Coolers for Hurricanes: The Ultimate Guide to Staying Cold When the Power Goes Out
When the power goes out after a hurricane, your fridge becomes a ticking time bomb. Without electricity, you have about four hours before perishable food starts to spoil—and maybe a few more hours of cold drinks if you're lucky.
That’s why having a reliable cooler (or two) is a must for anyone living in hurricane country. But not all coolers are created equal. Some are built like tanks, others are glorified lunch boxes. And then there’s the new kid on the block: electric-powered portable refrigerators.
In this post, we’ll break down the best coolers for every budget—from a $15 Rubbermaid to a $700 Dometic fridge. We’ve researched them all, compared their performance, and added some hurricane-season tricks of the trade to help you stay prepared.
Why Coolers Matter During a Hurricane
When a storm knocks out power, keeping food and medications cold becomes a major priority. A good cooler can buy you time—days, in some cases. It can also keep water cold, drinks refreshing, and help you preserve frozen items like meat or baby formula.
During Hurricane Ian, we learned firsthand how essential it is to have a cooler plan. Not just a cooler—but a plan. Which cooler for what purpose? How long can it hold ice? Can it store medication safely? (Something we don’t think about too often) And can it be moved if needed?
The Coolers We Tested
Here, we talk about what we tested and why we chose them. We wanted to look at coolers from various price points. We took the most popular ones and rated them. While we own several of the mentioned coolers, we borrowed the others.
High-End: YETI Tundra 45 (Own)
YETI Tundra 45 Cooler
Ice stays ice thanks to 3" of PermaFrost™ Insulation and extra-thick, bear-resistant walls.
Price: ~$325
Capacity: ~54 cans (No Ice) or ~37.8 liters (No Cans)
Weight: 24.45 lbs
Cooling Performance: Up to 4 days at 90°F with 20% ice retention
Why We Like It:
YETI has become the gold standard for premium coolers—and for good reason. The Tundra 45 is rotomolded, nearly indestructible, and holds cold like a mini arctic vault. The 3-inch thick walls provide superior insulation, and the heavy-duty rubber latches won’t pop open under pressure.
YETI Pro Tip: Pre-cool the cooler and use a “sacrificial” bag of ice to chill the internal air space before adding your essentials. Then layer food and ice, placing perishable items on the bottom.
Drawbacks: The price is steep, and it’s heavy even when empty. Not great if you’ll need to move it often.
Mid-Range: Coleman Classic 70-Quart (Borrowed)
Coleman Classic Cooler
Leak-resistant, insulated, and built to keep ice up to 5 days — available in multiple sizes for all your adventures.
Price: ~$80
Capacity: 100 cans or ~66.2 liters
Weight: 8.7 lbs
Cooling Performance: Up to 5 days at 90°F
Why We Like It:
This is the cooler we recommend to most families. It’s roomy, affordable, and keeps ice longer than you’d expect for its price. It even has molded cup holders and a seat-supporting lid, which helps during storm clean-up or power outages.
Drawbacks: While it boasts 5-day cooling, real-world performance varies—especially if opened frequently. The plastic handles aren’t as durable as premium models.
Budget: Rubbermaid 10-Quart Cooler (Own)
Rubbermaid 10 Quart Personal Cooler
Stain & odor resistant, easy-to-clean liner—perfect for work, road trips, or outdoor use.
Price: ~$15
Capacity: 6 cans or ~9.5 liters
Weight: 2 lbs
Cooling Performance: ~2-3 hours in moderate heat
Why We Like It:
It’s cheap, it’s light, and it gets the job done—for a few hours. This one’s more of a personal cooler. Use it to keep water bottles cold, carry insulin, or hold snacks while you’re working outside.
We use this for an everyday lunch carry. Pack with frozen water bottles.
Drawbacks: This is not a survival cooler. Don’t count on it for overnight use or food storage during a blackout.
Barebones: Igloo 25-Quart Marine Cooler (Own)
Igloo Marine Series Cooler
Durable and insulated for long days on the water. Great for boating, fishing, and camping trips.
Price: ~$30
Capacity: 40 cans or ~23.6 liters
Weight: 4 lbs
Cooling Performance: ~2 days in moderate heat
Why We Like It:
It’s small, UV-resistant, and perfect for back-of-the-truck storage or a secondary cooler. This one’s great for drinks or backup ice storage.
Great for day trips to the beach, or on the boat in the spring/winter time.
Drawbacks: In extreme heat or direct sun, ice doesn’t last long. Plastic hinges can wear out.
Electric: Dometic CFX Portable Fridge (Own)
Dometic CFX Electric Cooler
High-efficiency cooling and freezing — AC/DC or solar powered. Perfect for overlanding, camping, and power outages.
Price: ~$700
Capacity: 60 cans or ~35 liters
Weight: 33 lbs
Cooling Performance: Can cool to -7°F and maintain freezing temps as long as power lasts
Why We Like It:
This is a game-changer if you have a portable power station like a Jackery or Goal Zero. It’s not a cooler—it’s a fridge that sips power and keeps food cold or frozen as long as your battery allows. Perfect for storing medicine, baby formula, or meat.
We use it on the boat and RV primarily, but is a great back up for when power goes out.
Drawbacks: Expensive. Requires a separate power source, which adds to the cost.
Tricks of the Trade: Cooler Hacks for Hurricane Prep
Freeze water bottles: Pour out ~10% of each bottle before freezing. Acts as reusable ice and emergency drinking water.
Layer wisely: Place the most perishable items (meat, dairy) at the bottom. Use towels to separate layers and limit heat exchange.
Pre-chill everything: Don’t toss warm drinks or food into the cooler right before the storm.
Limit opening: Every peek melts your cold time faster. Know what you need before opening the lid.
Best Cooler Overall (Value + Performance)
🏆 Coleman Xtreme 70-Quart
It balances price, capacity, and ice retention almost perfectly. For less than $100, it keeps food cold for up to five days and doesn’t break your back—or your budget.
I still have my grandfather’s old Coleman from way back when and the thing still holds up!
Best for Extended Blackouts
🏆 YETI Tundra 45
It’s heavy and expensive, but if you want maximum durability and multi-day ice retention without worrying about power, this is your go-to.
Best for Power Users
🏆 Dometic CFX 35W
If you already own or plan to buy a power station, the Dometic gives you true refrigeration. It’s unbeatable for medication, infant supplies, and multi-day trips.
Worst for Power Outages
❌ Rubbermaid 10-Quart
This isn’t for storms. It’s for short drives or beach days. Don’t depend on it for anything that needs true refrigeration.
Final Thoughts
Every cooler has its place. The key is understanding what you need, how long you’ll be without power, and how many people you’re prepping for.
At CAT5Prep, we recommend combining coolers just like you’d layer storm prep:
YETI or Coleman for perishables
Igloo for backup ice or drinks
Dometic for long-term needs with power
Rubbermaid for quick access or personal use
Stock up before the season starts. Once a storm is named, the shelves empty fast.
And remember: you don’t need just one cooler—you need the right cooler setup for your home, your family, and your storm plan.
