What is and what does a thermal bag look like?
The cooler bag is an insulated device made of durable synthetic fabric with water-repellent and reflective properties. Outwardly, it most often looks like an ordinary household or sports container with handles, a soft lid with a zipper and several pockets.
Contrary to its name, the cooler bag cannot cool the food placed in it. It only maintains the original temperature and prevents thawing of frozen semi-finished products. Even an empty device is quite effective, but it is usually used in conjunction with cooling batteries. In this case, the cooler bag lasts about 24 hours.
Attention! The device can also be used to preserve hot foods. The product retains heat inside no less efficiently than cold.
Depending on the batteries used, the temperature in the thermal bag can be maintained on average from 0 to -25 °C
Cooler bag design
Essentially, a cooler bag is a large thermos that holds cold or heat inside, depending on the specific task. The device consists of three layers:
- outer - most often made of nylon or polyester;
- intermediate - made of foamed polyethylene or polyurethane;
- internal - made of nylon or foil material.
All fabrics used in the manufacture of the cooler bag are lightweight and flexible. The product itself is very light in weight.
Attention! A high-quality isothermal device does not absorb food odors.
Thermal containers are also a type of thermal bags. Their design is almost identical, the difference lies in the materials used. Such boxes consist of two hard plastic containers with a layer of polystyrene foam, polystyrene foam or polyurethane foam between them. Thermal containers also retain temperature well for several hours even without the use of cold storage batteries.
Cooler bag: how does it work?
There are two types of portable refrigerators: regular ones and a cooler bag with a cold accumulator.
The performance of the first type of portable thermal containers is determined by a special technology, which consists in the principle of creating the device:
- Foamed polyurethane or polyethylene is placed between two layers of nylon fabric (these materials make up the space in the middle of the outer and inner drawer of the device);
- The lid of the bag is made of foam plastic, which ensures a tight seal of the equipment when it is closed.
The second type of portable devices is supplemented by cold accumulators, which are placed in plastic briquettes filled with saline solution, dry ice or a special gel.
Cooler bag: how does it work with batteries? Special temperature sources should be placed in the freezer first (approximately 1.5 - 2 hours before use).
After the required time has elapsed, the batteries are placed in a thermal container and filled with cold products. Dry ice or other cooling materials will maintain the required temperature during the defrosting process.
If the portable cooler bag is rarely used, the batteries should be washed and stored in a dry place after use. If you use a portable device frequently, you can keep the batteries in the freezer.
The outer material of portable thermal containers for food is made of fairly dense fabric (polyester, nylon), the inner one is made of quick-wash synthetic material.
How does a cooler bag work?
The operating principle of the cooler bag is very simple. It consists of the following:
- Warm or frozen foods are placed inside the product.
- Close the thermal bag hermetically with a clasp.
- Over the next few hours, try to open the product as little as possible.
As long as outside air does not enter the thermal bag, the temperature inside changes very slowly.
How long does a cooler bag keep cold?
The performance of a cooler bag depends on several factors. The volume of the product, the degree of tightness and the thickness of the insulating layer must be taken into account. A high-quality device can maintain a low temperature inside for up to three hours.
If you use a cooler bag together with a purchased or homemade cold battery, the period will increase to 6-24 hours. Food will stay frozen the longest if you equip the device with several batteries at once.
The insulating layer of the cooler bag must be at least 8 mm thick
What temperature does the cooler bag keep?
If the thermal bag is made of dense material and equipped with a reliable clasp, then even without cold accumulators it will be able to keep the temperature 15 degrees lower than outside. But this will last no more than 3-4 hours. Then the food will still heat up, especially if the lid is opened frequently.
When using cold storage batteries, you can achieve a temperature reduction of 20-25 °C compared to the environment. If there are enough batteries, the food will remain deep frozen for 12 hours to a day.
Attention! You can make a battery for a cooler bag with your own hands. To do this, a saline solution is poured into a plastic bottle and frozen at -15 ° C overnight.
How to choose a cooler bag
Let's figure out how to choose a cooler bag. When choosing a suitable option, you should pay attention to such parameters and features as the internal volume of the product, the materials from which it is made, the availability of additional options and accessories. If you take into account all these nuances, you can choose the optimal model that best suits the user’s needs.
Capacity volume
The market offers cooler bags of various sizes, from small liter models to bulky travel bags and portable car refrigerators with a 30-liter chamber. The selection of a model of the required volume is carried out based on the tasks for which the purchased bag is intended. So, for a travel bag, an acceptable volume is 8-12 liters, while the volume of a car refrigerator can be 20-30 liters. If you plan to make country trips by car for several days, then you should think about using a thermal container with a volume of 50 liters or more.
