Without a high-quality cooler, campers and hikers are often forced to guzzle down warm drinks and risk swallowing bacteria-infected foods on the trail. When choosing your next cooler, keep the following things in mind.
Performance
Arguably, the most important criteria for a cooler is whether it will keep your food cold and bacteria-free. Metal and high-performance plastic coolers are the sturdiest. A Styrofoam cooler may be great for a picnic, but for the campsite it doesn't insulate nearly as well as a metal or plastic one. Soft-sided coolers also disappoint some campers because they don't offer sufficient insulation.
Features
Look for well-insulated lids with strong seals and latches. A cooler with a flat lid can be used as a table or chair at your campsite or a trail head. Coolers with wheels are easier to transport. Coolers with folding handles store more compactly. A removable bin that stays on top of the ice inside the cooler is also nice, because it provides a convenient place to put small food items.
Size
Coolers can be as small as 16 quarts and as large as 400 quarts or more. For a day hike, a small cooler is ideal for holding soda and snacks. For a weekend camping trip, cabelas.com suggests a 50- to 60-quart cooler. You'll also need something bigger for a week-long outing. Use the smallest cooler you can for the amount of perishable food you will be storing, because a tightly-packed cooler stays cold longer. Or, consider two coolers—one for sodas, water and beer, and one for perishable foods.
Packing
Pre-chilling items, such as water and soda, will keep them cooler longer. Also, freeze bottles and jugs of water. When loading the cooler, put foods and drinks in first, then layer in the ice. Conserve space by using smaller items--e.g. a tiny bottle of ketchup instead of the jumbo size.
Maintenance
Extend ice life by keeping your cooler in the shade at the campsite or trail head. On particularly hot days, cover it with a tarp or blanket. Open the cooler only when you have to, and drain the cooler when you need the space or when the water starts to feel warm—cold water is just as effective as ice. Add more ice on long trips. Even high-performance coolers in perfect condition can only sustain an original ice load for 6 days.
Cleaning
Wash your cooler inside and out with hot water and a mild detergent. Before storing it, disinfect the cooler with a mixture of 1 cup of bleach and 1 gallon of water to stave off mold and bacteria growth.
Member Comments