Best Portable Cooler Bags in 2024

With the onset of warm days, almost every city dweller strives to go to nature, away from the dusty city air. On such a trip, you have to take food with you. In the summer heat, the food supply quickly deteriorates and can lead to poisoning. Therefore, all kinds of portable cooler bags are widely used. With their help, they preserve the freshness of products for a long time. Before buying such a device, you need to find out what are the best portable cooler bags and what to look for when buying this device.

What is called a cooler bag

It is correct to call a cooler bag a thermal bag or an isothermal bag. Such a device is, in fact, a thermally insulated container or a special cooling device, with the help of which a low temperature is maintained in the inner space. Such a device allows you to keep food fresh for a long time.

In thermal bags, such an internal device may be absent, then a constant temperature in the internal space is achieved with the help of special cold accumulators. They maintain the set temperature parameters throughout the day, after which the temperature in the inner space of the bag becomes equal to the ambient temperature.

Where are the thermal bags used?

The use of thermal bags is justified in the event that it becomes necessary to preserve products for a long time in a chilled or frozen state. But the scope of use of isothermal bags is not limited exclusively to this. They are also used to achieve the opposite goal - if it becomes necessary to keep food hot for a long time. For this purpose, insulated bags are used by athletes who go in for sports in winter, as well as those who like fishing under the ice and other types of winter entertainment.

Thermal bags or thermal containers of a sufficiently large volume are used to transport frozen products from a warehouse to a retail outlet. For a longer preservation of products frozen in a bag or container, special batteries are used that keep cold or special dry ice.

Batteries for thermal bags

A special device for maintaining the optimal temperature, which is a cold accumulator, is available in any thermal bag. Such a battery is made in the form of a durable plastic briquette, inside which a saline solution is placed. The containers can be placed on the bottom, on the sides or on the lid of the bag. In this case, the cover device is provided in such a way as to maintain the overall style of the device.

With the help of cold accumulators, it is possible to provide the required temperature to keep food fresh. To achieve the optimum temperature, batteries should be placed in the freezer for several hours before riding. Then they are put into special compartments in an isothermal bag.

Types of isothermal bags

Now on sale there is a huge number of thermal bags of various models. They are all divided into three large groups:

• thermal bags;
• bags equipped with cold accumulators;
• car refrigerators capable of generating cold within their own space.

Regular thermal bag

An ordinary thermal bag is only able to keep the interior cold for some time. It acts on the principle of a thermos and is able to maintain not only cold, but also warmth.

The internal structure of such a thermal bag is very simple. Inside there is an insulating layer of foil or polyurethane foam. A tightly closed bag maintains the same internal temperature for 2-3 hours. This bag is suitable if a person leads an active life and spends a lot of time on the road. The appearance can be different. There are models with a comfortable long handle to carry over the shoulder. On sale there are comfortable backpacks and thermoboxes with a rigid structure, where foam is used as an insulating material.

Thermal bag with cold accumulators

This bag allows you to cool the food for a while. By its design, it is similar to an ordinary thermal bag with a thick layer of thermal insulation inside.

This bag comes with cold accumulators. The frozen saline solution thaws slowly and releases its cold to the food inside the bag. When using batteries, food can be stored for 10-12 hours.

Car refrigerator

Such a device needs a power source, as it is capable of actively cooling the food inside the bag for a long time. The power source can be either a regular outlet or a car battery. Thanks to this, the products in such an auto-refrigerator are able to stay fresh for several days.

Auto refrigerators have the largest capacity and are suitable for tourists traveling by their own car, for travelers and for people who have a rest outside the city with a large company. They may be:

• Thermoelectric - very popular models due to their low price and compactness. The disadvantage of such models is relatively slow cooling. Therefore, it is recommended to put chilled food in the refrigerator.
• Compressor - represent a portable version of a conventional household refrigerator. The disadvantage is their large size and high price.
• Absorption - these are universal models that can be connected to both a household outlet and a car cigarette lighter, or powered by liquefied gas in a cylinder. Their disadvantage is their high price.

How to choose the right thermal bag

When buying an isotremic bag, first of all, you need to decide on the purpose and purpose of the future acquisition. This determines its size, refrigeration period of products and some functional features.

The size

This criterion is decisive when buying a device such as an isothermal bag. If you do not plan long trips to nature or you do not need to store food for a large number of people for a long time, then you can opt for a small isothermal bag. In this case, bags and backpacks can be considered, the capacity of which does not exceed 30 liters.

Material

After choosing the size, it is worth evaluating the quality of the material used for the top coat and the interior of the bag. For the upper, durable synthetic fabrics such as PVC, nylon or polyester are usually used. These fabrics have the ability to repel moisture and are easy to clean. Do not forget to see how smoothly and well the seams are made.This is also an important criterion for assessing the quality of the device.

The inner side of the bag is definitely worth evaluating. Often the interior space is lined with oilcloth. This material is very fragile and quickly deteriorates. If the insulated bag is of good quality, its inner side should be made of reflective PVC film.

If you plan to purchase a thermal container, then you need to assess the quality of the plastic. To do this, you need to press on the walls of the container and see if there are any chips, scratches or cracks. After that, the inside of the container is inspected and the condition of the wheels is assessed. During the transfer, the container bag must be easy to handle.

