The 6 Best Coolers of 2024 Reviews by Wirecutter

If I’m headed to the beach with the family for a day, I’m probably going to opt for the Igloo. If we’re going to talk about performance, we should talk about capacity first. Although some ice chest sizes are more popular than others (50-quart, for instance), there isn’t much uniformity among coolers as far as size and shape are concerned. Apart from determining how many cans of beer or soda each one will hold, size and shape will have an impact on performance too. After all, with the quantity of ice being equal, a 75-quart cooler like the Frosted Frog has a bigger job on its hands than the 45-quart RTIC.

ozark cooler

When folded, the Mac Sports wagon’s dimensions are approximately 29½ by 20 by 8 inches. It comes with a small cover, which squeezes the accordion folds together tightly and makes the wagon easier to lift and carry with the included strap. The material is easy to wipe clean, and during our testing it didn’t grow any mildew when stored damp. Even after over a year of use, the wagon didn’t lose any ability to fold or unfold smoothly. You can check some of the models from these cooler brands out for more information.

Also, there are a lot of coolers that are cheaper than a YETI ice chest. Technically, the Ozark Trail backpack cooler can fit 20 cans of drinks or food; however, this also depends on how much ice you plan on adding. Similar to any other true roto-molded cooler, the RTIC 65 is practically indestructible, which makes it great for tougher outdoor environments. In our testing, the RTIC 65 kept ice frozen for 10 days with some periodic draining. We’ve also used this cooler for nearly five years for grocery runs in Hawaii, and it’s still going strong. One charm of the RTIC 65 is its reasonable price, which allows us to be far less careful with this equipment than we are with something as expensive or desirable as a Yeti.

Larger models often have wheels on the bottom and a telescoping handle, so you can easily pull the cooler to transport it. Ozark Trail also offers backpack and tote soft-sided coolers, which allow for hands-free carrying. Ozark Trail soft-sided coolers are all designed to have multiple storage options. In most cases, the coolers feature a large, insulated inner compartment and exterior storage pockets on the front or sides. Front pockets usually have zippers, while side pockets typically have no closure and are made of mesh to hold non-food items.

Some soft-sided models also have expandable tops that can increase the height of the cooler by as much as three inches to fit stacked cans or larger bottles. For a cooler of more manageable size and only $97.00, the Ozark Trail 35-quart hard sided cooler is a great choice. Its premium insulation makes for impressive ice retention, and the freezer-grade gasket is removable for quick cleanup. This model’s interior bin features a handle, along with a locking plate on the outside.

SAN JOSE, Calif. — One morning late last year, an RV pulled into a parking lot on the outskirts of Silicon Valley. Inside it was a blue Ikea bag with huge balloons, and metal tanks full of helium and sulfur dioxide gas. Public parking areas are located in and around Brackenridge Park and the new Zoo Parking Garage! The Zoo Parking Garage is located in between the zoo and Will Smith Zoo School. Clothing or tattoos with offensive language or graphics are not permitted at any time. In keeping with our family-friendly atmosphere, and for health and safety reasons, San Antonio Zoo strictly enforces a dress code.

Several of the models I’ve tested from Cabela’s, Orca, Rovr, Magellan Outdoors and Yeti all make the cut. The last time I tested coolers for this list, I had Cabela’s 60-quart version of this cooler listed as the best large cooler. But in the big picture, if you want stuff to stay cold, you literally can’t beat Cabela’s Polar Cap option. Its lowest ozark trail canopy internal temperature during testing was the coldest, but the real treat was the fact that it held that low-level temp for around 20% longer than the next best contender. So there you have it, when looking at just the ability to keep ice cold over a period of 6 days the Pelican has just slightly won, but we are talking about decimal points.