It’s built rugged and tough enough to withstand those questionably-maintained roads you may find yourself driving down. And it is practically bursting at the seams with ridiculously convenient features and well-thought-out usability. Two internal baskets make loading and locating things that much easier, as you can lift out the basket to find what you need. An internal light assists in finding that last beer in the dark, and a tall interior easily accommodates your celebratory champagne. A free app on your phone lets you easily control and monitor your powered cooler without having to get out of your sleeping bag or camping chair.
It’s also much lighter than the majority of the rest of the competition, even lighter even than several of the personal-sized models we tested. And to top it off, it has a deceptively large internal volume for a comparatively small overall size. With a simple pull-open lid and no latches to slow you down, the Coleman is coleman sundome one of the most natural-feeling chests to use — like opening your fridge at home. The Cabela Polar Cap 80 is a top-of-the-line cooler that has been designed to keep cold for days on end. With a large 68-quart capacity, this cooler can store plenty of food and drinks — even an upright wine bottle could fit in this unit.
If you need ice for extended periods (we’re thinking of you, rafters and multi-day campers), the cost is worth it. But for those on day trips or shorter overnight outings with access to new ice, an inexpensive cooler like the Coleman 316 Series or Igloo Ecocool is a fine option. In the world of coolers, Yeti pioneered the high-end concept, and the Tundra is its best-selling and most versatile model. This popular line features premium cooling and ice-retention capabilities with a thick, rotomolded build that’s more durable and less prone to cracking than injection-molded options like the RTIC above.
All told, like the non-wheeled 316 Series model above, this Coleman cooler should meet the needs of many recreational campers, concert-goers, and tailgaters without breaking the bank. Whether you’re headed to the beach, tailgating before your favorite sporting event, or camping in the wild, there’s a good chance you’ll want to keep your food and drinks cold. Thankfully, the market is packed with high-quality coolers that excel at everything from short day trips to week-long adventures. Below we break down our favorite hard-sided designs of 2023, including budget-friendly Coleman models, ultra-premium Yetis, and popular offerings from brands like RTIC, Orca, Pelican, and more. For more background information, see our cooler comparison table and buying advice below the picks.
With about two liters of water in each cooler, we flipped, rolled, and shook them to see how watertight they were. We gave them a rating out of 10, where 10 was no water spilling out and 1 was no seal at all. For longer getaways, anything shy of 50 liters is likely to feel cramped, especially when you factor in that at least half of that space should be reserved for ice. It has a drain on one side, but other than that, the Coleman Steel Belted Cooler doesn’t have much in the way of features. We loved the sleek, retro look of the Coleman Steel Belted Cooler. But while this cooler impressed in some ways, it suffered from a disappointing lack of durability in some of its smaller components.
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. I did my best to account for those size differences as I evaluated each cooler’s relative performance, but first, I needed to be sure that I had accurate measurements. That meant putting those manufacturer capacity claims to the test, and I wanted a better, more universal metric than just counting how many cans I could cram into each one. Not only will it keep your food cold for a very long time, but it’s also all but indestructible. If you’re really serious, you can even add a reflective material on the outside of your cooler (this is an excellent tip for camping in summer heat).
But in the big picture, if you want stuff to stay cold, you literally cannot beat Cabela’s Polar Cap option. Its lowest 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. You see, Yeti, Engel, RTIC, etc are all great coolers, but they’re very expensive – anywhere from $200 to $500+. These coolers are solid, bear-proof, and boast of the ability to keep food cold for 5-10 days. This baseline Coleman Chest product doesn’t have a lot of visual stimulation.