Hard coolers have thicker walls that provide superior insulation to prevent ice from melting for days. Soft coolers are typically lighter and win more points in the category of portability, but they don’t keep drinks and ice cold for as long as hard-sided models. igloo electric cooler The Coleman Convoy Series 65-Quart Cooler with Wheels is a rugged cooler that’s built lighter than typical rotomolded coolers. At just 22 pounds, it weighs less than half as much as the Pelican 65QW Elite Wheeled Cooler (and costs about half as much, too).
For example, after five days, the Coleman Xtreme retained 11 more pounds of ice than the Igloo MaxCold did. That translates to the Coleman Xtreme being 20% more efficient than the Igloo MaxCold overall in ice retention during the same time period. We also started tracking the internal temperature of the coolers with the ThermoWorks Signals thermometer to see exactly when temperatures began to rise.
We have cooled hundreds of beers for the purposes of these tests and of course, drunk them all at various times in order to surmise how good each cooler is. We have put ourselves through every step of this testing to find which cooler cooled best, which cooler rolled best and which cooler we think you should be buying to make that ultimate “too cool for school” statement. It was a difficult job but we are always more than willing to put in the hard yards in order to help you make the right decision on any product.
Most importantly, we had to know how well they’d maintain safe temperatures. Meat becomes more perishable over 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and rapid bacteria growth starts at 50 degrees Fahrenheit, so we needed to determine how well these coolers would hold the temperature. We placed a block of wood in each of the coolers, resting it on top of the ice.
These handy ice boxes range in size from small 20-quart coolers that provide room for a six-pack, an ice pack, and a few snacks to large 110-quart models that hold refreshments for an entire Little League team. The Pelican Elite has heavy-duty wheels that can handle all types of terrain, while an integrated fish scale and built-in bottle opener add to its outdoorsy chops. There’s a garden-hose-attachable drain so it can be emptied of water away from the picnic area or campsite. It also has a built-in rubber seal to help retain cool temperatures and prevent leaks.
In contrast, open-cell foam is permeable to air and water like a sponge (which is why it frequently appears in foam pillows, as it’s squishier and it breathes). But open-cell foam’s ability to insulate greatly diminishes when it’s wet because water permeates all of the open space and acts as a conductor of heat. In open-cell foam, most bubbles (more than 50%) share walls with one another.
The different transportability features required depend on the cooler’s intended use. Such features as size, handle height, and wheel type all work together to contribute to portability. Finally, one of the most important aspects is the mobility of this cooler. I quickly learned that this cooler is made to go over far more than than pavement.