Coolers are small portable boxes that allow people to carry food and drinks. These coolers keep food and drinks at a specific temperature. Coolers are insulated and people will often put ice cubes and ice packs in order to keep the contents of the bag cold. Other coolers make use of a gel that stays colder than normal ice and help to keep the contents of the bag cold as well.
There are special kinds of coolers that are used by people who enjoy fishing to carry their live bait with them. Such coolers are modified to have a little motor that aerates the water and keeps the bait alive. This is because such anglers will spend hours (sometimes days) in the river or ocean fishing. Under such circumstances, their live bait would quickly die and start to go bad. People use coolers for picnics or when going on holiday.
On very hot summers, people use coolers when buying cold groceries such as ice-cream. This allows them to get home without the ice cream melting. Coolers are also used for everyday functions. For example, many people in the United States use coolers to carry their food. This helps to keep food cold (and fresh) and to keep any drinks ice cold. This is especially true for people working in construction and other outdoor jobs where refrigeration facilities may not be available.
Coolers are made with interiors that are waterproof and insulated. They may have a fabric exterior so that they look like an ordinary bag or may have a plastic exterior. Coolers may also have a strap on bags to help in carrying them around. Other kinds of coolers come with wheels which makes them easy to move around. Regardless of what you want your cooler for, there are numerous options available for you. We have given you a brief of the 7 best coolers available in the market today.
1. Lifewit Collapsible Cooler
Get your own Lifewit Collapsible Cooler, here.
The Lifewit collapsible cooler bag is regarded as one of the best insulated cool bags. The bag can carry up to 23 liters and can easily hold up to 36 cans of beverage (or a combination of cans and food). The large capacity means that the bag can easily carry enough food and drinks for a whole family during a picnic. The bag is separated into two sections allowing you to separate food from drinks. The bag can keep drinks cold for between 8 and 12 hours.
The lining of the Lifewit Collapsible Cooler Bag 36-Can Insulated Leakproof is designed to be leakproof which means you can easily use icepacks without any moisture getting through to the other side. The bag utilizes hot pressing technology to ensure that the lining is seamless and thus leakproof.
The Lifewit Cooler is easily portable and has both back straps (great for when hiking a trail) and a lid handle for everyday use. The cooler has a beautiful exterior and makes a beautiful fashion statement in any context.
Pros
- Materials are of high quality and very durable
- The leakproof interior makes it ideal for carrying cold drinks and icepacks.
- Multiple carrying positions
- Large storage capacity means you can carry all you need in one bag
Cons
- Soft fabric exterior easily damaged.
Verdict
The Lifewit Collapsible Cooler Bag 36-Can is great value for money. The bag is made of high-quality materials which means you can use it for a long time. The large capacity is a huge plus as you don’t have to carry two bags to get all your things in.
2. Coleman Wheeled Cooler
Get your own Coleman heeled Cooler, here.
The Coleman wheeled cooler is a small cooler with a difference. The large capacity cooler can hold up to 84 cans easily, meaning that you can take all the drinks you could ever need in this bag the cooler features a great water draining function that allows you to drain water without turning the box upside down. Once you put ice cubes in the cooler, it can hold the cold temperature for a full five days. This makes it ideal for camping trips that are meant to last for a couple of days.
The large interior of the bag is designed to be leakproof making it possible to use ice packs without the moisture leaking on the outside. The insulation is made of materials that are environmentally friendly. One of the things that one appreciates about the Coleman Cooler is the attention to detail. For example, the cooler has four convenient cup holders on the lid, positioned on each corner of the lid. These cup holders turn this cooler into a lovely table that picnickers can use while out to prevent their drinks from spilling. The Coleman cooler is also made o very high quality that ensures that the cooler is durable.
Pros
- Wheels make portability easy
- Comes with cup holders for easy use
- Large capacity means you can carry all your food and drinks
- Can hold food and drinks at low temperatures for up to five days.
Cons
- The wheels do not feel firm, especially when carrying a full load
Verdict
The Coleman Wheeled Cooler is a large capacity cooler that allows you to keep food and drinks cold for several days. This flexible cooler is great for camping trips, especially those that will last several days. The cooler is highly portable and can be wheeled around a campsite.
3. YETI Hopper Flip Portable Cooler
Get your own YETI Hopper Flip Portable Cooler, here.
The YETI Hopper is a cooler that is designed for adventure. It is 100% leak-proof and can hold ice for a couple of days. The material that is used to make the Hopper is tough and very durable. You are unlikely to damage it regardless of the environment that you are using it in. The material on the Hopper is also resistant to mildew and mold. The cooler has a capacity of 6 cans plus ice. The design is also ergonomically done and it’s easy to take things out of the Hopper thanks to the large opening at the top. The Hopper comes with a Mole opener for convenience when opening bottles and it also has a Mole zinger bottle opener.
