How to Choose the Best Cooler

One of the first things you need to decide when choosing a cooler or ice chest is the size you’ll need. Sizes range from smaller 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 couple of different sizes — one that can hold a few snacks and drinks for day trips and a large ice chest for longer excursions. 

You may see capacity 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. 

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 handle 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 small 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.

You’ll find both soft coolers and hard coolers. 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. 

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 model is a high-performance cooler with a body and lid that are made from a single piece of plastic, creating very strong, durable cold storage. These hard-sided coolers also often include top-quality latches, hinges and gaskets that, combined with the rotomolded construction, keep the cooler tightly closed, prevent leakage, and keep food and drinks cold longer than other models. 

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

Styrofoam coolers are inexpensive and lightweight, but they aren’t as durable as other coolers and usually don’t have a latching or watertight lid.

Personal coolers and insulated cooler bags or tote bag coolers are the best coolers for everyday lunch needs. They’re also ideal 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. They’re most often soft-sided coolers or bag coolers, but 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, you might need a larger, more capable cooler.

Chest coolers or ice chests 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 good coolers for a day at the beach or on the lake. They also make great fishing 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 a large group supplied with food and drinks for several hours. Some are even built to double as seating. Planning for a stay 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 large capacities of these coolers mean you have to pay attention to size. Also think about weight and how you’ll carry the cooler. Some can be handled by a single person, but many, especially once fully loaded with ice, food and drinks, will need a couple of people to carry them. 

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

One type of beverage cooler is a simple uninsulated metal tub. These open-top containers hold ice, cans and bottles and 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 are similar to metal chest coolers on a wheeled stand. They have a large capacity and lid that can help keep food and drinks cool for hours of outdoor fun. Many of these coolers have a built-in shelf and an integrated bottle opener and bottle cap catcher. 

Some models are insulated plastic containers that 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.

Depending on your needs and budget, you can find basic coolers that’ll work for most occasions. Or you can look for models with features designed to keep things cool longer or make it easier for you to use and transport the cooler. 

• Gasket seals help keep cold air in and prevent leakage. Some coolers with gaskets can double as dry storage for food and gear. 
• Waterproof exteriors on soft-sided coolers help prevent water leakage. For maximum 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, but if you’re shopping for a beach cooler or camping model, look for one with wheels large enough to handle sand or rougher terrain. Note that coolers with big wheels may have slightly smaller capacities than similar coolers with no wheels. 
• Extra or dry storage may be available as baskets inside a hard cooler or as exterior pockets and elastic straps on a soft cooler. 
• Built-in can or bottle holders 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. 
• Color options available on some models can complement your vehicle or gear. 
• 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 things cold, but there are some things you can do to get better performance. Plus, 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. Even if you cleaned it after the last use, clean it again to make sure it’s ready for food and drinks. 
• A well-chilled cooler will provide better ice retention and keep the contents cool longer than an underchilled cooler. 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. Just dump it out before loading with fresh ice and supplies. 
• If you’re packing food to last for long periods of time, you may want to freeze the food you’ll be using later before packing it. The frozen food will help 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. 
• Colder ice is better for ice retention. It’ll last longer and be less messy. 
• If you’re packing ice for drinks, seal it in bags or containers to keep it clean and ready for use. 
• Store food in waterproof bags to make sure it doesn’t get soggy as your ice melts. You may also want to repack some food to conserve space. 
• 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. Placing insulating material on top of and around the sides 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. 
• Consider having one cooler for food and one for drinks. You’ll be able to open your food cooler less often, allowing it to better maintain a safe temperature. 
• Drain the meltwater and replenish the 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. 
• Wash out and dry your cooler thoroughly after every use to prevent it from retaining odors and to prevent the growth of mold and mildew. 
• 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