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Best Coleman Coolers

Updated May 2023
Bottom line
Pros
Cons
Best of the Best
Coleman 54-Quart Steel-Belted Cooler
Coleman
54-Quart Steel-Belted Cooler
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Customer Favorite
Bottom Line

This cooler is a solid model at a nice size that can handle a lot of food and drinks for a weekend away.

Pros

Solid metal handles and hinges. Accommodates up to 85 cans. Keeps ice frozen for up to 4 days. The sides are heavy-duty. It has a nostalgic feel and really stands the test of time. Available in multiple colors.

Cons

This cooler is a little heavier than others and can make it difficult to handle when full.

Best Bang for the Buck
Coleman Chiller Series Insulated Wheeled Soft Cooler
Coleman
Chiller Series Insulated Wheeled Soft Cooler
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Best On-the-Go
Bottom Line

Ideal for tailgating or picnics, this soft-sided cooler is a breeze to take along with you.

Pros

Features a telescoping handle and heavy-duty wheels for maximum mobility. Capable of keeping ice cold for up to 12 hours. Made of lightweight, recycled polyester materials. Leakproof and easy to clean thanks to a removable plastic liner. Fits up to 42 standard-sized cans.

Cons

Not ideal for overnight use.

Coleman 24-hour Cooler
Coleman
24-hour Cooler
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Best Compact Option
Bottom Line

This cooler is great for fishing, hiking, or road trips when you need just a few things cold and handy.

Pros

This collapsible soft-sided cooler helps save space. Includes a side pocket. The panel on top allows you to access food and drinks without having to open the whole lid. The adjustable strap is comfortable.

Cons

Sometimes the cooler can leak melting ice, and it does not have a hard liner.

Coleman 50-Quart Xtreme 5 Day Cooler
Coleman
50-Quart Xtreme 5 Day Cooler
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Best for Camping
Bottom Line

This heavy-duty cooler will keep ice cold for up to 5 days, making it ideal for overnights and camping trips.

Pros

Large 50-quart capacity can hold up to 84 cans. Will keep cold even in temperatures as high as 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Can be used as a seat and can hold up to 250 pounds of weight. Features a telescoping handle and 2 large wheels for easy pulling, and cup holders molded into the lid.

Cons

The black color of this cooler attracts heat and may diminish it's cooling abilities.

Coleman 316 Series Insulated Portable Cooler
Coleman
316 Series Insulated Portable Cooler
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Best Capacity
Bottom Line

Great for larger gatherings, this 72-quart cooler can hold up to 100 cans.

Pros

The 316 series cooler keeps ice cold for up to 5 days in temperatures lower than 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Features cupholders molded into the lid which can fit 30-ounce tumblers. The stain-resistant inner liner and a side drain make this cooler easy to clean. Equipped with 2 swing-up handles for carrying.

Cons

This cooler is quite large and will likely need 2 people to carry it when full.

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BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. About BestReviews  
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers.About BestReviews 
HOW WE TESTED

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

35
Models
Considered
69
Consumers
Consulted
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Buying guide for Best Coleman coolers

Whether it’s time for a picnic, an all-day fishing trip, or an extended camping trip, there’s a Coleman cooler for your needs to keep all your food and drinks fresh and cool.

But which one is right for you? Coleman has a reputation for making excellent products, but there are some considerations and features to think about before you buy. For instance, what size do you need? Coolers come in many sizes, from tiny coolers for six cans to coolers that hold 100 cans or more. Would you prefer a hard-sided cooler or a soft-sided one? A cooler that you carry or a cooler that rolls? What color combination strikes your fancy?

In this buying guide, we present you with your options so you can make an informed choice and get the best cooler for your needs. No need to sweat this decision — let our helpful advice keep you cool and relaxed through the shopping process.

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Coleman was one of the first companies to manufacture coolers.

Key considerations

Size

From soft-sided, collapsible insulated lunch pail coolers to extreme 100-can coolers, Coleman makes coolers for everyone and every need. The brand’s larger offerings have enough room in them to store massive quantities of cans, food, juice pouches, and ice — but is that what you need? For a standard picnic, two to three drinks per person is average. If you’re planning on an all-day outing, five or six cans per person would be better. And if your drinks aren’t water, you’ll want to take some water in a quart bottle or gallon jug for proper hydration. You’ll need to have room for that, as well.

Don’t forget the food, either. The longer your trip, the more food you’ll need to store in your cooler.

Hard-sided vs. soft-sided

Coleman makes coolers with hard sides and coolers with soft sides. Often, a shoulder strap is included for ease of use. Note, however, that some coolers hold up to 30 cans at a time, which can be quite heavy to carry with a shoulder strap.

It’s also important to note that soft-sided coolers don’t keep contents cool for as long as hard-sided ones. However, they do fold flat when not in use, which comes in handy when storage space is at a premium.

Cooling time

Coleman provides data about how long you can expect their coolers to keep contents cool. Often, this is stated something like, “This cooler will keep contents cool for X number of days in 90º F weather.” What you need to know is how they arrived at those figures.

The company conducts a product test to determine this information. They start with a pre-chilled cooler that is filled to the brim with ice and never opened during the test. The test is conducted indoors in a room that is periodically warmed and cooled to simulate the rise and fall of daytime and nighttime temperatures. Under those laboratory conditions, it is determined how long the test subject will keep food cool.

