one to cross off
thanks, sorry it cost you $ tho
Two years ago
was OLD technology LOL
I Like the NRS Cooler…
– Last Updated: Mar-30-09 11:43 PM EST –
....for the tiedowns, etc, but I agree. It doesn't do a good job keeping things cold on multiple day trips. I've relegated my NRS to "Grocery" duty; I keep it in the truck to carry cold foods home from the grocery store. As I said, the Polar Bear goes on day trips and overnighters. WW
ok, FE…
I’ll have to get the next size up then - but I promise you a steady stream of Dr. Pepper as long as the dry ice holds out.
Now how do you feel about steak?
soft sided cooler…
I have an NRS soft sided cooler purchased about 2 years ago. It has not failed me yet. Use block ice if you can, always holds up longer, and keep it stowed under the deck of your kayak. Any cooler left out in the sun will not hold ice. The construction of the cooler is top draw, and they do sell replacement liners should you ever need one. Sorry other have had problems with their NRS coolers, but I disagree, it has served me well.
coolers
– Last Updated: Mar-31-09 12:49 PM EST –
hi ....i have a couple of softees i bought over the yrs . mostly the kind you find @ Wal-mart or the local drug store shelf, neither works well..I think the key to one working really well is a thick top/bottom to it ...most have adequate insulation thickness in the sides but skimp on the tops and bottoms, this is where you need it most. so my advice is buy one that is kinda " too big" with the idea of adding your own insulation to it, to supplement whats already there. good luck
http://www.aocoolers.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=22
ditto
Maybe there are better ones out there but I’d suggest the same thing,oversize then add some 1/2 ensolite foam.
Soft Cooler Source
You can go to the local Restaurant Suppy house to find a nice variety of sizes. Many are open to the public
soft cooler
I have to second the recommendation of wildernesswebb. Polarbear is the ONLY soft cooler worth owning. I have tried and thrown away many others that were nothing more than semi-insulated gym bags. The Polarbear is a substantial piece of equipment that works as advertised and lasts.
food poisoning?
seems to me you should work on making foods that won’t develop bacteria quickly or are already full of a friendly fermented population.
I saw some Native brand coolers that look pretty good. I have no experience with them. On second thought maybe they weren’t Native,Annapolis Canoe and Kayak had some, I don’t think they were NRS.
based on the feedback here
I ordered the polar bear.
Really, I’m not keeping mayo or anything - just a small container of milk for AM coffee and some frozen ingredients for 2 dinners.
I’m ordering some essentials from Packit Gourmet - all are dry items and won’t need to be refrigerated.
Thanks for the help!
re. mayonnaise
– Last Updated: Apr-01-09 1:22 PM EST –
as long as you aren't making your own with raw eggs the issue of spoilage from mayonnaise isn't as much a problem as other issues with prepared foods.
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/foodsci/ext/pubs/picnic.html
http://www.chow.com/stories/11088
Or for mayo,
take the sealed packets from Subway or wherever. Same with 1000 Island dressing, etc. No spoilage worries. That’s what I use as a starting base for shrimp salad, etc.
packit
has a nice selection of various condiments in single serving sizes, as few or as many as one needs. Keeps me from poaching in restaurants and some of them are pretty good stuff!
or make high acid dressings
with fresh lemon juice.
open cell foam?
No problems with your cooler’s open cell insulation absorbing water from the bilge?
didn’t think of that
I can’t imagine them using an insulation that would soak up water,worth checking out
from their site
"Polar Bear Coolers are made with a water resistant exterior, so a little splash here and there, no worries. If possible, try to keep it from sitting in water."
cooler
I like my NRS cooler, but never used it for more than a day.
For the serious camper, a hard back cooler’s a must.
Want ice for 4-5 days?
I have 2 cheap soft-sided, open-cell foam coolers. One is slightly bigger than the other. I cut a piece of 3/8" closed-cell foam to fit the bottom of one of them. Then freeze 2 bottles of water and put in the bottom. Fill cooler with perishables. Freeze the things that you can (meat, butter). Fill the smaller cooler add 2 more frozen bottles of water if you can. Put that cooler inside the slightly larger one and there you go. I just got back from a 4 day trip, and the 4 water bottles were still half ice after 96 hours. Four long days. Could keep cheese, eggs and other items cold for another 2 days. Just keep it out of direct sunlight. I cannot justify $40 for a nice closed cell cooler that might last a little longer than a open cell one.