Coolers? What you do have?

[S-3 ranch]

Ive got a 65qt Rtic that has worked well. If you pre cool it...it'll hold ice very well. I have 3 of the cheaper coleman 150's and 100. They work fine just not as sturdy.

I love the large size Colman ice chest and if weight and space aren’t a problem
On the boat, I would take the largest Colmans and just fill them up with block ice and buy smaller a bear proof chest for food and add block ice as needed to keep the food fresh
Ice doesn’t need to be bear proof and a Colman is cheap and imo holds ice almost as well as any expensive roto mold
The Achilles Heel of any kind of ice chest is opening them to retrieve the food or drink! I can stay a extra 3-5 days per chest on the island or offshore using this strategy and covering them with a Mylar sheet to keep the sun from shining on them

 

[HairyScandinavian]

I love the large size Colman ice chest and if weight and space aren’t a problem
On the boat, I would take the largest Colmans and just fill them up with block ice and buy smaller a bear proof chest for food and add block ice as needed to keep the food fresh
Ice doesn’t need to be bear proof and a Colman is cheap and imo holds ice almost as well as any expensive roto mold
The Achilles Heel of any kind of ice chest is opening them to retrieve the food or drink! I can stay a extra 3-5 days per chest on the island or offshore using this strategy and covering them with a Mylar sheet to keep the sun from shining on them

Yep, we put ten 20lb bags of ice in the RTIC 145 and put it in the shade, then every few days when the other coolers need a refresh we pop a bag out of there. Works great when the lid doesn't warp and let air in.

 

[NRA4LIFE]

I now have 2 Lifetime 77 qt. I borrowed a similar sized Yeti from a friend to test ice retention and the Lifetime won at a third the cost.

Edit: I do not just have 2 coolers. I think I have 11 maybe 12. Some of my Igloos are great.

 

[ThreeOhSeven]

As many people have said, most roto molded coolers will do the job, they all utilize the same technology that used to be owned by Yeti.
I've got a Canyon Prospector 103 that lives in my raft that is "bear resistant" when properly locked. I also have an RTIC 45 that lives in the truck that is also "bear resistant" and a Yeti Hopper that I won in a raffle which usually designated for cocktail ice.
If you have to leave your cooler in the sun for multiple days, look into Reflectix insulation. You can easily build a cover and use sheets inside the cooler as dividers.

 

[S-3 ranch]

As many people have said, most roto molded coolers will do the job, they all utilize the same technology that used to be owned by Yeti.
I've got a Canyon Prospector 103 that lives in my raft that is "bear resistant" when properly locked. I also have an RTIC 45 that lives in the truck that is also "bear resistant" and a Yeti Hopper that I won in a raffle which usually designated for cocktail ice.
If you have to leave your cooler in the sun for multiple days, look into Reflectix insulation. You can easily build a cover and use sheets inside the cooler as dividers.

Even better idea then Mylar blanket + my wife has about 4-5 of those windshield covers that don’t fit the car

 

[wyosteve]

I have various Yeti's, RTIC and my biggest is a Cabela's branded model. Not sure which company makes it for them, but that one has performed better (kept ice longer) than the others for some reason. But, as others have mentioned, all the root-molded brands seem to do well.

 

[Chama]

I have run Bison coolers for the past several years and they have been excellent!

 

[Boarmaster]

I have RTICs and Yeti’s. My RTICs are about 9 years old. Hard use - long seasons exposed to Sun , heat and cold. I haven’t had to buy one piece of hardware for any of those five coolers. My two Yeti’s are about 3 years old.
No issues with those. I bought the Yeti’s off their Yeti Rescue website. Saved some cash on those.
I went with both these brands and designs as I wanted coolers that were basically rectangular cubes with no handles or any other thing sticking out. I don’t want take up space with big handles or weird shapes.

Also I wanted molded in hinges connected with a single rod. Simple latches. The rubber latches seemed to me to be a weak link in both my brands so I bought two spares. I still have them as I never have busted one.

Quality rotomolded coolers all perform and cost about the same so I would focus on desired features and finding a sale or deal.
Buy one size bigger than you think you want.

Prior to buying the rotomolded type I used marine coolers. They worked great but I wanted to get away from nonstop hinge and latch replacements. Problem solved. I still have a couple Igloo marine coolers in case I need something lightweight.

 

[Boarmaster]

I learned right away to prechill and to put cold or frozen things in my coolers. No warm products unless no other choice. They seal up like a thermos and warm drinks will melt your ice pretty quickly as the heat is trapped in. If I do have to put warm items in a warm cooler I crack the lid for a short time to let the heat out then put more ice in it if possible.

 

[Rich M]

I'm also in FL - we use mainly 3-5-7 day type Igloo/Coleman type coolers for fishing & camping. They hold ice well. The trick is not opening them that often. For the $, these are a lot "better" than Yeti. But not bear proof. Plus is no-one is gonna steal the coleman cooler while Yeti might be stolen. (I know a guy who lost a Yeti from the back of his truck.)

Have one of the 77 qt lifetime roto cooler for hurricane prep. Got it at Walmart and used it a time or two - heavy compared to the 5 day Coleman/Igloo coolers and doesn't do much better with ice retention. But for bear protection, you are stuck with a roto molded cooler.

Have a backpack soft sided cooler from Academy that holds like 50 cans. It kept a processed and frozen antelope frozen for 3-4 days while we were sight seeing.

From the responses I've read - a larger Coleman 5 day cooler with block ice and a reflective cover and a smaller bear proof for food sounds like the most cost effective way to do the trips.

 

[jml49]

I have Pelican and it works well but it is heavy

 

[phall]

my setup:
Tundra 65 pre-cooled then full to the brim of ice packs, block ice, then loose on top. This cooler doesn't get opened and stays in a shady spot.
Coleman 150qt loaded with towels/blankets and 5-6 frozen water jugs,
Works pretty well, ice is rock solid still after 5 days in mid-season temps (60degree days).

 

[Thinkingman]

Lots of good advICE here...
I paid a lot of attention to dimensions and appendages/latch configuration.
I needed latches that can be opened from the top.
Didn't want stupid attachment points protruding.
I got one of the Coho 55qt from Costco and it has been great.
I got a smaller RTIC for the driftboat and that works well, too.
Canyon has some great designs.

 

[ElPollo]

Have used three RTIC coolers (one 25 qt and two 45-qt) for about 10 years. They are great coolers and I’ve had no issues with any of them. I also have a 55 qt Lifetime rotomolded cooler from Walmart. It keeps up with the RTICs and you’d be hard pressed to find a reason not to buy one. I’ve used all of my RTICs and the Lifetime against Yetis, Grizzlies, and Bisons owned by friends. I cannot see a reason to pay more for those brands.