Head Out With Our Favorite Beach Coolers On The Market [Review]

What should you shop for?

The right cooler can help single-handedly jumpstart many of your future beach excursions. However, what features should it come with and what are some of the additional functions that can guarantee a fun-filled day at the beach?

It does not just end at picking an ideal beach cooler, but you must get one designed to meet most, if not all, of your outdoor cooling needs. To start with, you must decide if you need one to strictly meet single-use demands or go for a bigger option for flexibility.

The duration you foresee using a cooler box at any given instance should also guide your choice. Cold-storage boxes that can accommodate dry ice will keep your food and drinks frozen for days on end at lower temperatures.

Type Of Cooler

Another consideration would be whether to go for a soft-sided or hard sided option or a fabric-tote style cooler. The hard-sided varieties are the iconic ice chests that most of us are accustomed to, and they work best for people who travel frequently.

The soft-sided varieties are styrofoam-made and best for one-off or infrequent use. They perform decently but often produce too much waste with time and need regular replacements.

Terrain

The beach is filled with sand, but it also has proximity to water, direct exposure to the sun, and possibly several rugged terrains to navigate through. Outdoor coolers come recommended for the beach environment, but hybrids can get the job done just fine.

Outdoor models feature rugged designs to handle the pressure and stress of differing terrains. The picnic-style ice box can still work well over smoother surfaces.

Volume

If you want a cooler that will hold the most items then you would get a bigger one, right? Well, not entirely because you have to figure out if the volume of the cooling box can accommodate your items and ice while still maintaining a comfortable weight. You should always go a size larger than what you may think you need.

However, you also want to consider how many people the cooler is meant to serve. A 60-quart cooler can comfortably work for a family of 5 with enough room for drinks, food, and ice. There is always room for adjustments, and you may go for a larger or smaller volume depending on your specific needs.

Insulation

The construction of an icebox primarily determine its insulation level and consequently its ice retention abilities. You want to go for a product made using high-insulating materials.

In general, smaller sized cold-storage boxes will have poor ice retention capabilities when compared to their larger counterparts. Likewise, hard-sided models perform better than the soft-sided options when it comes to insulation.

However, metal-made cold-storage boxes conduct heat and do not perform well in warmer months. The plastic-made models work best as all-around portable ice chests.

Toughness

Beach coolers are uniquely made to handle the abrasive stress of the sand, exposure to beach water, and the direct hit from the sun. These elements would otherwise wear down on the weak points and give the portable cooling box a short run.

Naturally, you want to carefully pay attention to the construction and materials that go into making a beach cooler. Rust and corrosion resistance are some of the desirable features you want.

Also, the material of the movable parts is equally important because it will determine the type of maintenance the cooling box needs after trips to the beach. For instance, sand from the beach could easily get stuck on the latch and hinge mechanisms and affect their seal integrity.

Mobility

Naturally, you will get to the beach by car and then need to haul the cooler to your desired spot. It could mean a short distance from where you park your car or a long haul over a paved or sandy path. For longer distances,  you need a wheeled model that can navigate through multiple terrains.

The traditional non-wheeled options may still work, but you want to go for one with sturdy side handles. One on each side allows you to partner up and carry it to your preferred location.

Accessibility

When at the beach, people will continuously open the cooler to grab a drink or bite to eat on a frequent basis. It means that the portable ice chest should come with a lid that is wide enough giving easy access to its contents. Sectioned and mini-access covers are also preferable.

The whole point is to limit the amount of time the lid is open which in turn reduces the amount of cold air let out of the box.

Added Features

Besides the essential elements that any good beach cooler must come with, most will usually include a few other subtle features. They include things like built-in cup holders, bottle openers, ceramic cutleries, and raised legs.

A few of the functional features you should aim for include tow handles, an easy-drain plug, and a waterproof lid seal. These crucial elements make a difference when it comes to handling the cooler, cleaning it up, and enhancing insulation respectively.

Coolers that come with charging ports are considered a luxury, and they pretty much work as portable refrigerators. While they do not use ice cubes and keep items frozen for longer, their reliance on an electric outlet or car’s cigarette port may prove impractical in the outdoor environment. Some also come with removable Bluetooth speakers, ice crushers, LED lights, and built-in blenders which some may attribute as gimmicky additions.

You will end up drawn to some of these additional features that you deem essential to your needs.

Budget

After going through our list of beach cooler reviews, you will have the final task of deciding which one works for your budget. The hard-sided coolers come at a higher cost compared to the soft-sided and tote options. Fortunately, it is possible to get a decent portable icebox for under $50.

It will all come down to your judgment and budget, but we say it is better to put money on a quality product that will serve you for several years.