Close Menu
GeekBlog

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    What's Hot

    Discounty review: a cozy life sim with some bite

    August 30, 2025

    Elon Musk’s DOGE Point Man is Now An MDMA Consigliere

    August 30, 2025

    Labor Day Just Made My Favorite All-in-One Kitchen Appliance a Steal at 25% Off

    August 30, 2025
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Threads
    GeekBlog
    • Home
    • Mobile
    • Reviews
    • Tech News
    • Deals & Offers
    • Gadgets
      • How-To Guides
    • Laptops & PCs
      • AI & Software
    • Blog
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    GeekBlog
    Home»Gadgets»11 Best Coolers WIRED Tested for Every Budget, Any Situation (2025)
    Gadgets

    11 Best Coolers WIRED Tested for Every Budget, Any Situation (2025)

    Michael ComaousBy Michael ComaousAugust 2, 2025No Comments3 Mins Read0 Views
    Share Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email Copy Link
    11 Best Coolers WIRED Tested for Every Budget, Any Situation (2025)
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email Copy Link

    The first thing to consider when buying a cooler is how you’re going to use it. If you aren’t heading out for days at a time, you probably don’t need an expensive high-end cooler. All the coolers we’ve recommend above are capable of holding things at a safe temperature for a day, provided you keep them in the shade. Similarly, if you’re navigating rugged terrain, you might want beefy wheels—and if you’re just going to the beach, you might not need them.

    Hard-sided coolers: These range from the old green Coleman coolers—once a staple of every camping trip—to Yetis, which cost as much as cars did when Coleman started making coolers. You might wonder why the Yetis are so expensive. That I can’t answer, but Yeti did upend the cooler industry by introducing rotational molding, or “rotomolding,” where melted plastic is molded over foam insulation in one piece. Rotomolded coolers offer seamless, uniform density in their walls and lids, which drastically improves a cooler’s performance. In contrast, those ancient, affordable plastic coolers we’ve all used have thinner walls, leaky seams, and less insulated lids. Whether you need the extra insulation depends on what you’re doing and how hot it is when you’re doing it. Want to learn more? Our In-House Know-It-All has a more thorough insulation explanation.

    Hard-sided coolers generally have the luxury features you want, like leakproof lids and drain plugs, and some are even bear-resistant (check this list of bear-proof products if you’re headed into ursine country). The downside is that these coolers are generally huge and heavy.

    Soft-sided coolers: Soft-sided coolers include everything from well-padded, impressively insulated sling bags (like the Yeti Hopper Flip above) to roll-down, dry-bag-style coolers perfect for those mild beach days. The best soft coolers are easier to carry, pack away easily when not in use, and have a versatility that traditional hard coolers lack. (I have used dry-bag-style coolers as, well, dry bags.) Ice doesn’t last as long, but for short outings where you don’t need a large cooler, these are what we recommend.

    Electric coolers: Sure, they’re not necessary, but if you’re headed out on longer adventures and have access to power, you’ll never have to worry about your ice melting.

    Other Features to Look For:

    • Drain plug: This greatly simplifies life by making it easy to drain the water out of your cooler. If you’re buying a large cooler, make sure it has one of these.
    • Divider: One of our top tips for long-term cooler use is to have two coolers: One you treat as a fridge and hardly ever open, and another for drinks. If that’s not possible, you can achieve some of the same by getting a cooler with a dividing wall in it. That way you can pack one side tightly with ice to keep that meat at a low temp, and use the other side for chilling beverages with cubed ice.
    • Wheels: Coolers get heavy and wheels are awesome. They won’t always work (good luck wheeling your cooler over tree roots), but when they do, they are completely worth it.
    budget Coolers Situation Tested WIRED
    Follow on Google News Follow on Flipboard
    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Telegram Email Copy Link
    Previous ArticleThis AI didn’t just simulate an attack – it planned and executed a real breach like a human hacker
    Next Article Best Home Security Systems for 2025: Top Smart Hubs to Protect Your Home
    Michael Comaous
    • Website

    Related Posts

    14 Mins Read

    The Best Google Pixel Phones of 2025, Tested and Reviewed: Which Model to Buy, Cases and Accessories, Feature Drops

    18 Mins Read

    The best password managers for businesses in 2025: Expert tested

    1 Min Read

    WIRED Roundup: The US Chip Manufacturers’ Bonanza

    7 Mins Read

    Best 360 Cameras (2025), Tested and Reviewed

    4 Mins Read

    Best GoPro Camera (2025): Compact, Budget, Accessories

    5 Mins Read

    Is Lenovo’s new SteamOS handheld worth the hype? I tested it, here’s my verdict

    Top Posts

    8BitDo Pro 3 review: better specs, more customization, minor faults

    August 8, 202512 Views

    WIRED Roundup: ChatGPT Goes Full Demon Mode

    August 2, 202512 Views

    Framework Desktop Review: A Delightful Surprise

    August 7, 202511 Views
    Stay In Touch
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • TikTok
    • WhatsApp
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    Latest Reviews

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest tech news from FooBar about tech, design and biz.

    Most Popular

    8BitDo Pro 3 review: better specs, more customization, minor faults

    August 8, 202512 Views

    WIRED Roundup: ChatGPT Goes Full Demon Mode

    August 2, 202512 Views

    Framework Desktop Review: A Delightful Surprise

    August 7, 202511 Views
    Our Picks

    Discounty review: a cozy life sim with some bite

    August 30, 2025

    Elon Musk’s DOGE Point Man is Now An MDMA Consigliere

    August 30, 2025

    Labor Day Just Made My Favorite All-in-One Kitchen Appliance a Steal at 25% Off

    August 30, 2025

    Subscribe to Updates

    Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest Threads
    • About Us
    • Contact us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms and Conditions
    © 2025 geekblog. Designed by Pro.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.