That said, ice packs are fairly expensive (YETI’s range from $15 to $30 depending on size) and require refreezing once they lose their coldness, which limits practicality for longer trips. As committed cooler enthusiasts know, the type of ice you use heavily impacts how much you’re able to store and how long it stays cold. Crushed ice is the most readily available—you can find it at most gas stations and supermarkets for fairly cheap. The major draw is that it easily fills the gaps between your food and beverages, cooling them quickly and efficiently.
A boat-bound cooler, or one you plan to take to the beach or lake, will also need to be waterproof. Any cooler you plan to bring outside beyond your own deck or yard should be reasonably able to withstand the elements. If you choose a soft cooler on wheels, make sure the fabric can handle being loaded up with ice and the resulting leftover water. Most hard coolers on wheels can withstand water, from inside or out, but it’s still a factor you’ll want to double-check.
Their wheeled rolling cooler offering is a thirty-quart ice chest built with more insulation than other coolers in its range. The bungee net up top helps you haul extra stuff on game day and Canyon also offers a no-hassle, lifetime warranty. Over half of the coolers on our list cost $200 or more, which goes to show how pricey these units can be. Hard-sided coolers from YETI, RTIC, ORCA, and others are able to keep ice frozen for significantly longer than budget options from companies like Coleman or Igloo.
Igloo is back once again and this time with their 60-quart Transformer Roller cooler which offers up ample storage and features that will be extremely handy when you go camping, hiking or fishing. Any ice that you store inside to keep food and drinks cool will last a good 24-hours on hot days and even longer on colder days. Although this is a fairly basic igloo ice chest standing cooler on wheels, because it is made by Igloo, you can be confident that you’re getting great value for money. It has a solid build, will keep ice cold for as long as five days at a time, and has features such as cup holders, telescopic handle, and a mobile stand that you can use to place your phones, keys, or anything else of importance.
Style-wise, the exterior (which is water-resistant and stain-resistant) comes in fun colors like a turquoise-esque Pine variation, a summer-appropriate Blue Lagoon version, and a very neon Citrus model. The Moss variation is a quieter, but still snazzy, outdoorsy igloo ice chest hue for you understated gents out there. A first-of-its-kind cooler, the EcoCool Latitude 90 Roller Cooler is primarily constructed from recycled plastic, i.e., yogurt cups, milk jugs, and more “post-consumer resin” that typically ends up in landfills.
The company also sells a handy bicycle attachment (not included) for towing the cooler on cycling trips. While you probably won’t choose this cooler for a long road trip or week-long camping or rafting excursion, it’s great for a picnic with friends (and it’s certified grizzly bear-resistant, so no worries about Yogi and pals). Look no further than the trusty Pelican 45QT Elite Wheeled Cooler to haul up to a week’s worth of provisions from home to car to trailhead—and keep it all chilled in the process. Although the wheeled igloo cooler with wheels version of the cooler is rotomolded and not injection molded (the latter provides superior durability and lightness, while the former is more affordable), Pelican guarantees its coolers with a lifetime warranty. The wheeled version still boasts a 2-inch wall of insulation, molded locking closure, and freezer-grade gasket, ensuring that a fully loaded, iced cooler will stay frosty for at least seven days. This high-end, rugged cooler’s large-diameter wheels and smooth pulling mean you can tackle all terrains with confidence.