The unsettled fear that comes from packing a freshly bought store-bought foam cooler with ice, drinks, and food is familiar to many of us, and there’s an obvious reason for it. Most of us have experienced or witnessed a foam cooler disaster where a fully loaded foam cooler (purchased cheap at a convenience store or the sale section of a department store) just lifts up. and decides to collapse and spill everything it contains. the land. It is such a common occurrence that they have earned a somewhat negative reputation over the years.
The fact is, these kinds of cooler meltdowns are totally unnecessary, and you as a consumer can start doing something about it right away by integrating these three key standards into your purchasing decision when shopping for a foam cooler to use when enjoying from the beach, having a picnic, fishing, or any other outdoor activity.
DO NOT be disappointed by a really “CHEAP” price
Cheaper expanded polystyrene (eps) foam coolers are actually more expensive than they seem when you consider how easily they break and need to be replaced. Certainly the cost in gas needed to get them to recycling kicks in, and the time needed to cool down after experiencing a chiller failure (ham sandwiches taste awful with beach sand, even when you spray them with mustard). When you buy a quality one, you spend a few extra cents or dollars, but there’s nothing like that to worry about if the cooler will fall apart, the item is reusable, can be used for other purposes, and in the end. you save money by not having to buy another one.
LOOK and FEEL DEFECTS on the surface and interior
Foam coolers are not supposed to sweat or drip, nor are they supposed to crumble easily when scratched. The surface should appear semi-smooth and not heavily dimpled (deep dimples on the surface indicate under-molding at the factory). Run your fingernail over it and see if the little eps foam beads start to fall out. If so, then the cooler has not been fused correctly in the molding process. This can happen when a manufacturer tries to increase profit by rushing the chiller to produce more in less time. If the small foam beads do not fuse together well, then the level of strength and water resistance decreases. Make sure you don’t see a lot of individual foam beads that appear to be barely connected together. Accounts must be married, not just dating.
Check THICKNESS and STIFFNESS on all
If the cooler appears a bit translucent when held up to the light, it may be too thin (and flimsy, brittle, and even leaky). Does it flex easily? Not particularly good, if that. You would be justified in feeling unsteady buying something thinner than 5/8 inch. Better yet, save some money in the long run by going even thicker than that in the “ice chest” category. A foam cooler is typically 3/4 to 1 inch or more thick. They last a long time when fully fused and working properly on the manufacturer’s line. Their value is evidenced by the fact that seafood shippers and companies that have to ship valuable and perishable products over long distances prefer them, plus they are reusable and recyclable.
Be very careful with cheap brands where the thickness of the cooler varies, starting thicker at the top of the main body and getting thinner towards the bottom of the cooler, because that means the cooler gets weaker where the load exerts the force. higher pressure. . Make sure the thickness of the cooler is consistent to make it more reliable.
So if the foam cooler you buy is of a reliable thickness (consistently around the body), is very rigid, and sports a fully fused foam-rimmed surface and an interior appearance that doesn’t crumble when lightly tested with your fingernail. , then you should be able to relax with it when you pack it with treats and ice for your day at the beach or park or other outdoor fun. You may have to pay a little more at first for a great foam cooler that will last, but in the end you will save money and not be jumping around screaming in frustration when your beer ends up on the floor.