The cooler timeline.

1800

Barrels were used for food preservation. These wooden crates are the grandfather of the modern cooler, storing everything from dried foods to wine.
1802

Maryland farmer Thomas Moore invented the ice box. Named the Refrigeratory, this was an oval tub made from cedar wood and lined with rabbit fur.
1944

An engineer named Ray “Otis” McIntire created Styrofoam for Dow Chemical. Shortly after its invention, this material was used to insulate everything from ice chests to basement walls.
1947

Igloo started getting into the cooler game with steel buckets for water. These were used in oil fields throughout Texas to keep the workers hydrated.
1953

Richard C. Laramy of Joliet, Illinois filed a patent for the “Portable Ice Chest and the Like.” Rather than using flimsy foam, he used heavy-duty metal that increased durability.
1954

Coleman, an outdoor recreation company with over 100 years in the game, acquired the rights to the cooler. They went on to eventually trade the metal for plastic and give the ice chest its more recognized name, “cooler.”
1960

Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Budweiser, and many other drink companies started advertising with portable coolers. These were so successful that bigger versions were eventually made for stores, restaurants, and food courts.
1962

Igloo left their metalworking roots behind and became known for a variety of stylish coolers. One of their earliest models looked like a picnic basket and came in a limited number of colors.
1970

Soft plastics, like vinyl and nylon, became popular for lunch containers and coolers. These materials were less durable than hard plastic or metal, but were way easier to clean.
1990

Igloo released the first wheeled cooler with a convenient handle. The wheels made portability way easier, allowing Igloo to increase the storage size of their coolers.
2006

Brothers Ryan and Roy Seiders started Yeti. Their coolers are top of the line, using the same process as the boating industry for extra durability and chilliness.
2012

Neoprene, the same material used in wetsuits, started getting used in lunch bags and coolers. This material is waterproof and extremely easy to wash.
2014

The SolarCooler is the world’s first solar-powered cooler. It was designed by Ryan McGann and can maintain a temperature of about 42°F for up to 24 hours.
2014

Orion became another cooler company on the market. Their products are made in the USA and are available in fun designs like camouflage, tie-dye, and patriotic red, white, & blue.
2014

This was a big year for portable coolers. Inventor Ryan Grepper raised over $13 million and faced a lot of controversy as a result of the Coolest Cooler, which features a blender, Bluetooth Speaker, and many other features.
2017

Fridge Freezers from Australia make it easy for you to take your refrigerator on the road. These powerful coolers are designed to handle extreme conditions and keep food as cold as 0°F.
2019

The Krewser is a cooler scooter that gives new meaning to the word “portable.” For about $2000, you can even get one that’s custom wrapped and fitted with speakers.

Barrels were used for food preservation. These wooden crates are the grandfather of the modern cooler, storing everything from dried foods to wine.

Maryland farmer Thomas Moore invented the ice box. Named the Refrigeratory, this was an oval tub made from cedar wood and lined with rabbit fur.

An engineer named Ray “Otis” McIntire created Styrofoam for Dow Chemical. Shortly after its invention, this material was used to insulate everything from ice chests to basement walls.

Igloo started getting into the cooler game with steel buckets for water. These were used in oil fields throughout Texas to keep the workers hydrated.

Richard C. Laramy of Joliet, Illinois filed a patent for the “Portable Ice Chest and the Like.” Rather than using flimsy foam, he used heavy-duty metal that increased durability.

Coleman, an outdoor recreation company with over 100 years in the game, acquired the rights to the cooler. They went on to eventually trade the metal for plastic and give the ice chest its more recognized name, “cooler.”

Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Budweiser, and many other drink companies started advertising with portable coolers. These were so successful that bigger versions were eventually made for stores, restaurants, and food courts.

Igloo left their metalworking roots behind and became known for a variety of stylish coolers. One of their earliest models looked like a picnic basket and came in a limited number of colors.

Soft plastics, like vinyl and nylon, became popular for lunch containers and coolers. These materials were less durable than hard plastic or metal, but were way easier to clean.

Igloo released the first wheeled cooler with a convenient handle. The wheels made portability way easier, allowing Igloo to increase the storage size of their coolers.

Brothers Ryan and Roy Seiders started Yeti. Their coolers are top of the line, using the same process as the boating industry for extra durability and chilliness.

Neoprene, the same material used in wetsuits, started getting used in lunch bags and coolers. This material is waterproof and extremely easy to wash.

The SolarCooler is the world’s first solar-powered cooler. It was designed by Ryan McGann and can maintain a temperature of about 42°F for up to 24 hours.

Orion became another cooler company on the market. Their products are made in the USA and are available in fun designs like camouflage, tie-dye, and patriotic red, white, & blue.

This was a big year for portable coolers. Inventor Ryan Grepper raised over $13 million and faced a lot of controversy as a result of the Coolest Cooler, which features a blender, Bluetooth Speaker, and many other features.

Fridge Freezers from Australia make it easy for you to take your refrigerator on the road. These powerful coolers are designed to handle extreme conditions and keep food as cold as 0°F.

The Krewser is a cooler scooter that gives new meaning to the word “portable.” For about $2000, you can even get one that’s custom wrapped and fitted with speakers.