Steve J.
As always, arrived quickly and in good shape.
The bag's primary compartment is the cooler, with a zippered space up top for things you want to remain separate but still keep cold. There is another compartment on the very top that isn't insulated, as well as a front pouch with two zippered compartments. The larger of the two is shone and is built to help organize utensils. There's also a zippered compartment on the lower back pad, which I also show in a picture. I wouldn't put much in there unless it is very flat or else I can see that being pretty uncomfortable. Still, a nice "hidden" compartment of sorts. Two standard mesh side pockets for ater bottles or small items, each has a draw cord to tighten as needed. Overall, plenty of additional storage space for the odds and ends you'll need when going out with this. The included bottle opener is a nice touch.
So, big question, how much beer or wine can it hold? I only had 16oz cans on hand, so I'm not sure with 12oz cans or bottles, but I comfortable got 24 cans in there (pictured) with room for some ice. For a bit more ice and a better packing set-up, I found that 22 worked better, with 18 standing and 4 laid across the top. For wine, it easily fit 8 Bordeaux, Alsatian or even Burgandy bottles. I mixed and matched different size and shape bottles a bit...the taller Alsatians had plenty of room and all Burgandy was a bit of a tighter squeeze but it was okay. Sparking bottles were too big to share a column with any other bottle, but you can offset them a bit (zig-zag pattern) and get 6 definitely, maybe 7 in there. You can also get a similar number by lying them down, but I wouldn't recommend it if you have differently shaped bottles as they don't stack neatly.
The bag is a bit heavy when full, as would be expected. The back padding is actually pretty good. The shoulder straps held up okay, but I don't know if it would be comfortable for long. Still, for this price point, I think that is to be expected. For me, it's primarily for day trips with the car or canoe/kayak, so I'm not walking with it for long and this isn't an issue. Food is generally lighter than beer, so if you are packing some food and drinks together, it feels a lot better. The seams and zippers seem well constructed, so I don't feel like the bag is going to tear apart, even at full capacity. You can turn the entire inner lining inside out for easy cleaning. I haven't noticed any leaking issues although admittedly I haven't had it full of a lot of water yet. As for cold retention, I haven't gotten a chance to truly test it, but it has kept things cold for short periods of time so far without any concerns. If you are expecting something to hold ice for days at a time, you aren't going to be paying this little for it, so understand your purchase.
Overall, a solid cooler bag that does what you would expect. I would definitely recommend it at this price point.
| Brand | Maelstrom |
|---|---|
| Color | Grey |
| Material | Polyester |
| Package Information | Bag |
| Capacity | 32 Liters |
| Product Dimensions | 9"D x 13"W x 19"H |
| Item Weight | 15.2 ounces |
| Special Feature | Insulated,Insulated:high-density |
| Included Components | no |
| Recommended Uses For Product | Camping, Fishing, Picnic, Hiking, Traveling |
| Model Name | 35 cans cooler backpack |
| Product Care Instructions | Hand Wash Only |
| Pattern | Solid |
| Chamber Height | 9 Inches |
| Chamber Width | 9 Inches |
| UPC | 850034374185 |
| Manufacturer | Maelstrom |
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 18.86 x 15.47 x 5.98 inches |
| Package Weight | 1.09 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 13 x 9 x 19 inches |
| Brand Name | Maelstrom |
| Warranty Description | 1 year warranty |
| Suggested Users | unisex-adult |
| Style | Cooler Bag |
| Size | 35 cans |