Material of manufacture
As already mentioned, the internal thermal insulating layer of cooler bags is made of foil thermal insulating material. It can be foamed polyurethane, isolon or other material - they are all quite effective. The outer layer may vary. If you need a product made from woven materials, it is recommended to choose a model made of polyester, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or nylon. These are good, wear-resistant and durable materials, thanks to which the purchase will last a long time. There are also hard plastic thermal containers. The plastic from which their cases are made has increased strength and usually does not cause any complaints.
In car refrigerators, the cooling system is usually not compressors, but Peltier elements. Such elements ensure the temperature in the refrigerator chamber is 15-30°C lower than the ambient temperature.
Cold accumulators for cooler bags
There are different types of cold storage batteries, differing in price and efficiency. They may be included with the product or purchased as separate items. You can purchase a certain number of these elements, for example, 2-3 pieces, and based on experience in using the bag, purchase (or not purchase) additional necessary elements. First, of course, it is better to consult with the seller. The following types of cold accumulators exist:
- saline - a saline solution in a container that can maintain a low temperature in the bag for up to a day;
- gel - they use a special gel and can maintain cold for up to several days (the indicator depends on external conditions, the quality of thermal insulation, the size of the bag, and the characteristics of its operation);
- silicone ones are also capable of maintaining low temperatures for up to several days, and within a rather narrow range.
Additional accessories for cooler bags
Often, cooler bags are additionally equipped with accessories; some accessories can be purchased separately. Thus, the delivery package of some models includes a picnic set, which fits in the additional compartment of the bag. The set usually consists of forks, spoons, spatulas, cutting board, etc. In addition, for an additional fee you can purchase accessories such as an antibacterial food mat, odor absorber, and ice packs.
Availability of belts and wheels
Many products made from woven materials, as well as some thermal containers, are equipped with belts. Thanks to such straps, cooler bags can be worn on the shoulder, so their presence is highly desirable. Backpack-type models also have shoulder straps (straps). The most voluminous bags can be equipped with built-in wheels, which makes them easier to move, although only on a flat surface.
Handles and locks
Plastic thermal containers, as well as car refrigerators, are usually equipped with folding handles for ease of transportation. Models with an internal volume of tens of liters may have two side handles, so that the heavy container can be carried by two people. Most models have a zipper as a lock. Thermal containers are usually equipped with latches. When purchasing, it is advisable to check the reliability of such a latch - not limit yourself to a visual inspection, but also try to open the lid secured by the latch without opening the latch itself. Of course, you shouldn’t make excessive efforts.
What types of cooler bags are there?
The operating instructions for the cooler bag are standard, but according to the design of the product there are several types:
- Thermal bag. This device consists of several layers of dense synthetic fabric and thermal insulation made of foamed polyethylene and PVC film. Standard capacity ranges from 300 ml to 3 liters, the product is suitable for storing and transporting small quantities of food.
Thermal bags are usually equipped with straps for carrying on the shoulder - Thermal container. The product is made of plastic, the role of the insulating layer is performed by polyurethane foam or polystyrene foam. Thermal containers are characterized by increased rigidity; they are often used as a camp table or seat. When using cold accumulators, the products retain a low temperature inside for up to a week.
The average capacity of thermal containers is 4-10 liters - Car refrigerator. The unit is designed specifically for use in a car during a long trip. Equipped with built-in cooling elements, can be connected to an external power source or car battery via the cigarette lighter.
The refrigerator can hold up to 100 liters of food
The most popular are thermal bags and thermal containers. Their capabilities are limited, but they are quite cheap, small in size and very easy to use.
Correct use of a cooler bag
Using a cooler bag on a trip or on a picnic is absolutely not difficult, since the operating rules are absolutely simple. But despite this, many either simply do not know about them or deliberately neglect them.
Although such a bag is called a refrigerator, it is not capable of cooling food, only keeping them at a certain temperature, like a thermos. Therefore, you need to put pre-chilled products in it, and for long-term storage - frozen ones, since, albeit slowly, heat gets inside and the frozen food melts.
When opening and closing the bag, it is important to let in as little heat as possible, that is, do it all as quickly as possible. In order for the effect to last as long as possible, it is not recommended to wear the bag separately from other things. It’s better to let it be wrapped in some kind of blanket or placed in the trunk.
There are bags that do not include special cold accumulators, but thanks to them it would be possible to improve the thermal insulation of the refrigerator. It’s convenient that you can make them yourself. Simply fill several bottles with well-salted water, freeze them in the freezer, and place them in a bag between tightly packed foods. If there are empty spaces left, it is recommended to fill them with paper.
