Contents
Keeping your beverage cool while camping or off-roading can be difficult in the hellish Australian weather. Fortunately, you can always rely on ice boxes and coolers. However, if you’re in the market for a new cooler and don’t know what to look for then this article is for you! We’ll be covering some of the best coolers on the market today as well as answering questions, such as:
- What size do you need?
- How long can it hold the drinks cold?
- Should you get an insulated or non-insulated model? And more…
Without further ado, let’s give a detailed answer to all of these questions so you can have an easy time deciding which one to get before your next trip. Let’s get started!
What Size Ice Box Do You Need?
When it comes to coolers there are two main sizes that you need to consider: the size of your ice box and the amount of food or drinks you want to store. These two factors are often interrelated but it doesn’t mean that one is more important than the other. For example, if you’re going on a three-day camping trip then you’ll probably want to get a larger cooler so you can have enough food and drinks for everyone.
For instance, you can get a 60L Icebox for about $200-400 which is a pretty decent deal. A 60L Icebox is big enough to hold a lot of food and drinks, and it’s well-insulated to keep everything cold. On the other hand, if you’re going on a day trip with your mates then it’s probably best to get a smaller cooler that will fit in the car easier and doesn’t take up too much space.
How Long Can It Hold the Drinks Cold?
The answer to this question is – depends. What does it depend on? Well, first of all it depends on how well you’re insulating your cooler. The more insulation that’s around your ice box, the better! But if you don’t have a good enough insulation system then there are other factors that can affect how long your drinks stay cold. For example, if you’re off-roading in hot conditions then your coolers will lose heat much faster than if you were just chilling at home or in the park.
Another thing to consider is whether or not you have a lid on your ice box. If you have a lid then it will trap some of the hot air inside which means that your cooler will lose its cooling power much faster. In contrast, if you don’t have a lid then the hot air will flow out quickly and this can help keep your drinks cold for longer.
So what does all of this mean? Well, if you want to get the best results then you should always make sure that your insulation system is really good and that you don’t have a lid on your cooler. If that’s not possible then get a model with really good insulation and you’ll have no problem keeping everything cold for hours!
Should You Get an Insulated or Non-Insulated Model?
This is a question that people ask quite often, but the answer is pretty simple: if you’re going to be using your ice box in hot conditions then it’s always better to go for a non-insulated model. This is because insulated models tend to lose their cooling power much faster than non-insulated ones. For example, if you get a 60L Insulated Ice Box then it will only be able to keep your drinks cold for about 2-3 days.
In contrast, if you get a non-insulated model such as the Coleman Xtreme 5 Wheeled cooler then it can hold its cool for up to 7 days! However, if you’re not going to be using it in hot conditions then it doesn’t really matter whether you go for an insulated or non-insulated model. Either way, both types are going to keep everything cold!
Other Features to Think About
Having ergonomic handles, airlock seals, and wheels are all good features but they’re not the most important things when choosing a cooler. The most important thing is to make sure that it’s well-insulated and big enough for what you need! If those two factors are met then everything else is just extra.
That being said, think about how and where you’ll be using your ice box. If you’re going on a day trip then having wheels will be really helpful but if you’re doing more off-roading than driving then it’s probably best to go for a non-wheeled model. The same can be said about handles and airlock seals: they’re all great features but they don’t make or break the cooler!
