Construction-Ready Cooler
The RTIC cooler comes in a variety of sizes and keeps ice solid for over a week on the job site.
Cold drinks are a necessity when the summer sun drives the temperature on roof decks toward the triple digits. I provide ice and drinks for my crew, and I’ve always used cheap coolers because the investment in a boutique model never made sense to me. But after hearing loads of positive feedback and adding a few more guys to the crew, I decided it was time for an upgrade, so I purchased an RTIC 110 hard cooler for about $355. The “110” describes the capacity: 110 quarts of liquid, or 110 12-oz. cans. Translation: It’s a huge cooler. And it’s heavy—the rotomolded plastic shell and thick insulation drive the weight up to almost 50 lb. when empty.
Everything about this cooler is pro grade. It has stout rope handles, and heavy-duty rubber T-latches hold the lid closed. The lid seal works almost too well—if the lid drops closed, it vacuum-seals shut, and you have to pry it open with a flat bar. RTIC claims it will keep ice solid for 10 days. I haven’t experienced that level of longevity, but two 27-lb. bags of ice will last all week. It might seem like a lot of money for a cooler, but the RTIC saves me over $25 a week in ice purchases. And judging by the abuse it has already taken, I expect it to provide ice-cold drinks for my crew for many more summers.
Photo: courtesy of RTIC
From Fine Homebuilding #291
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