We’ve got your outdoor needs covered, from the top-ranked camping chairs to get comfy in at the end of the day and our favorite camping tents for when it’s time to hit the hay. An Igloo hard-sided cooler is a safe and reliable storage solution for keeping your snacks and beverages cold throughout the day. With the Igloo IMX series of coolers to Igloo MaxCold and BMX cooler options, Igloo hard coolers make a great choice for many outdoor adventures. From fishing and tailgating to beach vacations and backcountry camping, Igloo has an ice chest or hard cooler to fit your needs. Previously, we tested hard coolers in the summer in Baltimore through a week that saw highs of 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit and lows of 64 to 72 degrees. And more recently we tested most of our picks again throughout the year in Hawaii.
Several of our top-performing contestants have been in regular use for several years now, and each season we update their durability and performance information, documenting how they change over time. We ran and re-ran insulation tests under controlled but harsh laboratory conditions. We dragged our test subjects through the gravel, sand, mud, and grass while road-tripping, tailgating, camping, and hanging out on the beach. We asked our friends and family, who span three generations, to help us dive into these coolers (sometimes literally) and identify the top performers.
This results in reduced insulating performance and means you need to keep a close eye on the lid to make sure it doesn’t pop loose or fall off in transport. Most cooler manufacturers provide a “claimed ice retention” spec in their product listings (YETI is one major brand who does not). That said, we always take manufacturer-provided specs with a grain of salt, and there isn’t an established, standardized test here. In practice, most of the claimed ice retention times feel quite inflated to us, perhaps due to extremely favorable testing conditions (storing the cooler inside with the lid closed in cool temperatures, for example).
The process is simpler and cheaper than rotomolding and allows for greater precision because of the molded shapes. But they’re made with multiple pieces—unlike the single, uninterrupted form with rotomolding—which can lead to a drop in durability and added susceptibility to cracking. That being said, a high-end build like RTIC’s 52 Ultra-Light stacks up favorably to top rotomolded coolers in overall toughness.
Those inflatable walls can be a bit tricky to get the hang of at first, finding the happy medium that matches appropriate insulation with reasonable comfort, but we think is worth the effort. The durable fabric edges of the roll-top and thick sides make igloo ice chest it very difficult to get a truly watertight seal when the cooler is inverted, so be careful when setting it down in the back of your car. When fully loaded, the IceMule Pro carries 39 cans — and makes us wish it had a weight-bearing waist strap.
However, dry ice can be dangerous to touch (you have to wear heavy gloves to prevent frostbite), doesn’t last long, and many coolers aren’t even rated to handle it. All told, it might take some finessing to perfect your ice strategy, but we think a combination of crushed and blocks is the best (and safest) method. The drain plug located at the bottom igloo electric cooler of the cooler facilitates easy and quick cleaning, eliminating any hassle after use. The lid features a UV inhibitor, ensuring the cooler retains its vibrant color and remains resistant to fading, even after prolonged exposure to sunlight. The spacious interior can accommodate up to 114 cans, making it perfect for large gatherings or extended trips.