Cooler Insulators

[STEVEBRENDA]

This may sound stupid, but does anyone have any ideas on making some sort of cover to insulate their cooler? With 100 degree plus temperatures, we are eating thru ice way too quick. That is even with making larger made in 32oz disposable cups.

I have been scheming of making some sort of wrap out of the foil type insulation. The lid seems like where most of the heat comes in, so maybe some sort of cap might be best.

We start a cooler at the beginning of vacation and just keep adding drinks and ice to it thru out the week.

Any ideas?

Thanks

[rancherlee]

I've got a Coleman "Xtreme" cooler and it will keep ice a good 2-3 days in 80-90* heat. The walls and lid are a good 2" thick.

[cwag911]

Maybe glue a chunk of styrofoam under the lid. The kind they use for house insulation.

[OK Toon]

I've got a Coleman "Xtreme" cooler and it will keep ice a good 2-3 days in 80-90* heat. The walls and lid are a good 2" thick.

+1 -- that's what we use as well.

[STEVEBRENDA]

We have/had a Coleman "Xtreme", but hte latch went bad. Besides, my wife and kids like the one on wheels better. The sides seem pretty well insulated.

[badmoonrising]

Also have 2 Coleman Xtreme coolers. For Canal Days or anytime we spend more than a day on the water, we freeze 2 liter bottles and that ice lasts 3-4 days in them. Also keeps bags of cubed ice solid longer.

[Woody]

I hear good things about Yeti coolers, but I understand that they are VERY expensive.

[Ghostrider]

I second the idea of freezing 2 liter bottles. We use the big cranberry juice bottles because they're square and fit better in the cooler. You also may consider putting a wet towel over the cooler. The evaporative effect of the towel drying helps to keep the cooler cool.

[dockholiday]

BMR and ghost already said it but the frozen bottle works well. I used a Clorox bottle cause it was more durable and less apt to split during expansion. Got too many coolers but if I was picking up a new one Walmart carries 5 and 7 day coolers. Not sure if they last that long but should be better than most I have.........
A damp or wet towel over the top should help some. Heard the other day this summer is the hottest in U.S. history.
doc

[blackberg]

we put a towel inside the lid, and not fill it all the way up, the towel should fit in the bottom portion, works wonders, even in coolers with a bad latch

-bb

[Bill1031]

Freezing bigger blocks of ice is what I have done in the past also. I try and buy juice or milk in the paper containers. Rinse out, fill and freeze. When your regular cubes are gone just slam it on the ground and peel the paper. More ice for your favorite beverage.

[SCbarber]

I was going to go with yeti but the price was insane, went with a $40.00 Coleman Xtreme as well and for the price you can't beat it.

[LocoCoco]

Two things:


1. How old is your cooler? I did a test between an old Coleman dated 1991 and a brand new 2011 Igloo. Exact same conditions for both coolers and when the Coleman was all water, the Igloo still had half its ice. I never imagined such a difference between two coolers. (Can't be mad at Coleman though since it was 20 years older).


2. On longer trips, especially when ice isn't available, I freeze half my beer. Cans of beer in the freezer don't explode like bottles or cans of pop, and they taste fine after thawing. There's nothing better than three days into a camping trip having ice cold beer. Best of all, you're saving space and weight in your cooler, allowing you to bring more beer. Timing it just right gets tricky but a slushy beer beats a warm beer any day.



LC.

[BobG]

If I had the money, I would install an ice maker.

[Woody]

I was going to go with yeti but the price was insane....

Yeah, I would have to rely on my cooler to help me make a living before I laid down that kind of cash for one....