The Xspec strikes a very happy medium, narrow enough for simple solo carrying, tall enough to fit an upright bottle of wine, yet shallow enough to find whatever you’re looking for easily. If you’re interested in a smaller capacity option, we’re big fans of the exceptionally useful 40-quart volume and compact shape of the Orca 40. Though these won’t last you an coleman instant tent entire week in the desert (unless you chill the cooler and its contents beforehand combined with mostly ice), it is an excellent option for weekend trips or day excursions. Both models are rotomolded with freezer-style gaskets designed to keep cold air in and hot air out. We ran and re-ran insulation tests under controlled but harsh laboratory conditions.
The Coleman® 30 Qt Performance Cooler has everything you would want in a cooler. The insulation keeps food and beverage extra cold, the hinged lid includes two molded cup holders for quick access to your beverage, and the new, stylish outer casing will impress all your friends and co-workers. When it’s time for storage, the dry bin folds flat and can be easily and securely stored on top of the lid.
The Arctic Titan has an oversized drain to decrease the time you spend emptying it. And if one drain isn’t enough for you, the Ultralight features two drains, one on either end. As far as drains go, several products have dual-function drains, meaning there’s a hole through the shaft of the drain plug that lets water run out without having to remove the entire drain cap. Of course, if you want a faster flow, a total plug removal is advised, but don’t misplace that cap, as most models we tested don’t come with a tether to keep it attached to the body of the box.
For those who plan to carry or move their cooler with any regularity, weight should be an important consideration. Even when empty, hard-sided options weigh anywhere from pounds for low-capacity models up to 50+ pounds for premium designs with 75+ quarts of storage. And despite including carry handles, they’re simply too hefty to travel with for long distances. If portability is a priority, we recommend looking at options with wheels, such as RovR’s RollR 45 or Igloo’s Trailmate Journey. For $65, the 50-quart Coleman Xtreme is another standout in the value category, and this time with wheels. In the same family as our top budget pick, this basic cooler certainly is a far cry from the RovR RollR, Igloo Trailmate, and Pelican 80QT Elite above, but the functionality is decent for the price.
The green Coleman cooler’s spacious interior provides enough room for 223 cans, plus ice. The unit features the same rugged, heavy-duty build that’s made Coleman the most trusted name in portable drink and food storage systems. The model features an eco-friendly build, crafted with Thermozone insulation that’s free from toxic chemicals that can damage ozone levels, including coleman ice chest CFCs, HFCs and HCFCs. A rustproof-build and a leak-resistant drain empower no-tilt emptying and easy carrying. The Coleman beverage cooler is outfitted with two sturdy two-way handles for comfortable carrying and a hinged, snap-tight lid that keeps contents neatly contained, even on bumpy rides. The lid is designed with four built-in cup holders for added convenience.
And if you are so inclined to make additional purchases, the RovR can be mounted to the back of your bicycle like a tiny, ice-filled wagon. The drain plug isn’t the only factor that makes emptying water easy or annoying. Most of the contenders we tested also have a sloping channel behind the drain to help gravity pull water out. Still, several have unfortunately paired this with a large lip or other obstruction that then stops your drainage progress before it’s 100% complete.
We are a bit disappointed to have measured this large model with “65” in the name at just 56 quarts, but our testers ended up appreciating this surprisingly useful size more than the models that are actually 65 quarts. The Tundra line also includes a plethora of other sizes, many of which we’ve tested — from small, personal boxes to behemoths. Like many of its competitors, the Tundra 65 has a tiny lip on the inside of the bottom of the drain, so it is challenging to fully empty without flipping the cooler upside-down. Still, we think the Tundra 65 is a useful choice for almost any vehicle-powered activity.