Author Topic: Which esky do i buy?  (Read 22151 times)

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Offline Jeepers Creepers

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Which esky do i buy?
« on: May 05, 2013, 07:47:32 AM »
 I is a tad confused....

In the latest Bias Boating cattle dog, they have Eva Cool ice boxes at what i thought was pretty good buying.
Around $200 for the 47 litree jobbie.

Was in gympie yesterday, so dropped into BCF and the same thing was $219.00...... but.

Eva Cool had a wicked looking white fibreglass thing at nearly twice the price and on looks alone, i nearly got a woodie.

They all say 3 to 10 days for ice to last etc and i understand all that stuff, but what are some of you guys using?

I don't wanna pay high $300 if the $200.00 job will do it.

Most of our camping is a week at a time....

Thanks in advance for any help, ridicule or abuse i  may recieve....  :D
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Offline baldheadedgit

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Re: Which esky do i buy?
« Reply #1 on: May 05, 2013, 07:50:51 AM »
Techni ice.... works for me,,, got 3 of them. 40, 60 and 80 ltr..


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Offline D4D

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Re: Which esky do i buy?
« Reply #2 on: May 05, 2013, 07:57:03 AM »
Yes the fibreglass are marginally better but up to you if you think they're worth it. For a week I'd be looking at a compressor fridge.

I have a couple of Techniice boxes and they work well.
http://www.techniice.com/ice-boxes/techniIce-classic.html

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Offline GeeTee

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Re: Which esky do i buy?
« Reply #3 on: May 05, 2013, 08:18:45 AM »
I did a test a few years ago and although it didn't include any of the fiberglass units, the Coleman Extreme Ultimate (ha ha, that reads like a camper trailer sticker) kept the test 1kg block of ice for longer than anything else. It was a surprising result, especially against all the chunky big plastic ones. It was $200 retail, from memory

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Offline Axl

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Re: Which esky do i buy?
« Reply #4 on: May 05, 2013, 08:24:44 AM »
The fiberglass eskies are marginally better at holding ice than the plastic ones but you certainly pay for that, for there price you cant go past the Techni Ice range I reckon.

I have two 60 liter Techni Ice eskies one 80lt and a 12lt and they do the job just fine for what you pay for them.
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Offline Turbojohn

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Re: Which esky do i buy?
« Reply #5 on: May 05, 2013, 08:25:54 AM »
The fibreglass evakool ice boxes do work very well but are expensive and are a bit fragile compared to the plastic ice boxes.  I have two techni ice jobbies and they do the job well for what they cost. In saying that, I own two engels so the ice boxes really only do duties when fishing or having parties :cheers:

Offline Jeepers Creepers

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Re: Which esky do i buy?
« Reply #6 on: May 05, 2013, 08:33:38 AM »
Yes the fibreglass are marginally better but up to you if you think they're worth it. For a week I'd be looking at a compressor fridge.

I have a couple of Techniice boxes and they work well.
http://www.techniice.com/ice-boxes/techniIce-classic.html


Sorry mate, i should have said, we already have a 50 litre 3 way fridge/freezer for food, the esky is for the beer only.

It seems Techni Ice is the go huh.
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Offline kylarama

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Re: Which esky do i buy?
« Reply #7 on: May 05, 2013, 08:37:22 AM »
The fibreglass ones imo are the pick of the bunch.  Ive got a 65L Waeco fibreglass, a 105L Icekool poly by Evakool and a 60L Evakool fibreglass compressor fridge.  I also briefly had a 60L Evakool fibreglass esky prior to the Waeco, but a fellow camper deceided they needed for than I did and relieved me of it including the contents >:(.

The Waeco works brilliant, the ice seems to last forever, but the hinges have nearly fallen off and catches are rooted.  On the larger poly Icekool, the handles broke and the lid had bowed that badly that it no longer closes and seals.  Now only gets used for a drinks fridge at parties and boys weekends, where the lid spends more time open than closed ;D.

A few mates have the Techniice which seem really good value, but if the budget will stretch Id go a Evakool fibreglass unit.

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Re: Which esky do i buy?
« Reply #8 on: May 05, 2013, 08:40:03 AM »
sorry mate but the beer should get the priority position in the fridge.......

Offline duggie

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Re: Which esky do i buy?
« Reply #9 on: May 05, 2013, 08:40:28 AM »
I have had a evakool esky since I cant remember when and I can say with honesty that it by far the best esky I have ever had. As to been fragile, I dont know what you could do to the thing to break it. I have dropped mine many times and have only ever put a small chip in the corner but did not hurt the fiberglass.My two bobs worth, you do get what you pay for. :cup:

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Offline GeeTee

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Re: Which esky do i buy?
« Reply #10 on: May 05, 2013, 09:02:20 AM »
Although on first appearances the fiberglass Evacool 'looks the goods', it came equal last in my test.
It is however, a very tough strong unit that can be sat on and accepts most bottles standing up

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Offline fishfinder

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Re: Which esky do i buy?
« Reply #11 on: May 05, 2013, 09:03:33 AM »
look for a wooden esky so you blend in
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Offline kylarama

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Re: Which esky do i buy?
« Reply #12 on: May 05, 2013, 09:08:53 AM »
Although on first appearances the fiberglass Evacool 'looks the goods', it came equal last in my test.

I've found in real world camping use, with the lids being constantly opened and closed and warm drinks, etc added, the ice outlasts the other poly types.

Offline GeeTee

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Re: Which esky do i buy?
« Reply #13 on: May 05, 2013, 09:17:26 AM »
OK Kylarama but in identical controlled test conditions in real world temps the ice died quicker in the fiberglass and poly units compared to the Coleman so the only conclusion that I could draw was the Coleman is better at keeping things cool.

