How to Choose the Best Cooler

One of the primary decisions when choosing a cooler or ice chest is the size you’ll need. Sizes range from small personal models for lunch to large chest coolers for a day at the beach or even a camping trip. So, think about why you need a cooler and what you might need for future trips or activities. You might find that you need a good ice chest in a couple of different sizes — one that can hold a few snacks and drinks for day trips and a large ice chest for longer excursions.

Cooler and ice chest capacity is usually measured in quarts, the number of cans the cooler can hold, or even how many pounds of ice it can hold. The capacity may include dry storage or uninsulated space, so you may not have the full capacity for cold storage. Pay attention to the product details to make sure you’re getting the capacity you need for the amount of food and drinks you’ll be transporting. And don’t forget that the ice you’ll need to keep everything cool will also take up space. It’s a good idea to plan for a 2-to-1 ratio of ice to food and drinks, and then getting a cooler a little bigger than you think you’ll need. This can help prevent you from having to decide whether to use less ice or carry less food.

It’s also important to note the dimensions, particularly if you’re purchasing a large model. Will it fit in your trunk, hatch or truck bed, or will you need a luggage rack to transport it? Will you be able to manage it yourself, or is it large enough that you’ll need a cooler with wheels or someone to help carry it? If transporting a large ice chest will be a problem, you might want to get two smaller models that’ll be easier to manage.

Finally, think about where you’ll store the cooler when it’s not in use. Again, you might find it easier to store two small coolers rather than one large cooler.

Hard coolers or hard-sided coolers are typically made of plastic and, when used properly, are able to keep your supplies cool much longer than soft coolers. A more economical model may have multiple pieces sealed together to form the storage space and lid. A rotomolded (rotationally molded) model is a high-performance cooler with a body and lid that are each made from a single piece of plastic. This creates a continuous and uniformly thick wall, extraordinarily strong, with foam insulation for durable cold storage. These hard-sided coolers also often include top-quality latches, hinges and gaskets that, combined with the rotomolded construction, can stand up to a high level of wear and tear. They also keep the cooler tightly closed, prevent leakage, and keep food and drinks cold longer than other models. Hard coolers also have a longer ice retention period that other types of coolers. Popular top-rated ice chest coolers include RTIC Outdoors, Grizzly Coolers, Igloo and Camp-Zero.

You can also find metal coolers. While some of these models are portable, most are large patio coolers designed for home use.

Both soft coolers and hard coolers are available in smaller sizes. Personal and backpack models often have soft-sided fabric with a waterproof liner for the cold storage space and a durable outer shell. These are lightweight and easy to carry with handles or a shoulder strap. Many types can be compressed, making them easier to fit in a vehicle and store. On some models, the waterproof liner is a hard inner shell that helps the cooler keep its shape and the contents from being crushed. Typical models can keep food and drinks cool for a few hours, but you can also find high-end types that keep things chilled for much longer.

Personal coolers and insulated cooler bags or tote bag coolers are the best coolers for everyday lunch needs. They’re also good small coolers for food and cold drinks you’ll need for short outdoor activities, such as hiking or a few hours at the beach. These coolers are very portable and designed for one person to easily carry them.

Most often designed as soft-sided coolers or bag coolers, you can also find backpack coolers. Some hard-sided personal coolers come with shoulder straps and fold-up handles as well. Soft cooler bags and insulated backpack coolers are easier to carry than hard-sided coolers, and hard-sided options can often function as side tables.

Check the capabilities and capacity of a personal cooler. If you need cold storage for more than a couple of hours or need food and drinks for more than a couple of people or a camping ice chest, you might need a larger, more capable cooler.

Chest coolers are ice chests that are larger than personal coolers and generally have thicker, more efficient construction. You can find these hard coolers available as economical models or as premium rotomolded models. These are the best ice chest coolers for a day at the beach or on the lake. They also make great fishing or marine coolers, since you can find models large enough to keep your catch fresh. Some marine coolers include a ruler printed or stamped onto the lid for measuring your fish.

Cooler chests also make perfect tailgating coolers since they’re able to keep your group supplied with food and drinks for several hours. Some are even built to double as extra seating. Planning for a stay at a vacation rental? A chest cooler lets you safely transport perishables to use later in your stay. High-performance, heavy-duty rotomolded chest coolers make the best camping coolers, since their design helps keep food cool longer than other models.

The larger capacities of these coolers mean you have to pay attention to overall size. They can also be heavier in weight and bulkier, so consider how you’ll carry the cooler. A single person can manage some, but many, especially once fully loaded down with ice, food and drinks, will need a couple of people to carry them. Many of the larger units have handles and wheels for easier transportation.