Of course, real-world conditions are different. Most folks don’t spend 24 hours pre-chilling their cooler. Instead, they get their cooler out of storage and immediately start dumping ice and other things in it. What’s more, during the day, the cooler is constantly being opened and closed. The lid may be held open for an extended period as people root around for their preferred drink or food. The cooler may be exposed to direct sunlight, which warms it up more than simply being in a hot room. Under these circumstances, you can expect to shave at least a full day off of whatever length of time is indicated for a particular cooler.

Features

Material

Coleman’s coolers are made from heavy-duty ABS plastic through a process known as blow molding. It is similar to blowing glass in that it creates a hollow, one-piece product. Since there are no seams, the final product is strong and durable. While the plastic is still hot, insulating foam is injected into the walls and bottom of the cooler. The only separate piece is the lid, which is manufactured by the same process.

Steel or stainless steel is used in some of Coleman’s higher-quality coolers to give them a durability that plastic can’t match. Soft-sided coolers are made from nylon with insulating sheets sandwiched between layers of nylon.

Carry or roll

Traditionally, coolers were meant to be carried by the handles, but Coleman now makes some products with hard plastic wheels. This type of cooler will roll as you pull it behind you. A few of these models have a telescoping handle that locks into place. With a cooler like that, you can either push or pull it as your mood strikes.

Colors

Coleman offers coolers in a variety of solid colors and two-tone combinations. Depending on the model you prefer, you can get a cooler in green, red, blue, silver, turquoise, or stainless steel. You can also choose color combinations of grey/orange, red/white, blue/white, and green/white, to name a few. Soft-sided coolers have even more color combinations available than hard-sided coolers.

Cup holders

Coleman’s hard-sided coolers often have molded cup holders on the lid. This helps keep your drinks stable in the event of a casual bump or uneven ground.

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Did you know?
Coleman deliberately designed the lids of their hard-sided coolers to be used as seats. In fact, you can buy seat cushions for some hard-sided Coleman coolers.
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Accessories

Seat cushion: Coleman Cooler Cushion
Make the most of your investment and your space with this hardy vinyl cushion from Coleman, which is expressly designed to fit a 17.5 x 20-inch Coleman cooler.

Replacement wheel: Coleman Cooler Replacement 6" Plastic Wheel and Nut
The wheels on coolers take lots of abuse and are often the first items that needs replacing. When that happens, this 6-inch replacement wheel from Coleman is your answer.

Food tray/divider: Coleman Cooler Replacement Food Tray Shelf DividerOn large-capacity coolers, Coleman offers an elevated tray/shelf/divider to keep the contents cool and dry. Put your condiments and other small items on it so you don’t have to bury your arm in the ice to get them out.

Ice packs: Coleman Chillers Day Pack Hard Ice Substitute
These reusable cold packs from Coleman have an ice substitute that can be used over and over again. Freeze it overnight in the freezer, then put it in the cooler instead of ice to keep everything cold. You never have to drain the cooler when you use these.

Coleman cooler prices

Inexpensive: Under $13 is the low price range for Coleman coolers. These small coolers hold 5 to 9 quarts. Many of them are soft-sided with shoulder straps.

Mid-range: Most Coleman coolers are priced in the middle, between $13 and $75. Over $20 is where you’ll find most of the hard-sided and larger-capacity coolers that can chill 60 to 90 cans for several days.

Expensive: Over $100 is the high price range. Here, you’ll find extra-large coolers that can hold over 90 cans and keep them cool for up to a week. These coolers tend to have large or dual-size drains that you can use to quickly empty the water out.

Tips

  • Put a layer of ice into the cooler before placing drinks or food in it. This creates a cooling layer between the food/drinks and any hot surface the cooler may be placed upon, such as sand or granite.
  • Suspend a small tent or drop cloth over the cooler to shield it from direct sunlight. This will help it stay cooler longer.
  • Don’t empty the water out of the cooler until you’re ready to empty everything. The water, even if it’s not as cold as ice, still retains plenty of cooling power.

Other products we considered

We like this Coleman 60-Quart Performance Wheeled Cooler. The wheels are made from heavy plastic and will withstand any terrain, from paved parking lots to gravel to rough, rocky ground. The telescoping handle locks into position when extended, allowing you to pull or push the cooler. There are four cup holders molded into the lid, which serves as a place to sit wherever you go. It holds up to 94 cans and will keep them cold for up to four days.

We also like the Coleman Heavy-Duty Super Cooler. It comes in three colors and holds 96 cans along with 20 pounds of ice. Items stay cold for up to seven days — an entire week! — even when the daily temperatures soar to 90º F. An antimicrobial liner and integrated cutting board resists fungus, mildew, mold, and odors. It has a dual-size drain, and you can drain it with a standard garden hose or a two-inch gate mouth for faster draining.

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Coleman backpack coolers can carry up to 28 cans and have plenty of outer pockets.

FAQ

Q. Are these coolers roto molded?
A.
Yes. Roto molding, used in combination with blow molding, creates a cooler that can keep the contents cool for several days at a time.

Q. What is the best way to clean my cooler?
A.
Use warm water and bleach. Then, rinse it out with a garden hose.

Q. Can I use dry ice in my cooler?
A.
If it is a hard-sided cooler, yes. If it is a soft-sided cooler, no.

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