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Best Boat Cooler for Your Next Boating Trip

If you love to go out fishing and have some fun among nature, you know how nice it is to grab a cold drink while dropping a line in the water. But you need a marine cooler to keep your drinks cold while on your trip.  Likewise if you are going to spend a day on the lake skiing or swimming you will also need one of the best boat coolers to keep your stuff ice cold.  Boat coolers come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes.  We try to give you examples of all types of options.

So, without any further delay, let’s take a look at some of the best boat coolers options available on the market.  In these reviews we steer clean of the cheap marine coolers and focus on quality.  That isn't to say the ones below are expensive.  If you are looking for cooler for boat reviews you have come to the right place!

Boat Cooler Comparison Chart

31w+dWfXVYL. SL160

Igloo Marine Cooler

41g7dEK12gL. SL160

Coleman Coastal Xtreme Series Marine Cooler

31yBxmcyW L. SL160

RTIC 45qt Boat Cooler

51+ct7Xn7WL. SL160

Igloo BMX 25 Quart marine Cooler

41+FpVT4btL. SL160

Thermik High Performance Roto-Molded Cooler

What makes it a marine cooler

The terms boat cooler and marine cooler can be used interchangeably.  Regardless of which term you use, these coolers are made to withstand the conditions on a boat.  This means they are typically more rust resistant.  These coolers typically will have better UV Protections.  These boat coolers typically will have more insulation as well. If you are looking for something a little more fun you can find many boat shaped coolers.

Best Boat Coolers 

Igloo Marine Ultra Quantum Roller Cooler

The Igloo 54-qt Marine Ultra Cooler is engineered with a purpose in mind. This is the reason it is capable of withstanding the wrath of Mother Nature. Since it’s a marine cooler, you don’t have to worry about the toughest aquatic environment.  

Igloo Marine Cooler Review

igloo marine cooler

This particular cooler by Igloo belongs to one of the most popular series. It is built in a way to suit unique and harsh marine environments.

The most astonishing feature of the Igloo Marine Ultra Cooler is its UV-protected outer shell. It prevents the fading of the outer layer when exposed to the sun for longer periods.

Another advantage of this protective shell is its resilient behavior against mold. Moreover, cleaning this cooler is a breeze, with your regular soaps or other cleaning agents.

In addition, carrying this cooler isn’t that hard, with the handy provision of an ergonomically designed comfort grip handle that allows you to carry it for long distances.

All the hardware attached to this cooler is made with stainless steel. This feature provides extended lifespan to the hardware even in an excessively moist and humid environment.

While these fantastic features add more value to this marine cooler, there are a few downsides too. The first one relates to the fact that its lid isn’t insulated. Moreover, the tires could be slightly bigger for better rolling.

Igloo Cooler warranty

Igloo offers a limited warranty on all their coolers.  Their hard and soft coolers have a 1 year warranty.  this includes Igloo boat coolers.  This warranty does not apply to damage via abuse or accidents.

PROS

  • Ideal boat cooler for the aquatic environment, as this cooler is capable of withstanding extreme moisture and heat
  • Affordable and less expensive boat cooler
  • The hardware is made of stainless steel material, which leaves the screws, hinged latch, and lid strap indestructible
  • Easy to transport marine cooler, as its handle is comfortable and sturdy
  • The color of this marine cooler won’t fade as it is protected with a UV protection shield
  • The provision of Ultratherm insulation prevents ice from melting for up to 5 days
  • A built-in fish-measuring ruler allows you to decide whether you should keep the fish or throw it back

CONS

  • Lid not insulated
  • Tires are too small and made of inferior material

Coleman Coastal Xtreme Series Marine Portable Cooler

Coleman Coastal Xtreme Series Marine Portable Cooler

If you need a tough and hard to break cooler, just take a look at the Coleman Coastal Xtreme Marine Cooler. The outer shell is made with highly durable materials, and the UV additive prevents yellowing or weakening when exposed to the sun.

The Patent ThermOZONE Insulation is free from HFCs, CFCs, and HCFCs. It can hold ice for longer than the expected period. The cooler is spacious enough to accommodate plenty of food and drinks.