Appearances aren't everything. Hopefully this will assist the OP with his purchase decision. 
« Last Edit: May 05, 2013, 12:59:04 PM by GeeTee »

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Offline edz

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Re: Which esky do i buy?
« Reply #14 on: May 05, 2013, 09:41:06 AM »
PPWWFFFFTT  Jeezus Jeepers you blokes have got it all wrong the lot of ya .. Jeepers just nick of down to the local chinese vegie shop and grab a recycled broccoli box or two, coupla different sizes.
1/4 Fill it with water at the local pub / club [ good excuse for a beer too ]and get them to chuck it in the freezer for a few days,, Has lots of other uses when empty too when camping then you can just leave it sitting on the beach when you leave , it will fit right in with all the garbage that gets washed up .. LOL.
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Offline Muckinhell

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Re: Which esky do i buy?
« Reply #15 on: May 05, 2013, 09:55:00 AM »
got a 40ltr techni ice from ebay, yellow with 6 sheets of that techni ice as well $65 delivered won through auction.
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Offline DannyG

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Re: Which esky do i buy?
« Reply #16 on: May 05, 2013, 10:05:01 AM »
I want one of these fancy eskys for my ice, ice to put in my drinks. I usually put it in a container in the waeco but it is taking up too much space and I also cant fit a full bag of ice in the container so most of the bag gets wasted.
Not wanting to hijack the thread but its relevant.
So im thinking of buying one of the cool ice waeco 13ltr esky, its a perfect size for a bag of ice.
http://www.waeco.com.au/products5.asp?id=3002&catId=50&subCatId=52&subCatId2=55

What Im wondering does anyone have one and how long would you expect the ice to last if I fill up with only ice?? Id like my bag of ice to last around 5 days.

And why is the A before the E it doesnt make sense!
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Offline :vencho

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Re: Which esky do i buy?
« Reply #17 on: May 05, 2013, 10:21:24 AM »
waeco strong and holds ice for days :cup:

Offline swanny

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Re: Which esky do i buy?
« Reply #18 on: May 05, 2013, 11:03:42 AM »
I did a test a few years ago and although it didn't include any of the fiberglass units, the Coleman Extreme Ultimate (ha ha, that reads like a camper trailer sticker) kept the test 1kg block of ice for longer than anything else. It was a surprising result, especially against all the chunky big plastic ones. It was $200 retail, from memory

Would have to agree with the above, I also have a 47L evakool, and to my surprise a mates coleman, the same one mentioned above, kept ice longer then my evakool, which I get reminded of when ever we camp together. For me id look closely at the coleman jobbies, around a similar price, but from experience holds ice better.

Offline Jeepers Creepers

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Re: Which esky do i buy?
« Reply #19 on: May 05, 2013, 11:55:29 AM »
I guess thats the big difference really.

who would ever get to test an esky against another in a like situation in a controlled evauation/evaluation.
Geez i wissh i kould spall.

Its ironic really, its a 15 year old coleman i want to replace.
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Offline sablesoft

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Re: Which esky do i buy?
« Reply #20 on: May 05, 2013, 12:30:44 PM »
I is a tad confused....

In the latest Bias Boating cattle dog, they have Eva Cool ice boxes at what i thought was pretty good buying.
Around $200 for the 47 litree jobbie.

Was in gympie yesterday, so dropped into BCF and the same thing was $219.00...... but.



Hi Jeepers,

Check out the  Eva Cool Factory seconds page
http://www.evakoolstore.com/shop/category/icekool-iceboxes

50L  for $99

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Offline Nay-DMAX

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Re: Which esky do i buy?
« Reply #21 on: May 05, 2013, 02:26:11 PM »
Hi Jeepers dont want to hijack your thread we have an engel and a techni ice esky like you are looking to do we have the drinks in the techni ice and food in engel. Just wanted to ask since a few have recommended them any tips on gettimg the icein the techni ice to last longer. I know theres been few posts about esky ice just womdered if anyone could recommend specific to these.
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Re: Which esky do i buy?
« Reply #22 on: May 05, 2013, 02:34:17 PM »
What Im wondering does anyone have one and how long would you expect the ice to last if I fill up with only ice?? Id like my bag of ice to last around 5 days.

We bought the 22l version just for our drinks.  During our holidays in January, we were adding a bag of ice each and every day.  Only adding maybe 4 or 6 cans of softdrinks, maybe a bottle of wine and 4 stubbies each day.  In December we froze some 2l ice cream containers and used them in the esky.  They managed to last almost three days with some ice on top (all drinks had been pre-chilled but added some hot ones during our stay).  Overall I wasn't really impressed.  Our 70l Techni ice esky seemed to keep the ice longer.  We now use a small Engel for our drinks.

KB

Offline Jason B

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Re: Which esky do i buy?
« Reply #23 on: May 05, 2013, 02:34:55 PM »
EVA Kool is the go. I have the white ones in 47lt and 120lt + a 50lt compressor fridge made from the same boxes. Easy to keep clean and have been great for us. Mine are over 10 years old now and still going strong.

The fibre glass ones do need a bit more love than the roto moulded type. We use the roto moulded type at work and whilst the ice doesn't last quite as long they can bounce around in the back of the ute all week without issue. I wouldn't do that to one of the white ones.

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Offline Jeepers Creepers

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Re: Which esky do i buy?
« Reply #24 on: May 05, 2013, 02:59:40 PM »
Hey Gee Tee,

Which Coleman performed the best, if you can remember.

The Eva Kool factory seconds site from Sablesoft has some good deals as well.

I DON'T CARE HOW NICE THE HAND SOAP SMELLS.....

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