Portable Cooling Coolers Provide a Variety of Options

Almost everyone who goes camping, on long car trips or has had an informal gathering or picnic in the park carries along a cooler. Coolers can range from very inexpensive almost disposable Styrofoam coolers to hard plastic insulated shells that will keep beverages and food cool for hours on end. Those types of coolers usually work well if partially filled with ice to extend the amount of time the food or drink stays cool, and these are often referred to as ice coolers.

The disposable Styrofoam cooler keeps drinks cool for a reasonable period. It lacks the insulation of more expensive types of coolers and is very fragile and normally do not last very many uses at all before they chip or break and become useless.

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The hard-shelled ice cooler is a standard, which can be loaded with ice, comes in many different sizes, and has superior insulation qualities that will maintain food and beverages at a reasonable temperature for an extended period. The hard-shelled ice cooler is extremely sturdy with a lid that will seal tightly keeping heat out and generally though more costly than a Styrofoam cooler is certainly far superior in both insulation and longevity.


Finally, there is also the cooling cooler, which is self cooled and can run off a 12-volt battery. These coolers will keep foods or beverage chilled for extended periods by virtue of the fact they run off a plug that can be inserted into the car’s cigarette lighter plug. These portable coolers are more than mini fridges because they are space saving and designed to fit easily in the back seat of a car or truck and designed specifically for travel. The cooling cooler is lightweight, compact in size, and easy to open.

On the negative side, the self cooling cooler will not keep foods or drinks cold without power, as long as a standard ice cooler will. They are also usually not very large and will hold only about as much as a medium sized ice cooler. For large families these coolers could fall short on capacity but could be extremely useful for carrying along perishable food items and maintaining them at a safe temperature.

Which style of cooler is right for your needs? Well, each style even the almost disposable Styrofoam cooler has its merits and uses. For instance, if you are halfway to a picnic area and realize you forgot to bring a cooler for the drinks you might choose to buy a Styrofoam cooler rather than travel all the way home.

If you camp a lot and need a sturdy ice cooler that maintains a decently low interior temperature for extended periods then perhaps the standard hard shell ice cooler is perfect for you. It won’t break easily and maintains a lower interior temperature for longer periods than either the Styrofoam or self cooling types will.

If on the other hand, you go on long car trips, bring along perishable foods, or want extra cold drinks then perhaps the self cooling cooler will be ideal for your needs.