To sea kayakers, the IceMule Classic Cooler breaks up the monotony of a week consuming non-perishable instant oatmeal, tuna fish, ramen noodles and mac n cheese every day. On my May trip to Lake Superior’s Apostle Islands, I added brats, fresh eggs, a wedge of Gouda cheese and a bag of shredded cheddar cheese to the menu. Why? Because I finally found a portable, soft-sided cooler that holds ice for two days that fits in the dry hatch of my sea kayak.
What I love
Drybag design fits into sea kayak dry hatches. The IceMule Classic comes in four sizes: Mini (9L), Small (10L), Medium (15L), Large (20L). For sea kayaking I recommend the Medium because it’s size, even when full of ice, brats, cheese and eggs, fit into the hatch behind the seat. I could have fit the Large cooler into my larger stern hatch but then I would lose precious cargo space for items like tent, sleeping bag, non-perishable food, etc.
Holds ice cubes for 24 hours. But strangely enough, a Yeti ice pack becomes a Yeti slop pack in about eight hours. No idea why other than it’s a Yeti thing and not an IceMule thing. The IceMule’s insulation technology is a combination of foam and air. However, the key to getting ice to remain ice for 24 hours is to minimize the amount of times you open the cooler. It’s not a refrigerator where you can open the door, stare at the contents for ten minutes while you ponder the future of civilization and what you’ll have to eat. Open it, get what you need, roll down the top, depress the air valve and then tighten the roll a bit more. For best results, complete these steps in five seconds or less.
Absolutely no leakage. It’s waterproof—both inside and out. After the ice cubes melted, the brats and Gouda cheese were eaten and all that remained were four hardboiled eggs and half a bag of shredded cheese that at least had to remain cool during the warmer parts of the day. So I secured the shoulder strap to a log of driftwood and let the IceMule bob and float on the 36-degree Lake Superior water to keep the exterior nice and cold.
Tough. I’ve had this IceMule Classic cooler for about year now. After stuffing it into and pulling out of my sea kayak’s dry hatch on at least six multi-day sea kayaking trips, there is nary a single tear, thanks to its construction of heavy-duty vinyl with welded seams that are reinforced at the bottom.
What I didn’t like
Uhh…?? I can’t think of anything at the moment. Just be cognizant of how much food you put inside so that you can get three rolls.
Final thoughts
A lot of gear passes through my hands in a year’s time. Most are new colors or upgrades of last year models or lighter, sexier versions of a competitor’s model. It’s rare to see such a unique concept that is so basic and simple. Take a waterproof drybag, figure out a way to insulate and there you have it: The Holy Grail.
If you’re a sea kayaker, the IceMule Classic cooler needs to be in your dry hatch.
