a review: the engel deep blue 35 cooler and 5lb cooler pack - @engelcoolers #keepyourstuffcold #adventureready #brewchiller
FUNCTION AND DESIGN
The Engel Deep Blue coolers look like most other coolers from a distance and essentially serve the same function as all other coolers as well. The biggest difference that you will notice is the thick side walls and lid once you actually inspect the cooler. This is because of the 2’ thick polyurethane foam used for insulation.
As far as the overland applications go, they are obvious! You want a high performance cooler that will keep your stuff cold and that you can go for multiple days without worrying about stopping to resupply with ice. This allows you to spend more time on the trail making time and getting to your destinations at a reasonable hour. This cooler does just that, it has a number of great accessories too that you can add to make it more of a multi-functional piece. It can be customized for your needs, which if you are like me just adds to the fun of getting the setup you want to make your life on the road that much nicer. I also depend on it as I am the official cook on most of our trips and if something spoils or isn’t usable then I get a lot of grief from a hungry bunch of overlands….haha, not really we are pretty adaptable but you get the idea.
DAILY USE
There are a lot of times that I use my Engel 35 around my home town as well, great to load up with some brews and head to the river for a day of fishing and fun. I take it on short overnight trips into the Cranberry Wilderness near where I live and consequently where I almost met me demise when the first Derecho blew through back in 2012 without warning. That’s a whole other story I may tell you guys some time.
I would not hesitate to purchase a load of cold items from the grocery store and put them in the cooler and leave it in my truck all day in the blistering heat, because I know that they would be okay. It’s hard to beat that feeling when your confident in your gear, it allows you to worry about other more important things…like is the rig about to slide over that hill, or is Jason shooting my good side…haha.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
My overall thoughts of the Engel Deep Blue Cooler and Cooler Pack are pretty obvious I think, I have been very pleased with their performance. I am planning a possible trip to the beach this summer with my daughter and my dog Reiner. We are going to be camping in the 4 wheel drive section of the beech and I will not leave home without my cooler and cooler pack. After all there are no ice machines, bathrooms, shows or countless other amenities where we are heading. I am not worried though, I have what I need to get out and have a good time and enjoy the trip without concern that my gear will let me down. Happy trails guys and don’t forget to leave no track to the best of your ability and have fun with your friends and loved ones!