Nothing kills the vibe of a music festival faster than warm drinks and soggy food. That’s why a reliable cooler is essential for your music festival or camping trip.
There are many factors to consider when choosing the best cooler for your outdoor adventure, including insulation and ice retention, size and portability, and durability.
Whether you’re headed to a music festival or camping in the great outdoors, the right cooler will ensure your food and drinks stay ice-cold all day. Nothing is worse than a warm drink or soggy sandwiches that spoil after just a few hours of sun exposure, so investing in a high-quality cooler is important. To do that, look for a hard cooler with thick walls and polyurethane insulation that can keep your items cold for up to 5 days.
Polyurethane is denser than styrofoam or polyethylene foam and has smaller air bubbles, making it more durable and insulating than other types of insulation. Many hard coolers on the market feature this technology, including rotomolded options like the Yeti Roadie 24 and Hydro Flask Day Escape. This construction also makes the coolers water-resistant, so you won’t have to worry about leaking or spilled drinks during transit.
Size and capacity will also affect the effectiveness of a cooler’s insulation. For shorter trips, opt for a soft nylon or polystyrene foam cooler that’s lightweight and easy to carry around. For extended music festivals or camping excursions, you’ll want a larger option that can accommodate more food and drinks.
It’s also important to consider the type of food and beverages you’ll be bringing on your trip. If you’ll be packing perishables, you may need a cooler with more advanced features like an antimicrobial liner that resists mold and odor. Additionally, you should prioritize leak-proofing for an optimal experience. Many hard coolers like the Coleman 50QT Xtreme Wheeled Cooler and the Outwell Penguin Cool Bag have reliable leak-proofing to help prevent accidental spills.
It’s also a good idea to take note of your festival’s guidelines regarding cooler size and type. Some events prohibit outside alcohol or impose restrictions on how large or small a cooler can be, so you’ll need to plan accordingly. In addition to ensuring your cooler meets size requirements, look for a portable model with handles and straps that make it easy to transport from your car to the festival grounds. Additionally, consider models with collapsible or backpack-style storage for additional versatility.
Size
A good cooler will be able to keep food and drinks chilled for an extended period of time, and it’s important to consider the size when selecting one. The capacity, typically expressed in quarts, doesn’t directly translate into the amount of food and beverages you can carry since about two-thirds of the space will be taken up by ice. To maximize your storage capabilities, look for a cooler that is well-insulated and features wheels.
When choosing a festival cooler, consider the duration of your trip and group size. If you’re heading to a multi-day music festival, opt for a larger cooler that will provide enough storage space to accommodate your food and drink needs over the entire weekend. A Coleman 50QT Xtreme Wheeled Cooler is a popular option for its capacity and ice retention capabilities.
However, it’s important to remember that a cooler is heavy when full and can be difficult to lift or maneuver. Ensure it’s easy to transport by opting for a model with wheels or a collapsible cooler bag like the Hydro Flask Day Escape and Outwell Penguin cool bags.
If you’re planning a day trip or picnic, a cooler with a 16 to 35-quart capacity should suffice. This range offers enough room to store provisions for 1-2 people for a day, and it’s also a great choice for camping trips.
In this range, you’ll find some of the best cooler options for festivals, such as the Yeti Roadie 24, Coleman 50QT Xtreme Wheeled cooler, and Bluu soft-sided cooler. These coolers are insulated with polyurethane foam, which helps to keep food and drinks cold for longer. They’re also very sturdy, so they can stand up to the elements and the occasional bump or knock.
For multi-day camping or fishing excursions, a cooler in the 40 to 70-quart range can be a great choice. These coolers can hold the supplies of 2-3 people for several days, and they’re also a great choice for family camping trips. If you’re going to be out for a long time, dry ice or ice cubes are better choices than wholesale blocks of ice, which can melt quickly in hot temperatures.
Portability
Nothing kills the vibe at music festivals more than warm drinks and spoiled food. That’s why having a reliable cooler is a must-have for all outdoor adventurers and festival-goers. But not all coolers are made equal, so when you’re shopping for a new festival cooler, it’s important to consider a few key factors such as size and capacity, insulation and ice retention, portability and ease of transport, and durability and construction.
The scorching temperatures at music festivals require a high-performing cooler with robust insulation capabilities. Look for a cooler that features double-thick closed-cell foam or vacuum insulated panels (VIPs) for optimal heat resistance. High-performance coolers also include leak-proof construction to prevent water damage from spills and other damages. The Coleman 50QT Xtreme Wheeled Cooler and Yeti Roadie 24 are great examples of durable, highly-insulated coolers that offer superior ice retention and leak-proofing.
If you’re planning a long weekend of camping or an extended festival trip, you’ll need a larger cooler with ample storage space to accommodate plenty of ice and provisions for your trip. Larger coolers also typically feature better ice retention abilities than smaller options, so be sure to prioritize a model that can keep your supplies chilled for a few days at a time.
If you’re concerned about space limitations, opt for a collapsible or backpack-style cooler. They’re lightweight and easy to transport, so you can save space in your vehicle while still enjoying cold beverages and fresh food throughout the duration of your trip. Soft-sided coolers like the Blue Softside Cooler Bag and Outwell Penguin cool bags are also comfortable to carry thanks to a padded mesh back panel and shoulder straps. These coolers are also BPA-free and toxin-free, making them ideal for festival-goers who want to stay safe and healthy.
Etiquette
Considering that you’ll be sharing the same festival space with thousands of strangers for hours at a time, it’s important to remember that good festival etiquette can go a long way toward making sure everyone has a great time. This includes showing respect for others by being polite, following venue rules and avoiding actions that could disturb the performers or other guests.
During live performances, please keep your voice low and only speak to the person sitting next to you if necessary. Don’t take flash photos or shoot video, unless otherwise instructed by the performers. It’s also a good idea to clean up after yourself, so leave your food and drink containers at home or in the car if possible, and dispose of any trash (including chewed gum) promptly. If you spill anything on a seat or other surface, wipe it up as soon as possible and tell an attendant right away.
It’s also a good idea to bring a small backpack or other small bag to hold your phone and any other items you may need during the show. This will help you stay organized and avoid losing track of your belongings in the crowd. Also, be mindful of where you set up your campsite and try not to block others’ access to tents or other areas. It’s also important to stay hydrated during concerts, so don’t forget to pack plenty of water.
When packing your cooler, consider putting the items you use most frequently to one side of the container and those that you need less often to the other. This will minimize the amount of time you have to open and close the lid, which will keep the ice from melting as quickly.
Lastly, it’s important to be aware of the potential for unwanted sexual behavior at festivals. Many young women have reported being harassed at music events, and some of the most common forms of this harassment include unwelcome sexual touching and verbal sexualized harassment. While the hedonism and freedom of festivals can be attractive to some, it’s essential to be safe and responsible to make the event enjoyable for everyone.