About Us

Ice is heavy. Trips are precious. We exist to help you carry only what you need and keep everything safely cold the whole time.

Mission Statement

We turn lab-grade tests and real-world field days into simple, reliable tools so you can choose the right cooler, pack the right amount of ice, and trust your food and catch will stay cold—without waste, guesswork, or mid‑trip scrambles.

Our Brand Story

Portable Coolers Guide began with a simple frustration: most advice about coolers was opinion, not proof. People over-buy ice, under-pack insulation, and still end up with mushy food or warm drinks. We built the Cold Economy Score—a standardized way to compare coolers by chill-hours per pound of ice per quart—so performance is clear across climate zones and use cases.

From there, we added tools to make planning effortless: an Ice Budget calculator (people × days × climate), a Size Finder (capacity vs. vehicle/boat/kayak fit), Loadout Recipes (layering, inserts, and ice types), and a Powered Cooler Runtime Planner (watt draw vs. battery/solar). We validate everything in the field—campsites, tailgates, beaches, boats, and jobsites—because gear should work where you are, not just in a lab.

We’re evidence-first, transparent about affiliate relationships, and relentless about clarity. If a tactic or product doesn’t save you weight, time, money, or meltwater mess, we won’t recommend it.

Our Team

• Test & Data Lead: Designs protocols, runs data logging, and maintains the Cold Economy Score model across temperate, hot, and extreme heat zones.
• Field Editor (Overland/Angling): Stress-tests gear on multi-day trips, surf launches, and tailgates; focuses on packing flow, access, and ergonomics.
• Marine & Safety Editor: Specializes in deck heat, slosh management, and catch care best practices for anglers and boaters.
• Power Systems Specialist: Benchmarks 12V compressor coolers, power stations, batteries, and solar inputs for reliable runtime plans.
• Gear Editor & Photographer: Documents standardized pack-outs, inserts, and loadout recipes so you can replicate results at home.

What Makes Us Different

• Cold Economy Score: A consistent benchmark—chill-hours per lb of ice per quart—so you can compare across sizes and brands.
• Standardized Pack-Outs: Repeatable loads and opening schedules for apples-to-apples results.
• Mobility/Ergonomics Scoring: Because comfort, access, and durability matter as much as raw hold time.

Have questions or ideas? We’d love to hear from you at [email protected].