Economical ice chests may just have a small lid latch or no latch at all. Upgraded models will have latches that don’t just keep the lid closed but seal better, keeping cool air in and warm air out.

Beverage coolers have come a long way since just being a simple uninsulated metal tub. More than an open-top container holding ice, cans and bottles, many now are fully insulated and have caster wheels to help easily locate in the best spot. Beverage coolers are perfect for outdoor meals or parties where you don’t need to keep the drinks cool for an extended period of time.

Large, insulated patio coolers resemble metal chest coolers on a wheeled stand. They have a large capacity and lid that can help keep food and drinks cool during hours of outdoor fun. Many of these coolers have a built-in shelf and an integrated bottle opener and bottle cap catcher.

Other beverage coolers are insulated plastic containers designed to hold liquids. Large models include water coolers or sports coolers that are perfect for the sidelines of a kids soccer game or the dugout of a little league team. These come complete with a dispenser spout and a built-in paper cup dispenser. Small, insulated coolers can keep individuals hydrated at a practice or workout.

Wine totes are another type of beverage cooler. These cooler bags make the perfect picnic accessory and often come with wine glasses, a corkscrew and other accessories.

Cooler selection will depend on your needs and budget. You can find basic coolers that’ll work for most occasions. You can also find features designed to keep things cool longer or make it easier for you to use and transport the cooler. Here are some features to consider for getting the most from your ice chest cooler:

• To help keep cold air in and prevent leakage, look for gasket seals. Some coolers with gaskets can double as dry storage for food and gear.
• Coated waterproof exteriors on soft-sided coolers help prevent water leakage, punctures and tears. For added protection on soft coolers, look for waterproof zippers.
• Wheeled coolers are great for easily getting your perishables where they need to be. Some backpack coolers have small wheels for use on floors or paved surfaces. If you’re shopping for a beach cooler or ice chest camping model, look for one with large enough wheels to manage sand or rougher terrain. Note that coolers with big wheels may reduce storage capacities than similar coolers with no wheels.
• Dry storage for items you want to keep cool but out of the ice may be available as baskets inside a hard cooler. Exterior pockets and elastic straps on a soft cooler also add extra storage.
• Built-in can or bottle holders on the lid keep drinks in easy reach.
• Integrated bottle openers make opening bottled drinks much easier.
• Drain plugs make it easy to empty water if you need to replenish ice or clean out the cooler for storage. Larger coolers may have dual plugs for faster drainage.
• Bluetooth compatibility lets your cooler double as a speaker, a great feature for the beach or campsite.

Design and construction play a major role in how long a cooler keeps items cold, but there are additional things to get better performance. Also, there are things you need to do to keep the cooler in top shape. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions on use and care. Here are some general tips:

• Clean your cooler before using it. If it’s been stored over the winter or used last weekend, clean it again to make sure it’s fresh for food and drinks.
• A well-chilled cooler provides better ice retention and keeps the contents cool longer than an under chilled chest. If you store it in a space such as an attic or storage shed, bring it into your house to let it cool off. Chilling it with ice water can make it even more efficient. Be sure to empty it out before loading with fresh ice and supplies.
• If you’re packing food for use over an extended period of time, you may want to freeze the food before packing it. Frozen food helps keep the rest of the contents cool as it thaws. When practical, refrigerate other food and drinks prior to packing them.
• Frozen blocks of ice will last longer than cubed ice. You can still use cubed ice to fill in any air pockets for maximum cooling.
• Fill the cooler as full as possible. A fully packed cooler with few air pockets will keep ice frozen longer than a cooler with less contents and a lot of air.
• If you’re packing ice for drinks, seal it in bags or use a separate container to keep it clean and ready for use.
• Storing food in waterproof bags helps prevent it from becoming soggy as your ice melts.
• Keep the cooler out of direct sunlight when transporting it and when you arrive at your destination. Look for a shady spot at a campsite or shade it with an umbrella at the beach. Using a cooler cover or using towels will also help the contents stay cool as long as possible.
• Open the cooler only as necessary and close it as quickly as possible. If it has latches, make sure they’re engaged to seal the lid and keep warm air out. Also, consider having one cooler for food and one for drinks.
• Drain the melted water and replenish with ice as needed. Cool water from melted ice can keep drinks pleasantly chilled, but to keep food safely cooled, make sure you have plenty of ice.
• Store the cooler indoors or in a garage or storage shed. Even coolers made of durable fabric or plastic may degrade with constant exposure to weather and the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

Get the most out of your cooler with the right accessories. Look for compatible add-ons, such as:

• Tie downs 
• Locks 
• Dividers 
• Cutting boards 
• Seat cushions 
• Baskets 
• Dry bags