Road trip and cooler in the United States: buy locally or a foldable Decathlon one?

Hi, Just a little question, kinda "silly" but still important... The cooler for a road trip... Either buy a basic one when I arrive in SFO and leave it there... no idea about the price. Or take a foldable one like the Decathlon one I saw for 39.90 for 26 L. It seems like a good option since it weighs only 1 kg when folded... and supposedly keeps things cold for 11 hours without ice. So maybe more space and less "hassle" to get ice...

I’ll admit I’m not a pro at camping and don’t really know the differences between coolers...

Thanks to anyone who can help me out.

We use a flexible cooler we bought in Canada and brought back without any trouble in our large travel bag. It actually takes up very little space because we fill it with laundry for the trip.

thanks so it’s not such a crazy idea after all?

We bought ours in a supermarket—the model for transporting beer cans, which comes in different sizes (measured by the number of cans!). The key is that it fits in a bag so you don’t have an extra piece of luggage. Don’t expect too much from it (if it’s 40°C in the car..., for a family of eight it’ll be small...), but it works perfectly for us. Usually, we slip small frozen water bottles inside (when we have a fridge in the room). You can also find cheap styrofoam coolers in American supermarkets (though not everywhere) that you can toss at the end of your trip.

No, it's possible—it's just a matter of choice.

In our case, for a 3-week trip, we buy a hard-sided cooler (around $25) at Walmart or a similar store when we arrive. It serves as our main cooler for the car or any accommodation without a fridge.

We use the free ice machines at motels or buy bags of ice to keep things cold. It easily fits drinks, sandwich ingredients, fruit, etc.

We also bring foldable thermal bags for long hikes when we can’t return to the car.

At the end of the trip, we leave it with the motel staff or in the rental car trunk—it always makes someone happy ;) Either way, it saves us way more than the $25 it cost during the trip.

Hi there,

We’re doing the same thing: a soft cooler bought at a supermarket in France, and inside we use (waterproof) Tupperware that we refill with ice at motels. It all fits perfectly in checked luggage.

Hi there, Just a little question, kinda "silly" but still important... The cooler for a road trip... either buy a basic one when we arrive in SFO and leave it there... no idea about the price, or take a flexible one like Decathlon that I saw for 39.90 for 26 L. I think this one is pretty good because it’s only 1 kg when folded... and most importantly, it supposedly keeps things cold for 11 hours without ice... so maybe more space and less "hassle" to get ice...

I’ll admit I’m not a pro at camping and don’t really know the differences between coolers...

Thanks to those in the know for helping me out.

Hi Nataly,

For a soft cooler, I think that’s pretty expensive.

You can find really cheap large styrofoam coolers in supermarkets in the US.

On our last road trip, if I remember correctly, we bought ours in Monterey. We left it in Phoenix.

See you,

We use the free ice machines at motels or buy bags of ice for the cold part

On that note, you can commonly find dry ice (carbon dioxide or CO₂) in self-service at American supermarkets, often near the checkouts. Just don’t confuse it with regular ice (water or H₂O):

It’s much colder (-80°C instead of 0°C), so you need to handle it with gloves (usually provided next to the supermarket’s service bin). Don’t use a large amount, and never place it in direct contact—use bubble wrap—or you’ll freeze your food! It warms up by sublimating (turning into gas without becoming liquid), so don’t seal it in an airtight container, or it’ll break. The gas needs to escape. Carbon dioxide is a colorless, odorless gas that’s not toxic at all (you exhale some with every breath). However, don’t use a large amount in a closed vehicle, as it could eventually displace the oxygen you need to breathe. A few pieces in the trunk of a car are fine, though, and the gas disperses as soon as you open the trunk.