The YETI Hopper looks great as well and a lot of work went into giving it as good a look as possible. With its tough exterior yet beautiful look, the cooler is as much at home on a fancy picnic as it is roughing it out in the wild. You can’t go wrong with this beautiful yet versatile cooler.
This is a cooler that you can depend on to keep your drinks cold. The hopper doesn’t have such a large capacity so it’s very ideal for short outdoor ventures. These include picnics and everyday use to keep lunches and drinks cold and fresh.
Pros
- High quality and durable materials. Very tough and designed for outdoor
- Leakproof interior means everything stays dry
- Comes with multiple carrying positions
- Reliable and consistent in keeping drinks cold even after long use.
Cons
- Limited capacity means its only good for brief excursions.
Verdict
The YETI Hopper is a high-quality cooler that comes with a bunch of premium features. This means you can expect reliable performance every time you use this handy cooler. Its limited capacity means that you can’t use it for anything else other than brief excursions.
4. YETI Tundra 65 Cooler
Get your own YETI Tundra 65 Cooler, here.
The YETI Tundra is a versatile cooler that can be used on your next outdoor adventure or your back-garden barbecue. This cooler comes with plenty of room and its extra thick FatWall designed is certified as Bear-resistant. This means you can leave it outside when you go camping and not even the bears can shew through its tough exterior. The interior is lined with PermaFrost Insulation that keeps ice in solid form for hours on end. The Tundra comes with the Rotomolded Design means this cooler is tough and is unlikely to be damaged on a camping trip or a hiking excursion.
The large capacity of the Tundra means that you can use it to carry most of the stuff that you need to be cooled in one place.
Finally, the Tundra comes with a unique Heavy-duty rubber latch that is long-lasting and unlikely to break or get spoilt.
Pros
- Tough and durable material means it can withstand heavy use
- The patented design on the latch is easy to open and close
- Comes with a basket for dry items
- It can be used for a variety of functions easily.
Cons
- The YETI Tundra is among the pricier coolers
- Can be heavy which makes portability a problem
Verdict
The YETI Tundra delivers on everything it promises. You can count on it to keep anything you keep in it cold and fresh. It is however quite expensive and portability might be an issue.
5. Coleman Cooler
Get your own Coleman Cooler, here.
The Coleman Cooler is a versatile cooler that is very easy to use. This cooler is a heavy-duty, high capacity cooler that can hold up to 85 cans together with the ice. The body of this cooler is designed to be rustproof. It is made of high-quality stainless steel which makes it virtually indestructible. This steel-belted cooler can keep drinks and ice frozen for up to 4 days meaning that anything packed in the cooler stays cold and fresh.
The large capacity of this cooler means that you are able to carry all your cold items easily in one single cooler. The cooler is partitioned to allow the user to carry different kinds of food items without mixing them together. This is useful if you have drinks that need to stay in ice but also have food items that need to stay cold but dry (such as butter and cheese).
The Coleman Cooler is designed to be portable and its carrier straps are lined and padded for comfort. The Coleman cooler is also reasonably priced and thus delivers great value for money.
Pros
- Leakproof interior means you can fill it with ice
- Rustproof exterior means it won; be affected by the outdoors
- Portable and easy to carry
- Large storage capacity means you can carry all the drinks you need
Cons
- The latch is easily damaged and needs care when handling
Verdict
The Coleman Cooler is a versatile and easy-to-use cooler. It delivers on its core job and you can bet that anything cold will stay fresh for a long time. It is also reasonably priced and offers great value for money.
6. ENGEL Cooler
Get your own ENGEL Cooler, here.
The Engel Cooler is a great cooler with lots of capabilities. This versatile cooler doubles as a dry box meaning it can keep moisture from emergency kits, cameras and much more. The cooler has a proprietary technology gasket that is installed around the lid and is completely airtight. This helps with ice retention as well as waterproofing the cooler.
The ENGEL cooler also comes in various compartments that protect your food and ensure that different food items do not mix at all. This allows you to use this really cool cooler for a variety of functions.
The cooler comes with stainless steel screws and the latches are stainless steel as well. This ensures that there are no parts that can rust. The box is designed to be easy to clean and it is stain and odor resistant.
Pros
- A high quality body that is durable and not easily damaged.
- Easy to carry and completely leakproof
- Rust and dour proof
- Large capacity to carry plenty of drinks with you
Cons
- Pricey for a cooler of its specification
- Latches prone to breaking
Verdict
The Engel Cooler is a great toolbox for anyone looking to get a reasonably-priced cooling box. The box will deliver on what it promises and is long-lasting. There may be issues with the latching system but for most people, this will be a perfect cooler for the job.
