Coolers - Marine vs. Extreme

Drawingablank · Post by **Drawingablank** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 1:18 pm

While cooler shopping I was looking at the blue Coleman Extreme coolers and the white Marine Extreme coolers.

The marine coolers seem a lot more solidly built but I was wondering if there is much difference in their insulation / abilities to keep things cold. The Coleman web site seems to be pretty vague about this as well. Does anyone have experience with both types that could weigh in on this?

I've searched and searched but cant seem to find this on any threads.

dragonpilot · Post by **dragonpilot** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 3:50 pm

Can't tell ya anything about the Marine, but I've been very happy with the Coleman Extreme...I think mine's a 6-day. That said, your ice might not last the full 6 days, but with adequate protection from the heat and sun, keeping it off the ground (set it on wood blocks), and opening it only when necessary your perishables should be just fine.

Don't forget, crushed (8# bag) and block (10#) ice is available for purchase from the 3 Arctica ice stations...$3 each last year. Most coolers go 24-36 hours on a bag of ice...the Extremes maybe a little longer.

All ya gotta do is lift the lid and check.

Boijoy · Post by **Boijoy** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 4:57 pm

agreed w/ Dragon.
Also, You might want to bring 2. One for food the other for beverages. That way you won't have to open the food one that often.
Freeze your meats & freezable meals & freeze the beverages you can.
I freeze my water bottles & keep them inside to top of both coolers as well. Once they get all melty you have ice water to drink. I also keep all my food items inside a larger plastic container inside the cooler so my food stuffs don't ever touch the ice. No icky water that way.

lucky420 · Post by **lucky420** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 5:56 pm

I have the Coleman 5 day cooler (its green) and everything stayed nice and cold, ice got a little melty but not bad. We used it mostly for food though and had other coolers for drinks. I really like the large size of it.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 6:21 pm

With igloo, the marine versions are UV resistant and may have some other minor differences, but are identical to some other models, last I checked.
Threaded drains usually.

There are also true fishing grade coolers.
They can be expensive and indestructable.

Better coolers have an insulated lid and a smooth washable interior liner.
Look also for grooves for dividers and shelves.
I know igloo has these.
I consider the tray on top vital.

Don't waste your money on a non-insulated lid.
Many small sizes aren't offered with this.

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 6:30 pm

Some pros tested coolers on a site I read.

A normal ice chest, the igloo, and the colman ex.

Equel ice, drinks and open times.

Igloo and the colman came out the same and were the best for the bucks.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 6:46 pm

I'm confused.
What were they comparing?

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 6:49 pm

How long the ice would last.

5 days for the igloo and colman.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 6:51 pm

Which igloo cooler though?

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 6:53 pm

It was thier equivalent to the colman extreme.

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 7:00 pm

I think this is what I read.

http://www.boatersworld.com/static/bwar ... chest.html

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 7:24 pm

It's worth noting that coleman has two and maybe three levels of it's high end models now.

Generally thickness of insulation is what counts.
Differences in insulation are primarily structural and affect durability.
LeChat has added insulation with good effect.
Reflectix is an effective additive too.

The cup holder depressions are a flaw in design.

Marine coolers typically can use tiedowns too.

Many colemans lack a proper latch which can affect the seal or prevent a big mess.

Drawingablank · Post by **Drawingablank** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 7:29 pm

Right now I'm leaning towards the Coleman Marine extreme, for the durability if nothing else. The heavier / stainless hardware is a nice feature and I've seen one hold 2 large adults sitting on it in 20 foot seas for 7 hours so I guess it will handle anything I might throw at it.

Just would be nice if they weren't so vague about the properties of the marine version and rated them like the regular extremes (5 or 6 day).

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 7:51 pm

Stainless hardware primarily refers to screws.
There is a better strap.

I prefer the marine models and they are starting to show up in bigger stores, but to get the full line means going to specialty stores.
Some have good prices, but this can mean a trip or mail order.
For some models this can mean far too high a price penalty.
The 50 to 70 quart size might be found though.
I have paid as little as 40-50% of retail for the better igloo coolers, often with the tray and other accessories.
Try to get the tray included.

Coleman does differentiate most models, though some may take a direct inquiry.
Usually the higher priced model is the better one, but physical examination or inquiry at coleman may be the only way to see the difference.
http://www.coleman.com/coleman/ColemanC ... oryID=8550
http://www.coleman.com/coleman/ColemanC ... oryID=8581

Some interesting commercial models too.
http://www.igloocoolers.com/All-Coolers?

