The AO is one of the easiest to pack as well, opening nicely for easy loading. The REI Pack Away and Arctic Zone Deep Freeze 30 also impressed us with their storage features and capacity. The Pack Away has gear hooks scattered throughout the pack, so there is no need to ditch the travel mug or bottle opener at home. The Deep Freeze holds up to 30 cans, and its ribbed inside helps keep them settled in place. Additionally, it has stretchy mesh side pockets and a bungee cord for holding a blanket or jacket. Among the many tote and messenger style options we tested, we have our favorites.
I also took into consideration how cold or hot to the touch each tumbler was when filled with liquid and tipped each one over to see if they would leak. Yes, you will most likely see differing results when adding cans or bottles into the mix. If you are adding warm drinks to your ice, you will see reductions in the overall length of time your ice will stay cold. In a sheer stroke of luck for this test, we are having a very aggressive heatwave in Southeast Michigan with temperatures around the 90’s during the day and staying in the 70’s overnight. I’m using my North facing deck as the staging area which receives direct sunlight at almost all hours of the day. I also placed a small weather system on the deck rail to help get a sense of how hot surface temperatures are in the area.
As for prices, the lower-end models are easily into the budget price tier while the premium creeps up to intermediate. The ice life, well not ozark trail canopy bad, was not near what Ozark Trail stated in their specifications. We have a hunch this is because their testing was performed under more optimal conditions.
We are impressed with the lineup of features you get to enjoy here. They include things such as non-skid feed, internal wire basket, fish ruler, and comfort-grip handles. And the construction utilizes proven rotomolding technology and stainless steel hardware. While this isn’t quite as high as we have seen in other premium coolers, the much lower asking price helps to justify it.
He has worked for Wirecutter for a decade and lost count of the number of bags he has tested. If you’re interested in a cooler to keep your frozen items and perishables fresh, here are three types to consider. If you are lucky and receive a model that has the quality issues discussed above ironed out, Ozark Trail Coolers are one of the best bargains in the industry right now. It is also worth mentioning that all of the metal components you will find are comprised of quality stainless steel. This helps to minimize the change of corrosion or breaking, even after many years of use. USATuff offers the best Ozark Trail cooler accessories for any cooler old or new.
The other two colors will have different rims and accents, so if you don’t love the orange you have options. My own personal beverage drama every summer has really pushed me to do this review. To me, worrying about the temperature of the drinks I have on my boat is the absolute last thing I want to be thinking about when I am heading out on the water. It can keep drinks cold for several days and the wheels on the bottom are great for hauling it from place to place.
While this cooler pack is waterproof, it’s important to get enough rolls in when using it. That said, the more you roll, the less internal capacity available. When fully loaded with a whopping 39 cans, we wish we had a waist belt to take some weight off our shoulders.