Engel Cooler review: Made for the beach

Some of the best coolers are the most straightforward, and that’s why the Engel Cooler is such a great option. The Engel Cooler comes in a huge range of sizes and colors, but I tested the 19-quart white version.

The 19-quart cooler chilled 8 cans from warm to ice-cold in just a few hours and maintained the chill for 30 hours. It can fit up to 30 cans, too, which makes it perfect for group beach trips or multi-day fishing trips.

Although there are no wheels, I found it quite easy to carry thanks to the super-secure handle. It’s also compact enough that it can fit into almost any car or truck — I have a tiny little car and it would fit easily in the trunk or on the backseats — making it ideal for trips. Check out the full details in this Engel Cooler review.

Engel Cooler review: Cheat sheet

• Who is it for? People who need a reliable, hardy, and simple cooler
• What does it do well? It cools quickly and stays cool for a long time, and can also be used as a dry box for electronics
• What does it cost? $89 / £72
• What are its weaknesses? It’s pretty pricey — $89 for 19-quart, whereas Coleman’s Classic cooler is $84 for 70-quart

Engel Cooler review: Specs

Engel Cooler review: Price & availability

The Engel Cooler I tested is the 19-quart version. The 19-quart model is $89 from Amazon U.S. and £72 from Amazon U.K.. It comes in a huge variety of colors; I tested the white version, but I love the range of shades.

The 60-quart version is $236 from Amazon U.S. and £179 from Amazon U.K., which can hold a massive 60 cans. It also comes with drain plug, a wire basket, and a built-in bottle opener. If you need a serious cooler, the 60-quart model might be your best bet.

However, if you just need a little cooler for solo beach trips or small group gatherings, then the 19-quart model will be more than enough. I found it was able to cool cans faster than larger coolers.

Engel Cooler review: Design & portability

Considering this is a 19-quart model, it’s a bit more spacious than you might think. I was able to fit cans of Coke and huge bags of ice with space to spare.

It’s also pretty light, at just 5.5 pounds. I found it very easy to carry with the top handle and the weight (8 cans plus 4.4 pounds of ice) was evenly distributed. However, if it was filled to the brim, I can imagine this would be trickier to maneuver.

There are no wheels, which is a bit of a shame. However, not even the 60-quart model has wheels, so that’s a pitfall of the entire line. The lid is secured with two hinge clips, which both felt very secure and held tight even when the cooler was relatively heavy.

The 100-quart Coleman Classic Cooler ($109) has wheels, so if you really need a cooler with wheels, I’d recommend that. Also, the $63 wheeled Coleman Xtreme Cooler could also be a budget-friendly option.

Thanks to the super-tight gasket seal, it can also be used as a dry box for electronics or clothes during watersports or fishing trips.

Engel Cooler review: Performance

To test the Engel Cooler, I filled it with ice and cans. Engel says the cooler can fit up to 30 cans, which would be more than enough for a couple or small family. However, if you’re bringing drinks for a whole group or a multi-day camp/festival/fishing trip, you might want to check out the huge 60-quart version.

I tested the cooler for 24 hours. If you’re taking this cooler to the beach or to a pool party, realistically, you’ll only need to keep things cool for a maximum of around 16 hours. Engel claims the cooler can stay cold for up to 2 days.

After 4 hours, the cans were all chilled perfectly with just one 4.4 pound bag of ice. There was a layer of water in the bottom of the cooler which I had to empty manually (as there’s no drain tap, unlike the larger models), but this was easy to do thanks to the lightweight body.

After 24 hours, the cans were still ice-cold. Even though the ice had melted, the cans were all still very chilled. I’m very impressed with this cooling performance.

I’m currently running longer tests on the cooler, and will update as soon as these tests are complete, so check back here for updates!

Engel Cooler review: Additional features

Whereas the 60-quart cooler has a huge range of additional features like rope handles, a drain tap, and wire rack level, the 19-quart just has an extra level tray. This could be used for smaller items like bait for fishing trips, and it would stay cool but stay apart from the main contents to prevent contamination.

Engel Cooler review: Maintenance

Cleaning the Engel Cooler is very straightforward. As it’s effectively a plastic rectangle, it’s easy to get into the corners with a sponge. I would recommend cleaning with warm soapy water and then rinsing out to ensure no residue is left over.

Engel recommends keeping an extra bag of ice just for cooler cooling (to chill the box before putting drinks in it) and to fill extra space with balled-up newspaper to prevent warm air circulating. Engel also sells cooler packs for $24 on its website, although just using regular ice would be fine too.

And the best part? Engel has a massive 5 year warranty on its cooler boxes, meaning this will stick with you for years of adventures. Igloo’s warranty is just 1 year, which pales in comparison.

Engel Cooler review: Verdict

I think the Engel Cooler is an efficient cooler box that maintains chill for a long time. It can fit up to 30 cans and Engel’s own-brand cooler packs are slender enough that they could slot in between drinks.

Not only does the Engel Cooler perform excellently at, well, cooling, it also doubles up as a dry box for fishing trips or beach parties. The upper level tray is a great option for keeping bait separate, too.

Although, yes, it’s pricier than other small coolers, I think you’re paying for quality here. The box is very well made and tough and remarkably easy to carry.