The Best Coolers For Camping
Coolers are essential for camping and tailgating. They keep ice, beverages, and food cold for days on end.
When searching for a cooler, whether you prefer hard or soft backpacker models, there are plenty of options available.
It all comes down to what you plan on using the cooler for. For instance, if you’re taking a weekend trip and only need 12 cans, a standard cooler should suffice.
Yeti V-Series
The Yeti V-Series coolers are some of the best on the market. They provide superior insulation, a rugged design and bear-resistant features.
However, the Yeti V-Series is pricey and not suitable for everyone. If you’re searching for a quality ice chest at an affordable price point, there are other alternatives on the market with similar features and designs.
RTIC’s Ultra-Light cooler is an economical and lightweight alternative to the rotomolded Yeti cooler, boasting toughness and insulation as well as security features like latches.
Coleman Xtreme
If you’re searching for an ideal cooler to take camping with you, the Coleman Xtreme is one of the top choices. Not only does it come at a much cheaper price point than its rivals, but it will keep your food and drinks cold for extended periods of time as well.
This cooler boasts a number of useful features that will make tailgating and camping much easier. Plus, its Have-A-Seat lid can support up to 250 pounds – perfect for big parties!
The insulation on the walls and lid of this Coleman marine cooler is significantly thicker than what typically found in traditional Coleman marine coolers, which helps with ice retention.
OtterBox Venture
The OtterBox Venture is a large cooler designed to keep drinks and food chilled up to 14 days. Available in 25-, 45-, and 65-quart sizes.
These coolers feature two inches of refrigeration grade insulation to preserve the ice inside. This helps ensure drinks and food stay cold for extended periods, which is essential during camping trips where you may be outside for several hours.
The Venture features a bottle opener, dry storage tray and three slots for custom compartments. Its modular design also makes it simple to add accessories like a cutting board, side table and wheels.
Driftsun 75 Quart
If you need a durable cooler that can keep your drinks cold on long wilderness adventures or road trips, the Driftsun 75 Quart is one of our top choices. It boasts a polypropylene shell designed to withstand bumps and scrapes while its heavy-duty latches provide secure seals.
Though its ice retention isn’t as impressive as a rotomolded model, it still chills food and drinks for up to 10 days with little melt. Plus, its sloped drain plug allows you to vent any melted ice before you arrive home.
Power Coolers
When planning a long trip to the campsite, it’s essential that your cooler can keep food and drinks at the ideal temperature. This can be achieved using electric-powered coolers.
When camping, electric coolers come in two varieties: compressor coolers and thermoelectric coolers.
Coolers that use a compressor can maintain their cool interior regardless of outdoor temperatures. Unfortunately, these coolers tend to be bulky and may not be portable.
The Dometic CFX3 25 cooler is an impressive camping cooler that boasts excellent insulation to keep its contents cold. Plus, it has features like rubber feet and a removable tray for easy cleanup.