In short, it’s not very dangerous, but there are still a few precautions to take. There are special coolers for dry ice (fishermen use them). We just stick with regular ice.

airtight Tupperware containers that you refill with ice

Everyone’s got their own little tricks. The risk here is leakage. 😉

Hi there, We camp regularly in France, and last year we bought the famous large Decathlon cooler because there are six of us. We were impressed by how well it kept things cold (though we’ve never tried it without ice...). I’m wondering about our trip, but I think we’ll buy one there (maybe with wheels for transport since ours is really heavy when full—I’m thinking of hotels in LV). Even folded, ours takes up quite a bit of space, and I’m worried that with six of us, space in the suitcases (3) will be tight, but you never know...

By the way, you can commonly find dry ice (carbon dioxide or CO2) in self-service at American supermarkets, often near the checkout

Well, I learned something new—thanks for the info! 😉

We’ve taken several trips to the United States and Canada and are heading back next summer. We camp, and each time, we buy a large polystyrene or "hard-sided" cooler on sale (it happens!) for between $10 and $20. We buy ice blocks (not cubes, which melt faster) at gas stations or supermarkets, and we keep drinks and food perfectly chilled despite the outdoor heat.

At the end of the trip, we leave it with the motel staff or in the rental car trunk... it always makes someone happy ;) Anyway, it saved us way more than its $25 during the stay.

I’ve asked the staff at the last hotel several times if they were interested, but their answers didn’t convince me. As for the car rental company, I don’t know if the staff is allowed to keep what they find inside. Unfortunately, since there are homeless people in every big city, it’s a way to help one out. On the way to the airport, I take a few minutes to stop, chat with someone, and leave them the cooler—sometimes with leftover food and cans. Whether they keep it or sell it for a few bucks is up to them if it helps a little.

Otherwise, at Walmart, you can find hard-sided coolers with wheels for around $25–$30, and they’re super practical.

Well, I learned something new—thanks for the info! 😉

Here’s a video for the pros of American-style camping. The extra-large cooler (designed for this) holds two 500g blocks of dry ice, which are then covered with regular ice as insulation, and food goes on top. The person handles the bag with bare hands because they’re used to it and work fast, but they really shouldn’t. www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAOdMvEmis8 The main point of my original message is that (1) you probably won’t need it, and (2) you shouldn’t handle it with your bare hands, mistaking it for regular ice. 🙂

Hello, We camp regularly in France. Last year, we bought the famous large Decathlon cooler because there are six of us. We were impressed by how well it kept things cold (though we never tried it without ice...). I’m wondering about our trip, but I think we’ll buy one there (maybe with wheels for transport since ours is really heavy when full—I’m thinking of LV hotels). Even folded, it still takes up quite a bit of space... and with six of us, space in the suitcases (3) is tight, but you never know...

Hi Anne,

One summer, we took our foldable cooler on a road trip in the USA, but we didn’t put the ice in airtight containers, and the water leaked through the cooler, flooding our trunk.

After that, we used "dry ice" (called "dry ice"). You can buy it near the checkout in supermarkets. But it’s not reusable—you have to buy more the next day.

We also used ice packs, since they’re reusable the next day after putting them in the freezer section of hotel fridges.

All in all, we found the simplest solution was to buy a styrofoam cooler at a supermarket in the USA (they’re really cheap). You can get free ice every morning from hotel ice machines. We’d drop the ice into resealable plastic containers that held pre-made salads from the supermarket. We kept three of those containers and used them that way.

Outside of hotels, I’m not sure where else you can find ice machines. But you can always buy ice at supermarkets.

See you,

"We camp regularly in France, and last year we bought the famous large Decathlon cooler because there are six of us. We were impressed by how well it kept things cold (though we’ve never tried it without ice...)."

As I mentioned, I don’t know much about coolers, but based on the reviews, I thought that if it doesn’t need ice and keeps things cold for 11 hours, it’s a real space-saver—since ice obviously takes up room!

In this case, the 11 hours are ice-free, and from the reviews on the site, it seems pretty good. The site mentions it’s only 1 kg empty, so no problem in a suitcase.

