Portable Coolers GuidePortable Coolers Guide
Priya Menon

Priya Menon

Price-to-performance modeling, total cost of cold, and budget loadouts

6Articles
3Categories

About

I map cooler choices to budgets using total-cost-of-cold: gear price, ice expense, and wasted food. I like translating spreadsheets into three clear picks—value, sweet spot, and spend-it-once—plus a packing plan that avoids emergency ice runs and plastic waste.

Background

After a soggy lake weekend, my spreadsheet showed the $200 mid-tier beat a $400 rotomold at dollars-per-hour-cold for our two-day plan. I swapped oversized cubes for block-and-can mix, added shade, and cut ice runs to zero. The kicker: we brought half the plastic home, still cold.

Perspective

I prioritize cost efficiency and hate paying for features that don’t move the cold needle.

Author Articles

Best Ultralight Coolers for Hiking: Ice Retention That Holds

Best Ultralight Coolers for Hiking: Ice Retention That Holds

Use field-tested data and a total cost of cold metric to choose the right ultralight soft cooler for any hike, with clear picks for day trips and 2-3 day pushes. Get precise ice plans and packing tactics to maximize cold hours, cut weight, and prevent spoilage.

13th Oct7 min read
Best Wheeled Coolers That Actually Roll on Sand & Rock

Best Wheeled Coolers That Actually Roll on Sand & Rock

Focus on wheel width, tread, and axle strength - not logos - to choose a cooler that rolls on sand and rock, with a cost-per-cold-hour breakdown and field-tested picks to maximize cold for your budget.

11th Oct7 min read
Best Portable Cooler Guide: Matched to Your First Purchase

Best Portable Cooler Guide: Matched to Your First Purchase

Cut through the cooler hype with a simple “total cost of cold” framework that matches specs and ice budgets to real trips. Learn which features actually matter, how much ice to buy, and packing strategies that stretch cold hours while saving money.

7th Oct8 min read
Electric Cooler Review: Cold Hours Per Dollar Calculated

Electric Cooler Review: Cold Hours Per Dollar Calculated

Judge electric coolers by cold hours per dollar - a practical metric combining purchase price, energy use, and food-waste risk. Get a simple formula, real-world test results, and packing and power tips to stretch runtime and cut costs for your specific trips.

3rd Oct7 min read