There is a variety of things that you’ll need to look after when you go camping. One of the more notable things that you’ll need to consider is food and water, so you’ll need to have a cooler to store these in. However, this can be problematic if you have a smaller cooker, which means that you mightn’t be able to pack as many food items as you might want. A smaller cooler doesn’t need to be too much of a problem in this regard. The primary reason behind this is that there are a variety of things that you do to increase the number of products that you can fit into it.
While packing a smaller cooler may seem as though it will be complicated, this should be true once you’ve put the right amount of preparation and planning into it. There are a few things that you should look at when doing so, as well as a variety of tips you can use to maximize the available space.
Choosing The Right Cooler
Regardless of whether you’re choosing a larger or smaller cooler, you should always look at the thickness of its walls, with this being driven by several reasons. One of the more notable of these is that thick walls help ensure that everything held inside remains cold for longer.
While the walls will play an important role in this, you’ll also need to look at the lid itself, as this can play a much larger part in the cooler’s temperature than you might believe. While you should look to choose a product with a thicker lid, there are a few ways to preserve the heat inside it when you’re packing. One of the most notable of these is by placing a thick towel on top of your food items once it’s packed. While this will reduce the amount of food you’ll be able to put inside, it should ensure that everything remains as fresh as possible for longer.
The locking mechanism will also play a certain role in this. In the majority of cases, lids that lock will stay much cooler than those that don’t. Regardless of whether you’re choosing a smaller cooler or one that’s larger, this is an aspect that you’ll need to look at, as it will keep your food from spoiling.
Chilling Your Food & Cooler
Coolers are built to retain and maintain temperature, with this applying to both heat and cold. As a result, you’ll need to ensure that your cooler is at the right temperature before you start packing it. There are a variety of things that can affect this, with many people overlooking them.
For example, if you haven’t used a cooler in a while and have stored it in a hot room or area, then the inside of it will be warmer than you may have anticipated. This means that you may need to spend a certain amount of time cooling it than you may have thought. While this may be an annoying aspect of the process, it can be quite easy, as you’ll simply need to place a bag of ice into it to do so. This is something that will be much faster to do with a smaller cooler than a larger one.
Alongside this, you should aim to cool any of the food items that you’ll be packing before you put them in. Doing so should ensure that the cooler and its contents remain cold for as long as possible. This should be done with everything that you’re packing in it. It can also be recommended that you freeze as many of these as possible. By doing so, you should ensure that nothing is spoilt during your camping trip. Anything that you need to unfreeze once you’re camping can simply be taken out of the cooler to warm up.
Pack In Layers
Naturally, a smaller cooler will have much less space than its larger counterpart, which leads to many people wondering how to fit all of the items they need into it. One of the primary ways that you can do so is by packing in layers, though this is something that many people may overlook.
When you first start packing, you should place a layer of ice at the body and then start adding the food that you need to keep cool for the longest. The most notable example of these will be any raw meats that you may be bringing with you. It’s also recommended that you keep any drinks near the top of the cooler, as these are typically the first things that you reach for when you reach the campsite. By doing so, you should be able to ensure that you don’t have to go rooting through it at any point.
In some cases, it could also be recommended that you have a separate cooler for your drinks, which is especially true if you’re using a smaller cooler for your food. Doing so should mean that you’ll be able to pack all of the food and drinks that you’ll need for the camping trip. When packing, you should also ensure that the items that need a minimal amount of refrigeration are at the top. Though this may take a certain amount of time to do, it can be well worth it once you’ve reached the campsite and are setting yourself up.
Know What You’ll Need In Advance
One of the first things that you’ll need to do is determine what food and beverages you’ll need in advance. While this will seem obvious, the number of things that many campers will overlook can be staggering. For example, many campsites may provide a variety of things on-site, so you shouldn’t have to pack them. While this typically focuses on amenities, they can often include food and beverages.
Knowing what will be available can be considerably beneficial when you’re packing a smaller cooler, as you’ll be able to avoid certain items. If you know that you’ll be able to take advantage of a clean supply of water, then you should be able to skip packing water bottles, among other beverages. Though this can be a small space-saving measure, it’s something that can be vital for a smaller cooler. Alongside this, you’ll be able to prep many of the food items that you’ll be using while camping.
When you’re packing, it’s also recommended that you ensure that each of the food items are inside resealable bags. The primary reason behind this is that food can get wet inside a cooler, which is something that you might want to avoid. By using each of the above, using a smaller cooler shouldn’t present too many issues when you’re packing for your camping trip. As this could take you a certain amount of time, it’s recommended that you start packing early.
Doing so should mean that you avoid the stress associated with packing a smaller cooler at the last minute. Leaving everything until then could mean that you forget several things when you’re doing so, especially given how many things you’ll need to pack. Alongside this is the fact that you’ll also be able to take your time when packing it. For a smaller cooler, this can be beneficial, as you’ll be able to take your time figuring out how everything will fit.
Coupled with each of the above tips, you should have no problem packing a smaller cooler and enjoying your camping trip as much as possible. It should also ensure that none of your food gets spoiled while you’re traveling to the campsite.
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