The Best Camping Cooler – What to Look for and Our Top Choices
Updated by Brandon F. on December 9, 2021
One of the most popular activities to do as temperatures begin to cool in the Fall months is to go camping. While this is a great way to get away from the city or suburban life, some preparations must be made. One of the biggest factors to a successful camping trip is having a proper camping cooler. Since this will typically be the primary storage area for your chilled food and drinks it is important to have a cooler that has acceptable ice life and can also hold up to the demands of an outdoor environment.
Before we go into what to look for in a cooler for camping we have listed our top choices for camping coolers. Each of these will have specific features that should do well in the outdoor environment and also be able to handle the unknowns Mother Nature is known to throw at us. Later on, we will break down each of these camping coolers into more detail. So let’s get started!
Best Camping Coolers
| Ice Life | Sizes | Wheels? | Price by Volume (Amazon) | Link to Our Full Review | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Igloo Super Tough STX | Up to 6 Days | 54, 120, and 150-quarts | No | $$ | Link |
Igloo All-Terrain | Up to 4 Days | 100 and 110-quarts | Yes | $$ | Link |
Grizzly | Up to 10 Days | 15, 20, 40, 60, 75, 150, and 400-quarts | No | $$$$$ | Link |
Pelican Elite Wheeled | Up to 10 Days | 45 and 80-quarts | Yes | $$$$$ | Link |
K2 | Up to 8 Days | 20, 30, 50, 60, 70, 90, and 120-quarts | No | $$$$$ | Link |
Engel High-Performance | Up to 7 Days | 25, 35, 50, 65, 123, 165, 240, and 320-quarts | No | $$$$$ | Link |
Yeti Tundra Series | Up to 7 Days | 34, 45, 50, 65, 75, 105, 110, 125, 210, and 330 quarts (approx.) | No | $$$$$ | Link |
What to Look for in a Camping Cooler
It may not be obvious at first but not all coolers are suited for camping purposes. Sure, just about any ice chest will do for an afternoon picnic in the woods but if you are planning on staying out in the wilderness for 2 or more days then you need to be prepared with a proper cooler that is designed for camping.
We have listed a few camping cooler needs that you should consider when shopping for a cooler specifically for your camping purposes.
Long Ice Life
Tough Construction
Adequate Storage Size
Mobility
Camping Cooler Need #1: Long Ice Life
A camping cooler is responsible for keeping all of your chilled items cold for however long you plan to be outdoors. If all of your ice melts then you could be in for some serious trouble as you risk items spoiling. Perishable items such as meats and fruits/vegetables are particularly sensitive to this. However, other items such as medications may also be required to be kept below a certain temperature.
To compound matters, the cooler may be exposed to extreme heat or be in areas that expose it to direct sunlight. This can further test the ice performance of a camping cooler. As such, it is important to be a bit more conservative when coming up with anticipated ice life for a given cooler.
Finally, depending on how many people are using the cooler, it may be open regularly to grab an item. When the lid is opened a lot of the cold air has a chance to escape and this can impact how long your ice lasts.
We encourage people looking for a camping cooler to add a 1.5 safety factor to the advertised ice life that they are shopping for
Because of the combination of the importance of making sure there is ice as well as the challenging outdoor conditions and potential open exposure, we encourage that people looking for a camping cooler to add a 1.5 safety factor to the advertised ice life that they are shopping for. In other words, if you plan on being outdoors for 4 days then we think you should look for products that advertise having 6 days or more of ice life.
This added ice life helps to absorb some of the unknown variables and there is nothing wrong with having a bit of ice left over when you finish your trip (it is much better than the other extreme!).
Factors that Play a Part in Long Ice Life
“Long Ice Life” is subjective, and it can sometimes be difficult to find published data on exactly how long a cooler’s ice will stay frozen, particularly when exposed to challenging elements that you experience in camping. Because of this, we have listed out a few features that you should look for when shopping for a camping cooler.
