There are a couple of reasons to use more than one smaller coolers rather than one larger cooler. Firstly, especially with the premium superinsulated coolers like Yeti brand and equivalent, the coolers are heavy, even empty, and awkwardly, maybe even dangerously heavy to lift and move when full. Dividing the capacity diminishes that consideration, and if you're trying to maximize "cold retention" in extreme conditions, you ought to be moving your coolers as necessary throughout the day to keep them in the shade, (or at least, protect them from radiant solar heat absorption by shielding them with any available insulation --- boat cushions, unused PFDs, sleeping bags,"space blankets", etc.) .Secondly, it's smart to divide your cooled stuff into at least two coolers, one, infrequently opened, for stuff that is critical to keep cold ---frozen foods that need to last, perilously perishable foods ( egg salad, mayo, etc.) that may send you to your grave or the ER if spoiled), and non-critical stuff like canned or bottled drinks, icecubes, etc., which typically involve more frequent opening of their cooled containers,with inevitable degradation of their cooling capabilities . My 45qt. Yeti, packed with high-density food and block ice is a strain to lift up to or down from my truck tailgate, into or out of my trailered boat, and to schlep anywhere. Instead, for portable use, I'm using two 25qt..Yetis, one for food, the other for icecubes and cold drinks --- the smaller capacity coolers are no less, maybe more, efficient than the larger. Extended expedition? ---See "dry ice" for keeping cold...