The most used piece of gear I take on trips might surprise you.

Out of all the fancy gear I've acquired and used through the years this surprisingly little guy is the one I depend on the most. A cheap little Coleman cooler. It's seriously under $10 on amazon as I type this.
amzn.to/3t3DeIX (Affiliate link)
Coleman used to make good gear but they cut corners now. This only keeps ice for about a day and a half, but it's the only cooler that is the perfect size. The Stanley is too short, Igloo's design is hard to open one handed, and all the "soft" coolers are harder to open and keep ice even less. Honestly any cooler maker could probably make a better version and blow Coleman out of the water. I know I'd pay more for high quality insulation. But aside from that this cooler fits like a glove in all other categories. It's perfect for road trips. I pretty much load it up and use it any time I'm going to be driving more than a couple hours. And even on long trips having your drinks in a separate cooler so you don't have to open your main cooler as much will keep your food cooler colder for longer. And for roughly the same cost a supersized fast food meal costs now why would you not get one?

[@michaeldeal4846]

Great video! Short and to the point. And I agree completely.

[@blackh2o1]

I love your perspective. Price or brand does not always equate to functionality.

[@chuckjohnson4048]

I modified my coleman cooler by insulating the hollow lid. I removed the lid and drilled a total of 4 or more holes into the edges of the lid. I then sprayed foam insulation inside the hollow lid. The holes allowed the excess insulation to bleed out rather than balooning the lid out of shape. I let the insulation solidify for a few days and trimmed off the extruded excess insulation. Doing this little inexpensive procedure extended the ice's cooling to over a day. I assume the rest of the cooler IS insulated in SOME way other than just an air gap, but I wouldn't put it past any of the cooler manufacturers to just be using the air gap method between the outside and inside walls of the cooler. I have not cut a cooler in half to determine if my guess is right, I just have seen too much "corner cutting" at the expence of Quality in my life to trust to anything totally. If the bodies of the coolers are hollow also, then they may possibly be able to be modified the same way as I did my lid.

[@amcc2666]

I've had the same one for years. I tied an old bike inner tube around it to keep the lid tightly closed. Works great, and unlike a yeti, no one will ever want to steal it.

[@John-sq7uf]

Make ice last longer- step 1. drill small hole in the back of the lid. Step 2 -fill lid with spray foam. Step 3 seal hole with silicone or hot glue. Done!

[@J_Trask]

I’ve seen videos of people doing this, and actually getting negative results than before.

[@dremewhite5209]

how does that make it last longer?

[@marvinmurakami8828]

​@@dremewhite5209 it adds insulation

[@freshadventures3322]

That actually makes it worse. Air is a better insulation than those spray foams. Check out comparison videos. You'll see the modification makes ice melt quicker.

[@kaufmanat1]

It's funny, because air is a better insulator than the spray foams. You're replacing a super light weight, very effective insulator (air) with a heavier less effective insulator. 😂😅

[@JeffErdmann]

I have the same cooler & lined it with SmartSHIELD -3mm 16 inchx25Ft Reflective Insulation roll, Foam Core Radiant Barrier, Thermal Insulation Shield - Engineered Foil which is a big improvement for ice retention!

[@stevep5736]

Totally agree with you!! I do the exact same thing, in fact , I leave it in my vehicle . The kids thank me later after our trips.

[@Allen-yv3ue]

Yap, I have to agree - same with us, that little box !

[@roc31539]

I drilled holes in my cooler and shot with expanding foam.

[@J_Trask]

Wow I’ll look into doing that!

[@dddhhh2612]

Ha! Simple is better. Hands down. Thx for the great vid.

[@ohozal9817]

Engel Coolers are made in Florida and are wonderful. The dry box versions are virtually indestructible and great designs. I have a 19qt, got my lady a 13qt for work too. 🇺🇸🙏🏽

[@J_Trask]

They’re not made in Florida, unless there’s something I’m missing. My 19QT Engel cooler had a ‘Made in Thailand’ sticker on it. Good coolers though. 👍

[@bradwadefishtx]

I have this same cooler but modified it for a live bait for my kayak. It's one of the cheapest and most useful fishing accessories I own.

[@Flying-Fox19]

Second item would be a bag of tangerines. They are juicy and keep you hydrated. A few of these helped me on hot day at Disney also.