That said, the other option is to buy a basic one locally for cheaper and leave it behind, but I wonder if it keeps things as cold... Maybe it’s not even necessary.

Hi Nataly,

As I said, I don’t know much about coolers, but based on the reviews, I also thought that if you don’t need to add ice and it lasts 11 hours, it’s a real space-saver… because ice obviously takes up space!!

How many people will you be? If there aren’t many of you, you won’t need a huge space for your picnic.

Last summer, when it was around 104°F, we were really happy to have very cold drinks (grapefruit juice, in particular), and without ice, when you want a drink, your beverages will definitely be much less cold.

See you soon,

It's not the weight that worries me but rather the bulk. We never manage to fold it back as well as when we first bought it. ...

It's just the two of us, but for example, from one park to another... should we buy at the supermarket instead of in the park? Or have a picnic at lunchtime?

I’m thinking of leaving a maximum of 25 € on-site (if it’s a hard cooler) and having to add ice every day. I figure 39 € is something I’ll keep (you never know, it might come in handy...).

Anyway, it’s not essential for the trip, but I’d love to discuss the topic!

There are just two of us, but for example, from one park to another... should we buy at the supermarket instead of in the park? Or have a picnic at lunchtime?

I’m thinking of leaving a maximum of 25 € on-site (if it’s a hard cooler) and having to add ice every day. I figure the 39 € I’d keep (you never know, it might come in handy...)

Anyway, it’s not essential for the trip, but I wanted to discuss the topic...

There’s always a place where you can have a picnic. But in summer, we look for shady spots (sometimes there’s a roof over the picnic areas), or in very hot weather, we’ve even eaten in a section of a supermarket with tables to enjoy the air conditioning.

You can do your shopping before entering a park, for example, at a supermarket in Springdale before entering Zion NP. You can also buy your meal at "Zion Lodge" and eat on the terrace.

Plastic coolers, like the one Olivier showed, are the most expensive.

A simple styrofoam cooler is enough. And it’s very practical.

Cheers,

... at small gas station shops! They even sell very cheap coolers.

Have a good evening.

Hi Nataly,

For a simple polystyrene cooler, you’re looking at between $2 and $4 at Walmart, and $8 to $10 at a gas station or Seven Eleven. They work great—we treat ourselves and get two! !

hi there yeah, it's not expensive... do you have any addresses in SF?

I’ll admit I’m still tempted by the Decathlon one though—the site says 11 hours without ice...

Just search "Walmart San Francisco" on Google Maps and pick the ones along your route.

Okay... Anyway, it's just a detail... I'm more bothered by the closed bridge...

Hi there! I chose not to weigh myself down at the start... The person who told us they put clothes in it—what a great idea! 11 hours without ice is impressive—I’m a little skeptical without seeing it, though!

The 'basic' hard coolers from Walmart or similar stores have always worked well for me: different sizes, with or without a lid latch (you can use a belt from one of your suitcases!), and even wheeled ones if it might get very heavy. Without spending money on ice packs but just using ice from motels, we kept things cool for 24 hours.

In Europe, we sometimes took a flexible cooler to avoid bulk, but unfortunately, we always had issues with leaks and 'floods'...

Happy travels! !

As I mentioned earlier, I'm not a camping pro... "11 hours without ice is impressive: without seeing it, I have my doubts?" That's actually what the Decathlon website says (with a 4.5-star rating from reviews), but I don’t work for them and I haven’t tested it myself...

But yeah, I was wondering the same thing... So if you don’t use ice, you also get more space...

"11 hours without ice is impressive—without seeing it, I’m a bit skeptical?"

Obviously, it all depends on the conditions (like in Death Valley in summer under full sun...) and the temperature you want to achieve (keeping raw meat at 2–3°C or a water bottle at 15°C).

Yeah, same here...

But I guess in Death Valley, ice cubes melt at 50°C too...

The cool thing about ice is that it melts: it takes almost as much energy to turn a 0°C ice cube into 0°C liquid water as it does to heat liquid water from 0°C to 80°C. That’s why it’s so effective!

