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Veteran
Posts: 108
Location: TX | Just wanting opinions on the best brand of ice chest. I'm looking at these that claim to keep ice for 5 days. Do they really work as they claim? |
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Member
Posts: 30
Location: Fort Jones, Ca. | Take a look at the Igloo 150 quart cooler. I use one of these for my hunting trips and have kept ice in it for up to 10 days. Igloo does make smaller coolers, but for 5 dyas, you should consider the larger. Also, don't make the mistake I just made and put the cooler in the back (tailgate) of the truck. I made a turn over uneven terrain and the bottom of my trailer (fifth wheel with a gooseneck adapter) cut the top of the coller. Works fine, just doesn't look pretty. You can get these colloers at Costco at a very reasonable price. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489
Location: CA | We have both a Coleman and an Igloo. The Coleman has wheels. That's a HUGE help for me when I fill at the house refrig, then have to go up the hill to the barn. My hubby swears his Igloo "Ice Cube" is far better. He says it's something about the shape that keeps things cool longer. It's also all-white, which may help too. I just can't carry it far by myself, so I don't use it as much. The Igloo might also be called a "marine" cooler. One thing most people agree on: the ice blocks stay cold longer, so get those instead of the cubes. |
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Expert
Posts: 2958
 
Location: North Carolina | We freeze drinking water in gallon plastic jugs. The large mass slows the melting and provides cold drinking water. Remember to leave room for expansion. If you want the maximum ice, top off the jug after it's frozen. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 376
Location: Missouri | Both Coleman and Rubbermaid have 6 day coolers. Either one is better than the 5 day coolers. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489
Location: CA | bb - I'm wondering what the difference is between the 5 and 6 day coolers....More insulation? Or are they just labeling them so we pay more? |
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Expert
Posts: 2958
Location: North Carolina | Originally written by gemm on 2008-05-26 1:38 PM
bb - I'm wondering what the difference is between the 5 and 6 day coolers....More insulation? Or are they just labeling them so we pay more? If the cooler were the same size and shape, then insulation values would be the difference.... BUT .. since the coolers are likely different, then, I say, the 1 day difference is just marketing puffery.
Edited by hosspuller 2008-05-26 4:42 PM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 662
Location: Vanzant, Missouri | I don't know about the best brand of cooler. But when I camp I take the big plastic coffee cans fill them with water and freeze them and use about 3 of them in the bigger cooler and they stay pretty frozen for atleast 4 days..And you don't have to worry about water in the cooler as it thaws... |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 648
Location: Coconut Creek, FL | Ditto on freezing gallon jugs. I have one of the 5 day coolers and the key is to put ice in it the night before - that way when you start adding food, it's already cold inside. I also cover the top of the food inside with a layer of newspaper which helps insulate it all the more. I used to have a piece of neoprene that I placed on top, but it got lost over the years. That really helped insulate the cooler even better. I have a 3.0 fridge in my trailer and transfer certain foods to it, but I like my drinks cold and they stay colder in the cooler. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 376
Location: Missouri | "1 day difference is just marketing puffery."
No it is not marketing puffery. We have both and the 6 day will last several days longer than the 5 day. The 6 day are well worth the little difference in price. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 455
Location: Texas | I don't claim it to be the "best", but the Coleman Extreme 5-day coolers are pretty good. Keeping ice for 5 days is a pretty realistic expectation, if you pay attention to keeping it reasonably shaded and only open it when necessary. I know of people who have the Igloo cube-shaped cooler and they are very happy with it, too. I'll be looking into the 6-day coolers to replace a "1/2-day" cooler I currently have. |
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 New User
Posts: 3
Location: Angleton, TX | I have the Igloo 5 day w/wheels and it works ok, but it's not really a 5 day! It probably would be if you stayed out of it. I keep all of my food in it and drinks in a "regular" Igloo so opening and closing is minimal (or at least less without the drinks in it). I also use the frozen water trick, I even freeze some of my small 16 bottles too. I use dry ice on the bottome of both. Being on the gulf coast it gets HOT, so camping anytime between April and October, your going to have to make an "ice run" if you staying more than 3 days... |
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What brand makes the best ice chest/cooler?
