The Only Cooler You Need for a Long Road or Camping Trip

We tested six coolers in a temperature-controlled chamber in our labs to find out which ones could keep things cold the longest, even in extreme conditions. The chamber temperature ranged from 91° to 118° F. The temperature inside each cooler and the soda placed at the center were continuously monitored, yielding over 500,000 temperature readings for each model over 72 hours. We also noted how easy each cooler was to open, drain, and carry. Locks, handles, and any other additional features were also considered.

Sneak Peek: The Coleman Snap ’N Go cooler didn’t maintain cold temperatures the longest, but it has a unique feature that still makes the model worth considering. It folds down from a bulky, rectangular cooler to a thin, 4.5-inch (measured in our lab) flat item that can be easily stored in a small space between uses. Best of all, when you’re ready to take it on a trip, going from collapsed to expanded takes just a few seconds.