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 7:56 pm

In at least one thread there are links to some good commercial grade coolers.
Expensive, but many think worth the cost.
Far better than anything from coleman or igloo.
A highly recommended brand started at $300-500.

I have seen some that would be hard to break with a hammer.
Sometimes they show up at cabela's or other specialty stores, at good prices for what they are.

Drawingablank · Post by **Drawingablank** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 7:59 pm

Saw a large marine in Wally Mart the other day - I belive it was in the 80 quart range but don't think it was an extreme model. Around 85 bucks iirc.

BJ's Club also had a large one last week, but my wife didn't pay much attention when she saw it. Around 75.00

But we live on an island so they might not stock them at stores further from the coast.

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 8:05 pm

The 105 quart colman extreme I saw at walwart was $54 and shaped like a cube.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 8:09 pm

Stock and prices can vary.
You may have an easy time finding them near the coast.

By going into a different walmart district, I had a better selection and paid half as much for the better non-marine wheeled igloos.
I would have paid four times as much for the identical performing marine version.
Should be more choice these days.

(The other walmart district was just over the state line for me. This is a rarity though.)

FIGJAM · Post by **FIGJAM** » Wed Apr 27, 2011 9:37 pm

FIGJAM wrote:The 105 quart colman extreme I saw at walwart was $54 and shaped like a cube.

Sorry, just looked it up.

Thats a 75 quart.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 7:57 am

/
I have a cooler called a "7 day".. It holds about ten bags of ice..

I up grade it on the playa with a foil blanket and two bed blankets. It's use for drinking water.. Some times It has to have water added to melt the ice for drinking.. Last all week for two..

Selling it at the garage sale.. Going for a Igloo water cooler type and frezze my own block ice to shape.. Then will wrap the cooler as above..

Less camp..more fun

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 8:10 am

That sounds like a good cooler.
Sure you don't want to save it for emergencies?

Used ones don't usually sell for much.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 8:17 am

gyre wrote:That sounds like a good cooler.
Sure you don't want to save it for emergencies?

Used ones don't usually sell for much.

I'll ask half price.. If not, It stores easy.. Planing on a generator powered ice maker for emergences...Maybe the year getting a Green Machine steam engine.. $$

Lassen Forge · Post by **Lassen Forge** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 8:19 am

My DI cooler is one of those wrapped 7 day wonders... holds about 90-100 lbs of DI and it will last 8+ days if used wisely. (As DI storage only to feed other coolers)

I love those igloos for water... Ran 3 last year - one with water, one with a little gatorade, and the one behind the bar was full strength Emergen-C. A bag or 2 of ice each per day, we had water pretty consistantly until Raver Friday, when we went to 2 bags.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 8:24 am

unjonharley wrote: I'll ask half price.. If not, It stores easy..

I use old ones as storage boxes.
Nice and tough, even damaged.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 8:33 am

gyre wrote:
unjonharley wrote: I'll ask half price.. If not, It stores easy..
I use old ones as storage boxes.
Nice and tough, even damaged.

I would like to have a metal Coleman collectable for a pantry om the playa.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 8:45 am

I used to have an antique coke with all the chrome on it.

You might get one cheaper than the new ones.

I actually know where there is one.
Might be my old one.
I'll check on it if you want me to.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 8:47 am

unjonharley wrote:
gyre wrote:
unjonharley wrote: I'll ask half price.. If not, It stores easy..
I use old ones as storage boxes.
Nice and tough, even damaged.
I would like to have a metal Coleman collectable for a pantry om the playa.

Just looked at Craig's List.. A metal Coke picnic cooler (little banged up) $185.. Need my money for gass..

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 8:51 am

They vary.

Who knows what they actually sell for.
If the cl price was good enough, it would be gone already.
Plenty of coke collectors.
That's the only disadvantage of looking at anything with the logo.

unjonharley · Post by **unjonharley** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 8:59 am

gyre wrote:They vary.

Who knows what they actually sell for.
If the cl price was good enough, it would be gone already.
Plenty of coke collectors.
That's the only disadvantage of looking at anything with the logo.

It's new listed this morning.. I'll wait for a Coleman..

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 9:09 am

I called about the cooler.
Might be the one I used to have.
They want $100.
My guess is they would take less.
It looks good.
Red and chrome.
Like this one
http://cgi.ebay.com/120714993437
They also have antique coke machines etc too.

I found a steel coleman new on cl here.

Water coolers
http://memphis.craigslist.org/atq/2303508528.html

http://memphis.craigslist.org/spo/2346730518.html