First... No Yeti. One day i'll get one but not right now.

That being said, i'm in need of a new large cooler to use for camping, tailgates, etc. Think i need something 72 quarts or larger. Wheeled option would be nice, but is not a breaking point. But I want something that'll be sturdy, keep ice for at least a long weekend, and not have the hinges and lid leash break within a few uses.

Who has purchased a new cooler lately? give me some advice. Coleman, Igloo, Thermos?

6/17/2014 8:56:58 PM

6/17/2014 9:01:42 PM

6/17/2014 9:12:07 PM

i like the igloo marine versions. they're well-built and keep ice well. the hinges and latch last a long time, but like any other plastic part exposed to the elements, they will eventually break. the good thing about igloo marine is they've kept the same hinges and latches for a long time and replacement parts are relatively cheap and easy to find.

6/17/2014 9:13:35 PM

I bought a 58-quart ORCA in April and so far I love it. It is more than enough space and will hopefully get lots of use during the steelhead and chinook runs this fall. I've been using it for drinks and it's done a great job keeping ice for 2-4 days

it was a little spendy, but I view it as an investment

http://orcacoolers.com/coolers.cfm

[Edited on June 17, 2014 at 9:19 PM. Reason : ,]

6/17/2014 9:18:37 PM

what's your budget?

6/17/2014 11:02:39 PM

~$100

Not ready to delve into Yeti price territory yet.

Holy grap, Tim, $400 for the Orca??

[Edited on June 17, 2014 at 11:33 PM. Reason : Add]

6/17/2014 11:31:42 PM

@ncstatetke

Those are like Yeti?

I've seen those at the grill store. I'm amazed how much they cost.

How often do you open the cooler? I'm curious to know how realistic the claim about ice lasting. Does that mean people don't open the cooler for 4 days and there's still ice?

6/17/2014 11:33:50 PM

instead of a yeti get a blast proof gun-safe with rolling encryption keys and tape some wheels on it.
it'll come out cheaper

6/17/2014 11:34:14 PM

6/17/2014 11:38:15 PM

yeah or just get motherfucking foam cooler

6/17/2014 11:49:58 PM

Quote :

"Holy grap, Tim, $400 for the Orca??"

it was on sale for $329 and I had a $100 gift card.

6/18/2014 12:00:38 AM

Holy fuck you people must hate money.

6/18/2014 12:15:19 AM

what's the point in making money if you can't enjoy spending it?

6/18/2014 12:16:23 AM

I totes enjoy spending money...it's just that I've never seen the need for a $300+ cooler.

[Edited on June 18, 2014 at 12:23 AM. Reason : ^also you watch some turrrrible TV. Please blame it on your wife.]

6/18/2014 12:22:24 AM

Is it a requirement of the TKE fraternity to pay $400 for a fucking cooler to keep food and drinks cold?

6/18/2014 12:51:32 AM

If you buy it through TKE, they give you a free t-shirt to commemorate the event.

6/18/2014 1:12:46 AM

the gun safe idea is still probably better and cheaper. many are better insulated to boot

[Edited on June 18, 2014 at 2:02 AM. Reason : ds]

6/18/2014 2:02:12 AM

have you thought about purchasing a vehicle freezer/fridge? if you are always going to be using this near a vehicle (camping, tailgating) its worth the extra cost to always have frozen or chilled stuff.

i even use ours when not camping, we always have some water and gatorade in there and its great in the summer when we are out running errands or exploring to just grab a cold water out of the fridge. we don't have a second battery or anything and can still make it through weekends camping with minimal recharge time.

6/18/2014 6:53:57 AM

There's no replacement for a functional cooler - drag camping, toss in truck, or just wheel it around the yard.

I've a Coleman "extreme" that came from walmart, does a decent job of keeping ice for a few days in the heat, and it's 'cheap' enough that I don't feel bad getting it dirty and banged up

6/18/2014 7:55:48 AM

Quote :

"Is it a requirement of the TKE fraternity to pay $400 for a fucking cooler to keep food and drinks cold?"

i guess you didn't bother reading the post that said he only paid $139 for it.

Quote :

"have you thought about purchasing a vehicle freezer/fridge?"

that's not a bad idea, but at this time i'm really looking for a good quality hard-walled cooler for multiple applications.

Quote :

"it's just that I've never seen the need for a $300+ cooler."

If you are going to use them for their true intended purpose then I can see it being a great investment. But for simple weekend camping or just keeping beer cold at the beach or lake, I could never justify spending that much money. But again, to each his own

6/18/2014 8:01:14 AM

Quote :

"that's not a bad idea, but at this time i'm really looking for a good quality hard-walled cooler for multiple applications. "

well if you decide you need one, here is what I use:

EdgeStar FP430, paid $400

the mall cruising truck bro's will tell you that you need ARB, WAECO, or Engel but the cheaper Edgestar works just fine for me. I replaced the plastic handles with metal ones and have it on sliders in the back of the SUV for easy access.

here is a good resource:
http://www.rme4x4.com/showthread.php?76600-12V-Freezer-Fridges-Do-they-bring-the-heat

6/18/2014 8:32:58 AM

I have two sized Coleman Extremes and they both work really well. I will still have ice in the cooler after 2 full days and nights in 90+ degree summer heat.

6/18/2014 9:09:19 AM

Yeah can someone explain to me why $400 is worth it for a cooler? Like, what application would one *NEED* a $400 cooler? A cooler that expensive better keep ice frozen for a week.

6/18/2014 9:18:15 AM

I don't know about $400, but to a certain point the more expensive ones really do keep items colder longer because of better seals and better insulation.

For the same money though I prefer our combo of 43Q freezer/fridge paired with a normal priced cooler for anything else, but some people may not have a vehicle with them when they need a fridge to keep things cold for a few days.

6/18/2014 9:25:00 AM

for $400 just buy a fridge and a generator

6/18/2014 9:51:58 AM

I prefer hingeless coolers, where the lid just sits in the lid frame and has a "ball and socket" type joint that holds the lid when you open it; but can be easily removed if needed.

6/18/2014 10:04:08 AM

Quote :

"i guess you didn't bother reading the post that said he only paid $139 for it. "

$239 plus tax, bro

6/18/2014 10:15:02 AM

Quote :

"i guess you didn't bother reading the post that said he only paid $139 for it."

Do what? He said it was $329. No big deal though...you're only off by like 60%.

The best pieces of advice I've seen so far are:

Quote :

"i like the igloo marine versions. they're well-built and keep ice well. the hinges and latch last a long time, but like any other plastic part exposed to the elements, they will eventually break. the good thing about igloo marine is they've kept the same hinges and latches for a long time and replacement parts are relatively cheap and easy to find."

Quote :

"I've a Coleman "extreme" that came from walmart, does a decent job of keeping ice for a few days in the heat, and it's 'cheap' enough that I don't feel bad getting it dirty and banged up "

Quote :

"I have two sized Coleman Extremes and they both work really well. I will still have ice in the cooler after 2 full days and nights in 90+ degree summer heat. "

[Edited on June 18, 2014 at 10:33 AM. Reason : Spend the rest on hookers and/or blow]

[Edited on June 18, 2014 at 10:33 AM. Reason : V gift cards still have value...in this case, $100]

6/18/2014 10:28:26 AM

dyslexia. i swore that said $239 and $100 gift card

6/18/2014 10:32:54 AM

TKE math

6/18/2014 10:37:16 AM

Required: must fit in jeep

6/18/2014 1:00:00 PM

naw dawg

6/18/2014 1:41:48 PM