Table of Contents
Camping has always been a preferred pastime, while camping trips can range from a short day trip to a week-long adventure. However, when making a camping trip, safe food storage is considered an essential. We recommend having an efficient and robust cooler which is indeed the perfect way to keep your food and beverages safe during your camping trip. From dairy to fresh fruits and vegetables to other meat products that you will need throughout your entire adventure can be saved with a high quality cooler.
Top 8 Best Camping Coolers Reviews
Outdoor coolers have become an essential part of camping trips. They have been designed to keep all food and beverages cold and safe for days while they have been manufactured to withstand rugged exteriors, animal attacks, wind, rain and even the scorching heat. The Top 8 best camping coolers that we talk about today are the best in the market while they are ideal for big game hunting trips, week-long camping trips, paddling trips to raging rapids as well as deep sea fishing. These coolers belong where adventure begins!
1. Pelican ProGear 65 Qt Elite Cooler
This is known as the best camping cooler since it has two inches of insulation as well as a freezer grade gasket. This cooler promises its users 10 whole days of ice retention along with a life time warranty. The body of the ProGear 65 is made of polyurethane and is leak-proof and water resistant. It has also been certified as bear-resistant by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee. However, the cooler alone weighs 50 pounds and with all your food and beverages it might need more than one person to move around. There are molded in hinged handles but still we advise you to load the cooler to your vehicle and then fill it up with your essentials.
2. Orca 40 Qt Cooler
The Orca 40 is famed as the best hunting cooler. The founders of the cooler from the “Outdoor Recreation Company of America” needed a cooler that they can take hunting and fishing and that idea was the one that triggered the inception of the cooler. With the ability to withstand a bear attack, the cooler is made of 100% American material and has a lifetime warranty period. The Orca 40 weighs 24 pounds while it consists of a lid gasket that can prevent ice from melting and the contents from spoiling for days. A part of the funds of each purchase is donated to a number of American conservation groups and charitable organizations.
3. Yeti Tundra 75 Cooler
The Yeti Tundra 75 is the ideal cooler that you can take on your next fishing trip. The cooler boasts of sufficient space to house your catch of the day as well as two cases of beer. The Tundra 75 comprises of non-slip feet that contain the same molding of other well known boat coolers. The best deal is that this particular cooler is not limited to the waters alone. It’s is small enough for an individual to carry about while it is made of a number of layers of pressure injected insulation that can hold ice for more than a few days.
4. Coleman Steel Belted Coolers 54 Qt
The Coleman Steel Belted Cooler is known to be the best day cooler. The manufacturers have admitted that it is not tough enough to withstand massive wild animal attacks but the cooler is the perfect solution for a day trip or a picnic in the park. The cooler is made of solid steel while it comprises of rubber gripped handles that are easy to carry about. With the capacity to house up to 85 cans of beer, the Coleman Steel Belted Cooler does not rust or leak.
5. Koolatron W75 Kool Wheeler
If you don’t want to worry about buying ice, this cooler is your solution. The Koolatron makes use of the cigarette lighter in your boat or vehicle in order to retain a cool temperature. Known as the best thermo-electric cooler, it can stay 45 – 50 degrees below the outside temperature. The cooler has the capacity to fit up to 57 canned drinks even though it’s smaller in size. An interesting feature is that is can switch on to a heating mode if you need to keep your food hot and steamy.
6. Esky Series 85 Quart Cooler
Coleman’s answer to a cooler that is geared to handle the harsh outdoors, this line of coolers are made of scratch-resistant exteriors with UV inhibiting technology for extend cold retention. The cooler has an antimicrobial liner that protects its contents against odor, mildew and mold while it has over 2 inches of all-round insulation. This American manufactured cooler is sturdy and large enough to store fresh game and fish and offers a 6-year warranty.
7. Igloo All-Terrain Cooler 120 Quart
Bringing beer to parties has never been this easy. The Igloo all-terrain cooler which is the perfect rolling cooler weighs less than 30 pounds without the beer and has the capacity to hold up to 185 cans of the beverage. You can keep ice over a number of days due the cooler’s UV inhibitors. From beach bonfires to fraternity gatherings, the Igloo is possibly the best way to bring in the beer.
8. Yeti Hopper 30 Softside Cooler
Unlike any other soft side cooler in the market, this Yeti Hopper is known to be the first ever leak-proof softside travel cooler. Completely waterproof, the Hopper can handle 18 cans of beer and 26 pounds of ice. The cooler is made using the same material as high-performance whitewater rafts while it also consists of a Hydro-lock zipper.
How To Choose The Best Camping Cooler
If you are planning on purchasing a new cooler, there are a number of facts to consider beforehand. Think about how often you will use the cooler, how you want to use the cooler and what you want to use the cooler for. As the buyer, you have to make sure that the cooler you buy suits your requirements.