I always get a hard-sided cooler with wheels on my first visit to Walmart, so I can roll it under the ice dispenser at motels... By tipping the lid, it helps funnel the ice in... I love coming back from a good hike to ice-cold drinks. I’ve never had any leaks. I use a flexible D4 cooler on my job sites almost year-round. The claim of 11 hours without ice in 90°F+ weather is nonsense... Even with two -10°F blocks in the morning (straight from the freezer), by 1 p.m. my sandwiches are barely cold—unless they’re touching the blocks. By 4 p.m., both blocks are completely melted.

And personally, $25 in the budget for a road trip out West isn’t a big deal to me... If I nitpicked like that, I’d never go anywhere...

it's not about the 25 euros... since the Decathlon I'm talking about is 39;

I just thought it might be better... more practical... and maybe no need for ice. I'm leaving at the end of September... and the parks are more in October... so I don't think we'll hit 40°C.

Re... I’ll add another ice cube... Last year, we went at the same time: from September 25th to October 16th. At White Pocket, it was more bearable than in the middle of summer—we still had 38°C (100°F)!

I’d say, in the end, do what seems best to you: if it’s not enough, you can always add... more ice cubes!

Have a great day.

Starting with ice at -18°C instead of 0°C barely makes a difference in cooling capacity (about 10% at best). Try putting the same weight of ice in a glass with cubes straight from the freezer or left outside... It doesn’t change much.

Here’s what Walmart sells, but not everything is available in-store.

https://www.walmart.com/browse/sports-outdoors/coolers/4125_546956_4128_4547850

Styrofoam coolers can do the trick, but they don’t hold much if you need to add ice.

I always buy a hard-sided cooler. Around $20, they don’t keep things very cold if it’s hot out, but around $35, they’re much better.

I buy two a year and leave them there.

I totally agree that $35 isn’t much compared to the cost of a big trip. And I have huge respect for Chinese plastics manufacturing, for that matter. But I just can’t bring myself to buy that kind of thing just to toss it after a month!

I've already taken the Coleman for $28.79 or the Coleman for $39.00 several times. Good gear.

I usually leave it at the last motel—it always makes the housekeeper happy... The guys at the car rental agencies don’t care at all. I’ve offered it twice, and they told me they weren’t interested...

Taking ice out of the freezer at -18°C instead of 0°C barely adds anything to its cooling capacity (about 10% difference). Put the same weight of ice in a glass with cubes straight from the freezer or left outside... It doesn’t make much of a difference.

Totally agree... I was just saying it came from the freezer. But ice is ice, after all... it won’t melt (much) slower just because it came from -20°C...

I totally agree that $35 isn’t much compared to the cost of a big trip. And I have the utmost respect for Chinese plastics engineering. But I really struggle to buy that kind of item just to toss it after a month!

I leave it at the hotel—I don’t throw it away.

Here’s what Walmart sells, but not everything is available in-store.

www.walmart.com/..._546956_4128_4547850

Styrofoam coolers can do the trick, but they don’t hold much if you need to add ice.

I always buy a hard-sided cooler. Around $20, they don’t keep things very cold if it’s hot out, but around $35, they’re much better.

I buy them twice a year and leave them there.

Hi Louis,

We had a large rectangular Styrofoam cooler. It was enough for the three of us—there was still plenty of room for meals and drinks, even with the plastic containers holding the ice.

Here’s a photo of the cooler we had last summer. If I remember correctly, we bought it at a big-box store in Monterey.

See you,

I leave it at the hotel, I don’t throw it away.

of course ;)

Good evening, I just bought the famous Quechua cooler from Decathlon—the soft, self-inflating one that keeps things cold without ice packs for up to 11 hours... Sure, it’s expensive, 55 €. I got the 36L version.