If you strictly follow all operating rules, a cooler bag can keep food fresh for about 5 days.
How to use a cooler bag
The instructions for using the cooler bag are very simple - in fact, you can use the device intuitively. You need to put the food inside and close the device. If possible, frozen liquid batteries are also placed in the container for long-term cooling.
When using a thermal bag, you must follow several rules. Namely:
- close the lid of the device tightly and open it only when necessary;
- do not keep the thermal bag open for a long time;
- during transportation, cover the device with a blanket, jacket or any thick fabric, and also surround it closely with other luggage;
- load only pre-chilled or frozen semi-finished products into the device.
When using a cooler bag, do not leave the device in the sun. The temperature inside the product in such a situation will rise much faster, even when using batteries.
Before using the thermal bag, it is recommended to place it in the refrigerator open for several hours.
How to store a cooler bag
The thermal bag must be stored in a closed box away from bright sunlight. There is no need to place the device in the refrigerator on a permanent basis, but the device is not placed near electrical or heating appliances. A regular closet is best for storage.
Before putting away the cooler bag, it must be carefully straightened. Creases formed during storage can compromise the integrity of the insulation.
Types of cooler bags
There are different types of cooler bags available in the market these days. They differ not only in their design and appearance, but also in purpose. There are models designed for storing medicines, using cold accumulators, made in the form of a thermal container, etc. All these products are united by the ability to maintain the cold inside autonomously for a certain time.
For medicines
Products intended for storing medicines differ from ordinary ones in that they maintain the temperature exactly within a given range for a long time. For example, one of the models in the iCool Prestige line is capable of maintaining a temperature in the range from 2°C to 8°C for 24 hours at an ambient temperature of 24°C. Maintaining this temperature range is important for storing many types of medications, in particular insulin, various hormones, drugs for the treatment of polyarthritis, etc. In this case, the storage time should be enough to get to the right place and use the drugs there for their intended purpose or move them for storage in a stationary medical or home refrigerator.
Any thermal bag can be used as a regular shopping or travel bag, i.e. if necessary, fill it with any items
Travel refrigerator
These products are intended for use on hiking trips, outings and similar active activities. They are made from durable, wear-resistant and moisture-resistant materials. Travel cooler bags are lightweight and when folded they take up very little space. The set of all these qualities makes them very popular in many situations.
With cold accumulator
A cold accumulator is sometimes included in the delivery of a thermal bag, and sometimes purchased separately. In principle, this element can be used in any thermal bag. It can be installed in a regular place, or it can simply be placed in any suitable part of the thermal bag. The use of a cold accumulator significantly increases the efficiency of using a cooler bag, so it is always useful to have such an element in addition to the thermal bag itself.
On wheels
Car refrigerators, unlike other mobile isothermal units, are capable of producing cold independently. They are essentially portable electric refrigerators and require electricity to operate. Typically, equipment of this type can operate both from a 12 V vehicle network and from a standard electrical network. The device is connected to the car network through the cigarette lighter, to the standard one - through a regular socket. The installation itself of this type is a rigid structure in a plastic case with a carrying handle. It is often beneficial for car owners to choose just such a device, because... It is convenient to use when traveling to the country, and there are no problems with transporting a rather bulky product.
Refrigerator-thermos
The term “thermos refrigerator” refers to a small-sized thermal bag, the volume of which is designed to fit one one-and-a-half or two-liter bottle of mineral water or lemonade inside. The shape of the product corresponds to the shape of a standard bottle, i.e. is a tall cylinder. These models are very comfortable for long walks. A bottle of chilled drink placed there will remain cool for a long time.
Thermal container
A thermal container, or thermobox, is a container for storing chilled food. Unlike a thermal bag, this is a rigid plastic structure with an internal heat-protective layer. Fundamentally, this product is no different from a thermal bag; its operating principle is the same. The thermal container is closed not with a zipper, but with latches. For greater effect, a cooling cold accumulator can be placed inside such a container, in which case the product will maintain a low temperature longer.
Reviews about how long the cooler bag keeps cold
Vaganov Igor Vladimirovich, 33 years old, Moscow
In the summer, the whole family likes to go on road trips between cities, but it is not always possible to buy groceries on time. Last year we purchased a cooler bag and now we are stocking up on food for future use. If you put 2-3 batteries inside the product, then for 12-16 hours the temperature remains unchanged even in hot weather.
Rechkina Anna Sergeevna, 27 years old, Bryansk
I’ve been using a thermal bag for several years now when going out of town. The device is convenient, but requires the purchase of special batteries. Only with them the products remain frozen for up to 12 hours. If you put food in an empty thermal bag, within 3-4 hours it will heat up from the inside.