Coleman boat cooler Review

The Coleman Coastal Xtreme Marine Cooler is a sturdy and efficient product, which helps you to make your trip more enjoyable. When out there on a boat and facing the blazing sun, enjoying a chilled can of soda is pure luxury.

With this marine cooler close to you, you can carry ice with you for more than 3 days. This is possible as the walls and lid of this cooler are thoroughly insulated. Nearly every Coleman cooler comes with thick, insulated walls.

Furthermore, you can store a lot of foodstuffs and drinks within this cooler. The hinged lid prevents the chilled air from leaking. The availability of a comfortable bail handle allows you to carry it for a longer period.

There is an antimicrobial liner that prevents the growth of bacteria or mold, which also helps to keep the cooler in good shape. Another outstanding feature of this cooler is its leak-resistant drain hole.

The lid is strong enough to support the weight of an average person. This suggests you can sit on the lid without any fear of damaging it. The provision of embedded cup holders in the lid is a noteworthy feature.

An overhead handle comes with a comfort-grip bail, which makes it possible to carry it for a longer time. The stainless steel hardware and UVGuard material are some of the additional features that add more strength and durability to this cooler.

These features assist this marine cooler in handling the harsh environment in a much better way. However, along with these features, there are some drawbacks.

There are no wheels, so you have to carry it all the way to the boat. Also, this marine cooler doesn’t have an appealing layout or design.  Check out a full review of Coleman Xtreme Coolers.

Coleman Cooler Warranty

Coleman offers a limited lifetime guarantee on all there beverages products.  This includes coolers.  Any defects in materials or workmanship are covered.  Normal wear and tear issues are not covered.

Coleman Coastal Xtreme Series Marine Portable Cooler

PROS

  • This spacious marine cooler can hold up to 36 cans
  • Serves the job well by retaining ice for 3 days
  • User-friendly cooler with two molded cup holders
  • The sturdy lid allows you to sit on it
  • Easy to wash outer shell helps to keep this cooler in good shape through its regular cleaning

CONS

  • Doesn’t have wheels
  • Scores less when it comes to aesthetics and overall appearance

RTIC 45 qt Cooler

RTIC 45 qt Cooler

RTIC is known for its quality and performance. This particular cooler by RTIC offers the required durability and retains ice for a long period.

Furthermore, due to its impact-resistance construction, the outer shell stays in good condition even after extended use.

RTIC boat cooler Review

A good quality cooler is more than essential gear for campers, hikers, or outdoorsmen. This is a piece of equipment that is capable of keeping food items safe to eat for an extended period.

This midsize cooler tends to be an ideal option, which is easy to carry. It can also serve as a bench, tabletop, and cutting board.

During its construction, RTIC has ensured the use of the highest quality materials. The famous one-piece cut gives this cooler the desired strength and durability.

Moreover, the walls are thicker than average, which makes it possible to retain ice for an extended period. The walls are constructed by using the roto-molding technique.

Not only this, but the walls are also insulated with 2-inch thick polyurethane foam. Apart from all these impressive features, there are some drawbacks.

First of all, the drain plug isn’t chained, which suggests you have to be careful while moving it around. Furthermore, it requires two people to lift this ice chest/cooler.

PROS

  • Durable and lightweight Roto-Molded construction
  • The presence of heavy-duty T-Latches ensures the safety of the food and prevents opening of the lid accidentally
  • Comes with a freezer-grade gasket, which ensures maximum retention of the ice
  • For better security of the cooler, you can use the molded Tie-Down slots
  • The 3” Insulated lid provides extra strength for using it as a seat or bench
  • Its non-slip feet offers stability on all types of surfaces
  • Bear resistant and integrated locking mechanism for high-end safety
  • Provides a no sweat exterior and rapid V-Drain system for a hassle-free drain procedure

CONS

  • The drain plug isn’t chained, which may cause you to lose it when draining the water
  • Due to the presence of handles on each side, you need two people to carry this cooler

Igloo BMX 25 Quart Cooler

Igloo BMX 25 Quart Cooler

The Igloo BMX Cooler is engineered for extreme performance and sturdiness. The lightweight BMX is capable of withstanding the harshest conditions, and the durable construction and reinforced base offer the required protection and safety.

