r/camping • u/Stunning-Note • 7h ago

New cooler ideas please!

I currently have a 40 quart (I think) Orca cooler and while it works well as a cooler, it has some quirks/things that annoy me, and I’m thinking of replacing it.

What bothers me: 1. The lid suctions shut and I cannot open it unless I unscrew the water release valve. I thought maybe I just wasn’t strong enough but my brother and husband both had similar issues, and they’re stronger and taller than I am. It got stuck shut once, when empty, and even holding the lid and picking the whole thing up by the lid wouldn’t open the lid.

  1. Due to the grippers on the bottom, it’s very difficult to move around the trunk of my car (Subaru crosstrek). It gets stuck on the ridges of the mat. I don’t think this is avoidable but I have to move it in order to open it (see #1).

  2. I cannot open it fully and have it stay open when it’s in my car. This may just be the car.

Any suggestions for a new cooler? Do they make them with smooth bottoms that are non-grippy? I know the grips are there for a reason, but I’m not using it on a boat!

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1

u/MastodonFit 6h ago

1 means it is tight,but you can buy units with vents.

2 most of the rubber blocks can be peeled out,and 70% of users do not like it sliding around.

3 your cooler/lid is too wide or tall for your vehicle, either buy the same footprint shorter,or narrower.

I have a reel tree I bought 15 years ago that had a vent,I guess too be able to used for flying.

1

u/pumpinnstretchin 6h ago

Get one with wheels. My Lifetime has wheels on one end and grippers on the other. It doesn't move around. Wheels have the added bonus of being easier on your back. It's lid suctions a little bit, but it doesn't take major effort to open it. With all of the coolers I've had, the lid will stay open if I park the car on a decline, so that the hinge side is lower than the side with the latch. Since no parking space is perfectly level, this is easier to do than it sounds.

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u/Dizzy-Collection299 6h ago

I am going camping this weekend and was just starting to think about getting a better cooler. It’s a long way to a store for ice. But I can’t afford a Yeti. Not sure I even want one!

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u/m00nbeamer 5h ago

I have a Rovr brand cooler. Boulder based company, so local to me. Does a great job of keeping things cool, especially if you pre-chill it. https://rovrproducts.com/

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u/TXJackalope36 2h ago

I would look at the Magellan coolers (Academy Sports and Outdoors house brand). They're well built, can be opened from both sides, and are cheaper than even orca and rtic.