USVI-On-Line

I know these posts are somewhere but can anyone help me out with the best of the above 3?

I know that Sports Authority is having a sale this week in my town for a rolling soft sided cooler. $9.99 for a 24 can cooler.

The water wallets really work well. I don't the brand name and doubt if it matters. Most outdoor/camping stores carry them. They come in several sizes, are hard plastic, with a flip lid that has a good seal. I got one last year that was large enough to hold a couple of credit cards, driver's license, and some cash, but small enough to fit in the pocket of my board shorts. It also has a lanyard so it can be worn around the neck. Was totally water proof. Will probably get a larger one for passports for our trip this Nov for day sails to the BVIs. Can't help yet with the soft sided rolling coolers. My wife bought one on eBay for about $12 I think. Sam's Club evidently puts their close outs there. However, she has not received it yet.

Once again thank you, thank you, thank you-I love this forum!

naturegirl:: be careful with your cell phone too (if you are taking one). Jr. had his in his shirt pocket and dropped it in Cruz Bay the first day. Water instantly ruins a cell phone! They make a plastic waterproof "wallet" that will hold a phone, money, credit card, keys...Im gettin a couple of those!

I'm looking into one now ksea-thanks.

How about a hard sided cooler w/ wheels?I took one with us last July as checked on filled with frozen food and it did very well.When we packed to go home I put my bottles of rum in the cooler and packed towels around it.It worked!!Parafins..

parafins- word has it on the forum that there have been issues with the lid coming open during handling and transport with the hardsided coolers.

I purchased an "aqua pac" waterproof case (a pouch actually) thru LLBean and it worked like a charm. It was soft-sided and was large enough to hold my digital camera and even sunglasses etc. but not too big to be clumsy. It survived the swim from the boat to shore at the Baths and Sandy Cay. Very easy to open/close. Would definitely recommend it. Smaller sizes were available too.

Thanks Martini girl! There is much to choose from on the internet so I would prefer recommendations from forum members rather than taking a chance on an unknown product.

parafins wrote:How about a hard sided cooler w/ wheels?I took one with us last July as checked on filled with frozen food and it did very well.When we packed to go home I put my bottles of rum in the cooler and packed towels around it.It worked!!Parafins..

We prefer the hard cooler as well. It's not full size, but fits lots of food, and you can stuff it with frozen food, and not worry about ice packs, the frozen food works to keep itself frozen. I don't know if soft sides insulate as well.

As far as keeping it closed. We use Duct Tape. TSA may open it, but replaced my tape as well as adding some of their own.

We're going to tape a hard-sided wheelie cooler shut next time too. From talking to everyone, that seems to work best.

Also, I'm totally getting one of those waterproof bags from LL Bean. I've learned my lesson from last week!

MrB wrote:

parafins wrote:How about a hard sided cooler w/ wheels?I took one with us last July as checked on filled with frozen food and it did very well.When we packed to go home I put my bottles of rum in the cooler and packed towels around it.It worked!!Parafins..

We prefer the hard cooler as well. It's not full size, but fits lots of food, and you can stuff it with frozen food, and not worry about ice packs, the frozen food works to keep itself frozen. I don't know if soft sides insulate as well.

As far as keeping it closed. We use Duct Tape. TSA may open it, but replaced my tape as well as adding some of their own.

Yes,yes,that's what I used and had no problems.They opened the cooler both times{there and back}but,they never did use my roll of duct tape that I had in the cooler.They used their own.One funny thing that I did see on our trip was a cooler with a non hinged lid tied together with a rope!I looked like it was ready to fall apart any minute!Parafins.

Thanks all! Good to know that the two options are available. Now I have to find a cooler big enough to hold all the food I'm bringing down.

As a "water wallet," we had luck with the OtterBox. They come in various sizes. We got the smallest one, which is big enough to hold license, credit cards, car keys, and a little cash. Take a look at their web site. Good luck.