Camping Q: Cooler box or cooler bag?

[Helen Back]

We're trying to decide which type to invest in: a cooler box or cooler bag.

Cooler bags can collapse down and save space but surely the heat gets into the bag from the zip or wherever?

Cooler boxes are rigid and so must be heat-tight and so what if they don't collapse down, you can use them to carry things in.


Which works better to keep our milk cool on campsite for longest?

 

[christonabike]

I'd go for box

Not sure why

You can sit on them

 

[Helen Back]

I'd go for box

Not sure why

You can sit on them

Nice haiku.

 

[dilute micro]

That's not a proper haiku.

 

[yardbird]

Nice haiku.

I had to google haiku.

 

[Rollem]

boxes are better i think, but heavier

 

[pogofish]

Box is best IME but you need to keep it well packed and opened as little as possible. I would usually transfer stuff from the box into a small coolbag bag for daily use.

 

[fogbat]

Depending on where you're planning to camp, and for how long, it might be worth digging a hole, too.

I've got vague memories of scout camp where we dug a big hole, and kept food in a wooden box within it. The earth acted as a fairly good insulator. Ray Mears probably knows all about it

 

[Helen Back]

Depending on where you're planning to camp, and for how long, it might be worth digging a hole, too.

I've got vague memories of scout camp where we dug a big hole, and kept food in a wooden box within it. The earth acted as a fairly good insulator. Ray Mears probably knows all about it

Don't think they'll let you do that on a campsite.

 

[mr steev]

As has been said, boxes are heavier and bulkier... which has it's good and bad sides. There is also no guarantee that you can sit on them!

We've got a bag at the moment and it seems to work fine. If you're on a campsite and can keep a regular supply of cold camping ice-packs then either would be ok.

It's down to size and weight I reckon, and how sturdy you want it to be

 

[feyr]

how long are you needing it to be kept cool for?
if its just a few days, i'd go for the bag filled with icepacks and any liquids like milk frozen . in our kitchen at work, a medium container of milk takes the best part of a day to defrost and is still chilled by the end of it, so even with zip heat loss, it should suffice for a few days

anything over 3 days, i'd go for the box, again with everything possible frozen to start with

 

[Biddlybee]

Aye, if it's only a couple of days, then a bag is fine. I do the same as feyr - take frozen water and frozen milk.

 

[mr steev]

I guess you know about ice-packs like these? Most campsite shops will freeze them for you, so you can have a constant supply.

 

[madamv]

I saw someone sat on a camping seat which was also a cool box. Shouldve asked where they got it from I suppose...

 

[madamv]

Bit like this... ebay item

Found it a bit cheaper too on complete outdoors.co.uk

 

[feyr]

Bit like this... ebay item

i love the new ebay layout

that chair/cooler combo looks pretty good though

 

[geminisnake]

A cool bag will keep salmon pate ok to eat from Thursday to Saturday with a frozen 2l bottle of water in it ime. Pogofish wasn't chuffed about it but he wasn't eating the pate, I was.

If you're on a proper site buy a few cool blocks, write your name on them and get them refrozen overnight. Sometimes they charge 50p or so for this.

 

[Biddlybee]

I guess you know about ice-packs like these? Most campsite shops will freeze them for you, so you can have a constant supply.

I use them too, they line the bottom - then I freeze my milk and a bottle of water too. Means that in a warm ish tent I can take the milk out to defrost andsqueeze some more cider's in

 

[Helen Back]

how long are you needing it to be kept cool for?
if its just a few days, i'd go for the bag filled with icepacks and any liquids like milk frozen . in our kitchen at work, a medium container of milk takes the best part of a day to defrost and is still chilled by the end of it, so even with zip heat loss, it should suffice for a few days

anything over 3 days, i'd go for the box, again with everything possible frozen to start with

Initially we're going for a weekend just to try out camping which neither of us has done for years. Sort of a dry run for a longer trip.

It is okay to freeze then thaw out milk? Does it come out ok? Doesn't it seperate? Must try it before we go I guess....

 

[Helen Back]

We're still no closer to deciding box or bag. Help!

 

[Biddlybee]

Has always worked when we freeze it and defrost it. I think it does defrost at slighlty different rates, but just shake it a bit and it'll be fine - much nicer than long life milk

 

[Biddlybee]

We're still no closer to deciding box or bag. Help!

Are you driving to wherever you're camping?

 

[Helen Back]

Are you driving to wherever you're camping?

Yes.

 

[Biddlybee]

Then take a box, weight doesn't really matter as much, you can fit more in and will keep cooler for longer

 

[Looby]

Don't use a bag if you're taking ice-they leak.

 

[Idaho]

Igloo boxes are the business. Pour a bag of ice in it the day before you go and shut the lid. Then the next day, pour out the melt, chuck in the ice packs, and fill with cold stuff. Will stay nice a cold for a couple of days. You can recharge it by buying a bag of ice from a garage.