Ozark Trail 28L Atka Ultra Lightweight Hydration-Compatible Backpack-Red, Red, 28L US, Daypack Backpacks

Product Information

So you have a strong gasket, but you need it to squeeze very tight if it’s going to be useful. That’s where a pair of strong latches come in. In this case, the most popular latch design among premium coolers is the T-Rex Latch design. That’s exactly what you find on the Ozark Trail coolers.

There are cooler brands that focus on coming up with premium features for their customers, and there are cooler brands that focus on coming up with affordable coolers for the average Joe. While much of the trail is under shaded tree canopy, you’ll still want to use sunscreen to prevent any burns. Now we’re starting to go deeper into the features that actually make this cooler convenient to use. The drain is oversized, which means you don’t have to wait extra-long to drain out that melted ice. Kinnard Hollow Trail: 3.5 miles long.The Kinnard Trail must be accessed via the Chubb Hollow Trail, the Spring Valley Trail, or the Chilton Trail. A moderate, but long hike, this trail was once part of the route patrolled by a "Range Rider" when Big Spring, one of Missouri's first state parks, served as a wildlife "refuge" during the era of early conservation. Three fourths of the trail winds along a stream bed until ascending the ridge up to the Big Spring Lookout Tower. In the near future, hikers will be able to access the 200+ mile regional Ozark Trail from the Kinnard Hollow Trail via a 'spur' trail connecting the Between the Rivers Section of the Ozark Trail to the Big Spring trail system.In the great spirit of American entrepreneurship, they came up with a line of coolers that have a bunch of premium features but are also affordable. Unfortunately, these two groups of brands seem to be mutually exclusive at the moment. You’re either looking for a premium cooler or you’re looking for an affordable cooler. Isn’t that just a little sad?

Blue Spring Trail: 1 mile round trip. This easy to moderate hike may be accessed at Powder Mill or from the picnic area at the Blue Spring Trailhead & Picnic Area. The trail skirts the bottomland riparian forest along the Current River between Powder Mill and the Blue Spring State Natural Area---where the trail parallels the spring branch out to Blue Spring . As the name of this spring indicates---Blue Spring is deemed the "bluest" spring in Missouri and at a depth of around 300 feet---it is Missouri's deepest.Bring enough water for your trip or a way to purify water to make it safe to drink. Many of the creeks and streams look crystal clear, but it’s still smart to make sure any impurities are removed with pumps or tablets before drinking. Round Spring Cave Trail - A short walk from the cave parking area (0.1 mile) through the woods along the spring branch takes visitors to the Round Spring Caverns for a tour of the cave. Guided tours (from Memorial Day to Labor Day) led by a park ranger explore the subterranean world of stalagmites, stalactites, bats, and cave salamanders---typical of hundreds of caves found throughout the park. A cave tour takes approximately 2 hours. It’s threaded too, which means you can screw it on tight and it’s also attached to a chain, which means you don’t have to worry about losing it. Jerktail Loop Trail: This 5.2 mile loop trail is classified as moderate to difficult. There are two designated fords where the trail crosses the Current River. Several scenic overlooks offer expansive views of the Current River from atop high bluffs. The way the Ozark Trail hard coolers are designed, they are supposed to compete with the very best cooler brands in the market at the moment. That pretty much means they have a lot of hype to live up to. The million dollar question is: can they?

On the inside of the larger coolers, you will find a wire basket. This is a plus, considering many brands actually charge you extra for the wire basket. How long do you want your trip to be? Are you prepared to be out for multiple days at a time, or maybe just an overnight trip?These are in line with the industry standards so we give them a plus on that too, but of course, we're going to run them through our own ice retention tests very soon (and we'll update this post shortly with results).

Cave Spring River Trail: 0.8 miles round trip. This easy trail begins at the day-use picnic area near Cave Spring on the Lower Current located west of the small community of Hunter (take Hwy 21 south and Hwy E west out of Hunter). Cave Spring River Trail passes through dense riparian habitat along the banks of the spring branch fed by waters issuing from the large vaulted entrance of the cave. This trail follows the spring branch east to the Current River. Pulltite Nature Trail: 1.5 mile loop trail.This trail presents a moderate challenge. The trailhead is located near the terminus of the campground road near the Group Camping Area at Pulltite. It is a 'self-guided' nature walk with interpretive panels along the trail. The trail ascends the ridge through oak/pine upland forest---passing close to a dolomite cave. On decent from the ridgetop the trail parallels the Current River through riparian habitat.

How Do These Ozark Trail Backpacks Compare?

Ozark also put in some thought on the comfort with which you carry your cooler. You expect a premium cooler to be heavy, so the way in which the handle is designed is pretty important.