IcyBreeze Ultimate Cooler

When I first heard about the IcyBreeze Ultimate Cooler, the first thing that popped to mind was Robert Earl Keen describing on the “Number 2 Live Dinner” album a scene of 20 guys drinking Schlitz beer outside in the San Marcos, Texas, heat, gathered around a table where a long extension cord was plugged into a window unit air conditioner…

That seemed funny then, and this seems funny now. But the concept of a portable “outdoor air conditioner” integrated with a cooler is so absurdly genius, I figured, what the heck, I’ll give it a try.

So, the IcyBreeze Ultimate is indeed a cooler just like other players in the highly popular rotomolded world. It’s rugged, and it retains ice like a YETI, or Engel, or RTIC, or Arctic Zone, or any of the others. Its 38-quart capacity is about typical for a day at the beach or a boat float on the river or lake–about 20 cans, a bottle of wine and some food, or 48 cans, or 30 pounds of ice, or whatever you choose.

But this one is different, because an air conditioning unit is fashioned right into the cooler itself. Powered via a USB connection or an optional, rechargeable lithium battery, it draws air in, the air passes over the ice and other cold stuff inside, then a three-speed adjustable fan powers a stream of cooled air (35 degrees lower than ambient temperature) through a vent about the size of a car’s AC vent. You point it where you want, and you truly feel the difference. Outside, and within about 10 feet.

You can get about two and a half hours of continuous AC effect with a standard load of ice. What’s more, you can put it on mist mode, and mist yourself like you see on the sidelines of football games played in hot weather.

Now, I haven’t honestly felt the urge to blow cold air in my face as I was rowing my drift boat, but I can easily envision wanting a little mist and cool air while fishing out of a panga in Baja, or on a flats skiff in the Keys. Even if it’s just for a little temporary relief.

The one clear drawback with this cooler when it comes to many fly-fishing boats is that in these boats the cooler often doubles as a seat. This one doesn’t have a flat top to sit on. So it’s not a camp chair either.

Honestly, I see this cooler working best on a pontoon party boat, or maybe a jon boat, bass boat, ski boat, etc.

But there are places where it could really shine: your tent, when you’re camping, and it still hasn’t cooled down enough to fall asleep. Your cabin in the woods, where you don’t want to spend money on an air conditioner, the portable fan grandpa bought in 1979 only recycles hot air, and you don’t feel like jumping in the lake or the river. Your car, when the regular AC fails. When you’re jamming in the garage with the garage band. In the dove blind, when you’re waiting for the birds to show up. (You know who really loves this thing? My gun dog. Stick it by her crate on the drive home, and she’s happy as a clam.)

It’s also not too loud when the fan is on.

It comes with all terrain wheels and a handle, so you can drag it anywhere, which is much easier than lugging a loaded cooler around.

I’ve gotta say, I thought this was almost a novelty. I thought it would be fun to play around with for a hot weekend, and that’s it. And I didn’t expect it to be one of the two coolers I ended up using the most.

But I’ve become a legitimate admirer of the IcyBreeze Ultimate Cooler.