Camp/Beach coolers

UTfball68

UTfball68

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2008
Location
Granite Quarry
I've recently been trying to update/upgrade my camping inventory but I'm having difficulty picking out a cooler. Primary use will be at the campsite and/or wheeled out on to the beach. The problem I'm having is I don't know what the difference is between a $15 cooler and a $100 cooler. I get build quality is different, but is it worth the extra premium. I'm not looking to drop a few hundred on a Yeti, but I am looking for a 75qt wheeled cooler that won't fall apart after a few uses or if it gets bumped a little harder than it should. I'd like to cap the cost at $100. Any help or advice is appreciated.
 
I love my Coleman Extreme from Walmart. Good price, holds 96 beers, keeps ice for 3 days, and has held up for 6 years now. I did break the hinges after 4 years, but Coleman sells replacements for a few bucks. It functions fine without them, so I haven't bothered.
 
Make sure it has insulation in the lid. I bought one of the 5-day coolers and it works well although I even keep it covered with a blanket on camping trips. It will last 5 days with the blanket.
Another major plus is WHEELS!:wheel:

There is no such thing as a cooler that lasts forever... So spend accordingly.
 
Read a comparison on the Coleman extreme vs Yeti vs another high dollar (Engel??) cooler. Coleman was in the middle of the 2 but much cheaper.
I recently bought the 62Q Coleman extreme with wheels. Sears seemed to have the best price I found at $40 + tax.
I've only used it once but it seems good.
 
I've always had great luck with Igloo coolers, especially the marine series coolers. As said above, insulation in the lid is key.
 
we recently bought a Coleman Extreme, I like that the ice last for a few days ( longer if covered in a reflective blanket )

my only gripe, the handle that you pull it with isn't long enough. Several times I've run over my own heel and pulled the handle out of my hand and dumped the contents of the cooler out when it fell over backward.

Ok, ya I'm 6'5" it wouldn't take much for them to add one more section to the telescoping handle ( it collapses like the handles on wheels luggage )

thats all I got.
 
How do y'all keep ice for days in the Coleman extreme? I have one and in the boat a 10 lb bag of ice will only last a day. That's keeping the cooler in the shade under the leaning post and opening it maybe a dozen times.
 
to much air space, fill it with more beverage, food, what ever, then fill the rest with ice

20lbs is usually enough to last 2 days, 3 if it's covered, yes, it will melt, but it's still cold, thats the point.

filled our cooler Friday noon with a 10lb bag, drove/rode to Ocracoke, bought a 20lb bag Friday night, no more ice added until Sunday afternoon late just to make stuff last til we got home Monday, that finally melted off Tues morning.

the Igloo water cooler on the other hand, ( 3.0gal ) used a 10lb bag a day and was warm by Sunday afternoon.

our old red Coleman with the pull handle, it wouldn't keep 40lbs of ice more than a day

the LP fridge on the camper kicks total butt, only wish it were bigger.
 
I have 12 coolers! My favorite is a Igloo with a lid that has the extra room under it (not flat) these hold ice really well and aren't too heavy. I have also got two Coleman Extreme coolers from Walmart. these are great for what they cost. My coolers get used pretty hard and have no problems out of any really. Snappy can vouch for me, I really know how to pack a cooler with the most drinks and to stay cod with 100 people opening and closing it in one day! And that's just one cooler! Freezer packs are the only way to go and I don't care what kind of cooler you got. My ice is -20degrees when I load my coolers! My drinks are at 30degrees! I've never had a customer to complain about a warm drink when it's about 98degrees out. Careful planning really helps when packing a cooler is all I'm saying. When it comes to food, I have to be very careful with what I do. And so should you for your family.
 
I'm glad this came up. I have alot of coolers but my baby, respectfully named BIG WHITEY is 11.5yrs old now and showing age. He's a 150qt Igloo. I can't recall exactly where I purchased him but I remember he was on sale for $60. This cooler has heavy duty handles, insulated lid and a locking top.
This cooler has been all over this country and to countless parties along the way, we've been together longer than I've known my wife.

With that said, I'm not gonna kick out the money for a yeti. I think it would be much more prone to getting stolen anyway. I need a 150qt replacement but its gotta be tough. This cooler will go through hell:lol: As common as they used to be, I can't find this very cooler anywhere. Please help:beer:
 
We'll take the 70qt Colemans to the beach for ~4 days. I think ours are the regular 70qt Xtremes, Kermit's is a 62qt Ultimate Xtreme with wheels and a handle. His is about the same size overall as ours, but the walls are thicker.

Pre-chill everything in the fridge or freezer overnight before leaving, fill the coolers w/as much stuff as possible, then pour ice over everything. If you can do block ice, it'll last longer, but makes it harder to pack.

Put all your drinks in one and food in the other. Try to keep them out of the direct sun and don't leave them sitting open, and they'll still have some ice in them at the end of the trip. But most importantly, everything inside will still be cold.
 
Thanks guys...like some of you, my coolers have seen better days. I had been using an old Old Style beer cooler, the top had been held on by duct tape for a couple years, but still kept everything nice and cold, but the last trip last year, the bottom split out.

I reckon I'll go with one of these two:

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-Xtreme-75-Quart-Wheeled-Cooler/14574677

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-62-Quart-Xtreme-Wheeled-Cooler/8586970

Not sure which style I'd prefer rolling behind me.
 
Your Hot Dog Guy! said:
When it comes to food, I have to be very careful with what I do. And so should you for your family.
Click to expand...

Very true!

Shawn said:
Pre-chill everything in the fridge or freezer overnight before leaving, fill the coolers w/as much stuff as possible, then pour ice over everything. If you can do block ice, it'll last longer, but makes it harder to pack. Put all your drinks in one and food in the other.
Click to expand...

We also try to compartmentalize things that need to definitely stay colder (like meat) so nothing is contaminated. We either freeze it so it thaws in time to be used (like deli meat for sandwiches) or pre-cook and freeze anything raw. Chili on the beach is awesome. ;)

UTfball68 said:
I had been using an old Old Style beer cooler, the top had been held on by duct tape for a couple years, but still kept everything nice and cold, but the last trip last year, the bottom split out.
Click to expand...

Old Style beer? Haven't heard that mentioned in... years.

oldstylewalkingcubsneon.jpg
 
I used to work with a guy who had that very sign.
 
guys, hands down the best way to make a cooler work 'better' is to get a big 1 gallon water container and freeze that sucker. the mass holds the cold better and it wont melt and get food all wet. its a nice shape that you can pack around. just put your beers next to it and everything else will stay cold much longer than regular ice.
 
Coleman Xtreme +5, and if you can't freeze a gallon, make large cubes in 16oz plastic "beer pong" cups - last for 5+ days in Georgia heat at Road Atlanta, when kept in the shade by a tarp.
 
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