Rotomolded Construction
This has become a very popular selling point in premium coolers due to its toughness and increased ice life. Rotomolding is basically when the shell of the cooler is constructed in one piece of material through rotational molding. This process is more expensive and time-consuming, but the results allow for a thicker and stronger shell that has few weak points and better insulation capabilities. As such, most of your longest-lasting coolers will be made of rotomolded construction.
Food-grade gasket
The gasket is the key component that forms a seal between the base and the lid of your camping cooler. The best cooler gaskets will typically be made of a very thick rubber compound that has a lot of squeeze when compressed. These will be very similar to what you find in many modern-day refrigerators and freezers (in fact, some cooler companies used this very design as inspiration!).
When shopping for a camping cooler, we recommend that you inspect the gasket and ensure that it is utilizing a beefy o-ring or some type of another rubber component. Lower-end coolers may simply utilize a plastic-to-plastic seal between the lid and body and you should avoid these if you plan on being outside for more than a day or two.
Focusing on using high-quality gaskets is especially important if you are using a camping meat cooler or camping beverage cooler.
Elevated Feet
Did you know that there can be a significant amount of heat transfer from the base of your ice chest and the ground? This is particularly true if you are resting your camping cooler on a very hot surface. A way to minimize this is to elevate the base off the ground with some “feet”. This makes it so that only a small amount of the cooler’s surface area is in direct contact with the ground. This small change can add up to some extra ice life in certain conditions.
Camping Cooler Need #2: Tough Construction
Some coolers are more at home sitting on a table in an air-conditioned building or comfortably nestled in the back of a pickup truck. A camping cooler isn’t one of them. The outdoors can bring a wide range of challenging conditions:
- Rough terrains such as rocks, tree branches, mud, and everything in between
- Exposure to sitting water via creek beds, lakes, etc.
- A wide range of weather conditions including rain, snow, heat, and hail
- Exposure to wildlife such as bears and coyotes (some coolers are even bear-proof!)
- Elevation changes that require it to rest at an angle or lean on other objects
…and the list goes on
With the unique and demanding tests that a camping cooler can go through, it must be made of quality materials and superior manufacturing standards so that it can perform and function to the level that you need.
Components that Exist in Tough Coolers
Similar to long ice life, there are common characteristics that typically exist in extra tough coolers. While some may be overkill for the casual cooler enthusiast, for those needing a cooler for camping all of these features are essential and things you should look for when shopping around.
Rotomolded Construction
Rotomolded construction not only is great for ice life but also doubles for being an effective building approach for making coolers extra tough. This is because this type of manufacturing results in a single piece for the body rather than multiple pieces that are then glued together.
The connection points of the glued pieces can be prone to failure over time and can also be stress risers that can promote cracks forming. By taking these out of the equation you don’t have to worry as much about the occasional drop or bump causing catastrophic damage to your cooler.
Components are made of Premium Materials
We like to see the various screws, hinges, and latches that are on coolers to be made of more resilient materials such as stainless steel rather than aluminum and plastic. These components are intended to take repeated loads through the carrying and opening/closing of your camping cooler and they need to be able to hold up to continuous use and high impact loads.
Plastic and aluminum, while more affordable, are typically weaker and more prone to cracking and failure. And when a vital component such as a hinge or handle breaks then your cooler can become essentially worthless.
Heavy-Duty, Oversized Hinges, Handles, and Latches
Not only is using premium metal a factor to consider but also the size of these components also plays a big role in what makes an outdoor-friendly ice chest shine. Oversized components can handle a higher load and for longer periods. And while they may not be the most visually pleasing, they serve an important purpose in that they keep your cooler functional when you need it the most.
Camping Cooler Need #3: Adequate Storage Size
If you are relying on a cooler to be storage for all of your food, beverages, medications, and even any potential fish or wildlife you need to store then it needs to be quite large, particularly if you are going to be out in the woods for multiple days and there is a group of people.
