How to Shop for a Beverage Cooler and Stay Away From All the Surprises

If you have kids, or travel a few times in a month, this is a must. I don't know but a cooler is obviously not only for short trips. You would be quite happy with a compact size beverage cooler if you only cover a few hundred miles. But if you are a truck driver or someone who likes to go 2-3 overnight camping trip, then you demand a larger cooler.

The good news is, the market has it no matter what your demand is. It just takes time to search what you want and make sure the product is able to meet your needs pretty well. However, it is still possible that a product doesn't meet your need a hundred percent, but make sure you comprise wisely.

It helps if you create a list of things you want from a cooler based on priority, so you can focus on the big picture. Assign a certain weight to each of the most important features. Nail down to a few winning products, then see if any one of them stands out of the crowd based on the list that you create.

Shopping online not only saves time, but it is also fun. Internet has really grown into an e-commerce platform. But it does come with a caveat. There is no substitute. You still need to do your own due diligence before buying. They say online no one knows that someone is a dog. They are right. Laziness should not be an excuse.

For instance, when it comes to cooler, I put price, capacity and weight on my top priority. Other features are not as important. If a unit has a thermostat, but it isn't quite as large as the other, or it has higher price, I know I can afford not buying the unit with a thermostat. It's a smart way to buy because you avoid spending much more than the budget you set upfront.

Don't want to bother friends and ask for advices? More and more people use the Internet to post reviews. You will tap into the experience of tens or hundreds of people who have been using the product for some time. And that is very valuable, if you ask me.

Designed for convenient and portability, all coolers usually come with standard 12-volt cigarette lighter adapter. Pay attention to the details. What adapters are included in the package? Do you need to buy battery saver or an adapter that converts standard power source to 12-volt DC?