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The Coolest Of Coolers
Ice Chests To Consider For Your Summer Pleasure
by Mark Smiley
The summer months are upon us and it is time to keep your drinks and food cold for backyard barbecues, soccer tournaments, and trips on the lake. Whether you are in the market for a new cooler, want to add to your fleet, or just want an upgrade, there are a few different kinds to consider and none of these three brands begin with the letter Y.
OtterBox Venture 25
Venture 25: Otterbox is headquartered in Colorado, and its Venture 25 is a versatile and rugged premium cooler.
OtterBox, perhaps best known for its phone cases, has a line of premium coolers that are all made in the United States. OtterBox is based in Colorado and has built a rugged line of Venture coolers in the 25-quart, 45-quart, and 65-quart sizes.
We found the 25-quart size plenty large enough to hold all of the essentials and keep them cold for days. Ice retention on this lasted four days in our test. It was kept in the garage and away from the sun. If kept in a cooler environment with a thermal blanket over it, we are confident it would have lasted for many more days.
The Otterbox Venture 25 is well insulated due to a 2-inch thick, dense foam insulation made of industrial-grade, closed-cell polyurethane. It weighs just under 17 pounds and features silicone seals and latches. We found this cooler to have some of the toughest latches around which is ideal for those using it for camping.
Another feature that separates it from the competition is the durable integrated handles. Most coolers at this size and price point have rope handles. We found carrying this cooler was a bit easier than most of the other models we tested.
Add in a mounting system which allows for added accessories, anti-slide rubber feet, and an attractive design, this cooler should be added to your inventory as it checks the boxes and provides most small families precisely what they are looking for, a cooler that keeps items cold, and is easy to transport.
Visit www.otterbox.com for more information. At press time, the Otterbox Venture 25 was 20% off and selling for $183.99.
GOAT BOXCO
HUB 50: GOAT BOXCO’s HUB 50 is a premium cooler that includes water resistant cans that easily insert into the side of the cooler. The cooler is one that is ideal for just about anything including hunting, fishing, tailgating, or backyard BBQs.
www.GoatBoxCo.com launched their GOAT Cooler System during the COVID-19 pandemic and have created one of the most innovative and stylish coolers on the market. The name GOAT actually means GO AT whatever makes you happy in life according to co-founders Jack Robbins and Gary Dickerson. And building this cooler has been something that has made them happy.
This is another cooler made in the U.S.A., and its rugged design turned heads while testing. It features customizable storage and organization with cans that are designed to hold essential gear for any adventure and slide conveniently into compartments on the side of the cooler. They are built from the same polycarbonate that NASA uses and are water resistant. Whether it be a first aid kit, a place to store can koozies, BBQ essentials, or many other items, it is a creative way to keep items separated and dry.
Ice retention, which most people judge a cooler by, on this model, the HUB 50 (there is also a HUB 70 model), was one of the best on the market, outperforming some of the bigger named coolers. Ice remained ice for six days under warm temperatures and without using the “sacrificial bag of ice” to prep it. This cooler is one you would want to take on a fishing trip, a long weekend, tailgating, or just a backyard BBQ.
GOAT BOXCO strives to improve upon its product and values input from its customers on what could be changed or improved upon. Look for new products and accessories to be launched in the coming year.
To learn more, visit www.GoatBoxCo.com.
Canyon Coolers
NOMAD 20: Canyon Cooler’s NOMAD 20 is an over-the-shoulder soft cooler with a solid reputation of ice retention and ease of transport.
Finally, the Canyon NOMAD 20 is the only soft sided cooler tested and thus is the most lightweight. The NOMAD 20 is an over-the-shoulder soft bag that is comfortable to transport wherever it is you need to go with the built-in shoulder strap. Ice retention on this lasted three days and would most likely last longer if it were stored in a cooler place and prepped with a bag of ice the day before using.
Based in Flagstaff, Ariz., Canyon Coolers launched in 2010 and has one of the best warranties of any cooler company. It features a lifetime, no-fault, no-hassle warranty. They stand behind their products and it is easy to see why, with the NOMAD 20 outperforming the Yeti Hopper Flip in ice retention.
The NOMAD 20 is ideal for transporting food and drink for a quick staycation, your kid’s soccer game, or as a guest for a backyard BBQ. It even features a built-in bottle opener. This cooler is durable, stylish, and holds quite a bit of product for being an over-the-shoulder soft-sided cooler.
There are plenty of five-star reviews from users making this a popular choice that won’t break the bank. For more information, visit www.canyoncoolers.com.
The three coolers reviewed here are all different from one another. They have different designs and features that separate them from their competition. They share at least one thing in common and that is, they all keep your items cold for days. What more can you ask from a cooler?
Honor Flight: A Day Of Gratitude, Patriotism, And Respect
by Mark Smiley
Air Force Memorial: Paul Smiley, who served in the Air Force from 1968-1972, enjoyed visiting the Air Force Memorial on the 101st Honor Flight Chicago on May 11, 2022. The Memorial is located in Arlington County, Virginia, on the former grounds of the Navy Annex near The Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery.
Vietnam Veterans Memorial: One of the highlights of the trip was the visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the most visited memorial on the National Mall. Most of the veterans on Honor Flight Chicago 101 were Vietnam veterans so this stop was especially important to them.
