DIY cooler bag

Often in everyday life there is a need to keep food cool for a long time without a refrigerator. In this case, a cooler bag can help out. It’s hard to do without it when traveling or on a country trip.

It is also indispensable when creating special conditions for transporting certain medications. And even without leaving home, housewives often feel the need for such a bag.

For example, when a large feast is organized and more food is prepared than the existing refrigerator can accommodate.

If you don’t have such a necessary thing, you don’t have to rush to the store! You can make it yourself.

Making a portable version of a cooler bag

The quality of a portable thermal bag can be ensured with the help of properly selected materials.

Selecting a base

When making a portable refrigerator, we will take into account that it should be a product that is convenient to carry. Therefore, as an external case you will need a spacious bag with reliable handles. Shopping, sports, travel and even beach bags are well suited for this.

Important! When choosing a base for a cooler bag, give preference to bags made of durable, water-repellent materials.

It is imperative to check the reliability and strength of the zipper: the cooler bag must be tightly fastened.

Taking measurements and making patterns

Having selected a bag suitable for the case, we begin manufacturing. The inside of the container should follow the shape of the selected bag, but not match its dimensions, but be smaller. Then it can be conveniently placed in the case. A pattern helps to avoid errors with sizes. Measure all the components of the existing bag: bottom and top, front and back, sides. The quality of the entire product depends on the accuracy of measurement.

Attention! The inner surface is made smaller than the outer one. To do this, subtract 5–7 cm from the external measurements of each part.

Then they draw up a diagram, which in finished form should have the shape of a cross. All pattern blocks are made in the shape of rectangles.

• Center - 1 rectangle: bottom.
• Right and left of center - 1 rectangle: sides.
• Up from center — 1 rectangle: front part.
• Down from center — 2 rectangles: back and lid.

Selection of materials

The correct selection of materials for making a cooler bag with your own hands helps ensure reliable cold retention.

To work you will need:

• Insulation

Foil-isolon has proven itself well as an affordable and high-quality insulation material. It consists of special foamed polyethylene, on the surface of which foil is applied on one or each side. Any type is suitable for a bag, but a double-sided one will perform the task of keeping the cold better.

• Scotch

You can connect the internal parts of the bag using any tape.It is more convenient if it is double-sided. And the use of metallized tape, which has an additional layer of foil, will not only hold the parts of the bag together, but will also act as a heat reflector.

• Zipper or Velcro

Think in advance about how your bag will close. The best way to do this is to use a zipper.

You can also make an extra flap on the top of the bag to overlap the front and secure with Velcro. The valve must be added to the pattern in the form of an additional rectangle that connects to the lid of the bag.

Connecting the parts of the bag

Having prepared the materials and the pattern for the inner container of the cooler bag, we move on to the main part of the work.

• Using the pattern, we cut out the bag blank from isolon.
• We transfer to the isolon the inner sides of the rectangles indicating where the parts of the bag are connected: the center with the side, the back with the top, etc.
• We bend the cut material along the internal lines applied to it.

Important! When using one-sided foil, make sure that its surface with foil becomes the inner surface of the container.

• When using a zipper, sew it to the insulation.
• We connect the parts of the resulting isolon box. It is best to “baste” them first: fasten them with sewing pins and give the product a shape. Then fasten the joints with tape.
• We strengthen the joints. To strengthen and give shape, each joint can be additionally glued with a layer of tape on the inside and outside. You can also pre-reinforce the joints with strips of insulation that were left after cutting out the pattern. They are secured with double-sided tape. Additionally, you can once again glue these strips on top with tape.
• We insert the inner unit into the outer case and carefully straighten it out. The resulting portable refrigerator can already be used!
• Finally, you can fill the available free space between the cover and the container with material: padding polyester or batting, or you can even use pieces of an old blanket.
• The finished look of the product will be given by fastening the external and internal parts. They can be sewn or tightly connected using double-sided tape.

Making a car refrigerator

The car cooler bag has some originality. We'll tell you how to make a car thermal bag.

Selecting a base

The car version does not provide for manual carrying, so the implementation of such a product does not require the selection of a suitable bag-cover.

The basis for a car refrigerator bag can be:

• Thick cardboard box;
• Plywood box;
• Plastic container.

The main thing is that the chosen base is strong and durable, has smooth walls, and is spacious. When using a plastic base, you need to make sure that it is suitable for food storage.

Selection of upholstery materials

In order for a regular container chosen for the base of the bag to acquire the capabilities the thermal bag needs, you need to choose the right material. It will be used for interior decoration of the container.

Insulation

For insulation, you can use different materials.

Often, ordinary foam is used for this. It is light and will not weigh down the bag, holds heat well and at the same time has a low price. When used, the following disadvantage of polystyrene foam is revealed: it often begins to crumble when cutting.

Penoplex retains all the advantages of polystyrene foam, but does not have its disadvantages.This material is more dense, at the same time it is easy to cut and does not crumble. But it also costs more than polystyrene foam.

Penoplex and foam plastic do not have a metallized surface. Therefore, they should be supplemented with another insulation material - foil insulation.

Scotch

Just like when making a portable bag, tape helps connect the parts of a car refrigerator. It is better to give preference to metallized tape.

Design of a car cooler bag

To make a thermal bag for a car, let’s clarify the device. The food container consists of several layers:

• 1 layer of insulation - cut out parts of polystyrene foam or penoplex. They are carefully cut to the size of the base and inserted into it. For strength, the insulation can be connected to the base walls with acetone-free glue or double-sided tape. It will be useful to tape the joints between the parts.
• 2nd layer of insulation - isolon. It is placed on top of foam or polystyrene foam, making the inside shiny because of the foil. Isolon is also attached with double-sided tape.
• External joints are taped.
• If desired, you can make an additional layer for the container - an outer one. Isolon is also used for this. Now its foil part is made into the outer surface of the container.
• The lid of the thermal bag follows the same principle. Its base is cut out of plywood or cardboard. Its dimensions must correspond to the dimensions of the outer perimeter of the top of the refrigerator. A part is cut out of polystyrene foam (penoplex) and glued to the lid on the inner side.

Important! The size of the foam part must strictly correspond to the inner perimeter of the top of the refrigerator.Then the foam will fit tightly into the container, which will become almost airtight.

A second layer of foil insulation is applied on top of the first layer of insulation. A handle is attached to the outside of the lid to open the refrigerator. You can also attach the lid with furniture hinges.

Handles for transporting the manufactured cooler bag are made of durable wide tape, be sure to pass it under the bottom of the bag.

Important nuances

• Special cooling elements help make your car cooler bag more practical and keep it cold longer. You can also make them yourself. Frozen bottles of salt water can serve as cold accumulators. Saturated salt solution can be frozen not only in bottles, but also in special freezing bags. Or you can freeze water-swollen gel taken from an unused baby diaper. It is placed in a special bag and also frozen.
• Proper loading of the cooler bag is also important for its longevity. It is recommended that pre-frozen items be individually wrapped in food foil before placing in the bag. Products must be alternated with cooling elements.
• It is important to use the full capacity of the refrigerator: densely packed frozen food better maintains the temperature inside the container. Be sure to fill the empty space with drinks or just paper.

Making a cooler bag with your own hands is easy and inexpensive. And a homemade bag brings a lot of benefits!