One common mistake we see people make when shopping for outdoor or camping coolers is that they vastly underestimate how much storage space they will need. And even in cases where they have enough storage space for their items, they forget that the ice they are going to fill it with takes up a significant amount of storage volume as well!
Our Cooler Sizing Estimate:
Size of Cooler (in quarts) = # of people * (# of days) * 12.5
We stand by the approach that it is better to have too much space than not enough so we have created this simple formula for determining how big of a cooler you will need. Before we go into it there are a few considerations that have to be made:
*This formula assumes that you are packing a standard amount of food and drinks that an average person needs. If you are a big eater or drinker or have a more elaborate diet or recipe you want to try then you might have to modify it. Variations such as the climate you are in, how often you are opening the cooler, etc. play a role in how much ice you will need and has a direct effect on how much storage space you’ll have. In other words, use this formula as an initial reference and modify it as needed for your specific needs.*
Size of Cooler (in quarts) = # of people * (# of days) * 12.5
For example, if you are a group of 3 people who are planning a 3-day camping trip then you should aim to find a camping cooler that has around 110 quarts of storage volume. For larger groups or longer time durations, you should probably consider bringing multiple smaller coolers.
Camping Cooler Need #4: Mobility
When you think of large, tough coolers full of ice, food, and drinks you don’t typically think of mobility. You are dealing with a huge object that can weigh several hundred pounds! However, for any camping site that is off the beaten path of a truck or ATV, you are going to have to manually carry the cooler out there. Also, you might be carrying these large coolers over rough and elevated terrain.
Because of this, having an ice chest that can be as mobile as possible can be very helpful. But how do you make such a huge object more mobile? You would be surprised at the ingenuity that the cooler manufacturers have in dealing with this.
Specialized Handles
Many of the larger premium coolers will come with multiple carrying methods. The most common is to have both sides handles that are molded directly into the body of the cooler as well as flexible rope handles with rubber grips that make it easier for a single person or two people walking next to each other to carry a cooler.
Not only do these handles need to be optimally located to be as convenient as possible, but they also have to be constructed of very strong material so that they don’t break under this immense strain. So when you are browsing a cooler that you are considering purchasing for your next camp trip check out the handles and visualize yourself carrying it. Is it going to be an easy task or next to impossible?
Wheels
Some people prefer the convenience of having wheels on their camping cooler. Wheeled camping coolers are a good choice for those who would prefer or need to have their hands free for other things or that struggle carrying heavy loads. It is also preferred for those camping trips that require traveling a long distance to get to the campsite.
If you decide to go with a wheeled camping cooler be sure to shop for coolers that have heavy-duty wheels that are capable of going over rough terrain. These types of wheels will typically be made of heavy-duty rubber and also have grips on them similar to tires. Also, the wheels will be on the larger side and elevate the cooler higher off of the ground so that it has more clearance from the various rocks and obstacles that you will come across in the great outdoors.
Efficient Shape
A big factor that goes into how mobile an ice chest is related to its shape and size. Let’s face it: a premium cooler capable of storing enough items for a few days outdoors is probably going to be on the large side. However, the shape and implementation of this storage volume can vary quite a bit and this can play a role in how convenient or inconvenient the trip is.
If you plan on camping somewhere that will require going through narrow passages such as canyon trails or thick trees and brush then you might want to look into a cooler that is narrower. Also, finding a cooler that is deeper instead of longer might assist in cutting around tight corners.
Camping Cooler Bonus: Various Camping Accessories
While not an absolute necessity, we think that coolers that come with various helpful accessories that can assist with camping are a nice plus. When you are outdoors you are in a constant battle to have all of the supplies that you need or would need while still being able to be mobile and not straining from carrying a lot of heavy and bulky items. Because of this, when you can combine one item into multiple it can help immensely in your camping excursions.