(Me, I only paid 45 € lol, because on Decathlon’s website, it had been out of stock for weeks. Then one day, I got the restock alert! Without hesitation, I rushed to the site, saw "1 in stock," quickly ordered it, and was happy... Except the next day, I got an email basically saying someone was faster than me, blah blah, and to make up for it, they gave me a 10 € discount.)

Two weeks ago, I got the alert again, ordered it fast, and used my discount.

I received it last week and will test it soon.

It’s pricey, but we live in the south, and in summer, I eat at the beach 4 days and/or evenings, so it’ll more than pay for itself. Not to mention vacations where we’ll take it along. It seems sturdy, and when folded, it doesn’t take up much space—even in a suitcase.

At least I’m telling myself that even in 45°C heat, we won’t have to worry. We’ll have cold water during our future road trip in the West, between stops. I think it’ll do the job if I add ice packs or ice cubes in ziplock bags and don’t open it 10 times in an hour.

I recommend it!

On the way back, it's always a headache trying to fit everything we bought there (souvenirs, gifts, clothes, etc.) into the suitcases without risking excess baggage. 😕😕 So we got into the habit of traveling with just the bare minimum—I can’t imagine bringing my cooler along and then bringing it back! 🤪 A hard-sided cooler for about $20 at Walmart, which we leave with the staff handling the rental car return, does the trick perfectly. 😉

Hi there! Of course, I understand—it really depends on how many of you are traveling. I’m lucky to be going with 3 others, so we’ll have 4 checked bags ON THE WAY BACK. On the way there, they’ll be almost empty, so I figure we’ll have plenty of room to fill them up over the month! 😄😄

Hi there, I’m leaving in a month—do you think I’ll need a cooler? (Just to clarify, I’m not going to Death Valley.) If I check the weather today, for example, Flagstaff has snow, and the Grand Canyon is at -3°C tonight and +2°C during the day... 😐 And uh, Bryce Canyon is at -12°C today, and they’re forecasting -17°C tomorrow! 😕 No joke! www.lachainemeteo.com/...al-park-137683-0.php

Shouldn’t I bring thermoses of hot coffee instead? (Not sure it’ll change much in a month.) Well, at least I don’t regret not choosing a convertible... Now I just need to pack a suitcase full of mittens, hats, scarves, moon boots, a down jacket, ski goggles, and Himalayan cream.

It's called winter, and these are normal temperatures. Bryce goes up to nearly 3,000m. At that altitude, it's cold in France too, and you can't drive there. The change of season can happen as early as April... or much later. You *must* bring very warm clothes and gloves. I hiked in below-freezing temps in late April/early May, and it was amazing. Watch out for possible ice flows (melting during the day, refreezing at night). I didn’t have them back then, but now I’d bring my Kahtoola micro-spikes to cross a few meters of ice without worry. It’s a season prone to rockfalls. The trails are well-marked and monitored, but still be cautious. Have a great trip (I’m jealous!).

Hi there, I’m sure you’ll have a wonderful trip!

Our son visited the places you mentioned in December with his family: hiking in Bryce was quite an adventure—snowball fights at the bottom of the amphitheater, a snowstorm on the way there... Everyone was dressed for winter sports!

BUT the photos of the hoodoos under the snow are stunning, and the kids (9 and 13 years old) were careful but had a blast!

PS: They had a cooler (!!! ) to keep drinks cold and picnics fresh.

Have a great vacation.

Thanks anyway—I’ll keep an eye on the weather until the day before departure to know what to expect and what to pack. I’m really afraid I’ll have to bring both winter and summer clothes. Though, a down jacket in a suitcase... there’s no room for anything else.

Unless I buy a cheap one (well...) locally and then donate it to someone in need on the way back. (Same idea as the cooler, but way pricier, though.)

For ice, you need to buy ice blocks, not cubed ice—they last much longer.

Except that at vending machines in hotels, it's cubed ice that's available. It's also worth noting that a can buried in ice cubes stays much colder than one sitting on a block.