I overthink everything and have debated what cooler to get for over a year. Here is a comparison of many brands with cost, size, and dimensions others may find helpful. I am an 80 year old trapped in a 40 year olds body so it’s hand written.
Cooler comparisons
drewski
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559 Posts
I haven't seen Kysek mentioned yet. I got a killer deal on a used 100L and it works great on long trips. The best part is it has the same exterior dimensions as my igloo marine cooler, so I don't need to adjust my frame whichever one I choose to use depending on the needs of the trip. The igloo is sufficient for most trips, but the Kysek doesn't require as much cooler management on hot summer trips, and still had ice after on day 26 in the Grand Canyon (it was December though). The Kysek has done 10 days in the sun multiple times during August archery hunting trips. I say buy what fits your boat the best.
For me the best cooler is the one that fits best in my frame. I just completed a similar exercise, and only found maybe 2 companies with latches that don't get in the way.
My ideal cooler would have the following characteristics
16" inches high, 41" long, and 18" wide. I hate a cooler that sits up to high, it just gets in the way.
Southco style steel latches like they use on dry boxes
2 inch wide mounting lip to sit on the frame.
Have a lid that protrudes down inside the cooler about an inch to ensure an extra tight seal.
Have the hinge molded into the body of the cooler sticking up into the lid, so the lid doesn't swing back when you open it. That way if you have gear rigged high behind it, you can still open the cooler easily.
My ideal cooler would have the following characteristics
16" inches high, 41" long, and 18" wide. I hate a cooler that sits up to high, it just gets in the way.
Southco style steel latches like they use on dry boxes
2 inch wide mounting lip to sit on the frame.
Have a lid that protrudes down inside the cooler about an inch to ensure an extra tight seal.
Have the hinge molded into the body of the cooler sticking up into the lid, so the lid doesn't swing back when you open it. That way if you have gear rigged high behind it, you can still open the cooler easily.
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398 Posts
The Engel 123 is nice if looking for a big, narrow cooler. I have one K2 cooler and by far the best latches for rafting (the open from the top - which seems like a simple concept that virtually no other cooler has). I tend to buy whatever best fits the space for a reasonable price, as long as it’s not yeti. Yeti is the biggest rip off in coolers. No better but cost much more than everything else (and the latches suck for rafting).
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298 Posts
Cooler management! With good cooler management and the use of wet gunny sacks I got 17 days of ice using a igloo 150 in 90* plus degree heat on a 20 day float. I could get 30 days with these new coolers. Nobody seems to talk about "old school" technique for cooler management. One key thing for ice longevity is draining your cooler, don't let melt build up around your existing ice, you are doubling what the ice has to cool. Another great trick is making your own ice, store bought ice is shot with air making for a short life span. I make a huge block of ice that covers 2/3rds of the bottom and height is roughly half of the cooler. If you can see through the block of ice you have good ice (no bubbles-no white streaks) Target sells plastic bins with lids that are perfect for making your own ice that fit in a freezer. Keep the cooler out of the sun always. I usually have to toss leftover ice after a extended float. Drinking whiskey drinks on the river with no ice is "Heathen Drinking". Don't be a Heathen!
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2,420 Posts
Ok, I am a cooler geek. All you buzzards need to check out the Cooler Zone web site. Consistent testing of all the major brands. Which cooler holds ice the best???. The Australian one mentioned earlier. Techni Ice. Followed by another obscure brand, Kong. I have the smallest Techni Ice model the 37 quart and its performance is outstanding. Plus it is lighter than a Yeti of a similar size. I also have a 110 L Kysek which is my long trip cooler. It also performs well AND I got a great deal on it used from a river bud. Cooler management means a lot but a top end rotomolded cooler is a game changer IMO. I also am a fan of the “cooler gel” type ice replacements that manipulate the freezing point of the gel. I have some Artic Ice tundra series packs that will keep a 100 quart cooler frozen tight for a couple of days traveling to a put in summer temps.
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2,420 Posts
My dream product is a propane powered ice maker. The propane powered fridge/freezers that are used in RV’s kick ass. It’s this tiny flame that makes the whole thing work and they do work exceptionally well. You don’t need a feed back t- stat as you just want it to get as cold as possible. Pull into camp, light it up and in the morning, fresh ice? How come I can’t buy one? Every outfitter on the planet would buy three.
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2,420 Posts
Needs to be the size of a 20-30 quart rotomolded cooler.
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I bet sailboat people have something you could retrofit. In fact…I believe they use these little “plate” style deals and build foam freezers kinda like surly dory guy. Doesn’t refrigeration need a compressor and gas and water hat not? Lol? Iam dumb and don’t know how things work. I do know you can but those things Willy nilly though lol
Regarding Yeti customer service, I had a well-used yeti delaminate, they sent a replacement and a rambler - both still in use today. No complaints here. That said, considering canyon prospector for the new boat, because of the attachment to the frame.
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2,420 Posts
Canyon coolers are outstanding.
Have to disagree that draining the nice near-freezing melt water out of the cooler will help keep the cooler cold.
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2,420 Posts
I usually drain the coolers icy water into my day cooler in the am to keep my beers de jour cold. I just can’t see wasting cold btu’s.
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1,467 Posts
I bought a @Canyon Coolers pro 150 last month for my grand trip in May. I froze ~90 qts of ice in the cooler, 4 gallons at a time, in a commercial deep freeze cooler. I still had ~75% of my ice when I took off 18 days later.
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2,420 Posts
Of course it wasn’t 110 in the shade but still thats pretty darn good performance.
Agreed
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8 Posts
To drain or not to drain...... I drain. The water is warmer than your ice and the ice is cooling the water in addition to everything else. I'm all in on the wet gunny sacks, Evaporative Cooling! on a hot sunny day, i keep my Color Coded Cooler Coozzies custom made of heavy wool soaking wet and have measured 57F... with no ice at all! now that's old school.
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916 Posts
Just got off a 10 day Grand Canyon trip. My 1990 vintage 180 Gott cooler ran the produce cooler for 8 days on the river plus 2 days drive and rig. Leave the drain cracked. Did have Good blocks from Moab ice. No cooler cover or wet towels just lived in the bilge. Opened often no cooler Natzies
If anyone has a used one in decent shape I’d buy it. PM me.
Can’t beat it for Weight and Volume.
If anyone has a used one in decent shape I’d buy it. PM me.
Can’t beat it for Weight and Volume.
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