High-Tech Cooler Tops $4M on Kickstarter

Coolers: A necessary summer item, yet so bulky and boring. But what if your cooler could do more than just hold drinks? What if it could actually make drinks?

Portland, Oregon inventor Ryan Grepper wants to make that dream a reality by giving the cooler a much-needed 21st century upgrade. He designed a new drink-holding vessel dubbed the "Coolest Cooler," which does a lot more than just keep your beverages cold.

So what makes it the coolest cooler around? It features a built-in blender, removable waterproof Bluetooth speaker, and USB charger so you're all hooked up at your next tailgate, backyard barbeque, or camping adventure. Want some piña coladas? No problem. Need to charge your phone? Plug it right in.

Launched on Kickstarter last week, the Coolest Cooler has already raked in more than $4.1 million from 21,000 backers - well over the original $50,000 goal. And the fundraising campaign still has 46 days to go.

It also features an LED lid light, so you can easily see your drink selection in the dark. Other features include a built-in cutting board that doubles as a cooler divider, extra wide tires for easy rolling, integrated storage for plates and a knife, and a bottle opener.

"The Coolest is a portable party disguised as a cooler, bringing blended drinks, music and fun to any outdoor occasion," the Kickstarter page reads. "The Coolest cooler is 60 quarts of AWESOME packed with so much fun you'll look for excuses to get outside more often."

Grepper plans to use the money from the Kickstarter campaign to execute manufacturing agreements and finalize his prototype with the goal of shipping the cooler by February.

Meanwhile, beer snobs might want to check out the Kickstarter for Synek, a new draft system that promises to serve up any beer, fresh from the tap, whenever you want. Also check out the slideshow above for some Kickstarter campaigns that need to not exist.

For more, watch PCMag Live in the video below, which discusses the high-tech Coolest Cooler project.