Best cooler?

[absolutsnwbrdr]

I cannot comment on Yeti coolers, or 12VDV mini-fridges. But if you're looking for quite the deal, I just picked up 2 Coleman 52qt Xtreme coolers from Sears online for $29.92 each. They are advertised to hold ice for 5 days in 90 degree temps. I'm sure thats probably a stretch of their actually usable ability, but its still a good cooler at a good price.

I got 2 because the coolers weren't available for pickup at my local Sears, and in order to get free delivery you need to spend $59 or more.

http://www.sears.com/coleman-52-quart-x ... ockType=G1

Just tossin this out there. Continue discussion

[Bobcape]

I have some Yeti coolers. A small (lug-able), medium 110 quart and an el grande 160 quart. They are great coolers. And they make sense for me. Where I camp there are no facilities, stores or even cell service for more than an hour away. So keeping ice for a long time is necessary. I have 6 or so square-ish gallon water containers that I fill and freeze before the trip. You have to factor in their size because they eat up a lot of interior space. On a week or longer trip, I'll take the 160 and the little guy for day trips. For shorter trips, I'll usually take the 110 cooler. If you keep them out of the sun and don't open them too often, they will keep block ice frozen for 8 to 10 days.

The other thing to consider is their long life. They are built like a tank and replacement parts are available. They are heavy! Buy once, cry once.

Bob

[campmaster-k]

I'm sticking with coleman for the forseeable future. Seems a good compromise of price and quality.
(Hmmmm, I'm wondering if that means campmaster- k's wife is available...)

My wife is still hanging around, I think its because I have a Yeti cooler.

Besides I dont think Miss America will have me.

[Oldragbaggers]

Frigid Rigid. Built like a tank, fiberglass covered. Unless it takes a walk, you should have it forever. Pricey but it really will hold ice for 8-10 days. We have loaded it with drinks and ice for a boat trip. Come home and left it loaded on the boat, gone back the next week and still had ice and cold drinks.

[jjjonz]

Kinda reminds me of the old Paul Harvey Thermos commercials that was on radio .The farmer was plowing a he lost his thermos full of hot coffee.....23 years later he was plowing again in the same field and spotted somthing shiney a few rows over where he had plowed.He got off his tractor and what was shiney was his thermos he lost 23 years earlier.He opened the thermos and by george ........the coffee was still piping hot !!

[atomaker]

After years of fiddling around with coolers, I finally bought a Yeti Tundra 65 on Amazon for $269.00 my prime membership got it to me in two days. It weighs a pound more than my old Coleman, and keeps food long enough that I start to smell long before it does. 'Nuff said.

[Bogo]

My 70 qt Coleman Extreme 5 day cooler works nicely. It is good enough that I've put getting a 12VDC powered compressor based refrigerator/freezer low on my priorities. I'd have gotten a Yeti as they can be bear proof if locked shut. However the Coleman normally costs 1/4th as much and I got mine at over 1/2 off so I tried it out. If you have the battery power, a compressor based refrigerator/freezer would be best, but they are also the most expensive. Then come the heavy duty multi day coolers like the Yeti. The Coleman 5 day Extreme coolers are more expensive than the standard ones, but you'll use less than half as much ice. I normally end up using mine in two to three week long stints draining off the water and adding 10 to 20 lbs ice every 2 to 3 days as needed, but I easily could go twice as long if needed. I only make the ice purchases when convenient, and usually over half the initial volume of ice in the cooler is still present when I add ice. Yeah, I could go longer between adding ice, but this way I've always got a few days before really needing ice. This partial ice refilling style works for me as I'm usually travelling about, and never staying in one spot long.

[pete42]

I'll vouch for the vintage Coleman icebox. Five-dollar flea market find, and one homemade block of ice will last us an entire long weekend. We keep drinks in a separate cooler, and everything else - meats, dairy, etc. in the icebox.
SNIP, SNIP, SNIP.


]

that's the cooler I have from my pop-up bought way back in 1974 still works great
I now use the 12/120 cooler no ice to worry about but it does need electricity.

[Kharn]

I cannot comment on Yeti coolers, or 12VDV mini-fridges. But if you're looking for quite the deal, I just picked up 2 Coleman 52qt Xtreme coolers from Sears online for $29.92 each. They are advertised to hold ice for 5 days in 90 degree temps. I'm sure thats probably a stretch of their actually usable ability, but its still a good cooler at a good price.

I got 2 because the coolers weren't available for pickup at my local Sears, and in order to get free delivery you need to spend $59 or more.

http://www.sears.com/coleman-52-quart-x ... ockType=G1

Just tossin this out there. Continue discussion

I have a similar Coleman, I really want to add draw latches or some other mechanism to latch the lid closed, but I'm worried the plastic won't hold screws very well. Right now it just uses bumps and dimples to hold itself closed.

[Bogo]

I cannot comment on Yeti coolers, or 12VDV mini-fridges. But if you're looking for quite the deal, I just picked up 2 Coleman 52qt Xtreme coolers from Sears online for $29.92 each. They are advertised to hold ice for 5 days in 90 degree temps. I'm sure thats probably a stretch of their actually usable ability, but its still a good cooler at a good price.

I got 2 because the coolers weren't available for pickup at my local Sears, and in order to get free delivery you need to spend $59 or more.

http://www.sears.com/coleman-52-quart-x ... ockType=G1

Just tossin this out there. Continue discussion

I have a similar Coleman, I really want to add draw latches or some other mechanism to latch the lid closed, but I'm worried the plastic won't hold screws very well. Right now it just uses bumps and dimples to hold itself closed.

I've used a 1" ratchet strap around the body and lid to hold my 70 qt one shut in the back of the pickup when driving down the highway. The rest of the time the lid holds properly shut. Adding a weather seal would help a bit keeping air from infiltrating.

[Shadow Catcher]

I remembered I had a link to a "Ice Chest Shootout" http://www.campinglife.com/camping-gear ... t-shootout
and an earlier discussion http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=53035

[scotty_pac]

Is there a difference between ice chest and cooler?

[len19070]

I'll vouch for the vintage Coleman icebox. Five-dollar flea market find, and one homemade block of ice will last us an entire long weekend. We keep drinks in a separate cooler, and everything else - meats, dairy, etc. in the icebox.

There is some insulation around the surrounding cabinet in our galley, but I don't think it needs it, frankly. We'll have a about a quarter of the original ice block left when we get home from a long weekend trip. Love this thing.

I'll second, third and forth this.

These things work GREAT.

The secret is the Block Ice. And you can make it at home!

I have all 3 generations and love them!



Happy Trails

Len