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. On numerous occasions, we found igloo soft cooler our hand searching for a front handle that doesn’t exist, only to latch onto the bottom of the little white box nestled on the front. Unfortunately, that little white box slides up and off the cooler as soon as you apply pressure – not a great handle, so the retracted trolley arm will have to do. Our least favorite aspect in terms of usability is the drain found in this cooler.
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 igloo trailmate 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 next most notable feature is the glide handle that also doubles as a butler tray.
The Thermecool™ foam in the body and lid is eco-friendly and provides superior ice retention. The built-in Cool Riser Technology® dramatically improves the cooling performance by elevating the cooler’s body away from any hot surfaces. A suspended interior wire food basket keeps selected food items dry. The antimicrobial-treated liner inhibits stains and odors caused by bacteria, easing cleanup and extending the life of the cooler. Use bungee cords or rope (not included) with the cooler’s tie-down hooks to make it easy to haul things like towels, quad chairs, or a surfboard to your destination.
Oversized, all-terrain wheels and a sturdy telescoping handle, so you can easily and smoothly roll it to your destination. A few factors are holding these coolers back from significantly longer ice life. They include a lack of rotomolded insulation, a lack of thick rubber gasket, and lack of a more advanced latch system that creates a tighter seal. Igloo states that their Trailmate Line has up to 4 days of ice retention. Compared to premium rotomolded coolers with huge gaskets and aggressive latches, 4 days would not be anything amazing. For most people, having enough ice to last for a long weekend is more than enough.
However, 4 days should be easily attained with a decent amount of ice used. The igloo trailmate 70 is the best rolling cooler for the money we have tested to date. 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.
With its impressive ice retention capabilities powered by Igloo’s eco-friendly Thermacool technology and a host of convenient features, it will easily become your favorite tailgating companion. Finally, one of the most important aspects is the mobility of this cooler. I quickly learned that this cooler is made to go over far more than than pavement.