Camping is a great way to enjoy the outdoors and spend time with family and friends. When camping, it’s important to have all necessary indoor and outdoor gear, including a cooler to store food and drinks.
Coolers are an essential part of any camping trip, so choosing the right one is important. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the best coolers for camping and provide tips on how to choose the right one for your needs.
Types Of Camping Coolers
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There are multiple types of coolers available on the market, each with its own set of features. The most common types are:
Soft-sided coolers
Soft coolers are made from fabric and have an insulation layer. They’re lighter than hard-sided coolers and more portable. Here are some features of soft-sided coolers:
Light Weight
These coolers are available in vinyl or fabric and are lighter than hard-sided coolers constructed of rotomolded plastic. When it comes to size, they’re rather tiny, and what you put inside will make up the bulk of the weight.
Portability
The last thing you want to take with you when trekking or enjoying the great outdoors is anything that restricts your freedom of movement. A soft sided cooler is ideal for this purpose since their tiny size and lightweight construction make them very transportable.
A hard cooler must be carried long-distance to your campsite in a vehicle or some other sort of long-distance transportation. On the other hand, soft-sided coolers come with shoulder straps that allow you to carry them like a backpack or rucksack.
Storage
These coolers are easily collapsible, as opposed to hard coolers, which are rigid. As a result, soft-sided coolers don’t take up much room at all. When it’s empty, you can simply roll up a soft cooler and store it somewhere else.
Hard-sided coolers
Hard-sided coolers are made of rotomolded plastic and feature thicker walls for better insulation. They’re heavier than soft-sided coolers but offer more durability. Here are some features of hard-sided coolers:
Better Insulation
One advantage hard-sided coolers have over their soft-sided cousins is that they’re better insulated. This is due to the fact that they have thicker walls. As a result, they’re better at keeping things cold for longer periods.
More Durable
Hard-sided coolers are also more durable than their soft-sided counterparts. The thick walls and sturdy construction make them less likely to break or be damaged.
Capacity
Hard-sided coolers come in a variety of sizes, from small to large. If you’re going on a long camping trip or need to store a lot of food and drinks, a larger hard-sided cooler is the way to go.
Electric Or Powered Coolers
Electric or powered coolers are a type of hard-sided cooler that features an electric motor and fan to circulate air and keep things cool. Here are some features of powered coolers:
Keeps Things Cooler For Longer
One advantage of electric or powered coolers is that they can keep things cooler for longer periods of time. This is due to the fact that they have a fan that circulates air and keeps things from getting too warm.
Portable
Another advantage of electric or powered coolers is that they’re more portable than other types of hard-sided coolers. This is because they’re often smaller in size and come with wheels, making them easy to transport.
Now that you know the different types of coolers available let’s talk about how to choose the right one for your needs.
How To Choose A Camping Cooler
Here are some things you should keep in mind when choosing a camping cooler:
Ease Of Transportation
You’re going to have to lug this thing around, so make sure it’s not too heavy when empty and that it has some form of handles or wheels for easy transport. If you get a bigger one, wheels are an absolute must. The last thing you want is a hernia from trying to lift a 60-quart cooler into the back of your truck.
Double-check the weight when it’s fully loaded, too, so you know how much your end destination can handle before you get there. You don’t want to have to leave half your food and beer behind because the cooler was too heavy.
Most hard-sided coolers have handles on the sides for easy transport, but some also come with a shoulder strap or wheels for even easier mobility.
Size is another important factor to consider when choosing a camping cooler. You want to make sure it’s big enough to hold all of your food and drinks, but not so big that it’s difficult to transport.
Safety Against Water And Animal Damage
Choose a cooler that will keep your food and drinks safe from the elements. Hard-sided coolers are often made of rotomolded plastic, which is durable and resistant to water and animals.
Soft-sided coolers also come with various features that make them resistant to water and animals. For example, some have waterproof zippers and linings, and others have built-in drainage systems.
