Ice Chest debate

Nighthiker · Post by **Nighthiker** » Jun 21 2005 10:02 am

Three vendors available in the Phx. Metro area. Coleman, Igloo and Rubbermaid. All three now make an ice chest that ice will last longer. Which one is better ?

big_load · Post by **big_load** » Jun 21 2005 10:22 am

For sheer durability it's hard to beat Coleman. Rubbermaid isn't bad either, and might be more cost-effective, even if you have to replace it sooner. I've used all three and have never worn one out, but I have a feeling you're going to use it under more challenging conditions than I normally do.

diesel · Post by **diesel** » Jun 21 2005 1:02 pm

I used to have one of those green metal Colemans with the hinged lid. It worked pretty good until I packed it with fish from an ocean fishing trip. No matter what I could not get the fish smell out. Everytime I used it after that everything smelled like fish. I ended up tossing it. I replaced it with a plastic Coleman with a friction fit lid. It works pretty good. We were up in Sedona over memorial day weekend and by the end of the weekend we still had ice. My .02

hikeaz · Post by **hikeaz** » Jun 22 2005 6:53 am

I have found that a sheet of two of "radiant barrier" (description here > http://www.eere.energy.gov/consumerinfo ... s/bc7.htmlinside on top of the contents, has a dramatic effect in prolonging one's ice. Basically, radiant barrier (pic below) is bubble pack sandwiched between two aluminum foil sheets. (Small rolls are available @ Lowes & Home Depot )
My one gripe with these new "extreme", or the like, coolers is that the cooler is BIG while the usable area inside is small. I like/use the old Coleman "belted" coolers (garage sales, thrift shops, eBay, craigslist, etc) with radiant barrier. (keep these metal ones out of the sun, or cover with a towel, etc.)

RADIANT BARRIER PIC

Davis2001r6 · Post by **Davis2001r6** » Jun 22 2005 4:29 pm

I bought one of those "5 day" coolers. It defintely worked better than my other cooler but with Temps in the 80's almost all the ice was gone in 3 days.

I'm debating on getting one of those coolers you plug into your cigarette lighter and installing a deep cell battery to run it on. Any advice or input on doing that?

te_wa · Post by **te_wa** » Jun 22 2005 6:42 pm

got Gott?

5 day cooler place purposely outside in direct sunlight in Camp Verde for 5 full days yielded very cold water, as if the ice block had finally completely melted. Daytime temps were 100-103 during that period.

hikeaz · Post by **hikeaz** » Jun 22 2005 7:53 pm

In response to davis2001r6's reply:

Two years ago? @ Tonto Creek.. 3.5 days in the trunk @ 115+/- degrees ambient (the highs were at least 105) and had a small amount of ice left.