Go Back   Winnipesaukee Forum > Winnipesaukee Forums > General Discussion
Home Forums Gallery Webcams Blogs YouTube Channel Classifieds Calendar Register FAQDonate Members List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-30-2019, 12:10 PM   #1
thinkxingu
Senior Member
 
thinkxingu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,939
Thanks: 1,152
Thanked 1,959 Times in 1,210 Posts
Default Cheap Cooler Showdown

I posted some time ago about looking for an affordable cooler. Well, I ended up with an $11 Igloo Island Breeze 28 (all numbers are quarts of storage capacity) knowing that at some point I would probably revisit the issue.

First, I'm on a thin budget as I am taking the summer off.
Second, I'm cheap.
Third, I kinda like making "underdog" gear work.

Soooo, I'll be stopping by Walmart later to pick up one or two coolers, the Ozark Trail 26 and/or Lifetime 28. A 3rd contender is the Igloo BMX 25, but that isn't available locally and, given that my past two Igloos' hinges are junk and the BMX 25 gets bad reviews on hinges, I don't think I'll be bothering with it.

All coolers are ~$70, or about 1/2 to 1/3 the price of RTIC ($120 on sale for 20), Yeti ($200 for 20), etc.

Any additional comments or suggestions welcome!
thinkxingu is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2019, 12:50 PM   #2
MAXUM
Senior Member
 
MAXUM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Kuna ID
Posts: 2,755
Thanks: 246
Thanked 1,942 Times in 802 Posts
Default

In my VERY professional opinion, a cheap cooler + summer off = priceless

That's awesome!
MAXUM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2019, 01:09 PM   #3
Biggd
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: Waltham Ma./Meredith NH
Posts: 3,734
Thanks: 1,953
Thanked 1,068 Times in 673 Posts
Default

A cheap cooler just means you have to drink them faster.
Biggd is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2019, 01:12 PM   #4
burgerunh
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 90
Thanks: 4
Thanked 27 Times in 18 Posts
Default

I'd go to a yard sale this Saturday morning and buy whatever I could for $5 or less. I'd spend the rest on beer!
burgerunh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2019, 01:30 PM   #5
Descant
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Merrimack and Welch Island
Posts: 4,004
Thanks: 1,204
Thanked 1,498 Times in 975 Posts
Default Omaha

Order something from Omaha Steaks. It all comes in a tight fitting Styrofoam cooler, no extra charge, with (reusable?) ice packs.
Descant is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Old 05-30-2019, 01:36 PM   #6
jbolty
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 653
Thanks: 312
Thanked 244 Times in 143 Posts
Default

In my experience Igloo is junk, the hinges break plus they don't hold ice well.

The Coleman Xtreme hold ice far longer then their regular ones despite looking and weighing about the same

I have made a couple patio coolers out of old beat up ones with wonky lids.

(not one of mine, just the first picture I found)
Attached Images
 
jbolty is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2019, 01:39 PM   #7
thinkxingu
Senior Member
 
thinkxingu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,939
Thanks: 1,152
Thanked 1,959 Times in 1,210 Posts
Default

Thanks for the (cheap) suggestions, all! As mentioned, I've got a (mostly) functional cooler but am willing to invest a bit to A. Not use as much ice (both to save from buying and because my new fridge doesn't have an ice maker), 2. So's I have plenty of ice to keep my pop frosty, and C. For the cover to stop falling off every time my kids open it.

Sent from my Moto G (5S) Plus using Tapatalk
thinkxingu is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2019, 02:21 PM   #8
Mr. V
Senior Member
 
Mr. V's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: the left coast (Portland)and West Alton
Posts: 1,319
Thanks: 61
Thanked 234 Times in 158 Posts
Default

I checked NH craigslist.com and saw some coolers offered for sale under "for sale" "household."

Might be a good way to get a used cooler which might otherwise be out of your price range.
__________________
basking in the benign indifference of the universe
Mr. V is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2019, 03:16 PM   #9
Hillcountry
Senior Member
 
Hillcountry's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: In the hills
Posts: 2,342
Thanks: 1,580
Thanked 761 Times in 456 Posts
Default

Went through the same thing last year...wanted to conserve ice but didn't want to spend the "arm n leg" prices of the super coolers these days.
Ended up at Ocean State Job Lots and found these:

Coleman X-treme cooler. used it last season and it really was great at keeping ice longer and the kicker was that it was priced low to begin with and there was a special on it for an extra $20 off to boot! I think I paid $29.99 for what was an over $60 cooler to begin with.
See how thick the walls are on the inside? Almost as thick as the high $$ ones and it works!
Not sure if OSJL still has them but might be worth a look as you go by the one in Meredith. Beware though...I saw some of the Coleman Xtreme coolers at other stores that had the THIN walls. Be sure to look inside for the thick walled ones.
Attached Images
  
Hillcountry is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2019, 03:21 PM   #10
thinkxingu
Senior Member
 
thinkxingu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,939
Thanks: 1,152
Thanked 1,959 Times in 1,210 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hillcountry View Post
Went through the same thing last year...wanted to conserve ice but didn't want to spend the "arm n leg" prices of the super coolers these days.
Ended up at Ocean State Job Lots and found these:

Coleman X-treme cooler. used it last season and it really was great at keeping ice longer and the kicker was that it was priced low to begin with and there was a special on it for an extra $20 off to boot! I think I paid $29.99 for what was an over $60 cooler to begin with.
See how thick the walls are on the inside? Almost as thick as the high $$ ones and it works!
Not sure if OSJL still has them but might be worth a look as you go by the one in Meredith. Beware though...I saw some of the Coleman Xtreme coolers at other stores that had the THIN walls. Be sure to look inside for the thick walled ones.
I have one of those for home--in the shade of our porch, it works awesome. In the sun, not so much.

