Working is important, but man, you gotta eat too! At the very least, you’ll need some cold drinks on a hot day. All those drive-thru meals you scarf down on the way from one job to another? Well, apparently, they aren’t that great for you. Who knew? Fortunately, you don’t have to drink lukewarm sodas or be consigned to fast-food lunches. The good folks at Klein Tools have a solution in the form of the Klein Tools Tradesman Pro Tough Box Coolers. Available in multiple sizes and configurations, they promise a lot of flexibility for jobsite food and drink storage. We’ve also seen folks keep their batteries in there (without ice) to avoid excessive heat exposure.
Editor’s Note: Check out our best tool bag roundup to see our top picks.
Klein Tools Tough Box Coolers Ice Retention
The premium cooler market has exploded in popularity over the last few years. Some of these expensive products can keep ice from melting for days on end, and sometimes up to a week under the right conditions.
Most of us, however, have no need to bequeath our ice to our grandkids. The Klein Tools Tradesman Pro Tough Box 9-Quart Cooler’s ice retention is sufficient for all my intents and purposes. It uses a durable, hard plastic outer casing filled with polyurethane foam that insulates the cooler. Klein claims that this insulated cooler will retain ice for 30 hours.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I didn’t put our sample Klein Tools Tradesman Pro Tough Box 9-Quart Cooler to the 30-hour test. Frankly, I don’t often need that kind of ice retention. I only really need ice for about twelve hours at a time, at most. For my needs, the insulating polyurethane foam works as advertised and there’s no reason to suspect it won’t make it to 30-hours.
Structural Integrity
The lids on these coolers open 180° with the help of stainless steel hinges that resist the corrosive effects of water. This hinge instills some confidence that the lid won’t break off after a few months of use. This cooler’s construction also has an added design benefit. Since it’s basically a block of insulated plastic, it can support up to 300 lbs, making it a viable option for portable seating. This cooler allows you to take a load off while you eat your lunch!
When lunchtime ends, you can simply flip up the carry handle and put the cooler back in the work truck.
Flip Your Lid
Just like its 17-quart big brother, the Klein Tools Tradesman Pro Tough Box 9-Quart Cooler I tested has an internal storage compartment on the underside of the lid. It’s a great place for napkins, utensils, keys, or whatever, really. You could slip your phone in there, but be warned: Klein doesn’t include a watertight seal here like they do on the 48-quart model. If the ice melts and the cooler flips, you might have a technological disaster on your hands. Even if the cooler stays upright, condensation could be a problem.
Sugar Junkie Tip: I discovered that the inner compartment makes a great home for Little Debbies. They won’t get squashed by the contents of the main compartment. Plus, when my blood sugar spikes from the Swiss Cake Rolls I just mainlined, the cooler provides a place to sit while I try to ride out my sugar high.
Where the Klein Tools Tough Box Coolers Fits
I discovered that the Klein Tools Tradesman Pro Tough Box 9-Quart Cooler fits quite nicely in the back of my golf cart. After using it to keep my lunch cool at work for a few weeks, I grabbed it for a fun scramble out on the links last weekend. This gave me a good chance to test out the cooler’s beer capacity. Incidentally, the Klein Tough Box fits 8 bottles when laid on their side. It doesn’t leave any room for food, but who needs food when you have 8 beers, right?
Editor’s Note: 1 pack of Little Debbies will not soak up 8 beers worth of alcohol before driving home. Over the limit, under arrest.
If you prefer your beverages in can form, you can fit 11 in the cooler. Grab a larger cooler of you have greater storage needs.
Pricing
The Klein Tough Box coolers range in price from $65 to $119. You can certainly go cheaper or much more expensive depending on your tastes. However, Klein finds a nice middle ground for Pros who need a durable build with enough ice retention for the workday or weekend trip.
The Bottom Line
The Klein Tools Tradesman Pro Tough Box Coolers are an all-around durable, capable product. They certainly lives up to their name, which is good since I reviewed this cooler in the middle of soaring Florida summer temperatures. Go big if you have a weekend getaway planned, or opt for a smaller footprint to achieve a more manageable size when space is at a premium.
Universal Klein Tough Box Cooler Features
- Cooler keeps items cool (up to 41° for 30 hours)
- Industrial exterior body design supports seating of up to 300 pounds (136 kg)
- Lid stays open at 90 degrees for unobstructed main compartment access
- Open the lid to 180 degrees in order to access the interior compartment perfect for smaller items
- Material: Polypropylene and Polyethylene Plastics
- Color: Gray/Orange
- No-rust stainless steel hinge for extreme durability
- Rotating hard handle for easy carrying
- Lock hasp accommodates #1 Master Lock or equivalent (not included)
Available Klein Tough Box Cooler Models
9-Quart Cooler Specifications
- Item Number: 55625
- Capacity: 9 quarts (11 cans)
- Dimensions (LxHxW): 14.7 x 12 x 8.8 in.
- Compartment Sizes: 11 x 5.5 x 9 inches; 6.5 x 3 x 1 inches
- Interior Lid Compartment 6.5 x 4 x 1 inches
- Weight: 4.8 lbs.
17-Quart Cooler Specifications
- Item Number: 55600
- Capacity: 17 quarts/16.1 L (18 cans)
- Dimensions (LxHxW): 16-13/64 x 12 x 12 in.
- Handle: 2 inches (50.8 mm)
- Interior Lid Compartment 6-1/2 x 4 x 1 inch (165.1 x 101.6 x 25.4 mm)
- Weight: 6.75 lbs. (3.08 kg)
48-Quart Cooler Specifications
- Item Number: 55650
- Capacity: 48 quarts/45 L (72 cans)
- Dimensions (LxHxW): 26 x 13.6 x 13.5 in.
- Heavy-duty rubber latches keep lid sealed shut
- Stainless steel bottle opener on exterior
- Separate, removable plastic container
- Leak resistant drain
- Tie-down holes on each corner
- Weight: 16.5 lbs.
