good For.

Other Tips

If you want to get the most from your cooler, there are some simple tips that you can follow both before hitting the trail and while enjoying an extended trip:

Bigger is Better

If you are unsure of what size cooler you need, always err on the side of bigger than you think you might need. Having a larger cooler with additional storage space will allow for additional ice storage and increased ice retention. It will also allow for more flexibility when it comes to how the cooler may be used.

Related: How To Pack a Cooler Properly (Drinks, Camping, Day Trips, Meat)

Avoid Opening More than Necessary

Remember when Mom would yell at you for opening the refrigerator, claiming you would let the cold air out? The same holds true for your cooler. The more you open it and expose the contents to outside temperatures, the less likely it is to withstand the loss of ice over an extended period.

Pre-Cool for Better Ice Retention

Pre-cooling the intended contents, or even the cooler itself, will increase the life of any ice you add since it will need to work less to achieve the same results. Frozen meats will last longer, and cold drinks will stay cold longer. If the cooler itself is chilled prior to the placement of ice, there will be less loss due to contact with warm surfaces.

You can also check our other buying guide, Best Cooler for Ice Retention (We Tested 28 to Find Out).

Shop Around

There was a time when roto-molded coolers were so sought after that finding one was more important than what it would cost. Although they are still extremely popular, they are more readily available than ever, so supply and demand are in the buyer’s favor.

Shopping around can often allow you to save money without selecting a lower quality product.

Proper Storage

Although your cooler may be resistant to sun damage and can withstand extreme temperatures, this does not mean it should be stored next to the garage and exposed unnecessarily. Clean your cooler when you are done using it, and store it in a protected, dry location until your next adventure, and it will last you a lifetime.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do roto-molded coolers float?

Yes, most roto-molded coolers will float. Not only do the thick polyurethane walls provide natural flotation properties, many of these coolers are also airtight and waterproof. This combination of properties adds to the polyurethane’s own ability to float by trapping air in the main compartment and keeping water out.

If you will be using your cooler in a marine environment and are concerned about its ability to float, consult the manufacturer’s specific product information for specific instructions.

Of course, even the highest-quality cooler will sink if water is allowed to enter the main compartment. It is important to ensure that all valves, drains, and lids are closed and that latches are secured if there is any possibility the cooler will fall overboard.

Roto-molded coolers too expensive? Maybe you can find a better option from these 8 coolers we reviewed.

Recommended reading:

How to Properly Clean and Maintain a Cooler (Even Stains and Smells)

How To Store Coolers So They Stay Clean and Last Forever

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