It manages to keep a medium to large internal volume while staying lightweight and portable. While we can’t control how much you plan on throwing in the cooler, it was noticeably lighter than the competition when empty. The rope handles lift well above the cooler, so you won’t hit your hands during transport. Not only that, it scored well across the board, specifically impressing us with its features and ease of use.
All told, like the non-wheeled Xtreme above, this Coleman cooler should meet the needs of many recreational campers, concert-goers, and tailgaters without breaking the bank. If you plan on covering any kind of distance from your vehicle—whether it be to your campsite, a spot coleman screen tent along the river, or the beach—wheels can make transport a whole lot easier. And no cooler is better equipped for the job than the RovR Products RollR 45. This Boulder-based wheeled-cooler specialist offers its signature RollR in four capacities ranging from 45 to 85 quarts.
Our biggest complaint about this cooler is that its cords are barely over six feet long, which just doesn’t get you very far from the outlet. It’s also very expensive, but if you’re ready to take the plunge into the iceless world of powered coolers, the Dometic is consistently the best-performing model we’ve tested. In addition to pre-chilling, you can maximize ice life by always storing your cooler in the shade, limiting the amount of time you open it, and never draining the melted water.
In some cases, that extra cash does bring excellent insulation performance, greater utility, and convenience. In other cases, you can spend far less without a substantial drop in overall performance. It’s also helpful to consider how often you find yourself needing the cooling and insulating services these ice chests provide and how burly and rugged you need your gear to be. All coolers have relatively strong handles and the 40 and 50-quart coolers come with optional wheels to help cart it around. While the plastic is relatively light, expect to have to get at least two people to assist in moving around the 100 or 150-quart models when they are full.
It fits a full 40 quarts of contents and whatever you can cram into the large external storage pocket covering the back of the box. Its taller, narrower shape is also more comfortable for a single person to carry from the car to the beach. As for large, non-wheeled models, we still noticed many differences that lend themselves toward making specific units more portable than others. The Coleman Xtreme is just a few ounces heavier than the personal-sized Igloo BMX, which is astounding for its 68 quart capacity.
You can pump them up just like your car or bicycle tires, giving you the freedom to run over the same types of terrain. While other models often have tiny wheels, rigid wheels, low clearance, or narrow, uncomfortable handles, the RovR is what a wheeled chest should be. Its broad handle has functional rubber grips on either end, so it’s comfortable to stroll down the sidewalk, through the grass, and across the beach with this box in tow. The RovR also boasts solid, durable construction, hefty latches, and integrated hinges that we expect to last through countless picnics and get-togethers. You can put everything you need for the barbecue in and on this cooler and wheel it to the park with one hand. You can also pick up the handy bike attachment and tow the RovR behind your bicycle.
When fully loaded, the IceMule Pro carries 39 cans — and makes us wish it had a weight-bearing waist strap. But for what we most like to carry for a daytime adventure, it’s not bad. Still, for bringing some cool refreshments and a chilled lunch for a few friends on a longer walking journey, this comfortable backpack cooler is our top choice. The most crucial aspect of any wheeled model is how easily it gets you coleman sundome there, which the RovR does spectacularly. That said, it lags a little in the insulation department compared to some intense rivals, which is likely due to the imperfect seal between the top of the body and lid. It is important to remember that you’re probably not interested in taking a wheeled chest on a ten-day rafting trip or a three-week road trip, but rather to the picnic down the road or a tailgating party.