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Thread: Small-ish coolers?

  1. #1
    Site Supporter rob_s's Avatar
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    Small-ish coolers?

    There’s lots of cooler threads but this didn’t seem worthy of a necro so...

    Looking for something in the 28-30 quart range. A few criteria
    1. Lid needs to stay open when it’s open, and closed when it’s closed
    2. Would prefer to have a drain
    3. Don’t think Ineed the cost, complexity, bulk, weight, or ice retention of a rotomold (Yeti, Pelican, Rtic, Etc.)
    4. Drink cutouts in the lid would be good, particularly if they’ll hold a 16 oz beer can...
    5. prefer not to have latches on the lid, don’t want to have to use three hands to open the thing


    I have had both of these and they suck and do not meet the criteria
    https://www.coleman.com/all-coolers/..._3000001846_pr

    https://www.coleman.com/all-coolers/...l_6278-718g_pr
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  2. #2
    Site Supporter MGW's Avatar
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    Are you dead set on a hard cooler?
    “If you know the way broadly you will see it in everything." - Miyamoto Musashi

  3. #3
    Site Supporter rob_s's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MGW View Post
    Are you dead set on a hard cooler?
    Yes. It needs to be hard. We have soft-side yetis and such and those won’t work here.
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  4. #4
    Site Supporter rob_s's Avatar
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    I know I said no latches but this is the current front runner even with latches and without the drain...

    https://engelcoolers.com/products/30qt-drybox-cooler
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  5. #5
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    I have one of the 26-Quart Ozark Trail High Performance Coolers from Walmart. One handed beverage retrieval can be a bit tricky but it will will keep freezer packs frozen solid for days. I like the carry handle, the built in bottle opener and the ability to throw a padlock on it if I need to.

  6. #6
    I have the 52qt version of the Igloo BMX. It's held up much better than the cheapo Coleman coolers I've had in the past. The hinges are well designed and the rubber latches work well without being a PITA to use.

    https://www.amazon.com/Igloo-Family-.../dp/B089ZDLDC8

  7. #7
    Member DMF13's Avatar
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    Larger than your 30 qts, but otherwise meets your criteria, and is available in P-T/P-F orange:

    https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/igl...dCatid=7417503

    I've had good luck using Igloo products.

    Much more expensive, but other than latches, this meets all your criteria:

    https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/igl...dCatid=6979071
    _______________
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  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by rob_s View Post
    I know I said no latches but this is the current front runner even with latches and without the drain...

    https://engelcoolers.com/products/30qt-drybox-cooler
    I've got one I take my lunch to work in. Not much of a cooler, more of a drybox. Not much insulation.

  9. #9
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    Pelican is the heat...I mean...really cool.

  10. #10
    Site Supporter rob_s's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by TCB View Post
    Pelican is the heat...I mean...really cool.
    Not picking on you, just using this last post as an example...

    These are exactly what I don’t want
    http://www.pelican.com/us/en/products/coolers

    They are bog, expensive, bulky, hard to get into, and unnecessarily effective for what I’m looking for in this case.

    The 30qt, for example
    http://www.pelican.com/us/en/product/coolers/elite/30qt
    It’s 18.5” x 25.3” x 19” and weighs 22 lbs empty and costs over $200

    The Igloo marine ultra 30qt, by contrast
    https://www.igloocoolers.com/product...t-cooler-white
    Is 16.82" x 18.42” x 13.26" and weighs 7.2 lbs and costs $30

    In the case of the former, my kids can’t carry it, maybe can’t even open it, it won’t fit in as many places, and can’t be left behind in camp with any real sense that it’ll be there when we get back or that I won’t care if it’s gone.
    Last edited by rob_s; 10-25-2020 at 05:40 AM.
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