Family Coolers Just Got Really Cool

There is one thing we all tend to bring along on a hot summer day, no matter where we’re going: a cooler.

We’ve got to keep those drinks cold and our food from spoiling — especially Grandma’s famous potato salad (heavy on the mayo). Maybe it’s even the catch of the day we want to keep on ice. And where we once ran to the corner store and grabbed a styrofoam container, our palate for finer things has now transferred to the ice bucket arena.

“How long a cooler can retain ice has become almost a bragging right,” said one market insider.

Manufacturers have noticed.

“The major trends in coolers today are all about maximizing ice life, including cool additional features, and looking good while doing it,” said Brandon Ferguson, a writer at thecoolerzone.com.

“How long a cooler can retain ice has become almost a bragging right that people will discuss around the tailgate or campfire, in a similar way someone will brag about how much horsepower their car has. This is why you’ll see premium cooler companies exclaiming ‘up to a week of ice life’ or ‘5-plus days of ice retention,'” he added.

We’ll also see more extra features built into coolers, Ferguson told LifeZette — things such as built-in bottle openers, molded fish scales, even modular internal shelves.

Coolers have becomes a fashion trend as well. A wide variety of color schemes and patterns are available, ranging from hunting-inspired camouflage to multi-color schemes — even team colors and logos.

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“Lately people have been willing to drop hundreds of dollars on a cooler that they know will last an extremely long period of time and provide great performance. This is in stark contrast to how things used to be, where many people would buy a budget cooler and replace it every couple of years,” said Ferguson.

Whether this is due to superb marketing by the premium cooler brands or people simply wanting a wiser investment — it means we’ve got choices.

If you’re needing a new ice bucket, here are Ferguson’s recommendations:

1.) Koolatron P-85 Krusader
For those looking for great cooling performance without the hassle of ice or ice packs, the Koolatron series is a great solution. It takes advantage of thermoelectric cooling — just plug the 12-volt thermoelectric module into an outlet. It offers the cooling power of a traditional 10-pound block of ice without any worries about melting. An added bonus: The power cord can be reversed — it doubles as a warmer. The P-85 model is the largest of the Koolatron 12-volt models and is capable of storing up to 80 12-ounce cans.

2.) Yeti Hopper 40
This series tries to combine two things: mobility and ice retention. Traditionally, we’d give up ice life in exchange for a cooler that was easier to carry. The most mobile coolers are soft-sided coolers and have pretty poor ice life; plus they’re flimsy. The Yeti Hopper is a tough, soft-sided cooler that is capable of keeping items cool for multiple days while still being easily portable. A Dryhide shell and Hydrolok zipper means less worry about cutting, tearing, or breaking while being exposed to outside conditions. The Hopper 40 is the largest size available and can store around 36 cans.

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3.) Rubbermaid Gott Marine Cooler (150 quart)
When we think of durable coolers with long ice life, Rubbermaid usually isn’t the first brand to come to mind. However, the Rubbermaid Gott Marine Cooler offers some of the longest ice life in the industry. The company does this while still adhering to affordable prices. Extra-thick insulation, premium wall construction, and built-in channels for overhead ice packs give it an extra push. It’s also designed for marine applications — they’re right at home near bodies of water; there is no worry when a sudden storm hits or even if it’s accidentally dropped in water. The 150-quart size is enormous.

4.) Pelican Elite Wheeled (80 quart)
The Pelican brand is known for its tough cases for storing guns, cameras, laptops, and more. It’s now taken what it’s learned in other markets and applied it to coolers. This cooler is so resilient, it’s certified as bear-resistant by the IGBC (Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee). Through a combination of roto-molded construction (with premium polyethylene insulation), stainless steel hardware, and oversized press and pull latches, the cooler can handle anything — and it offers great ice life. As an added bonus, durable rubber wheels allow for easy mobility.

5.) Engel Cooler/Dry Box (30 quart)
Few coolers are designed to store both hot and cold items for long periods of time. The Engel Cooler/Dry Box breaks this mold, while also allowing for multiple days of ice retention. It’s even waterproof up to a depth of three feet, making it a helpful solution for those who are camping or hunting. The 30-quart size is large enough to handle most families’ needs for a day or two.