Cooler manufacturers have come up with many unique and handy features on their products that are great for outdoor use. Examples of these include built-in bottle openers, molded tie-downs, fish scales, and even external lights! Having these features built into your cooler means one less thing that you have to worry about purchasing and carrying.
Depending on the person and their ideal camping experience some of these items might be essential and some might never be used so we encourage you to make a checklist of various items that you tend to need and see if some of them can be built into your camping cooler.
The Best Camping Coolers
Now that we have gone over what to look for in your next camping cooler, here are our reviews of our best camping coolers for 2019. All of these products meet most if not all of our requirements listed above and should serve you well on your next camp trip. Many will also come in various sizes so use our rough size equation above as guidance.
Igloo Super Tough STX Cooler
The Igloo Super Tough STX is one of Igloo’s toughest coolers and it should be able to handle the extremes that mother nature can throw your way. To make it last even longer Igloo has included features such as bolt through body handles and stainless steel latches. The combination of thick insulation and the oversized gasket should give you an ice life of up to 6 days which should meet many people’s camping needs. It also comes in some of the largest sizes available, going all the way up to 150 quarts. Finally, for the price, it is one of the most affordable coolers that are built to handle outdoor extremes and provide good ice life.
Igloo All-Terrain Cooler
We like the rugged wheels on the Igloo All-Terrain Cooler and they should provide great assistance when you are trying to cross rugged terrain. The multiple carrying options are also a welcome feature, which makes this cooler a viable option for carrying by a single person or two people. All of this comes in a reasonably priced package. However, we do wish the cooling life was a bit longer (around 4 days max) and that inclusion of higher-quality screws and hinges would be a welcome change as well.
Grizzly Cooler
The Grizzly Cooler is one of our favorite coolers for just about any application but it particularly shines at handling outdoor environments such as those you would experience while camping. It uses high-quality parts in all areas, including stainless steel hardware and some innovative BearClaw latches that don’t even need hardware (which means one less potential failure point). They go all the way up to the enormous 400-quart size which should be large enough for even the biggest group, and the ice life is very impressive, lasting up to 10 full days.
Pelican Elite Wheeled Cooler
The Pelican Elite Wheeled Cooler combines the established and well-known toughness of the Pelican cooler line and adds some rugged wheels to assist in mobility. It also comes with an extended pivot handle which makes this product a breeze to carry by yourself. It is on the pricey side but for those willing to pay they will receive a tough product that can hold ice for up to a week or more. The sizes are the only minor complaint, with the largest being just 80 quarts. Because of this, you will want to look for other options if you plan on going camping with a large group or for a long period.
K2 Summit Cooler
K2 Coolers might not be as well-known as some of these other brands, but their K2 Summit Cooler is just as tough if not tougher than many. This is accomplished through their effective rotomolded construction and the implementation of various features such as the ice vault lid gaskets, endure hinge system, and positrac lid latches. Ice life is also very good, lasting up to 8 days. There is a nice variety of sizes but they only go up to 120-quart which might not be enough for a group of 4 or more.
Engel High-Performance Cooler
Engel has made a name for itself by being the outdoorsman’s choice for coolers, and their popular Engel High-Performance Cooler is no exception. It comes with an extremely thick 2” polyurethane that is rotomolded into the visually pleasing product that they sell. We also appreciate the rope handles which helps in making carrying this beast much easier, be it you or a group of people. The only weak point is that the lid doesn’t seal as well as others so be sure to keep an eye out for this when opening and closing it. However, it is still good for up to 10 days of ice life.
Yeti Tundra Series Cooler
Easily the most popular and recognizable brand, Yeti has become the household name for premium coolers. The Yeti Tundra Series Cooler’s performance is on par with many of these other brands, and this is thanks to the many patented features on Yetis including their unique lid latches and drain system. However, we don’t see quite as long of ice life, with the max being around a week. So depending on how long you plan on being out this might not be quite enough. Also, you will pay an even larger premium for the Yeti name if you decide to go this route.
