Good Gear: Canyon Coolers Scout 22

Cooler science is not rocket science. All materials being equal—and generally they are company to company—the thicker the walls the longer the cooler will hold ice, but at the cost of weight. There’s a place for a giant, heavy ice box that will keep backstraps cold for 10 days, but more often than not we hunters, rafters, fisherman, and campers need something smaller, that’s easier to transport. Hence the rapid ascent of the soft-side cooler.

Flagstaff-based Canyon Coolers has done something different though, striking a smart balance between ice retention and weight with the hard-sided Scout 22. The 1.5-inch sides keep drinks cold far longer than it needs to. The 16.5-inch by 13-inch footprint means it fits easily in a truck cab, or tucked away on a boat or raft. It comes in at 14 pounds. Even fully loaded, it’s very manageable. My 5-foot 4-inch tall, 110-pound wife can easily carry it with the shoulder strap when it’s fully loaded. The redesigned latches are more durable than past models and the drain plug is thankfully attached.

The Scout 22 comes with a bungee net system for the lid, too, which makes attaching bottles, cookware, and other gear straightforward and handy. I’m all about keeping ice for weeks, but a lot more often I’m throwing drinks in the truck for a day-trip, road trip, or over-night adventure. For that, the Scout 22 is ideal. BUY IT NOW

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