Assessing the quality of a portable ice chest or cooler

Inassessing the quality of a portable ice chest or cooler, it necessary toconsider the application of the cooler, construction of the cooler, and mostimportantly, its ice retention capabilities.

Owning a cooler or ice chest is a necessity forvarious potential applications. Ranging from camping coolers, to marine icechests, having a way to preserve your perishables (or keep your beer cold!) isan obvious but often neglected necessity. Not to say that the portable icechest is a forgotten piece of equipment, rather the quality of iceboxes isoften taken for granted.

In assessing the quality of a portable ice chestor cooler, it is necessary to consider the application of the cooler (campingcooler, marine cooler, etc.), construction of the cooler, and most importantly,its ice retention capabilities.

 For the average camping trip, many families willopt for a low-end cooler, made of cheap plastic or poly. Perishables will beloaded in, along with adequate ice to keep their food cold for a few days.Although these types of ice boxes will keep food cold for a day or two, theywon’t keep temperatures low enough to prevent spoiling inside of the ice chest.By the end of the first afternoon in the sun, a good portion of the ice will begone, leaving the food to tread water until more ice arrives.

 
In addition to the materials and construction ofa portable ice chest, the ice retention dictates the overall quality of thecooler in question. Ice retention determines the aggregate temperature overtime or how long the items inside the ice chest will hold.  One overlooked method of improving iceretention that many coolers lack is a proper gasket that seals the unit closed.The lack of a quality gasket allows warm air in and cold air out, thus keepingfood cold becomes next to impossible.

 Yeti ice chests are built with the outdoorenthusiast in mind. Constructed from heavy-duty roto-molded polyethylene (thesame way kayaks are made), with up to 2” of insulation (depending on model),Yeti has taken the cooler game to the next level. High caliber constructioncoupled with freezer quality gasket technology eliminates air leaks that robice retention. The Yeti cooler is also durable—capable of withstanding predatorattacks, keeping meals safe from bears and raccoons.

 
Investing in a robust and mobile ice chest suchas a Yeti Cooler makes keeping food and drink cold for long periods possible.Purchasing a portable ice chest that offers the best ice retention, thus lowerconstant temperatures is the best way to keep perishables from spoiling whileenjoying the outdoors.