Ridgid 27-Quart Cold Box Cooler Keeps Your Drinks Cool on Hot Summer Days
You can spend a few hundred dollars on a cooler if you want, but not everyone needs 5 days of ice storage and enough room for a 3-person limit of red snapper. We put some drinks on ice to see what the Ridgid 27-Quart Cold Box Cooler can do for your day.
advantage
- solid construction
- lockable cover
- Compatible with Ridgid storage boxes
- Less expensive than premium coolers
shortcoming
- Low ice retention compared to premium coolers
We tested ice retention against the 48-hour requirement after loading a 16-pound ice pack (remember the good old 20-pound bags?) and a small amount of beverage into Ridgid's 27-quart cooler. Open the fridge once a day for a drink and check the level, the ice is still pretty close to that mark. If you keep filling the cooler with ice, you might get a little more, but 1 to 2 days is what you should expect.
The walls and lid are relatively thin, although a gasket around the lid helps regulate the internal temperature. It's not on the same level of design as something like a Grizzly or Yeti cooler, which hold ice for longer and use dense insulation. The upside is that the Ridgd's cooler is much lighter than we'd expect from a similarly sized premium model.
What no other cooler brand can claim is compatibility with Ridgid's stacking toolbox system. Just like the toolboxes in the series, the Ridgid Cold Box Cooler locks into any toolbox you like. This is important when it comes to the way the design team intends for you to use the cooler.
other highlights
- Heavy-duty construction holds up to 50 lbs
- 27 quarts. Capacity, up to 42 cans
- Oversized handle folds in either direction and includes a fixed stop in the upright position
- Two durable hard plastic latches securely hold lid
- Lockable lid accepts a large padlock to prevent any sticky fingers
- Two shallow cup holders on the lid prevent drinks from slipping
Ridgid 27 Quart Freezer Cooler Prices
Look for the Ridgid 27-quart Freezer Cooler on the shelves of your local Home Depot for $79.97. Compared to premium coolers, it's priced much lower.
the bottom line
Ridgid designed this cooler to be your everyday companion for keeping drinks and food cold on the job site. It's a great companion to use with your Ridgid stacking toolbox. However, it works best on 24-hour rotations, so if you're looking for something that can back up a long weekend camping trip in the wilderness, this isn't it.
To see Ridgid's latest tools, click here.
Ridgid 27 Quart Cold Box Cooler Specifications
- Model: Rich 249843
- Material: Resin
- Weight Capacity: 50 lbs.
- Bare Weight: 10.56 lbs.
- Capacity: 27 quarts / 42 cans
- Dimensions (L x W x H): 25.25" x 14" x 12.50"
- Warranty: 90 days returnable
- Price: $79.97