The good Glacier - What's New? - Glacier Gear coolers - Brief Article

* "Glacier Gear coolers are quite simply the best coolers in the world. This fact becomes obvious the moment you pick one of the products up." This bold statement is found front and center on the promotions announcing the firm's four recent lines: Glacier Gear Color, Glacier Gear Animal, Glacier Gear Cargo, and Baby Glacier Gear. But, as Hall of Fame pitcher Dizzy Dean used to say, "It ain't braggin' if it's true." Well, Glacier Gear isn't bragging, then, because, in our experience, its coolers are second to none.

The interior contains a waterbed-quality liner with a twice-heat-sealed barrier--competitors use stitching--so it won't leak. Outside, four materials--Glaciertherm, nonporous MicroTexture nylon, textured PVC, and neotherm (a spongy, wetsuit-like material)--create an exterior layer that is heat-, water-, and tear-resistant. The adjustable carrying straps are woven 50% thicker with twice the density than one normally finds on such items. Strap ends are flame-sealed, tucked, and stitched so they will not fray. Self-healing and nickel-plated zippers provide closure. Oversized ergonomic buckles and strap adjustments ensure ease of use.

Our first choice was two of the company's old standbys, the 24-($22.99) and 72-Can ($59.99) Collapsible Coolers, the latter with inline skate wheels. While the 72 is a real labor (and aching back) saver, our big need was for lunch coolers for the kids. Glacier Gear has a variety of containers that range from $7.99 to $9.99, depending on size. Same goes for its bottle coolers, which range from 0.5 liters ($4.99) to 1.5 ($6.99). To keep our youngest readily supplied, there's the Messenger Bag ($39.99), which comes with a changing mat, removable cell phone pocket, dirty laundry zip-lock bag, four storage pockets, and three insulated bottle holders.

Glacier Gear, with the only lifetime warranty in the industry, is available at major mass merchandisers and supermarket chains.

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This symbol * indicates USA Today has tested a product for operating in full compliance with the manufacturer's specifications and to determine its performance as applicable to our reader's needs. Disadvantages, if any, also are reported. Although we cannot guarantee a product, we offer the starred designation as a guide to readers.

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