I've decided it's time to get a real cooler for keeping fish iced down on trips. What's the ideal size/model for keeping a few salmon cool for a few days?

If possible, I'd like to keep the price at or below $100.

Thanks as always! Now... Back to the epic Dean River thread....

You won't hit the hundred dollar mark, but a YETI is the best cooler money can buy. Well worth the investment as you won't need to buy another cooler as long as you live. The 35L would fit a few fish and runs about $250. Ice will last two weeks if you are careful about keeping it shut.

I use the big 7 day Igloo cooler from Costco..rings in around$79.00 and works great...

They're up to $89 now,but I agree,they're the best bang for the buck.

Wally world has a 150qt igloo for $80.00 right now.I own the 54qt / 72qt / 94qt / 120qt / 128qt & 150qt marine coolers from igloo and like'em.Don't buy a small one as you will grow into it,trust me.Good luck,
SZ

Thanks, all. That gives me some ideas.

Sportco/Outdoor Emporium is advertising a 120 qt. Igloo cooler for $63 right now. No idea if it's any good, but seems like a pretty good price.

Yeti coolers are great but the best of the best are Engel coolers, they cost a lot of money, but they keep ice longer then any other cooler on the market. LIke said earlier the igloo is the best deal around for $100 or less.

After much thought, I think the best cooler is one that gets USED

With a name like NOFISH an igloo Playmate might be OK......keeps a couple beers cold anyway.

Yes, Engel was before YETI...yet YETI has many similar features, and pays a hellofalot more on marketing, hence everyone thinking YETI were the original...

Those coolers will work but are HUGE and take up alot of room. Look into getting a kill bag. We use them tuna fishing and when space is a consideration, kill bags are awesome. They keep ice and fish frosty cold even when in direct sun all day. You don't need the real big ones for tuna, there are smaller sizes available that are perfect for keeping a pile of chromers in.

Pretty sure I saw a comparison of all the top end coolers and the Coleman Extreme was right in there with the high priced brands at a LOT less money.

More great tips. Thanks, guys. It's starting to look more and more like fishing gear, in terms of cost variance and user preference. I guess I'd better buy one and go fishing....

I also saw a comparison that put the Coleman Extreme at the top of the heap and would certainly go that way if I buy another one.

I own two big costco Igloo coolers and spend several weeks on Vancouver Island and they hold cold ice for all that time if they are kept closed and the ice is put in your deep freeze several weeks and brought to sub zero temps before you go up.

Hope this helps.

Fishy

I am lookin for a cooler and this is appreciated by me as well. Thanks

I own a couple of the coleman extreme coolers, very affordable and work just fine. I like using the "katch kooler" for ease of storage in the rig when bank fishing and also to conserve space on my small boat. The hard coolers are for camping trips - 1 for ice as the ice is dispersed to other coolers fillets take its place, 1 for food and 1 for beer. works for me. Don't think I paid over $50 for any of em, course they're smaller as they're just holding fillets, the katch kooler keeps the whole fish cold until processing.

I just purchased a Yeti 160 qt. I love it. I got it so I can hold a boned out elk during archer season. It will and last year, my buddies was sweet. It held ice, kept my elk meat cold for 4 days in 90+ temps. I had to get one. Not only that, I will use it on big whitewater trips.

It is very heavy, but I needed a mobile meat locker.
Kyle

+1 for the Coleman Extreme's. I have two different sizes and love them both. Look for the bigger ones with the stainless hinges.

I would imagine it would all depend on your intended use and budget. Yeti, Extreme all hold ice about the same amount of time (I believe the difference was like 6 hours after 4 days). All those test were with the chest closed the entire time, except for opening to take temp readings. If you are using it to store your drinks for a day trip and what not and are always opening it for a barley pop then it doesn't matter. For my budget I would take the extreme and spend the spare change on truck/boat fuel, beer.