So you have had a productive week. Your getting lots of work done and your ready to cut loose. Your team is playing so you call your friends and plan to tailgate the game. There are a few things that are absolutely essential for a great tailgate. No matter what your drink of choice may be, drinks need to be cold, so a cooler – a great cooler – is paramount.
But all coolers are not created equally. In fact, there are so many options available when shopping for a new cooler that you may find your head spinning the next time you find yourself in the cooler aisle. These days you can find coolers with a number of fancy features ranging in size from tiny to huge, and designs from simple to elaborate. So before you go shopping, let us break down the cooler market for you just a bit.
There are a few things to consider before you choose the best cooler to suite your needs. The main factors to think about are size, price, and portability.
The Cruisin Cooler takes tailgating to a new level.
First let’s talk about price, when deciding what you want to spend you need to think about what you want from your cooler. You can buy a cheap cooler from an outlet store but, as you know, you get what you pay for. If you will be tailgating on any hot summer days, or taking your cooler to the beach or camping, you will probably end up with an ice chest full of water in no time. Melted ice doesn’t keep your drinks cool, and isn’t that the point of a cooler?
The Internet is a wonderful thing. Before you buy, read some reviews of popular coolers. You will be able to learn from others’ mistakes and find the best cooler for your money that actually keeps your drinks cold. Don’t worry, depending on how big you want to go you can still find a good cooler for twenty to thirty bucks.
Next let’s consider size. Contrary to popular belief, bigger is not always better. Getting all excited about having the biggest cooler at the tailgate is great, until you realize your trunk won’t shut with your new beast of a cooler inside. But if you have a truck, by all means, go all out. Cooler size is measured by quarts and most tell you on the label how many cans it can hold so it’s pretty easy to figure out what size works best for you.
Size and portability go hand in hand. If you plan to transport your cooler from your car to your tailgate for any considerable distance, you really need wheels. A cooler full of ice and cans is heavy, now matter how tough you think you are. So unless you are buying a small cooler with a handle on top, opt for one with wheels and a retractable handle.
There is one other factor to consider when shopping for a cooler and that is the wow factor. If you are looking for something over the top there is always the Cruzin Cooler 50-300XE Motorized Cooler Sure, it’s not really necessary for your cooler to have a motor, but wouldn’t it be a great conversation piece?
This 50-quart ice chest is complete with a nice cushy seat, steering wheel, petals, breaks, and of course, a motor. This cooler can hold up to 24 cans and riders up to 250 lbs. You will be a hit cruising around on this piece of work and with a price tag of over $400, you better be.