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The best coolers for camping in 2024
Walmart
Camping season is officially here, and to make the most of your outdoor adventures, you’re going to need a reliable cooler to keep your food and drinks at optimal temperatures. Whether you’re planning a weekend getaway or an extended stay in the wilderness, much like camping tents and outdoor chairs, having the right cooler is essential.
Below, we’ve rounded up some of the best coolers for camping to help you stay prepared and enjoy your time in nature. From top brands like Yeti and RTIC to budget-friendly choices like Coleman and Igloo, there’s a cooler to fit every need and budget.
What are the best coolers for camping?
We rounded up the best coolers for camping in 2024 below. Our choices include both large and small options, soft sided and hard sided options, and coolers with wheels that are easy to transport.
Yeti Tundra 45 Hard Cooler
Yeti
The Yeti Tundra 45 is a top choice due to its versatility and durability. With a capacity to hold up to 26 cans, it features thick insulation to keep ice frozen longer. Its sturdy construction makes it nearly indestructible, and it comes with heavy-duty latches that ensure it stays closed during your outing. Available in various sizes and colors, it is the ideal cooler for keeping your food and drinks cool and safe during your camping trips.
Yeti Tundra 45 Hard Cooler, $300
RTIC 52-quart ultra-light wheeled cooler
RTIC
The 52-quart RTIC cooler offers premium ice retention to keep contents cold for multiple days, holding up to 78 cans or 53 pounds of ice. Designed to be up to 30% lighter than similar wheeled coolers, it features puncture-resistant tires with reinforced suspension, allowing you to easily tow it through mud, dry sand, rugged trails and more during your outdoor excursions. The ergonomic silicone handle ensures comfortable use, making it perfect for camping or a day at the beach.
RTIC 52-quart ultra-light wheel cooler, $249
Herschel Pop Quiz cooler
Herschel
This soft cooler from Herschel fits 30 cans and is available in a variety of colors and prints. Made from 100% recycled materials, it features a leakproof liner, foam padded insulation to keep contents cold all day and a removable padded shoulder strap for easy carrying. Additional features include a front pocket with a waterproof zipper, reinforced handles and a key clip bottle opener.
The Herschel Pop Quiz cooler retails for $100, though we found a couple of colorways at the retailer that have been discounted by 30%.
Herschel Pop Quiz cooler, $70 and up (reduced from $100)
Coleman 316 Series hard ice chest cooler with wheels
Walmart
Coleman’s 100-quart cooler features TempLock FX insulation for multi-day ice retention and holds up to 80 cans and 50 pounds of ice making it ideal for camping. It is the ideal companion for outdoor activities thanks to its heavy-duty wheels and an easy-tow handle that makes it a breeze to transport. This design additionally comes with a leak-proof drain plug, four cup holders and a durable lid that supports up to 250 lbs.
Coleman 316 Series 100-quart hard ice chest cooler, $110, (reduced from $116)
Corkcicle Eola bucket cooler bag
Corkcicle
Strap this personal-sized Corkcicle cooler on your back and go. It comes in seven color options and features an exterior made of either vegan leather or neoprene material depending on the color you pick.
This cooler features padded adjustable backpack straps for easy carrying and can hold 12 cans or eight cans and two wine bottles. It also includes a rear accessory pocket with a zippered closure, a food-safe interior liner and a full zip closure.
The Corkcicle Eola bucket cooler bag is currently 25% off when you buy direct.
Corkcicle Eola bucket cooler bag, $112 and up (reduced from $150)
Coleman retro cooler
Amazon
Go for the retro look with this Coleman cooler that holds up to 85 cans and boasts four-day ice retention, even in temperatures up to 90 degrees. With a 54-quart capacity and a Have-a-Seat lid supporting up to 250 pounds, it’s perfect for camping and beyond.
The cooler, available in four colors (green, red, silver, stainless steel), features rust-resistant hardware, and comfort-grip handles. Price varies by color; you’ll get the best deal on the green Coleman cooler shown.
Coleman 54-quart retro cooler, $164 and up (reduced from $200)
Igloo Overland ice chest cooler
Walmart
The Igloo Overland 50-quart chest cooler is built for outdoor adventure. With a capacity to hold up to 81 cans, it features foam-insulated walls and an insulated lid for superior ice retention. The durable rubberized latches and built-in locking plate keep things secure while comfort-grip handles make it easy to carry.
Other convenient features include a bottle opener, UV inhibitors to prevent sun damage and a leak-resistant drain plug.
Igloo Overland 50-quart ice chest cooler, $89
Business & Pleasure Co. premium cooler
Revolve
You’d never know this 1970s-inspired bag is actually a cooler. Made of poly-cotton-canvas material treated with mold, water, and UV coatings, it’s a stylish option for overnight camping or glamping.
Measuring 12.5″ W x 8″ H x 8.5″ D, the Business & Pleasure Co. premium cooler holds approximately 3.68 gallons and features genuine leather trim handles and exterior slip pockets.
Business & Pleasure Co. 15-quart premium cooler, $79
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The U.S. is considering banning the sale of TP-Link internet routers, which are made in China, over concerns the home devices pose a security risk, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Authorities may ban the popular routers, which were linked to Chinese cyberattacks, as early as next year when President-elect Donald Trump takes office, according to the report.
Trump has signaled that he is prepared to take a tough stance on China in his second term in office, including by introducing levies of as much as 60% on Chinese-made goods.
TP-Link says its routers do not account for a majority of the internet router devices in U.S. homes and small businesses. The routers are available for purchase on Amazon.com, where they are a best-seller. Amazon did not immediately respond to CBS MoneyWatch’s request for comment on the potential ban.
The company’s connectivity products are used by the U.S. Defense Department and other federal government agencies, too, according to the WSJ.
For its part, TP-Link told CBS MoneyWatch that the company’s “security practices are fully in line with industry security standards in the U.S.”
“We implement rigorous secure product development and testing processes, and take timely and appropriate action to mitigate known vulnerabilities,” a TP-Link spokesperson said in a statement to CBS MoneyWatch.
Many consumer brands targeted by Chinese hackers
The company added that many consumer electronics brands are targeted by China-based hacking groups and that it welcomes “opportunities to engage with the federal government to demonstrate that our security practices are fully in line with industry security standards, and to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the American market, American consumers and addressing U.S. national security risks.”
The Justice Department is investigating whether the routers’ relatively low price violates a law stipulating that companies can’t sell goods for less than the cost of production, the WSJ reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. On Amazon.com, a handful of router models by T-Link are available for sale with a base model costing around $99. The routers are available for sale through a business unit in California as well.
In a statement to CBS MoneyWatch, TP-Link said that while it does undercut competitor prices, it does not sell any products below cost.
Compromised routers
In October, Microsoft published an analysis which found that a Chinese hacking entity had access to a trove of compromised TP-Link routers.
“CovertNetwork-1658 specifically refers to a collection of egress IPs that may be used by one or more Chinese threat actors and is wholly comprised of compromised devices. Microsoft assesses that a threat actor located in China established and maintains this network. The threat actor exploits a vulnerability in the routers to gain remote code execution capability,” the report explains.
TP-Link said that it takes “appropriate action to mitigate any vulnerabilities” the company becomes aware of. It has also signed the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, Secure-by-Design pledge.