Cold accumulators

After evaluating the external and internal coating, it is necessary to consider the structure of the walls and cold accumulators. It is necessary to feel all the walls and make sure that there is foam between the inner and outer coverings. Moreover, the greater the thickness of this layer, the longer the products will be stored.

You should also make sure that cold accumulators are included with the model. It depends on them how long the food will remain fresh.

If you are buying a thermal container, then you need to make sure that the parts fit together perfectly and when the container is closed there are no gaps left anywhere. Otherwise, the shelf life of food is significantly reduced.

Handles, locks and other accessories

After checking all the important parts of the thermal bag, it is worth moving on to inspecting the minor parts that make the device convenient to use. It is necessary to check and evaluate the convenience of the handles, the reliability of the locks, how they open and close. It's also worth seeing if there are additional pockets and compartments. Such little things make the operation of the isothermal bag simple and convenient.

Manufacturer's warranty

A device such as an isothermal bag must be accompanied by a manufacturer's warranty. Therefore, a warranty card is issued for any thermal bag.

Usually the warranty period does not exceed 90 days, but in some cases it can be longer. For example, Thermos provides a 5-year warranty for its products. Such a well-known company carefully monitors the quality of products, so it makes sense to buy goods only from well-known brands.

Rating of the best cooler bags

Atlantic cool box

This container has a fairly large capacity and will come in handy during a picnic or a long car trip. Thanks to the cold accumulators, it is able to maintain the set temperature for more than 12 hours. The container can be used to transport berries and fruits, as they will retain their shape and remain fresh in it. The design allows you to place not only food, but also a bottle of water in an upright position. The isothermal container with a volume of 24 liters is made of durable plastic, has double walls with a thermo-insulating layer. A handle is provided for carrying.

• durable material of the container reliably protects the contents;
• the tightness of the lid closure is adjusted with the handle;
• the cover is removable and can replace the tray if necessary.

• does not fold, so it takes up a lot of storage space.

The average price is 1,350 rubles.

Tescoma Freshbox

This cooler bag is small in size and is great for one or two people. In it you can bring lunch to work, and it will stay warm for a long time. You can take her with you to class or go to the beach with her. For the manufacture of this thermal bag, polyester and foil PVC were used. The volume is small, only 4.6 liters. Quality can be assessed by the strong, stitched polyester walls, between which there is a thermal insulation layer. For convenience, there are two side pockets and a front pocket with a zipper. The bag can be carried using the adjustable shoulder strap.

• due to its compact size, it completely replaces a work bag;
• can be folded easily after use;
• reinforced locks and fittings.

• no cold accumulators.

The average price is 2800 rubles.

Comfort Addres EASY

This model is medium in size and is perfect for walking to the beach. It retains excellent temperature due to the high quality of the material. Medium and large enough to accommodate enough food and drinks for 1 or 2 people. Nylon and polyethylene were used to make this thermal bag. Its capacity is 12 liters. The outer layer is protected with waterproof impregnation, the inner layer is made of sealed polyethylene. Several layers of insulation are provided between the outer and inner layers. There is an adjustable strap for carrying.

• strong nylon with protection from moisture and ultraviolet radiation;
• durable, wide belt.

• Carrying sharp objects can easily damage the inner layer.

The average price is 600 rubles.

Airline AO-CB-03

This versatile cooler bag has a 20L capacity. It can be used for long trips, long walks to the beach, or for carrying things. The model is especially popular with athletes due to its reliable and comfortable design. The material is durable and reliable, allows you to use the purchase for a long time. For the manufacture of the thermal bag, polyester is used in combination with polyurethane and foil PVC. Durable, stitched walls made of polyester provide reliability and quality. A heat-insulating layer is provided between them. For convenience, the front panel has a zip pocket and two side pockets. The bag can be carried either by the handles or by the adjustable strap.

• a reliable strap will not fall off, even if the bag is fully loaded;
• in addition to the belt, there are also handles;
• roomy;
• perfectly cools.

• the top cover is made of light-colored material.

The average price is 1050 rubles.

АVS А80540S

This compact model is useful for both winter and summer use. For the production, high-quality materials were used, there are cold accumulators, which allows you to keep food fresh for a long time. It will come in handy when traveling to a picnic or to the beach. Polyester, plastisol, PEVA film and polyurethane are used for the manufacture of a thermal bag with a capacity of 5 liters. Quality is ensured by sturdy, stitched walls. For convenience, there is a front zip pocket and two side pockets. The bag can be carried using the adjustable shoulder strap.

• environmentally friendly material;
• reliably cools food;
• comfortable design.

• side pockets in fine mesh.

The average price is 650 rubles.

Mobicool G30

This is an inexpensive portable car refrigerator, but it has excellent performance. Its weight is 4.3 kg, two fans are built into the lid, which allow you to quickly cool food at 18 degrees below the ambient temperature. The camera has a capacity of 18 liters and operates on a regular power supply and battery. It is important that at a low price this device consumes little energy.

• versatility in relation to the power supply;
• compact model;
• reliable performance.

• the cooling temperature depends on the environment.

The average price is 6500 rubles.

As you can see, the choice of isothermal bags is wide enough and it will not be difficult to choose the right model. You only need to correlate your needs with financial capabilities.