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obviously yeti are what all the cool kids have but are there alternatives that are a fraction of the price and 99% as good?
i've an Icey-tek..
not cheap (probably a similar proce to yeti)...but i've found it great..
I really do think good passive coolers are pricey..
Not sure if coleman are much cheaper?
DrP
We've got a cheap passive coleman one with ice blocks. Air space is your enemy. So aim for it to be full and stuff frozen/chilled before going in. We've lined the bottom with 1cm polystyrene and cover the stuff with another bit on top that seals the cold in. Keeps everything cooler for much longer.
We've got one of these. Works really well.
https://www.igloocoolers.co.uk/igloo/bmx/52/cool/box/
Precooling helps. Save a few old 2L drinks bottles for this.
If you go to the USA and talk about ice blocks they will probably laugh. They really know how to use cool boxes properly - we bought one for our last trip to Cali when we landed and used it every day and brought it back as hand luggage.
Basically put your stuff in the bottom of the cool box and cover it with ice to the level of the lid. Stuff will be ice cold for at least a day. When we were in Utah we stayed somewhere with no ice available but the ice was still in the cool box from the previous day and although some had melted it still kept the contents cold for the rest of the second day - it was 30 degrees minimum on both days too. No need for an electric powered one.
I have a Coleman Xtreme 3 26L passive cool box like the ones reviewed below:
https://www.getoutwiththekids.co.uk/reviews/coleman-xtreme-3-cooler-review/
https://theladybirdsadventures.co.uk/coleman-28qt-xtreme-cooler-review/
I use plenty of ice packs and it performs really well when it's properly hot and left in the boot of the car all day. Everything inside is still v. cold.It's great returning to the car after an all day bike ride in peak summer.
As others have said pack the box out, use plenty of ice packs and avoid opening it unnecessarily or leaving the lid up too long when getting things out - warm air getting in is the enemy. It's also advisable to pre chill stuff before it goes into the cool box for max performance.
In terms of investment this cool box can be had for about £55 plus the cost of ice packs, though you could forego ice packs and just use drinks bottles containing ice from the freezer.
Are you after passive or powered?
We have a 12v/240v one from Aldi or Lidl (can't remember which). Holds more than a lot of the others around and came with both 12v and 240v leads. Cost about £40 I think.
It's great if you're camping with hook up. Unnoticably quiet when turned down to "eco" overnight and then turn back up to full power during the day to overcome the being in a tent during sunlight hours heat.
As a passive box without being plugged in it's pretty rubbish. Not terrible but also not very well sealed, lid doesn't lock down and relies on the weight of the fan unit to keep it tight shut.
are there alternatives that are a fraction of the price and 99% as good?
Another shout for the Coleman Qt range. We have the big 49 litre version. We throw some ice cube bags in and 4 days later in summer temps, they're still mostly frozen.
@mattyfez - unless thats a really big apple, that's a little smaller than I anticipated. cheap though...
@jam-bo hahah! I didn't spot that!
Either way its just a sturdy polystyrene box you need? isn't that essentially what a cool box is anyway? they must come in bigger sizes, lol
My wife who cares little for such things has sung the praises on my brother in laws Yeti. Ice was still frozen all day while it chilled bottles of Rose for her and her sister. They are expensive, but quality from what I've seen.
BBQ folk rate the igloos too for resting meat after cooking and keeping at a stable temperature for many hours. But you didn't mention intended use.
The main problem with cool boxes is that when not in use, they're still massive and take up oodles of space!
Basically put your stuff in the bottom of the cool box and cover it with ice to the level of the lid.
This works well for drinks, but if you want to put your butter, cheese, vegetables and whatnot in it whilst camping, a few litres of water sloshing about in the bottom makes everything a right soggy mess. Hence ice packs.
turn back up to full power during the day to overcome the being in a tent during sunlight hours heat.
Why wouldn't you move it outside the tent during the day?
But you didn’t mention intended use.
keeping things cool.
The main problem with cool boxes is that when not in use, they’re still massive and take up oodles of space!
they do medium sized ones.
This works well for drinks, but if you want to put your butter, cheese, vegetables and whatnot in it whilst camping, a few litres of water sloshing about in the bottom makes everything a right soggy mess. Hence ice packs.
i've seen a few with drainage taps for exactly this.
Icey-Tek here, it's brilliant. I was a bit of sceptic about how it would fair but days below fridge temp in summer in the caravan awning. As others have mentioned it's how you chill it that makes it work well. We normally cool it with frozen packs for a couple of days before going away, then use ice/ frozen food/ cold drinks in it. Topped up with ice. We have the packs, but ice works best. They do a whole range, including some different branded ones that are more portable.
Why wouldn’t you move it outside the tent during the day?
We do if the situation allows. Not really settled on a layout as only had current tent for one season and about 3 trips. Depends on whether we use front or side doors etc. If the plugs are near enough to a door and on a shaded side then it goes outside.
We have an igloo...
ITs white, i can't really remember the details but for some reason there was a cheaper range direct fro igloos, might have been end of stock or possibly it was aimed at fishermen catch storing or somthing like that.
That combined with a weber go anywhere and you have summer in your hands
Outwell make good ones. I ordered a large 60l about 6 months ago. Shop sent me the 240/12v compressor elec by mistake! I told them, but have been able to keep it! Anyway, my mate got the 30ltr fulmar and it keeps ice frozen for 3 days
https://www.camping-intl.com/products/accessories/coolboxes-fridges/outwell-fulmar-30l-coolbox/
I've borrowed a Dometic cool box before, fantastic piece of kit.
https://www.attwoolls.co.uk/dometic-cool-ice-33l-coolbox