Cool boxes...

[dokko]

Really am stuck on these things, I'm going away camping in a couple of weeks and I cannot stand warm beer, so want to be prepared properly this time so I'm looking at a coolbox.

My budget is £40, stretch to £50 if I really can't find anything but tbh it's a bit much to be used once a year for that price.

Does anyone have any experience? Coleman xtreme range seem to pick up the best reviews but cost a small fortune, also these are passive, and as a PC person I can't get my head round that passive cooling solutions are going to be better than fan assisted.

Anyway, any thoughts welcome.

 

[dokko]

http://www.garden4less.co.uk/coleman-cool-box-36-quart-xtreme-cooler.asp

This seems to be the best passive cooler. Beers in fridge night before I leave, in with some ice, and that is probably the best I'm going to do.

Just wish it was cheaper. Wondering if anyone has any alternatives for quality, it reckons, and the reviews back it up you put ice in there and it stays frozen for over 24hrs no problem.

Mac, any models you can recommend, a little cheaper than Coleman xtreme?

 

[dokko]

Some (most?) powered coolboxes aren't really fridges.
They'll only reduce the internal temperature relative to the ambient/outside temperature.
eg if it's 30C ambient they will might only reduce the internal temp to 30-15=15C

I'd use an electric one the same as I'd use a passive one, just with the added bonus the fan kept the contents, ie Ice cooler for longer.

 

[dokko]

Agh man, just can't make up my mind.

It's for drink only, 3 day camping trip, i will be able to get ice every day from the spar down the road. Someone make a decision for me!

 

[dokko]

Cheers for the opinions, i'm thinking (cost wise mainly) of getting this:

http://www.thermos.co.uk/product_details.aspx?ProdID=1449&CatCode=COOL&q=

And two of these:

http://www.thermos.co.uk/product_details.aspx?ProdID=1434&CatCode=COOL&q=

Can get it all in for £32.

I'll get Ice as well once im there, chill everything (beers) the night before and see if that gets us through it.

The Aldi one is interesting, but Aldi never have long term stock and i missed the boat on that one.

There was another electric one, a Royal:

http://www.thecaravanshop.co.uk/special-offers/royal-25l-12v-coolbox/prod_730.html

Which is similar price as the passive package above.

 

[dokko]

I have two coleman xtremes, one used as a cooler and one as a mashtun. Can't fault them in terms of design and insulating ability.

A cheap box will do you fine if you just want to keep your beer cold for a day with some ice.

The coleman extremes are more for multiple day trips where you want to keep meat and stuff for a few days (and maybe a few beers), or as with my mashtun, for keeping mash temps perfect.

I'm away for 3 days. the Coleman stuff seems top top gear, but one or two uses a year it really isn't worth it for me anyway.

Yer if you can get ice everyday then just get a cheap stanard cool box. Work fine for us for years. Even warm beer in a cool box full of ice gets ice cold.

Shops near campsites have a habbit of running out of ice though!

I imagine in this weather it might be a struggle to get any. I'm going to Silith, it has a decent amount of options but not a great deal considering the campsite is quite a size.

We've had a few for camping holidays. Your best options are either the aldi powered one (will be fine most of the time in the uk) or you're looking at Coleman extreme or Icey-tek. Bog standard cheap ones you'll struggle to keep things cool for 2 days.

Getting things prepared properly will help, bung some 2l pop bottles of water in the freezer a couple of days before and then 24 hours before you leave put them in the box, it'll help chill the box down. Day of leaving swap the bottles out for the things you're taking (even better if you can freeze some stuff). Pack it with ice blocks at the top and fill as much space as possible with balled up newspaper or similar, it helps reduce air space. Open it as little as possible, keep out the sun etc will all help.

What about Thermos? I know back in the day they were good for gloves and flasks.

 

[dokko]

If you can get ice then I'd go standard cool box personally. Load it up and it'll stay chilled all day. Whenever we have a bbq we always get the beers and soft drinks cans in a big tub with lots of ice - something about a beer that's been ice cooled (but not frozen!)

I'm the kind of person who puts his beers in the freezer an hour before dirnking them, cold beer is essential, can't drink it warm

If you can get cold beer and ice then go for it, if you're trying to cool down warm beer with ice, I'd say you're wasting your time.

Yeah you are right, it never gets it down enough.

 

[dokko]

Make your own for £5:

Two cardboard boxes, one smaller than the other.
One can of expanding foam.
Place small closed box in big box, hold it 2" off the base, fill gap with foam.
Cut off foam above small box to make a lid.


That is technically exactly the same thing as those £30 cool boxes

If we could make one with some old PC fans built in we could be on to something.

 

[dokko]

I'm listening....

Seriously though why has no one (especially on here) done this?

 

[dokko]

I went with the Thermos (32l + 2x 800g slabs for £32) option, will try the salt trick, sounds bizarre until you read the science behind it. Thanks for everyone's input, much appreciated