Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I couldn't care less how many sandwiches and yoghurts you can get into a cooler. Coolers are for beer, and beer comes in bottles, so we need an objective review for those who want cold beer. I've never bought a soft cooler before because they are all, without exception, total and complete junk. Soft coolers don't keep beer (or anything else) cold. So when a friend of mine turned up with one of these things you can imagine how I laughed at him. One boat trip later and I was prepared to admit that he had chosen wisely. These things are unbelievable. He left his cooler in the sun all day (an amateur mistake) in 90 degree heat, and when we got back his ice was still the same shape as when it went in, just slightly glossier - barely any melting at all, and just a small amount of melt water in the bottom. My cooler (that I constantly moved to keep it in the shade) came back with cold water and a few sad lonely ice cubes floating on top. I kept my share of the beer cold, but I was on the limit. Another hour or two and the beer situation would have become critical. I've since bought a 12 and a 24 pack cooler, and haven't used my hard coolers since. The 12 pack will comfortably fit 16 bottles of beer, and you can fill the rest of the space with ice. If running out of beer is problem (and lets be honest, when is running out of beer not a problem?) I can get 18 in with a little coercing, although there is less room for ice and you'll struggle a little with the zip (solution: drink one. Problem solved) The 24 pack will comfortably swallow 26 beers (30 at a pinch). I wouldn't recommend the 48 pack, I don't own one, but the 24 pack with 30 beers and ice is heavy enough. You'd never lift the 48. If you need the capacity I'd suggest two 24 packs. The only negatives with these coolers is that they don't have a water proof base, so you have to be careful about where you put it (think boats, puddles on the ground etc) and being soft sided, you can't sit on it. But the advantages far outweigh these little problems. I also love the way they don't look like coolers. You could take one of these to a funeral to down a cold one in the pews and no body would notice. You need never be more than 3 feet from a tasty brew ever again, and It'll always be icy cold. I've never seen one leak (several of us have them now). The little bottle opener on the zip will break after about 30 bottles, so forget using it, and don't leave them in the sun, being fabric they do fade.