Then I measured out the exact number of quarts each cooler could hold — important information to have when you’re dealing with large quantities of melted ice. If anything, the smaller, cheaper models were mostly conservative in their estimates, with ones like the Coleman Xtreme and Igloo Latitude wheeled coolers coming in several quarts more sizable than advertised. For longer trips or events where more storage space is needed, look for Coleman Xtreme coolers. You can find coolers in this line that offer anywhere from 28- to 120-quart capacity, guaranteeing you have plenty of room for all kinds of food and drink. These options also ensure that ice inside the cooler remains frozen for 3-5 days, depending on conditions. Choosing the right Coleman cooler really depends on what type of trip or event you are taking your cooler to.
Whether you need a small soft cooler for day trips or a large hard cooler for camping, Coleman’s got you covered. For our money, the Coleman Xtreme 5 cooler is the best of the best due to its size and cooling capabilities, but there are plenty of great models for every need. In our testing, the Coleman Xtreme kept ice frozen for a full week (170 hours), 30 hours longer than coleman cooler the Igloo MaxCold (140 hours). It measures 28.4 by 15.8 by 17.5 inches, its design incorporates bevels and angles all over the place, and it has a ruler and cup holders molded into its lid. Insulation obsessives may want to fill those cup holders with Styrofoam, but considering how well this cooler performed in our tests, doing so doesn’t seem to be all that critical.
For example, if you’re taking a picnic lunch to a park in town, perhaps a soft-sided Coleman cooler is all you need. A soft-sided cooler is easy to pack, fits easily in your vehicle, takes up little space, and keeps your food and drinks cold. If you’re worried about re-stocking, ice packs are a viable alternative. Most major brands have their own designs that work well in their coolers, and the best part is that you can use them repeatedly without ever having to drain melted ice. That said, ice packs are fairly expensive (Yeti’s range from $15 to $30 depending on size) and require refreezing once they lose their coldness, which limits practicality for longer trips. As mentioned, the internal storage space is more limited in Yeti coolers because of their thick walls–this cooler really has 57 quarts of storage space, not 65 quarts.
We tend to steer clear of most bargain-basement coolers—they may work well for a day or two but often lack the impressive ice retention of premium models and won’t stand up as well to regular outdoor use. Igloo’s Ecocool 52 isn’t totally exempt from these drawbacks, but it’s more well rounded and functional than much of the budget competition. For just $60, the Igloo boasts a generous 52-quart capacity, and the proprietary foam insulation does a good job keeping food and drinks chilled for up to three days (in the right conditions, of course). The feature set is also pretty well sorted for the price, including four self-draining cup holders and functional lifts at the bottom that slightly elevate the cooler off the ground or truck bed.
The Coleman Xtreme is a non-rotomolded cooler with a single pair of end handles and an internal height that fits most wine bottles or 2L sodas. It features an integrated fishing ruler and four cupholders in the lid. Beach, lake, backyard or tailgate—bring the party in comfort with our Southern Comfort . Since dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide, it passes directly from a solid to a gaseous state, meaning no water to deal with as it melts.
However, dry ice can be dangerous to touch (you have to wear heavy gloves to prevent frostbite), doesn’t last long, and many coolers aren’t even rated to handle it. All told, it might take some finessing to perfect coleman instant tent your ice strategy, but we think a combination of crushed and blocks is the best (and safest) method. A. A lot of people would argue that premium cooler prices have gotten out of hand lately, and they have a point.
CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise. Coolers are an essential component of any barbecue or camping trip. Our experts tested multiple brands to bring you the best cooler to fit your needs.
We also like the unique assortment of multi-toned colorways that add a nice dose of flair. 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.
After 48 hours (72 hours for the largest coolers), I had a nifty graph showing me the temperature inside each cooler on a minute-by-minute basis — and the difference from cooler to cooler was striking. To help put this data in perspective, I broke down the coolers into separate size categories after peeling soft-sided coolers into their own category. That left me with small coolers (less than 40 quarts), midsize coolers (40-59 quarts) and large coolers (60 quarts or more). You can find the graphed data for each of those categories below, as well as our performance data on soft coolers (again, you shouldn’t expect a whole lot from coolers like those).
But the basket is such a simple and effective use of space (the Yeti Tundra 65 comes with a basket). I can keep my delicate food items in the basket so they don’t get bruised, overly cold or waterlogged. While I wish the Xtreme 5 was a little more robust, its lightweight construction does make it easier to transport. Coolers are awkward to carry because of their size and shape, even when they aren’t particularly heavy. This one weighed in at just a touch more than 10 pounds with a 12-pack of cans and three bags of ice; totally manageable. Buying a cooler used to be a pretty straightforward affair; all you had to do was choose your size and find a color you liked.