- THE DURABILITY OF THE COOLER
The durability of the cooler solely depends on how long you are planning on using it and how well you will make use of it. The durability of cooler that you may need for a week long camping trip should be well thought of while coolers that you carry for picnics, not so much. A cooler that you take on a camping trip has to be quite big and also withstand wet, dusty, muddy, hot and cold environmental conditions and therefore should be out of a strong material such as plastic. So, if you are looking for a durable cooler made of plastic, make sure you also look for perfectly fitting lids and strong handles to carry them about. If you plan on buying a wheeled cooler, go for one with large wheels that are made of tough plastic. Remember, that the more expensive coolers are the most durable ones. - THE SIZE OF THE COOLER
There are many sizes of coolers that you can choose from. They come in sizes such as collapsible six – pack coolers, 50- quart plastic coolers and larger ones. The main question that you have to ask yourself when considering the size of the cooler is “how much food and beverages am I going to store in the cooler?” It is also important to figure out the space that you will require putting the ice packs in since that too takes some space within. Usually, when considering camping trip coolers, about one quarter of the space within has to be separated for the ice. - THE PRACTICALITY OF THE COOLER
In order to get the most out of the cooler, there has to be some practicality involved. If you are planning a long camping trip that will last a week, carrying a large plastic cooler with several days of food and beverages would be a daunting task. The practical thing to do here is to purchase a wheeled cooler that can be packed and wheeled from a certain location to another. If you are planning on a simple outing or a daytime trek, the cooler that you have should be lightweight and easy to carry about. There are brands that offer backpack cooler bags which can be easily carried like a backpack. These backpack types consist of insulated linings to keep your food and beverages cool while the rest of the bag is similar to an ordinary backpack.
What Are The Types of Coolers That Are Available Today?
1. Plastic Coolers
Often referred to as ice chests, plastic coolers are manufactured using tough molded plastic. Offered in a variety of sizes, plastic coolers are very durable. If the cooler has been designed to store large quantities of food for longer periods of time, chances are it is made of plastic. However, they consist of strong and insulated covers and side handles so that you can move it around easily. These plastic coolers have to be filled with food which is then surrounded by ice packs. They often consist of a plug which is located in the base which can be used to empty melted ice.
2. Electric Coolers
An electric cooler or a portable car fridge can be easily plugged into a car cigarette socket. An insulated cooler box, this is a great way to store food and keep them cold when you are taking a long drive. The mechanism of this cooler is the same as a refrigerator since it makes use of electricity to keep the food cold. Even though these are the most expensive type of coolers around at the moment, you can enjoy the same benefits as of a plastic cooler. There is no requirement to refill ice. Simply plug it in and pack as much food and beverages as you want.
3. Fabric Coolers
Known as an insulated cooler bag or a collapsible cooler, these fabric coolers are designed to hold fewer items than plastic coolers. The cooler is light weight and offers the perfect solution to carry about small packed lunches and drinks. Lined with a layer of insulation foam, the fabric cooler is usually made from sturdy canvas-type artificial materials.
Popular Cooler Brands
Cooler brands also offer you a variety to choose from. Brands range from general department store brands to sporting brands to outdoor camping brands. Each of these products differs in quality and price. The following are the best brands that are designed for everyday camping.
1. COLEMAN
Best known for their effective insulating abilities, Coleman coolers offers the Xtreme Coolers line that features inventive insulation that helps to keep ice cold for up to five days, even during hot weather. One of their top selling products since the early 1950s has been the Coleman Steel Belted cooler which features durable ice chests in a number of sizes as well as a five-gallon beverage dispenser.
2. YETI
Known for their tough durability Yeti coolers have been a popular choice with hunters and fishermen throughout the years. Yeti coolers are designed to withstand tough weather conditions. With bear-proof lid locks, the Yeti Tundra cooler line is perfect for adventure lovers who are ready to tackle the most daring outdoors experiences.
3. IGLOO
Igloo coolers have been around since 1947 and are available in a range of sizes. You can choose from personal 7-quart coolers as well as large 120-quart ice chests depending on your requirement. The Kool Mate 40 which is also from Igloo is one of the most popular coolers in the world.
Get To Know Your Cooler
A cooler mainly functions because of the ice that is used within it to keep its contents cool. Usually what manufacturers suggest is to pre-chill these coolers by inserting ice packs in them or storing the cooler in a cold and dark corner of your house. This should be done preferably the day before you leave on a trip. This helps your cooler to maintain the cold for longer periods of time. A point to remember is that you should distribute the ice evenly throughout the cooler so that the entire surface area maintains the same temperature.
