re: Awesome soft side cooler

I've had numerous reds, trout, flounder, and sheepshead taking up residence inside my AO. It's marketed as a fishing cooler, not just for food and drinks.

The vinyl can puncture though, so if I'm putting sharp fins, I wait until they calm down before they go in the cooler. For sheepshead, wire cutters work well for clipping off the sharpest of spines. If it punctures within the 1st year, they will replace the liner free; if afterward I think it costs $15 or they will send you some patches free.

Before getting the AO, I had gone through 4 of the CI coolers from Sams. . . they're disposable. CI came up with a better design, actually recruiting the help of some kayak fishermen here in LA to help with the R&D. The result is this:


I have one and it works well too- the footprint is smaller than the AO, but taller, so it works well behind the seat, whereas the AO fits better in the rear tankwell. It comes with two puncture resistant fish liners that make cleanup easier, and the outside is a tough vinyl.

Where can one acquire that super strong CI cooler?

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Cooler for drinks only

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Not much room in the kayak. I carry one ice bag, for drinks and fish.

Too big. Where would I put my lures? You have to be able to turn around and reach all your stuff when out on the water. My crate has lures, pliers, fish grabber, anchor, drift sock, etc.

I like the ice bag concept, just need one that doesn't leak fish stank all over my vehicle on the trip home.

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Where would I put my lures?

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Somewhere else.


Turn it long ways and you still have room in front of it,

I see you keep your gatorade in the cooler, but where do you put the beer?

None of those are my pics. I search for them because I am a beginner at yak and am trying to figure out how to set up my boat. Not digging the idea of a bag.

My front storage sucks donkeys. I did not research that well.

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But I would doubt the AO interior is any stronger than the Polar.

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I think it's the same material- a thick textured vinyl; both coolers are pretty much identical and if you put them next to each other you really can't tell the difference.

It sounds like everyone in this thread is saying Polar's are just made for food and drinks, or at least marketed as such. I'm just pointing out that the AO's are marketed as fishing coolers and not just the F&D. For those looking for a cooler to pull double duty, the AO may be a better alternative, as the vinyl exterior IMO is better suited to the task over the canvas of the Polar.

As for the fishbag- is it insulated? Pretty much a requirement in the summer months here. The AO fits perfectly in the front hatch of my Hobie; when fishing from a kayak you're limited on space and I'm not too concerned if the fish get contorted to fit in the bag! They bend back at the cleaning station.

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if you put them next to each other you really can't tell the difference.

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Agreed.

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the vinyl exterior IMO is better suited to the task over the canvas of the Polar.

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Perhaps. Time will tell. Probably doesn't matter.

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As for the fishbag- is it insulated?

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Yes, the fish bags are insulated. To different extents I would imagine. You can spend $150+ on a fish bag.


You keep the ice chest in your hatch? I love the hatch because I don't have to keep an extra ice chest. I throw a bag of ice in it in the morning and take off. The ice melts over the course of the day, way faster than I would like, but i'm going to insulate that sumbitch one day.

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You keep the ice chest in your hatch? I love the hatch because I don't have to keep an extra ice chest. I throw a bag of ice in it in the morning and take off. The ice melts over the course of the day, way faster than I would like

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Threw ice bags in there the first few outings, but like you said- it melts way too fast and that was in the Spring. In the middle of summer, that ice will be half melted before I'm 100 yds from the launch!

While on the water, it worked, but you pretty much have to get more ice immediately after you get back in. Using the cooler allows me to not worry about that, which can be an issue depending on where you are launching.

Now if you have another ice chest full of ice waiting at the car/truck that you can transfer those fish to. . . problem solved!