If you are someone that enjoys participating in outdoor activities, there is a high possibility you will be bringing a cooler with you on your excursions. Ice chests come in many sizes, colors and designs, but ideally they serve the sole purpose of keeping food and drinks cool. However, what if I told you there is a cooler on the market that can not only keep your snacks and beverages protected but also your personal belongings? Let us dive into a portable ice box that every gun owner needs, specifically the 45 Quart Cooler by the brand Open Carry Outdoors.  

Open Carry Outdoors 45 Quart Cooler

One of the first aspects I noticed about the 45 Quart Cooler was that it was sturdy and strong, ready for whatever kind of adventure you wanted to throw in its direction. The chest features roto-molded construction, a manufacturing process that creates hollow plastic parts by heating and rotating a mold with powered plastic resin. It melts and coats the interior of the mold. Not only does this process increase the durability of the product, but it also ensures that this cooler will have thicker walls to increase ice retention. Based on my evaluation, I am happy to report that this ice chest was able to hold ice for about ten days with no issues. 

Hence the name, this cooler has a 45-quart storage capacity, which I found to be the perfect size to comfortably hold my beverages, food and ice. Furthermore, this cooler is easy to open by pulling on the two rubber handles attached to the lid. When you close the cooler, the handles are able to lock into place for extra security. Moreover, it utilizes a lid gasket to ensure a perfect seal upon closing the ice box.

Beefy Design

The only complaint I had about this cooler was that for me personally it was on the heavier side, making it a challenge to lift and maneuver around. Based on this, I do wish this cooler had wheels to help with transportation. However, one feature that I thought was a nice added touch was the 20-inch tally marker on the exterior of the lid to measure fish. Personally speaking, I am not an avid angler, but I can see how someone that enjoys the sport would benefit from using this. 

This cooler also has non-slip rubber feet to support stability on different surfaces and has an easy to remove drainage spot to empty the inside. You can choose your ice box in the colors tan, gray or blue. The MSRP of the Open Carry Cooler is $339.95. 

Front Storage Compartment

The most noteworthy and appealing feature that sets this cooler apart comes with the built-in front storage compartment made to store your possessions. This area locks via a three-digit combination, ensuring unwanted fingers stay away from accessing your belongings. Once you plug in your code, a quick turn to the right will open this area for you to store or retrieve your items. This compartment is able to store phones, tablets, wallets, keys, money, and of course, handguns. I found that this compartment best fits compact or subcompact pistols, but it can definitely fit full-size firearms as well. 

Once I became familiar with opening and closing this storage container, I knew that if I needed to grab my pistol in a hurry I would have no issues doing so. If you are concerned about someone potentially stealing this cooler, you can rest assured that this ice box comes with lockable corners which allow you to tie the product down and prevent theft. 

Helping Others Program 

Open Carry Outdoors is a company that strives to help individuals, especially those who are victims of natural disasters across the United States. To provide relief for those in crisis, Open Carry Outdoors has a “Buy a Cooler, Donate A Sleeping Bag” program. With every cooler that is purchased, Open Carry Outdoors will donate one sleeping bag to someone in need. 

Overall, the 45 Quart Cooler is durable and made with the purpose in mind to allow individuals to enjoy outdoor activities worry free. If you are looking for a cooler that is portable, has excellent ice retention and able to securely hold your personal belongings, I cannot recommend the Open Carry Cooler enough.