Previously, we tested hard coolers in the summer in Baltimore through a week that saw highs of 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit and lows of 64 to 72 degrees. And more recently we tested most of our picks again throughout the year in Hawaii. It only takes pulling a wedge of waterlogged cheese out of your camping cooler once to realize the utility of a good ice pack. But with so many different brands on the market, it can be hard to know which is worth the investment and which is just taking up valuable real estate in your cooler.
The paper pulp of the Recool composts easily in the backyard, and it performs basically as well as any cheap single-use cooler. The handle and wheels on the Yeti Tundra Haul are the best we’ve come across. This cooler feels like you can roll it across anything without the handle straining or bending, or the wheels breaking. The Ozark Trail cooler is made from polyethylene, which is the most common kind of plastic in use today. Yes, you will most likely see differing results when adding cans or bottles into the mix. If you are adding warm drinks to your ice, you will see reductions in the overall length of time your ice will stay cold.
We also don’t have suggestions for couch-style or loveseat chairs (we’d like to look at those someday, though). As with all soft coolers, you shouldn’t leave the RTIC Soft Pack Cooler out in the sun or resting on very hot surfaces like the back of a pickup truck or on top of a picnic table for a long time. Although the exterior of the cooler is made of a durable, thickly coated nylon—waterproof and tough—the sun and heat will degrade the material and slowly wear it out. The Ozark Trail 45 quart cooler is known for its convenience and durability, with an industrial-strength locking plate to keep it sealed tight and wheels for easy transport.
If you’re heading out on a camping trip this spring, you’ll want a heavy-duty cooler to keep your food and drink supply fresh. This 24-quart design from Igloo, which has 900 glowing reviews, is large enough to keep you stocked for days, while the ultratherm ozark trail chair insulation will keep your ice frozen for longer. Plus, it’s 40% lighter than other coolers so it’s easy to lug down to your campsite. The cooler includes a bottle opener, cup holders, a lockable lid, fish ruler, and a wire basket for your convenience.
Other chairs we tested sacrificed too much comfort in order to shave mere ounces off of their weights, and we don’t think the trade-off was worth it. Keep in mind that lightweight chairs won’t be nearly as comfortable as traditional camping chairs, so take ozark cooler the word comfortable with a grain of salt. For many owners we’ve talked to, it’s been an essential chair for watching sporting events or any other time you’ll be in the direct sun for hours, like cookouts, picnics, birthday parties, and field trips.