F-100: The last stop on the tour was the Udvar-Hazy Center, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum’s annex at Washington Dulles International Airport. Paul Smiley poses in front of one of the planes he worked on while serving in the Air Force in Clovis, New Mexico. The F-100 Super Sabre was developed from the F-86 and was the world’s first fighter capable of supersonic speed in level flight.
Honor Guard: The U.S. Marine Corps Honor Guard performed for the veterans near the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
This July, we celebrate Independence Day. I had the opportunity to celebrate a day of patriotism a little early as I accompanied my father to Washington, D.C., on the 101st Honor Flight Chicago. It was one of the most memorable and rewarding experiences of my life.
My dad, Paul Smiley, served in the Air Force from 1968-1972, during the peak of the Vietnam War. He was stationed in Clovis, New Mexico, and although he never went to Vietnam, he served our country honorably for four years. And for this, he was treated to a day of patriotism, appreciation, and honor on May 11, 2022.
Honor Flight Chicago’s mission is to honor, thank, and inspire by building awareness and appreciation of the debt of gratitude America owes its veterans for their service and sacrifice for our nation. “A lot of veterans come into the day thinking it is just a sightseeing trip but when they come back, they realize that was the sixth most important thing about the day,” said Doug Meffley, Co-Director, Honor Flight Chicago. “It’s really about our eternal gratitude from a grateful nation.”
The day starts early. Veterans and their guardians are asked to arrive at Chicago Midway by 4 a.m. the day of the flight. The entire morning is well organized and a team of volunteers are deployed in every corner to make check-in smooth. A special streamlined TSA line, Southwest Airline’s chartered flight, and other surprises along the way made the morning seem to fly by. All told, over 1,000 volunteers are in Honor Flight Chicago’s rolodex with 200-300 helping each flight.
The centerpiece of the programming is the day of honor in Washington, D.C., visiting the memorials built in tribute to the service of veterans from World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. This trip is provided at no cost to the veteran and is intended as a heartfelt thank you for their service and sacrifice from a grateful nation.
“All that we hear from our Vietnam veterans is thank you for this healing and closure, righting this wrong, when I was welcomed home with open animosity 50 years ago,” said Meffley. “That gratitude factor is the future of our movement.”
“Honor Flight Chicago brought many emotions to me as I shared the experience with my son [Chronicle Executive Editor Mark Smiley] who served as my guardian,” said Paul Smiley, Air Force Veteran, 1968-1972. “Visiting the memorials throughout Washington, D.C., paying homage to our fallen heroes, and to those traveling with us who served our country was awe inspiring and memorable.”
The emotions that filled me were profound and will last a lifetime. The chance to be able to spend the day with my dad and over 110 other heroes who served our country was one of the best experiences of my life. And that emotion is something Meffley experiences for a living. “I say thank you as a profession,” said Meffley. “It is the most rewarding and fulfilling work that I’ve ever had. For me, it feels like a stronger connection to my own family’s history in the military. I never served but this is my way of giving back to my family members who did serve.”
The typical waiting period after applying to go on the flight is two to three years for a Vietnam veteran. World War II and Korean War veterans go to the front of the line. Some veterans such as my dad who did not see conflict, initially felt they didn’t deserve this day of honor. “Our firm stance is that if you served during a period of war, you deserve our thanks,” said Meffley. “By and large, you did not choose where you were assigned. You went into the service during a time of war, you were just as eligible as the next person to end up as a grunt on the ground in Vietnam. Our view is that all of them deserve our thanks and honor. It does take some convincing. We are not always successful to get veterans to fly but we find once they come back, we often hear I never thought I was a hero or I never did anything worth thanking but my view has changed after this day.”
I can attest that each of the 111 veterans on our flight was treated the same and with the honor and respect they deserve. And when friends of mine learned of me coming to the city where I grew up to experience this with my dad, they wanted to send their own message to my dad who they have known for 35 years.
“Thank you for your service to our great country,” said Andrew McKenna, family friend of Paul Smiley. “It is the sacrifices and challenging work that patriots like you and your fellow servicemembers made and continue to make that allow us to have this precious freedom.”
“This is a special honor for you to not only reflect on your experiences,” but to also celebrate your accomplishments,” said Robert Paetsch, family friend of Paul Smiley. “Your dedication to our country, your community, the church, your students, and your family have lifted us all.”
A little-known fact is that every flight, they travel with a flag box full of photos of veterans who did not live to exper
WWII Memorial: Paul Smiley, left, and Mark Smiley at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. The WWII Memorial opened in 2004 and honors the 16 million who served in the armed forces of the U.S., the more than 400,000 who died, and all who supported the war effort from home.
ience their own Day of Honor. Some of those veterans never came home from battle. As Honor Flight Chicago 100 alum Glenn Taras said, “This is for those who didn’t make it home … to keep their memories alive.”
With the welcomed support of generous donors and a caring public, Honor Flight Chicago intends to continue its mission to include veterans of wars — past, present, and future — as they recognize the bravery, determination, and patriotism of our veterans.
There are 130 HUBs around the country. Honor Flight Chicago will fly any veteran from the country so long as they can arrive at Chicago Midway Airport by 4 a.m. the day of the flight. For more information, visit www.honorflightchicago.org or to find an Honor Flight near you, visit www.honorflight.org.
Cherry Creek Shade & Drapery