No matter what type of cooler you choose, make sure it has a good seal to keep water and animals out.
Camping Duration
How long are you going to be camping? If you’re only going for a weekend, a small cooler should suffice. But if you’re planning on being out in the wilderness for weeks at a time, you’ll need a larger cooler that can hold more food and drinks.
When choosing a camping cooler, it’s important to consider how long you’ll be using it for. If you’re only going for a weekend, a small cooler should suffice. But if you’re planning on being out in the wilderness for weeks at a time, you’ll need a larger cooler that can hold more food and drinks.
Now that you know what to look for in a camping cooler, here are nine of the best camping coolers on the market.
The Best Coolers For Camping
Here are nine of the best camping coolers on the market:
Coleman 54-Quart Steel-Belted Cooler
The total capacity for this unit stands at 54 quarts. That means it can fit as many as 85 cans. If you’re planning to use it for food storage, it can accommodate two-liter bottles and other large containers with ease.
The Coleman cooler comes in a variety of colors. Green, red, and turquoise are just a few of the options. For a more modern look, you can choose stainless steel or matte black.
This Coleman cooler is one of the best camping coolers on the market because it’s durable and can hold a lot of food and drinks.
Igloo MaxCold Cooler
The Igloo MaxCold cooler is perfect for those who want a reliable cooler that won’t break the bank. This budget-friendly option can hold up to 50 quarts, making it ideal for storing food and drinks for a group of people.
YETI Tundra Haul Cooler
This cooler comes with NeverFlat Wheels and a tow handle, allowing you to transport it on all of your trips without having to worry about it being too heavy. The puncture-resistant wheels can readily roll over rocks, sand, grass, and several other surfaces, making transportation hassle-free.
The cooler’s interior capacity is 45 cans or 55 pounds of ice on its own. This cooler uses PermaFrost Insulation technology and ColdLock Gasket technology to keep ice from melting and to seal in the cold, resulting in a more optimal cooling temperature for beverages like iced waters, lemonades, and brewskis.
For people who want a sturdy and dependable wheeled cooler that can keep food cold for days, this YETI cooler is ideal.
Engel High-Performance Cooler
If you’re looking for a top-of-the-line camping cooler, the Engel High-Performance Cooler is the way to go. This high-end option features a unique rotomolded frame that makes it virtually indestructible.
It also has an airtight gasket that seals keeps food ice cold for days and two inches of polyurethane foam insulation for maximum ice retention. The interior capacity of this Engel cooler is 40 quarts, making it perfect for storing food and drinks for a group of people.
Orca Cooler – 20 Quarts ORCG020
This budget cooler can hold up to 20 quarts and is perfect for those who want a durable and reliable cooler that can hold a lot of food and drinks. The cooler comes in a variety of colors, including green and tan, but it is also available in white or even pink if those hues are more appealing to you. And the seal on this model is guaranteed to be flawless thanks to the lid gasket. The stainless steel handle also has a soft yet sturdy grip to make it as pleasant as it is strong.
Herschel Little America Insulated Backpack Cooler
Backpack coolers are extremely portable, making them ideal for hiking, going to the park, or just exploring any neighborhood or metropolis. Herschel’s Little America Insulated Backpack is made of recycled fabric and can hold up to 32 cans.
And it’s available in a wide range of designs and colors, so you can select one that reflects your own distinct style. It also has a waterproof lining and is built from recycled materials.
Conclusion
When it comes to coolers, there are many different options on the market. But which one is right for you? It all depends on your needs and preferences.
Do you need a large cooler that can hold a lot of food and drinks? Or do you need a small cooler that is easy to transport?
Think about what you will be using the cooler for and how often you will be using it. Once you know what you need, you can narrow down your options and choose the best camping cooler for your needs.
Now that you know more about coolers, types, how to pick one, as well as some great examples – go ahead and get ready for your next camping trip! Be sure to bring along one of these great camping coolers to keep your food and drinks cold. And don’t forget the ice!
