How To Find The Ideal Cooler
There are coolers, usually a variety of coolers, in almost every garage. People buy them quickly at Wal Mart with very little forethought, when they’re on their way out with food or drinks. If you’re like me, though, you never seem to have the right kind of cooler handy. I have one that’s a perfect size, but it doesn’t keep drinks cool for very long. My five day cooler is a behemoth with wheels. Good for a campout in one location, but not right for a one day hike. I actually have two different coolers that are just right for a few drinks and a lunch, but they leak water if they tip over.
True outdoorsmen take the time to find a cooler that meets all of their needs, but these super coolers are available to everyone. Why not take what they’ve learned and put it to use for your own day to day needs? Here are some things you should look for to get a cooler that will work for you in every situation.
Probably the most important feature is the cooler’s ability to keep things cold for a long time, especially if it’s hot out. This is all about the insulation. In its simplest terms, thicker insulation keeps things cold longer. This is still true to some degree, but fortunately there have been many advancements in insulation. There are now many types of insulation that can be incorporated into a product like a cooler. One of the greatest advancements is better use of space. You can get a lot of insulation effectiveness with less mass than ever before. Some types of insulation are flexible, so some modern coolers can be rolled up or folded. You’re looking for a cooler that is lightweight and takes up as little space as possible, yet still has enough insulation to keep your things cold for a long time.
There are two ways to cool things – with ice or without. You can get a cooler that uses some kind of power – typically electric or battery – to cool the air inside without using ice. This type of cooling system is often used in places like homes and offices that have a reliable source of power. Ice remains the most practical choice for a cooler that can be taken anywhere. There’s no cold like ice-cold, especially for sodas and water. Ice is readily available and inexpensive almost anywhere you go. Away from civilization? You can cool you food and drinks with snow or snow runoff from a river or stream. It can be easily disposed of anywhere when it has melted. The only down-side to ice is that it can make some of your items soggy as it melts. This is easily solved by putting your food in Ziploc bags in the cooler.
One other potential drawback of ice is that your cooler can leak if it tips over. This is really a cooler problem. If your cooler leaks when turned upside down, keep looking for a new cooler. If water can get out, then warm air can get in.
Soft sided cooler have become much more popular recently. These have the advantage of being able to take up less space when they’re less full. Even better, when they’re not in use, you can roll them up so they take very little storage space. Imagine that you want to keep your drinks cool. Your drinks are in disposable containers, as most are. When the drinks are gone, you dump out the remaining ice and water, roll up the cooler and put it away.
Durability is key too. Once you’ve found a cooler you like, you might as well keep it for a while. Be sure you select a well made product that is going to last through many excursions.
Ice Mule is a cooler bag that meets all of these criteria. Designed like a dry bag for boating, the Ice Mule keeps ice and water in and warm air out. Read more about the insulated backpack cooler.
