5 types of coolers to take camping

There are many different cooler styles to choose from for your camping trip. Find out which one is best for you needs this summer.

There's no better way to keep your lemonade and beer cool than a camping cooler. In addition to keeping your drinks frosty, the right cooler will allow you to bring along perishable items such as meats, dairy products and vegetables.

Here are five types of coolers to consider before your next camping trip:

Plastic coolers are popular because they’re durable and resilient. They can generally hold a large amount of food in them and they’re often equipped with wheels or handles to make them easier to transport. They can even come equipped with compartments for ice packs and a valve at the bottom to drain excess water after ice has melted.

Metal coolers are the most durable, but they’re not usually necessary unless you plan on doing some serious high impact activities like fishing, as they’re quite heavy.

Styrofoam coolers are just what they sound like. They’re hard Styrofoam boxes with removable lids that you can fill with ice and ice packs to keep cool. They’re not as long-lasting and durable as plastic coolers, but they’re lightweight and they’ll do the job in a pinch.

Fabric cooler or insulated cooler bags are a smaller, more convenient format of a camping cooler. They’re made from a synthetic fabric packed with cooling packs and can be easily carried, though they don’t hold as much or keep things cooled for quite as long. They’re ideal if you’re planning on trekking to your camping site on foot rather than in a vehicle.

These coolers plug into your car and work much like a mini refrigerator. While they may not be necessary for every camping occasion, sometimes they might be just what you need, especially if you’re planning on staying out in the wilderness for an extended period and you have the battery power to keep it going.

Regardless of which type of camping trip you're planning to take, be sure to consider how long you want to keep things cool for and how much you want to carry with you before buying a new cooler.