Why Rotomoulded Eskies, Coolers & Iceboxes Are Better

You might have heard the term rotomoulded once or twice while out camping and fishing with mates. But what is rotomoulding? And why are rotomoulded coolers and iceboxes superior than others?

The Rotomould Manufacturing Process

Firstly, lets explain:

The Process: Rotomolding is short for rotational moulding (or rotational molding if you live outside of Australia.) While we are concentrating on coolers for this article, it's important to know that this process is incredibly versatile and used somewhat indifferently across various industries. However, it's generally the same process for creating bulkier goods such as kayaks and coolers.  

The Material: Polyethene (Plastic) is the most common material used. The poly (often in a powdered form) is poured into a hollow mould, which is then heated and rotated 360 degrees continuously at speed. This results in the plastic material softening, combining and forming itself to the mould while dispersing evenly around all edges, nooks and crannies, creating a consistent thickness and solidity. The mould is then cooled, opened, and the product is removed for further treatment.

Why Is This Method Superior?

There's a few reasons why:

• Rotomoulded coolers are much stronger due to their,
• Thicker and more consistent plastic (cheap coolers are often only 1.5-2.5mm thick while rotomolded coolers are commonly between 4-6mm)

The overall insulation + poly thickness is often an inch or more thicker as well. This consistent, thicker material also helps with;

• Sanitation (easier to clean, harder to penetrate)
• Ice-retention from better insulation ability
• Longer lifetime expectancy (10yrs+ lifetime generally, unlike everyday disposable plastics and cheaper coolers)

So, What Makes Some Rotomoulded Coolers Better Than Others?

1. Inside wall Insulation - some rotomoulded coolers lack injected insulation altogether. Tip: You can tell this by weight and price. Quality coolers should be somewhat heavy and come with a price-tag to match!
2. Weight - As mentioned previously. Heavier generally = better
3. Plastic thickness
4. Lid size - good eskies have thick lids!
5. Sealing - good coolers have quality gaskets and a tight seal to prevent air leaks.

The Negatives?

Well, there aren't any real negatives; however, you could consider weight one and price two. Like any gear you plan to use often and keep for a lifetime, it comes at a cost and one we advise to invest in.

So the next time you're in the market for a good cooler, and if you haven't check out ours already online here, be sure to keep these things in mind.