Coolers are ubiquitous, necessary, and often overlooked. The advent of premium coolers is seeing a lot of people spend a lot of money on a previously pedestrian device. If that’s you, be sure you’re getting your money’s worth.

Tip 1: Worth the Money?
I’ve learned the hard way that I should buy what I need, not what I want. If my cooler needs are easily satisfied with a $50 Coleman, I do not need to spend $350 for a bear-proof, ice-for-seven-days, heavy-when-it’s-empty beast. Use that extra $300 for something else. However, if you wear out a cheap cooler every year, do multiple-day excursions, or actually need to protect your hot dogs from bears (or raccoons), maybe that expensive cooler will save you money in the long run.

Tip 2: What You Need.
I have relatives who tell me I have too many coolers, but how many coolers a person needs is an arbitrary number. It boils down to what you need them for and how often you use them. Over the years, I have amassed a variety of hard, soft, cheap, and premium coolers, in sizes from one to 75 quarts. If I’m going on a short hike and need some refreshments, I don’t want to use a 45-quart behemoth, and if we are sending leftovers home with an out-of-town relative, I’ve got a smaller, inexpensive cooler I can send without missing it for six months.

Tip 3: Best Practices.
Keep the cooler in the shade; cover it with a blanket (a wet blanket is best); pre-cool the cooler before loading it; limit how often it is opened; use separate coolers for drinks (opened often) and food; package all the food together needed for a meal to limit open time; don’t drain cold water unless you’re adding new ice; use a Bluetooth temperature monitor in your food cooler; use a 2:1 ice to food ratio; completely fill the cooler (dead air is bad); layer food with ice above and below; before storing, thoroughly clean and make sure it is bone-dry to avoid mildew.

Tip 4: Think Outside the Box.
Most premium coolers are compatible with dry ice but check yours to make sure. Dry ice ‘melts’ directly into a vapor so the cooler must be vented—just leave the drain plug cracked open or the top unlatched. While the name is ‘cooler,’ these are just insulated boxes and will also work to keep things warm, but be careful! Understand food safety principals, pre-warm the cooler, and monitor the temp to avoid spoiled food. Large, premium coolers are heavy when they are empty; it may be smarter to load the empty cooler in the truck before filling it and making it too heavy to lift. Also, position it so it can be opened and the latches are accessible.

Tip 5: My Favorite Cooler.
My favorite is the one that works best for my situation. Cheap, light ones are great for the distant trip to Costco; and while my premium one may be overkill for a couple of sodas and snacks for an overnight photo session, it provides a great place to sit and a solid workspace. I once used a premium cooler to cure a pork belly for a week, using freezer packs and a Bluetooth thermometer to ensure proper temperature. I’ve also used coolers to transport fragile items, and even used heat packs in them to keep medication from freezing when camping in the winter.

Tip 6: What About the Cost?
So you’ve decided you want to add a premium cooler to your gear pile, but the cost is holding you back. What to do? I’ve used two techniques to afford purchases that I can’t logically justify. First, I save all the coins I receive every day, along with every five dollar bill—it’s amazing how much I can save. If you aren’t a cash user, figure out a way to save $3 a day and you will compile $1,095 in a year. Secondly, I make a list of my ‘dream gifts’ and ask my family to bypass giving me other gifts and instead put small amounts of cash ($5-10) in a box to help me purchase that next thing I can’t live without.