Shopping
Meet your ideal travel companion
Theres nothing better than packing the car and hitting the open road.
But if you plan on eating, drinking, or snacking, youll need a good cooler.
Coolers that can slide behind seats or in between center consoles are usually ideal.
Each pop in has pros and cons.
That said, theyre also more likely to get squished.
Meanwhile, hard shell coolers offer superior protection.
They also keep your food and drinks cold for a longer period of time.
Another thing to think about is the carrying system.
Some coolers have handles while others have shoulder straps.
Some of the soft shell models are even designed to be carried as tote bags or backpacks.
Think about which pop in you prefer.
If you opt for something with a strap, check that the material is soft and comfortable.
The closure system is also important.
Other helpful features include pockets, internal shelves, or special sleeves for water bottles.
Check out my list of thebest coolers for road tripsbelow.
It has a convenient shelf you could use to separate items, along with an easy-wash interior.
The strap is exceptionally comfortable, largely due to the grippy anti-slip shoulder pad.
Its easy to clean and its never leaked in my car.
It also comes in 9-, 16-, and 48-can sizes.
One reviewer wrote:Love this for road trips.
Easy to get into for a quick grab, no zippers to fight.
One reviewer wrote:Bought this for road trips.
Works great and holds a ton of stuff.
Ice stays cold longer than expected.
(The brand say 10 days, though Ive never tested it that long).
Its a little pricier but worth it, in my opinion, for the longevity you get.
Its also ultra-durable with a leak-free drain plug and design thats easy to slide into the car.
The weight is an obvious tradeoff, but thats true of any heavy-duty cooler of this kind.
He said it held ice for 5 days before he emptied it after a road trip.
Best of all, it packs down small when not in use.
One reviewer wrote:This cooler bag feels tough.
Ours is also attractive.
It even has a built-in keychain bottle opener.
The backpack style is super convenient, and the cooler keeps beverages cold up to 24 hours.
One reviewer wrote:I used this cooler for 5 hr road trip.
The handles were sturdy enough to hold heavy items like bottles of water.
Plus, had enough room for lunches.
Also, can be used as a backpack.
There is a large front pocket to put snacks or utensils in.
It is my staple travel cooler now.
Its constructed with a brilliant magnetic closure system that snaps shut in lieu of a zipper.
One reviewer wrote:Amazing for road trips.
Fits behind the back seat perfectly.
The shoulder strap makes it really easy to carry when filled up.
Its made with 600-denier Oxford cloth thats super durable and polyethylene foam for insulation.
Shoppers confirmed that it keeps ice cold for a long time some say up to eight hours before melting.
In addition to the 32-can option featured above, its also available in 27- and 48-can sizes.
One reviewer wrote:Tossed some beers and ice in this around 1pm.
By morning there was still a little bit of ice and a lot of ice cold water.
drinks still cold as could be.
No leaking, and it is a roomy cooler with a lot of extra storage in side pouches.
Amazing for the price.
I have the 45-liter version of this Dometic CFX3 and its one of my favorite possessions.
you might even use it as a freezer (the temperature prefs go down to 7 degrees Fahrenheit).
Some reviewers noted that it makes noise, but Ive never noticed it myself.
One reviewer wrote:I bought this for my pickup truck.
I have temp set for 32 degrees.
And the battery shut off at 11.9 volts.
It shuts down about 5 hrs after driving but keeps things cold for hrs after.
Love not having to buy ice every day.
Its made with tough, 600-denier polyester and an insulated lining that keeps beverages cold.
As a bonus, its made with recycled materials so you might feel good about your purchase.
