Igloo Coolers, Ice Chests & Water Jugs

This cooler has many reviews and is one of the highest-rated coolers with over 80 percent giving it a 5-star rating. This is not an igloo cooler with wheels so keep that in mind when igloo cooler with wheels you are loading it up. It may need a couple of people to load and carry once it has all of your stuff in it. The Igloo IMX 24 is going to be your heavy-duty high-performance cooler.

igloo ice chest

Whether it is a small cooler with wheels or a portable ice chest cooler they are going to be durable. Igloo uses high-quality igloo electric cooler products and many are made in the U.S.A. The handle and wheels make it very portable and the cooler only weighs 13.5 pounds.

However, dry ice can be dangerous to touch (you have to wear heavy gloves to prevent frostbite), doesn’t last long, and many coolers aren’t even rated to handle it. All told, it might take some finessing to perfect your ice strategy, but we think a combination of crushed and blocks is the best (and safest) method. Most of the hard-sided coolers on our list have drainage systems to help you empty out water once your ice has melted. Typically, this comes in the form of a screw-on or pop-off cap at the base of the cooler—simply take it off and let the water pour out.

Our affordable ice chest designs are thoughtful, intuitive and reliable because we think of YOU and the adventures you’re planning to take our coolers on. Inside, you’ll find what Igloo describes as 50 quarts of storage space for your food and beverages. The actual number came in just a bit lower when I double-checked it, as I was only able to fill the MaxCold with 46.5 quarts of water before the lid wouldn’t close without overflowing. Still, that’s a decent amount of space for the price, and more than enough to keep plenty of cold beers on hand.

After spending many years evaluating more than 40 cooler models, we’ve chosen eight that are well made, well insulated, and well suited for a range of outings. The Igloo MaxCold scored a lower average temperature during the ice retention test than any other cooler except for Yeti and Orca, which each cost $300. Still, that’s more than some other cheap coolers can say. Downgrade to the $20 Rubbermaid Ice Chest Cooler or the $15 Igloo Island Breeze Cooler, for instance, and you won’t get a lid latch or a drainage spout at all.

One great way to use these coolers that people don’t think of often is these coolers are also great for keeping things hot. If you need to transport some meat you smoked in your smoker but don’t want it to be cold all you need to do is put hot water into the cooler to warm it up. The cooler has extendable handles making it easy to roll it. This is perfect for attaching camping chairs, bags, hammocks with a stand, or even a small camping grill. The Igloo trailmate really is a premium Igloo cooler with wheels.