For the boat, though, I need something smaller.

Sent from my Moto G (5S) Plus using Tapatalk
thinkxingu is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2019, 03:37 PM   #11
thinkxingu
Senior Member
 
thinkxingu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,939
Thanks: 1,152
Thanked 1,959 Times in 1,210 Posts
Default

The test has begun.

Sent from my Moto G (5S) Plus using Tapatalk
thinkxingu is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2019, 04:02 PM   #12
Outdoorsman
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 815
Thanks: 113
Thanked 193 Times in 126 Posts
Default

I am sure you do this already but it's worth mentioning....

Freeze bottles of water (or other non carbonated beverage) and use it as a supplement to the ice you need for drinks. I freeze a gallon jug and use that instead of buying a block if space permits in the cooler.

If I have extra space in the cooler after it is packed, frozen bottles of water will fill that space. Pull one out and drink it as it melts.
Outdoorsman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2019, 05:54 PM   #13
Aunt Lula
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Fairfield, CT
Posts: 23
Thanks: 5
Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts
Default

Father's Day is coming- put in a request!
__________________
Aunt Lula is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2019, 06:56 PM   #14
Wifi-1
Senior Member
 
Wifi-1's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: Moultonboro, NH
Posts: 213
Thanks: 196
Thanked 86 Times in 56 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Aunt Lula View Post
Father's Day is coming- put in a request!
LOL, I'll keep that in mind for my wishes!
Wifi-1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-30-2019, 08:03 PM   #15
ApS
Senior Member
 
ApS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Florida (Sebring & Keys), Wolfeboro
Posts: 5,781
Thanks: 2,080
Thanked 735 Times in 530 Posts
Lightbulb Try Again...

You're doin' it wrong:


__________________
Every MP who enters Winter Harbor will pass by my porch of 67 years...
ApS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-31-2019, 09:44 AM   #16
MAXUM
Senior Member
 
MAXUM's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Kuna ID
Posts: 2,755
Thanks: 246
Thanked 1,942 Times in 802 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by ApS View Post
You're doin' it wrong:


If you tie that up to your boat in a no rafting zone isn't that breaking the law?
MAXUM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-31-2019, 01:53 PM   #17
thinkxingu
Senior Member
 
thinkxingu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,939
Thanks: 1,152
Thanked 1,959 Times in 1,210 Posts
Default

We're 24 hours in. Average temp in my garage over that time was 75. The Lifetime is clearly the superior cooler--the OT has about 50% of the 5-lb. ice left whereas the LT has barely any melt--maybe 10%.

I'm really impressed, given that it was not precooled and it's only one 5-lb. bag. I'm thinking one could get a whole day out of it with essentially zero melt. Looks like I'll be taking this one up to camp for further testing.

Sent from my Moto G (5S) Plus using Tapatalk
thinkxingu is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-01-2019, 04:20 PM   #18
thinkxingu
Senior Member
 
thinkxingu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,939
Thanks: 1,152
Thanked 1,959 Times in 1,210 Posts
Default

We're into hour 49, and the LT has about 30-35% of the original 5lbs. remaining. I didn't bother taking the OT to camp because of both the ice melt and closing straps--the LT is much more user-friendly.

Sent from my Moto G (5S) Plus using Tapatalk
thinkxingu is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2019, 03:45 PM   #19
Descant
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Merrimack and Welch Island
Posts: 4,004
Thanks: 1,204
Thanked 1,498 Times in 975 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by MAXUM View Post
If you tie that up to your boat in a no rafting zone isn't that breaking the law?
I think it would qualify under the exemptions for a "Tender" since it can be brought aboard.
Descant is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-02-2019, 07:10 PM   #20
fatlazyless
Senior Member
 
fatlazyless's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 8,506
Blog Entries: 1
Thanks: 291
Thanked 950 Times in 692 Posts
Default

..... how about ....... 'plug-in picnic cooler'..... do a search at ebay, amazon, walmart or anywhere ... for a plug-in cooler that works on 12v or 110v .... and go electric?

.... no mess, no fuss, no puddles or wet food with a modern 21st-century, electric powered, picnic cooler for like $50 to $100.

.... just imagine what a chore it could be, to have an ice box in your kitchen instead of a 110-v refrigerator?

You probably cannot row your boat, it has a motor and a battery ..... so why go with ice?
__________________
... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

Last edited by fatlazyless; 06-03-2019 at 04:02 AM.
fatlazyless is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2019, 04:36 PM   #21
arthurc
Senior Member
 
arthurc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Moultonborough
Posts: 82
Thanks: 3
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Question Coolers

I saw on Utube drilling holes in the cooler and injecting that canned insulation. some said it worked good
arthurc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-03-2019, 05:11 PM   #22
thinkxingu
Senior Member
 
thinkxingu's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,939
Thanks: 1,152
Thanked 1,959 Times in 1,210 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by arthurc View Post
I saw on Utube drilling holes in the cooler and injecting that canned insulation. some said it worked good
Yeah, I was thinking of doing that with my Igloo, but I'd still have junk hinges and the weight would be the same. And it's still not as good as a better cooler.

Sent from my Moto G (5S) Plus using Tapatalk
thinkxingu is online now   Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:58 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.

This page was generated in 0.26157 seconds