7. ENGEL Live Bait Cooler with 2-speed Aerator Pump
Get your own ENGEL Live Bait Cooler, here.
The Engel Live bait cooler is a versatile cooler that will preserve your shrimp and pinfish bait perfectly no matter how hot the weather is outside. The cooler comes with an airtight EVA seal on the lid that keeps the box airtight and heatproof. The gasket is further designed in such a way that it regresses into the groove. This gives the box a certain ergonomic design that makes it easy to store and carry. The cooler comes with a 2-speed pump that optimizes aeration and battery life. In turn, the motor is protected in a waterproof casing which also serves the purpose of reducing the noise that the motor makes.
You can even remove the pump and the ENGEL Live Bait Cooler with 2-speed Aerator Pump becomes an ordinary cooler that one can use in their everyday activities.
Pros
- Easy to carry and made of light materials
- Very functional and can be used for a variety of purposes
- High-quality material makes it durable
- Large storage capacity means you can carry all you need in one bag
Cons
- The aerator is prone to getting spoilt
Verdict
The ENGEL Live Bait Cooler with 2-speed Aerator Pump is a versatile cooler that comes with a host of features to make it easy to use. It’s light, easy to carry but the materials are nevertheless high-quality and durable. For those who love fishing, this is an ideal cooler to carry your bait.
Small Coolers Buying Guide
When you are looking for a cooler, there are numerous options that are available. Your choice of the ideal cooler depends on your needs as well as the budget that you have on hand. Most coolers can get the basic job done; the differentiation is usually in the detail. This includes the size of the cooler, its outer material and how portable it is. When you are looking to buy your cooler, here are some things to consider:
Size
When it comes to coolers, size matters in two ways. The first pertains to the volume that the cooler can take. If you have a large family, it makes a lot of sense to have a cooler that will take in all the stuff that an average family needs to carry along. If you have no family or you are simply looking for a cooler that will keep your drinks cold as you play a round of golf, then you can go for smaller sized coolers. Size matters a lot when it comes to storage. You must consider the size of your car when buying a cooler. There is no need to buy a cooler that you can’t take along with you.
Material
Coolers come in a variety of materials and there are advantages and disadvantages to every kind of material. One of the most common material is metal as well as plastic. Plastic is a commonly used material and it is favored because it is tough, lightweight and low-cost. Plastic also makes water-proof coolers which make it favored. Plastic can also be molded so that the final product has no weak points or joints. The drawback when it comes to plastic is that it might not be able to withstand harsh use, especially if the cooler is meant for extreme use. Metal is not a common material and is usually found on high-end coolers. Fabric is also used in coolers and this is typically in soft-sided coolers.
Carrying Method
Coolers can be quite heavy especially when fully loaded. Many of these coolers are meant to be used in the outdoors and ferrying them around can be quite a challenge. There are all kinds of solutions to this problem including straps, wheels and much more. If you buy a large, heavy-duty cooler, you might want to take options that can be wheeled around. This makes it easy for you to carry your cooler around without much strain. Others come with lid handles, side handles (which make it easy for two people to carry the cooler), shoulder straps and much more. If you have a large capacity cooler with no obvious way of carrying it or sharing the load, you might want to reconsider as it will be very difficult to carry when full.
Insulation
This refers to the basic function of any cooler. Depending on what you want the cooler to do, you will have some idea about how you want the cooler to function. There is a tendency to expect that all coolers must be able to keep ice frozen for a period of time. While this is a good thing, there is also the knowledge that most coolers are used for simple everyday tasks such as carrying lunch and drinks to work. Such coolers need not have top-of-the-range insulation as they only need to keep a few items chilled for just several hours. If, however you are looking for a heavy-duty cooler to keep items cold and fresh for days, then you might want to consider paying a little more and getting a premium cooler. There is no need to pay for premium cooling capacity if you just need it to keep a few items cool for just a handful of hours.
Final Verdict
Need to go camping or fishing? Being prepared is essential, and all the coolers in this list have their plus points as well as their negatives. Depending on why you need a cooler, the seven coolers listed will definitely get the job done. Some will be more convenient for you because of their size while others may be excellent for their ability to keep your food and drink ice cold. Some coolers have gone beyond the basics and tried to differentiate themselves by providing a little extra. A good example is the Coleman Freezer which converts into a great outdoor table complete with cup holders, and going camping with this cooler saves you the trouble of having to tote along with a table as well. There is nothing as disappointing as longing for an ice-cold drink, only to find it is not as cold as you hoped it would be! By following the tips provided in this article, you are like to end up with a great cooler that will keep all your food and drinks chilled.
