According to our testing, over a long enough period of time, a cooler with closed-cell foam will keep things cool for longer. But in the 24- to 48-hour range, we haven’t seen a huge difference between using ¾ inch of closed-cell or open-cell foam in a cooler. Closed-cell foam is considered a better insulator than open-cell foam because the tiny bubbles of gas in closed-cell foam remain independent from one another. Air bubbles that do not share cell walls and in effect stay insulated from one another are better at reducing the overall transfer of heat through the foam.
For those who plan to carry or move their cooler with any regularity, weight should be an important consideration. Even when empty, hard-sided options weigh anywhere from pounds for low-capacity models up to 50+ pounds for premium designs with 75+ quarts of storage. And despite including carry handles, they’re simply too hefty to travel with for long distances. If portability is a priority, we recommend looking at options with wheels, such as RovR’s RollR 45 or Igloo’s Trailmate Journey. For $65, the 50-quart Coleman Xtreme is another standout in the value category, and this time with wheels. In the same family as our top budget pick, this basic cooler certainly is a far cry from the RovR RollR, Igloo Trailmate, and Pelican 80QT Elite above, but the functionality is decent for the price.
For longer trips or events where more storage space is needed, look for Coleman Xtreme coolers. You can find coolers in this line that offer anywhere from 28- to 120-quart capacity, guaranteeing you have plenty of room for all kinds of food and drink. These options also ensure that ice inside the cooler remains frozen for 3-5 days, depending on conditions.
For this test, I placed each cooler in direct sunlight for approximately half of each day and then in shade for the other half. I wanted to test how these two coolers I already owned stacked up head ot head. This test is just a practical, real-world test of how people actually use similar coolers. In theory, the Coleman Xtreme is meant to compete on coleman ice chest the cooling side of the equation while still maintaining an affordable price. Other high-end coolers are becoming more popular as well, such as those from Engel, RTIC, and Grizzly as well as the Igloo Yukon and Coleman Xtreme. We’ve seen people start to think of their cooler as an investment that will last a lifetime rather than just a few years.
The Arctic Titan has an oversized drain to decrease the time you spend emptying it. And if one drain isn’t enough for you, the Ultralight features two drains, one on either end. As far as drains go, several products have dual-function drains, meaning there’s a hole through the shaft coleman screen tent of the drain plug that lets water run out without having to remove the entire drain cap. Of course, if you want a faster flow, a total plug removal is advised, but don’t misplace that cap, as most models we tested don’t come with a tether to keep it attached to the body of the box.