A boat-bound cooler, or one you plan to take to the beach or lake, will also need to be waterproof. Any cooler you plan to bring outside beyond your own deck or yard should be reasonably able to withstand the elements. If you choose a soft cooler on wheels, make sure the fabric can handle being loaded up with ice and the resulting leftover water. Most hard coolers on wheels can withstand water, from inside or out, but it’s still a factor you’ll want to double-check.
Some have ingenious accessories, some are no-frills cold boxes, one of them will even hook up to your bike so you can roll right up to the party. All 15 are coolers worth checking out before you head outside this summer to take things easy. ORCA (Outdoor Recreation Company of America) isn’t a household name like YETI, but the Tennessee brand has gained a dedicated following of committed outdoorspeople. Their 40-quart cooler gives premium rotomolded models here a real run for their money. Its flexible side handles make carrying a breeze, and we found the exterior organizer pocket to be a nice addition for storing small items like koozies, kitchen utensils, and a bottle opener. Starting at 20 quarts and going all the way up to 140, there’s an ORCA cooler for just about any activity.
Igloo is back once again and this time with their 60-quart Transformer Roller cooler which offers up ample storage and features that will be extremely handy when you go camping, hiking or fishing. Any ice that you store inside to keep food and drinks cool will last a good 24-hours on hot days and even longer on colder days. Although this is a fairly basic standing cooler on wheels, because it is made by Igloo, you can be confident that you’re getting great value for money. It has a solid build, will keep ice cold for as long as five days at a time, and has features such as cup holders, telescopic handle, and a mobile stand that you can use to place your phones, keys, or anything else of importance.
If you plan to use your new cooler for local picnic trips or backyard barbecues most often, the Rovr RollR 60 makes strolling down the sidewalk, traversing grass fields, and rolling across sand a breeze. The cooler’s coolest feature is easily the fact that it has pneumatic tires vs. plastic wheels, so you can pump ‘em up just as you would with a bike or car. This gives the cooler the capability to roll over the same types of terrain that are accessible to those vehicles.
We can assure you that this large cooler with wheels is going to give you everything that you will ever need when it comes to cold drinks and food out in the wilderness. This cooler is also well-priced, another reason igloo electric cooler why Igloo coolers are so popular. Considering some coolers can cost three or four times what this one cost and that they are not that far ahead in terms of performance means that these represent a good deal.
Our rolling igloo cooler with wheels plus an optional igloo cooler is made of powder-coated tubular steel. Having a solid cooler for activities like camping or tailgating can make all the difference between enjoying a perfectly chilled drink and a lukewarm one. The best coolers provide solid ice retention and are equipped with user-friendly features, such as a plug for easy drainage and built-in cup holders on the lid. And for those traveling far from their vehicle to their destination, a cooler with wheels is a must.
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 committed cooler enthusiasts know, the type of ice you use heavily impacts how much you’re able to store and how long it stays cold. Crushed ice is the most readily available—you can find it at most gas stations and supermarkets for fairly cheap. The major draw is that it easily fills the gaps between your food and beverages, cooling them quickly and efficiently.
The Original can do exactly what you need it to do, which is to keep things cold for the day while you focus on the fun at hand. 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 Coleman Xtreme 50-quart Wheeled Cooler is a favorite “everyday” cooler option for beach days, local ball games, and other warm-weather outings with friends and family. Its combination of light plastic body, nearly all-terrain wheels, and a retractable, telescoping handle allow for a leisurely stroll-along with your refreshments in tow. Made with environmentally friendly, patented Thermozone insulation, the walls are insulated to prolong ice, and the chest can carry an impressive 84 cans. The lid is also insulated, though fairly easy to open and close, which could indicate that it’s not the most airtight cooler on the market. On the positive side, there’s no visible gap between the lid and body, unlike many affordable cooler models. The “have-a-seat” lid can support up to 250 pounds and also conveniently features four cup holders.