How to find the best insulated cooler bags in Australia

When you’re planning an outdoor activity, you want to maximize your time by ensuring that you bring the right things.

A backpack is always a great way to carry any essential items that you might need for your outdoor adventure. But if you plan on bringing food and drinks, cooler bags are a great option. 

Cooler bags are designed to keep your drinks and food cold all day. They come in different models and sizes, which make them ideal for carrying snacks, lunch or drinks to work, during travel or to outdoor activities such as hiking.

And while there are different cooler bag models in the market, finding one that suits your situation can be challenging, especially if you haven’t purchased one before. 

If you’re planning on buying an insulated cooler bag for your next activity, here’s how you can find a great one in Australia

1) Consider the cooler bag weight

Before you buy a cooler bag, be clear on what you want to use it for and how heavy you need it to be.

Often, your food, ice packs, and drinks will put extra weight to it. This means that if you’re looking for an insulated cooler bag to go hiking, you need to opt for a lightweight one that’s easier to carry. As a general rule, it’s advisable to avoid starting off with a heavy cooler bag. 

If you’re looking for a highly portable cooler bag, check the side handles to ensure they’re sturdy. This is an important detail to consider, particularly if you plan to carry fully-loaded, heavy bags during your trips.

If you’re looking for an insulated cooler bag to carry lighter loads such as equipment, check with your cooler bags supplier to find one that has shoulder straps.

2) Pay attention to bag size

The size of the cooler bag that you buy will mostly depend on what you want to use the bag for and how many people you want it to serve. These are important factors that will help you in knowing which size to go for.

If you’re looking to buy an insulated cooler bag to use during family trips, opt for one that has sufficient space to carry food and drinks for everybody. 

Also, in considering the cooler bag’s size, check the compartments in the cooler bag. When buying an insulated cooler bag, you need to ensure it has sufficient storage space to cater to your travel or outdoor adventure needs.

Compartments make it easier to organize your stuff in the cooler bag. For instance, you can pack different foods or drinks in the bag in an organized manner by placing each food type in its respective compartment. 

3) Go for quality, not price

There are different models of cooler bags in the market. Their prices and quality vary depending on the type of insulation that has been used in the bag.

In most instances, how long a cooler bag lasts depends on the brand. Pricier brands also cost more due to the high-quality insulation used to make them. The best way to ensure that the insulated cooler bag you buy is of high quality is to avoid cheap brands.

As a rule, the more costly a cooler bag is, the higher the quality and the longer it will last. 

But even as you focus on quality, consider how much often you expect to use the insulated cooler bag. Opt for a fairly priced cooler bag if your plan is to use it occasionally.

On the other hand, consider paying more money for a highly durable and long-lasting cooler bag that can withstand rigorous outdoor conditions if your plan is to use it quite often.

4) Check the cooler bag material

Before you buy an insulated cooler bag, consider the material that has been used to make the cooler bag. Opt for cooler bags that are made with material with waterproof and antimicrobial features.

Cooler bags that have these features prevent bad odor, mold, and mildew that develop in food when low-quality materials are used to make the bags.

To ensure that the cooler bag you buy is safe, go for one that’s made using food-grade, FDA-approved materials. You can find these bags on www.cooler-bag.com.au.

5) Consider the type of insulation

Insulation is the most critical factor to consider when choosing a cooler bag. A cooler bag that doesn’t keep drinks or food chilled is of no use. Before you buy a cooler bag, check whether it’s fitted with radiant heat barriers. These are useful to have because they help in protecting your items.

Also, check how many insulation layers are in the cooler bag. Ideally, the more layers there are, the better. Pay attention to insulation thickness.

Very thick insulation can make the cooler bag bulky and reduce the storage space. As such, weigh these two aspects of insulation material before buying a cooler bag. 

6) Consider how easy they are to use

Ease of use isn’t something that many people consider when buying a cooler bag. But it’s more important than you might think.

So check how easy it is to use the cooler bag before you decide to buy. The best way to do this is to check the zipper. Easy-to-use cooler bags come with knitted zippers that are effortless to close and open. 

There are brands that have smaller zippers, which make closing and opening the bag challenging for users. Small openings can also make it difficult to place or remove items in the bag. So it’s important that you check the zipper of the bag to ensure you’re comfortable with it before purchasing. 

What’s your perfect cooler bag?

Cooler bags are becoming more popular as many people discover the convenience they offer in keeping food or drinks chilled during travel or outdoor activities.

However, there are many kinds of insulated cooler bags in the Australian market. This makes it challenging to find one that suits your needs.

Before buying an insulated cooler bag, run through the six factors discussed above. Doing that will save you time and enable you to find an insulated cooler bag that best suits your needs.