Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time). According to our testing, over a long enough period of time, a cooler with closed-cell foam will keep things cool for longer. But in the 24- to 48-hour range, we haven’t seen a huge difference between using ¾ inch of closed-cell or open-cell foam in a cooler. In contrast, open-cell foam is permeable to air and water like a sponge (which is why it frequently appears in foam pillows, as it’s squishier and it breathes). But open-cell foam’s ability to insulate greatly diminishes when it’s wet because water permeates all of the open space and acts as a conductor of heat.
In this case, consider a wheeled cooler (I will get into details below). Igloo Maxcold series, on the other hand, has a slightly tapered design wider at the top more narrow through the bottom, but it’s still convenient enough for easily organizing your perishables. Both Coleman and Igloo have several types of coolers, but to help you to get a better idea of the brands, I’ve compared their most popular and convenient models of the brands, Coleman Xtreme and Igloo Maxcold. When you’re in the market looking for a budget-friendly cooler it’s very common to be torn between Coleman vs Igloo.
Even when empty, hard-sided options weigh anywhere from pounds for low-capacity models up to 50+ pounds for premium designs with 75+ quarts of storage. Once loaded down with ice, food, and beverages, that number skyrockets. And despite including carry handles, they’re simply too hefty to travel with for long distances.
While the model above is the 70-quart model, Coleman also offers one in 52, 120, and 150 quarts so you can store many things as you need to. It’s also fully insulated from the outside, giving you up to five days of ice cube life in temperatures up to 90°F, and even longer if the weather isn’t that hot. The lid is well insulated and can support up to 250 pounds so you can use it as a seat. There are also four molded cup holders if you’d rather use the lid that way.
This particular market includes a huge range of prices that make one wonder if a plastic ice box could be worth that much money. In some cases, that extra cash does bring excellent insulation performance, greater utility, and convenience. In other cases, you can spend far less without a substantial drop in overall performance. It’s also helpful to consider how often you find yourself needing the cooling and insulating services these ice chests provide and how burly and rugged you need your gear to be.
It doesn’t fare well in the sun for very long but it is very reasonably priced. A very user-friendly and cheap backpack that retains most of the mobility of a traditional backpack. It has an adequate amount of storage space for a coleman screen tent small excursion but don’t expect this to hold ice for very long. Coleman Coolers are designed more for people on a budget who are looking for a simple cooler that can meet their needs for a weekend trip to the lake or a tailgate.
Draining was no trouble at all, thanks to this double-drain system. Thanks to these, you can separate your cooler into compartments and keep it cool. Additionally, the RTIC tie-down kit is compatible with this design. Though it’ll still set you back a few hundred dollars, this option is on par with its competitors that go for a significant amount more. Performing well across the board, this is an excellent companion for your next trip.
The long portion of this part is pressed into the drain hole from inside the cooler, it is then threaded from the outside to secure it in place. If that’s what you’re hoping for, your best bet might be to turn to Kickstarter and Indiegogo, where expensive, gadgety mega-coolers like the Coolest Cooler and the Infinite Cooler live in infamy. I say infamy coleman instant tent because both of those cash-grabs have a history of production delays and decidedly unhappy customers. Go on, read through the comments on the Infinite Cooler’s Indiegogo campaign, which blew through a March 2019 ship date with nothing to show for it. The performance of Magellan’s largest offering was very close to Cabela’s Polar Cap Equalizer.