But if wheels and features are what you’re after and a budget is what you’re on, the Igloo might be the right fit for your life. Igloo makes a lot of products, many of which we think are excellent values for what they bring to the table. Unfortunately, we don’t feel the same way about the Trailmate Marine. We found its performance and overall quality to be less than what we had hoped, though its price is not much less than many of the seriously impressive coolers we tested. We like both products and feel that it boils down to the individual.
A built-in stand on the lid provides space to store your mobile device. Journey 70 Cooler – Gray/Black – With Trailmate, nothing gets in fun’s way. Igloo built an up-for-anything cooler so it’ll roll right over rough terrain like it’s on a paved path. We built our up-for-anything cooler so it’ll roll right over rough terrain like it’s on a paved path.
But for someone who is after a truly unique, mobile, and well-performing ice chest, the asking price is more than fair. Built with never-flat, extra wide wheels, UV inhibitors that help protect the cooler in broad sunlight, and non-marking anti-skid handles and feet, they work equally well on and off the boat. Complete with butler tray, iPad or mobile device holder, bottle openers, fishing pole holders and more, this cooler line is intended to address many needs beyond a cold beverage.
Ordinarily, that’s the kind of thing that would make us turn our faces away in disgust. They are made of marine grade strength aluminum, which means that you don’t
have to worry about these metal parts rusting, especially when you’re out at sea. The metal is also extremely strong without having to be unbearably heavy.
The Journey 70 Qt Cooler ($279.99) uses Cool Riser Technology® which enhances the cooling performance by elevating the cooler body away from hot surfaces. The big things missing from making this cooler excel in ice retention are not being rotomolded and not utilizing a large rubber gasket. This allows a bit more cold air to escape than we would have hoped. That being said, the inclusion of thick walls, Cool Riser Technology, and Ultratherm insulation do help make up for some of this. Ice life will vary depending on how much (and what type) of ice you use, but you can typically expect from 40 to 85 hours of ice life.
“The Waterfall Hunters” are what me and my family call ourselves as we love finding new waterfalls to explore, swimming holes to dive in or beaches to surf at. I also love the wide range of gear that allows us to travel further and eat and drink better while we are out exploring. If you don’t need all the features of the Igloo then check this out. It has some similar features to the Trailmate – but not quite as many and the features aren’t quite as good. Now no cooler is going to be completely similar as the uniqueness of the Trailmate means you can’t really match it. But all-in-all I think Igloo is onto something here with this cooler and I know for a lot of people this will make the perfect cooler.
It is therefore important that it be kept as light as possible to make hauling it around an easy job. The first thing we always want to look at in a cooler is how well built it is. In this case, the Igloo Trailmate Cooler wasn’t a disappoint because Igloo put a lot of thought into its construction, making sure it is made to be tough and durable.
This is a pretty bold statement considering we have reviewed a ton of wheeled coolers in the past. However, this claim is easily defended considering the superior ice retention and the included features/accessories. As for its cooling purpose, the Igloo Trailmate Journey 70 Qt Cooler uses Thermocool foam insulation on the body and lid for superior ice retention. Cool Riser Technology also helps improve cooling performance by elevating the cooler’s body away from hot surfaces. The interior also comes with a suspended food basket to segregate food items and keep them dry.
In the ongoing cooler wars, Igloo has taken the “more is more” philosophy, and thrown just about every trick into their new Trailmate wheeled cooler. Designed to be rugged enough to handle bumpy boat docks, rough shorelines, and sandy beaches, the Trailmate is ideal for aquatic adventures. The Trailmate has a little detachable waterproof storage box that clips onto the front of the cooler. This is a great little spot for items like a cell phone, wallet, keys or anything you don’t want to get wet.