[@180mph9]

Great channel, I decided to subscribe after your rooftop tent video, I love camping in Utah.

[@billkipper3264]

I've got a cooler similar to that. Recently, however, I wanted a larger cooler for extended trips. Something about 40 quarts and would hold ice for four to five days without spending a fortune. No one makes it. I searched what seems like the world over and found nada. I finally caved and bought an Igloo cooler. 55 quarts, holds ice up to four days or so and cost me $100. I really don't need a cooler that big but the small ones are too small. The good thing was the price. Now I just have to see how good it really is.

[@aussiegruber86]

A lid and seal upgrade would make these mint

[@georgewashington938]

A free piece of gear I bring on-day trips is/are, used 1 liter soda bottles half-filled with tap water, then frozen solid, and topped off with tap water before I head out. Two of these will keep my family of 4 hydrated with cold water and not a penny spent on ego brands!

[@Christophersanchez1326]

It's an unseen workhorse of coolers. 😊

[@Samuel_V1]

Insane how recently i found one but a bit bigger just outside someone's back alley and decided to take it😂😂.

[@fifi.871]

i want ninja frost vault to make this in this exact size with the dry drawers.

[@Dr.Unsteady]

You really can’t beat the old cheap coolers. Yes ice retention is horrible but they’re perfect for roadtrips, weekend trips, and get togethers and parties. Anything longer and my igloo imx will work great for 4-5day trips. I wasted money on yeti and will probably not buy anything from them for a while. At least until their prices come down or close to the equal products out there

[@miguelon1340]

Is it 9 qt or 16 qt?

[@m3l199]

I crafted a lid out of some reflectix that sits on top of mine. Seems to make a difference.

[@TismFishing]

Dude, I use this same cooler on my kayak, beer x4 water x 3 and kind bars. It’ll fit 2 Nalgene bottles and 3 beers pretty easy.

[@lucasblanchard47]

And you can put a divider in that slot!

[@gifted6305]

Coolers need a small fan inside to circulate the air, then you'll be amazed what that small fan can do

[@AminhakimLeeChannel]

Can i know what size Liter this ice box??

[@chrisf5475]

The bigger a cooler the longer it will hold ice (all else being equal)… There isn’t much out there that size that will do 3-4 days at that capacity.

[@redoak3809]

I do not like those lids. They eventually pop off at will... still per price point not a bad deal.

[@ManlyManStuff]

Pelican makes badass small ice chests that would perfectly fit the bill. Plus have a bunch of legit features! Check em out! (Not a sponsor just a dude who likes ice cold beer and spends time outdoors.)

[@DarkMetaOFFICIAL]

i have a Yeti. it only cost me 37 thousand dollars on sale

[@ARKELPZ]

10 qt?

[@mpsarge2]

Drill holes in rim. Fill with foam bwill do better

[@cherrybrandy9004]

❤what size is it? Looks like the size i need.

[@alessandromonteiro3437]

What????

[@dirkvanerp7332]

Buy a roll of THIN closed cell foam door weatherstrip, apply it around the lid lip, you'll improve the efficiency dramatically! Ever listen to a conch shell??? Kids are told you can hear the ocen, in reality that is air circulation in a closed shell. Your COOLER is DOING the SAME thing, why a Yeti cooler or your freezer has a door gasket, DUH!

[@jrodificator1]

I have a 12 can igloo laguna and the insulation is pure garbage. it leaks all the cold out of the bottom of the cooler.

[@kaisondenney3416]

Check out Engel coolers

[@jfgad]

Pelican 14 qt

[@gshari5151]

👌

[@landiesgentlemen3902]

Try Rtic soft side 20 can cooler. It’s built just as well as a soft sided Yeti but only costs $60-70.

[@leemp337]

why not just ask coleman to make a better version?

[@mandlajezile9938]

Keeps ice for a day and half?? Maybe in North America but definitely a few hours in South Africa and we donʼt even have the hottest temperatures on the continent

[@gcvrsa]

You can almost certainly find these at any local charity shop, as well. Who cares if it's a little beat up, so long as it's clean and intact? Stop buying new plastic when you don't need to, the world is already too full of humanity's plastic pollution.

[@pan8a]

The best part is that cooler is made in the USA