The Best Portable Cooler Bags in 2022

With the onset of warm days, almost every city dweller tends to go out into 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 cause poisoning. Therefore, all kinds of portable cooler bags are widely used. They keep food fresh 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 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 heat-insulated container or a special cooling device, which maintains a low temperature in the internal 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 the constancy of temperature in the internal space is achieved with the help of special cold accumulators. They keep the set temperature parameters throughout the day, after which the temperature in the interior of the bag becomes equal to the ambient temperature.

Where are 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 to this exclusively. They are also used to achieve the opposite goal - if it becomes necessary to keep food hot for a long time. For this purpose, isothermal bags are used by athletes who go in for sports in the winter, as well as lovers of 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 longer storage of frozen food in a bag or container, special cold storage batteries or special dry ice are used.

Thermal bag batteries

A special device for maintaining the optimum 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. Containers can be placed on the bottom, on the sides or on the lid of the bag. At the same time, the cover device is provided in such a way as to preserve the overall style of the device.

With the help of cold accumulators, it is possible to provide the necessary temperature, which ensures the preservation of products fresh. Batteries should be placed in the freezer for a few hours before riding to reach the optimum temperature. Then they are put into special compartments in an insulated bag.

Types of insulated bags

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

• thermal bags;
• bags equipped with cold accumulators;
• auto-refrigerators capable of generating cold inside their own space.

Thermal bag regular

An ordinary thermal bag can only 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 heat.

The internal structure of such a thermal bag is very simple. Inside it there is an insulating layer of foil or foamed polyurethane. Tightly closed such a 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. Appearance may vary. There are models with a comfortable long handle to carry them on the shoulder.Comfortable backpacks and thermoboxes with a rigid structure are available for sale, where foam is used as an insulating material.

Thermal bag with cold accumulators

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

Included with such a bag are cold accumulators. The frozen salt solution slowly thaws and releases its coldness 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 cooling the products inside the bag in active mode for a long time. The power source can be either a regular socket or a car battery. Thanks to this, the products in such an auto-refrigerator are able to remain fresh for several days.

Auto-refrigerators have the largest capacity and are suitable for tourists traveling in their own car, for travelers and for people vacationing outside the city with a large company. They can be:

• Thermoelectric - very popular models, due to the low price and compactness. The disadvantage of such models is relatively slow cooling. Therefore, it is recommended to put already chilled food in the refrigerator.
• Compressor - are a portable version of a conventional household refrigerator. Their 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 from liquefied gas in a cylinder. Their disadvantage is their high price.

How to choose the right thermos

When buying an isotremic bag, first of all, you need to decide on the purpose and purpose of the future purchase. Its size, the period of cooling of products and some functional features depend on this.

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 there is no 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, you can consider bags and backpacks, 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 cover and the interior of the bag. For the top, durable synthetic fabrics are usually used, such as PVC, nylon or polyester. Such fabrics have the ability to repel moisture and are easy to clean. Do not forget to look at how evenly and efficiently the seams are made. This is also an important criterion for assessing the quality of the device.

Be sure to evaluate the inside of the bag. Often the interior space is lined with oilcloth. This material is very fragile and quickly becomes unusable. If the isothermal bag is of high quality, its inner side should be made of reflective PVC film.

If you plan to purchase a thermal container, then you need to evaluate the quality of the plastic. To do this, 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. While moving, the container bag should be easy to manage.

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 a foamed polymer between the inner and outer coatings. Moreover, the greater the thickness of this layer, the longer the products will be stored.

You should also make sure that cold accumulators are attached to the model. It depends on them how long the products will remain fresh.

If you buy a thermal container, then you need to make sure that the parts fit perfectly to each other and that there are no gaps anywhere when closing the container. Otherwise, the shelf life of products 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 details that make using the device convenient. It is necessary to check and evaluate the convenience of handles, the reliability of locks, how they open and close. It is also worth looking to see if there are additional pockets and compartments. Such little things make the operation of an insulated bag simple and convenient.

Manufacturer's Warranty

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

Typically, the warranty period does not exceed 90 days, but in some cases it may be longer. For example, Thermos gives a 5-year warranty on its products. Such a well-known company carefully monitors the quality of products, so it makes sense to buy products 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 cold accumulators, it is able to maintain the set temperature for more than 12 hours. The container can be used for transporting 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. Isothermal container with a volume of 24 liters is made of durable plastic, has double walls with a thermal insulation layer. A handle is provided for carrying.

• durable material of the container reliably protects the contents;
• tightness of closing of a cover is regulated by means of the handle;
• the lid is removable and can replace the tray if necessary.

• It doesn't fold, so it takes up a lot of storage space.

The average price is 1350 rubles.

Tescoma Freshbox

This cooler bag has a small size and is great for relaxing one or two people. You can bring lunch to work in it, and it will stay warm for a long time. You can take it with you to classes or go to the beach with it. For the manufacture of this thermal bag, polyester and PVC foil were used. The volume is small, only 4.6 liters. The quality can be assessed by durable stitched polyester walls, between which there is a heat-insulating layer. For convenience, there are two side pockets and a pocket on the front panel that closes with a zipper. You can carry the bag with the adjustable strap.

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

• no cold accumulators.

The average price is 2800 rubles.

Comfort Addres EASY

This model has a medium size and is perfect for walking to the beach. It perfectly retains the temperature, thanks to the high quality of the material. Medium size and capacity allow you to place 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 by 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 against moisture and ultraviolet;
• strong, wide belt.

• when carrying sharp objects, it is easy to damage the inner layer.

The average price is 600 rubles.

Airline AO-CB-03

This versatile cooler bag has a capacity of 20 liters. 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 operate the acquisition for a long time. The thermal bag is made of polyester combined with polyurethane and PVC foil. Reliability and quality are ensured by durable stitched walls made of polyester. Between them there is a heat-insulating layer. For convenience, the front panel has a zip pocket and two side pockets.You can carry the bag either by the handles or by using the adjustable shoulder strap.

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

• the top cover is made of light material.

The average price is 1050 rubles.

AVS A80540S

This compact model is useful for use in both winter and summer. High-quality materials were used for manufacturing, there are cold accumulators, which allows you to keep food fresh for a long time. It will come in handy on trips 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 durable stitched walls. For convenience, there is a front zippered pocket and two side pockets. You can carry the bag with an adjustable strap.

• environmentally friendly material;
• reliably cools products;
• convenient design.

• fine mesh side pockets.

The average price is 650 rubles.

Mobicool G30

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

• versatility with respect to the power source;
• 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 quite wide and choosing the right model is not difficult. It is only necessary to correlate your needs with financial capabilities.