FIXIF Crate-Series
Cooler Size Guide
24 L, 36 L or 51 L — decided by people, days and where it has to fit.
Most people buy one size too small, then buy again. Size is a function of three numbers: how many people you feed, how many days between ice top-ups, and the largest space you can give up in the boot, the van or the cockpit. Remember the 2:1 rule — two parts ice to one part contents — so usable capacity is roughly a third of the litre figure.
Choose by people and days
Pod 24 (24 L): 1–2 people, 1–2 days. Around 20 cans plus ice, or a day of food for two. Ice retention 3–5 days.
Crate 36 (36 L): 2–4 people, 3–4 days. Around 35 cans plus ice, or a long weekend of food for two. Ice retention 4–6 days. The size most people should buy.
Trunk 51 (51 L): 4+ people or 5–8 days. Group trips, basecamp, families, fresh produce for a week. Ice retention 5–8 days.
Then check where it fits
Boat: measure the cockpit sole between benches, and check you can still open the lid fully with the crate mounted.
Campervan: measure the width under a fixed bed or beside the slider. The Crate 36 is the usual fit; the Pod 24 slips into a footwell.
Car boot: an estate or SUV takes the Crate 36 with luggage; the Trunk 51 wants the boot planned around it.
Size affects ice retention
Bigger coolers hold ice longer because the surface-area-to-volume ratio improves. A 24 L crate loses ice roughly 30% faster than a 51 L crate under identical conditions — one reason not to size down and then run it half empty.
Questions
What if I am between two sizes?
Take the larger one. A part-filled larger crate still holds ice longer than a full smaller one, and the extra capacity is free the day the trip grows.
How many cans fit with ice?
Roughly 20 in the Pod 24, 35 in the Crate 36 and 50 in the Trunk 51 with a 2:1 ice ratio. Without ice you can roughly double those numbers, but expect hours of cold rather than days.