Review

Talking about the features of this cooler, you would be amazed to know what this small cooler holds for you. The first thing to note is its sturdy construction. It is a strong and highly impressive cooler.

Even though the walls are thickly insulated, the weight of this ice chest is shockingly low. Moreover, it is available at a cost that makes it stand out among the rest. Hence, the Igloo BMX 25 Quart serves as your best companion.

Although it looks small, the inner compartment is surprisingly spacious. Additionally, the top handle makes it an easy to carry cooler. Nevertheless, it doesn’t come with an airtight seal.

As a whole, if you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on an ice chest, this is the option to choose.  Another great Igloo option is the Igloo Sports Cooler.

PROS

  • Constructed with heavy-duty material while using the blow-molded technique
  • The base is reinforced to ensure required strength and protection
  • Lightweight ice chest, which you can carry with you without any extra effort
  • An affordable yet durable marine cooler
  • Capable of retaining ice for 4 to 5 days
  • UV inhibitors offer max protection against the heat and UV rays coming from the sun
  • The hardware used is rust-resistant, making it highly durable

CONS

  • It doesn’t have an airtight seal, which affects the overall insulation
  • Doesn’t have wheels

Thermik High Performance Roto-Molded Cooler

Thermik High Performance Roto-Molded Cooler

Thermik is another high-performance cooler/ice chest, which is capable of giving some tough time to its competitors. This particular model is designed to perform beyond your expectations.

It has all the features that you might find in the most expensive and high-end coolers. So if you don’t want to spend an extra amount, this is the option to consider.

Review

The Thermik cooler offers an exceptional ice retention feature, which renders it an excellent option for the marine environment. It can perform well even in the blazing sun and extra moist surroundings.

The walls are filled with 3” thick insulated material. This suggests that the outside heat won’t affect the overall ice retention period. Furthermore, the use of topnotch and durable materials offer extended strength.

Due to its roto-molded technology, you won’t find any weak point in its overall construction. The vacuum release valve is an innovative feature that you don’t see in other ice coolers.

This particular valve removes the vacuum created by the melting of the ice. It helps you to open the lid without any extra effort. Moreover, this cooler also comes with a large and freezer-grade gasket.

This prevents leakage of cold air out of the Thermik ice chest. In addition, this cooler also comes with a stainless steel bottle opener, allowing you to quench your thirst anywhere.

The stainless leash is attached to the drain cap, which means you don’t have to worry about losing this small yet highly essential part. You also get factory accessories with this cooler, and these include a cutting board separator, dry basket, and drink holder. So you are provided with almost everything that you may need while fishing.

Another most impressive feature of this cooler is the availability of the lever latch. The easy ring design of this latch allows you to open it even with wet hands.

Thermik coolers utilize the most commonly followed industry standards. The manufacturing methods employed by this brand make these coolers highly durable and sturdy.

Therefore, you can take this cooler anywhere with you irrespective of the weather or surrounding conditions. However, there are a few downsides.

One relates to the fact that carrying this cooler isn’t easy. It comes with two rope handles on each side, requiring two people to lift it. Unfortunately, it is quite expensive as compared to other options mentioned in the list.

Thermik High Performance Roto-Molded Cooler

PROS

  • It is constructed with a one-piece rotationally molded technique, which gives it a rugged feel
  • The top lid is textured to offer maximum grip when sitting on it
  • Comes with two soft and damage-proof latches
  • Thick and high-tech insulation makes it possible to retain ice up to 5 days
  • The freezer-grade gasket helps to perfectly seal the lid
  • Offers a durable and indestructible hinge
  • The rubber feet provide a solid grip on almost any kind of surface
  • The package comes with some additional items/accessories including dry basket, cutting board separator, and drink holder

CONS

  • Need two persons to lift this cooler, as it comes with two side handles
  • Relatively more expensive than other similar options available on the market

Boat Coolers FINAL VERDICT

The products mentioned above are suitable for all types of recreational activities, including camping, fishing, and hiking. If you are looking for the best boat cooler, it would be much easier for you to choose one among the options reviewed above.

We have tried to discuss both the positive as well as negative aspects of these coolers. It will surely help you to find the best boat cooler to fit your needs.