The USDA recommends maintaining raw food temperatures below 40º F to avoid the growth of pathogenic bacteria. While the coolers we tested averaged 4.5 days maintaining these cooler temperatures, the Trailmate managed just 3.2 days of wavering right at or just below 40º. To experience the Trailmate Journey firsthand, we suggest purchasing it on Igloo’s website now before it sells out. If you’re seeking a feature-packed, large cooler at a competitive price, the Igloo Trailmate Journey is our top recommendation. It’s guaranteed to elevate any outdoor adventure and make you the hero of your next tailgate.
This material provides very good strength and is rust-resistant while still managing to stay relatively lightweight. As for the hardware, it is made of stainless steel which is also rust-resistant and extremely tough. We’ve discussed many of the Igloo Trailmate’s features related to convenience and usability.
Given that it has the name Trailmate I knew it had to go on a trail to truly earn it’s name. Though at first glance the Trailmate looks like a great deal, we’re not so sure. Its wide wheels and high clearance help it navigate a variety of challenging terrain, but the performance of this cooler in insulation and particularly its lackluster durability leaves us wanting more. 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. With no latches to mess with, the Trailmate is fairly easy to open when you want some of its contents.
That being said, all you’d have to do is fill the Trailmate Cooler with ice, drinks and food and you’re ready to enjoy 4 days of outdoor fun if not more depending on the weather and other factors. These two materials won’t rust, break or fail apart; they’re meant to hold the coolers’ parts together regardless of the surrounding environment for a cooler with a longer life span than expected. And to make this cooler even tougher, Igloo added marine grade aluminum construction and stainless steel to its overall built for maximum durability and functionality. That said, the Trailmate is 34.59″ x 19.7″ x 23.61″ (LxWxH) and that’s not small at all. Actually, you’ll usually end up needing a second hand to help you put the cooler in your car’s or van’s trunk when it’s fully loaded. One you get that covered, you’ll only have to drag it around since it’s wheeled.
And we have seen instances where a cooler loaded with features ends up having subpar ice performance as a result of all of these additional features. One of the significant selling points of the Igloo Trailmate, in our eyes, is the horde of elements that come norm with this cooler. We were at first siphoned about this variety of highlights, however our energy decreased all through testing.
This feature is something that you will find on very few other coolers on the market and it is a great way to stand out from the crowd while having a nifty feature. Additionally, its telescoping trolley handle provides an ample amount of space between the front of the cooler and the backs of your heels. This added space makes the Igloo the only wheeled cooler we tested that we never hit our heels on – a pretty big deal. And while we igloo water cooler greatly appreciate this fact, we feel that the Trailmate still can’t quite live up to the smooth ride we got from coolers with air-filled tires. We should also add that the telescoping handle doesn’t have a smooth action — it definitely doesn’t feel high quality or built to last a decade. The Igloo managed to hold refreshing brew temperatures at or below 50º for an additional several hours, for a total of 3.4 days of cold beers.
Its open 70-quart limit fits up to 112 jars (that is a great deal of Bud Light) and saves drinks cold for over three days. There’s an inside food bin that keeps food suspended over the beverages so that igloo trailmate cooler sandwiches don’t get wet and awful. 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.
We tactically designed each Trailmate softside with comfortable, hands-free carry features, water-resistant zippers and a fully welded exterior that effortlessly withstands dirt, sand and water. Often referred to as “the Swiss army knife of coolers”, Trailmate Journey is truly the cooler that does and has it all. Good looks, many talents (aka handy and effortless-to-haul features) and an easygoing nature.
A key member of our always-up-for-adventure Trailmate Series, this compact yet spacious 25-quart Trailmate ice chest will help invigorate your journey. A key member of our always-up-for-adventure Trailmate Series, this spacious 50-quart Trailmate ice chest will help invigorate your journey. With Trailmate Marine, nothing gets in fun’s way when you’re out on the water. We built our up-for-anything cooler so it’ll easily roll where you want it.