A critter lock on the cooler is nice for raccoons, but again, not a necessity.
Technically, you could bring all freeze-dried foods or food that doesn’t have to refrigerated…but, who says you have to eat sub-par food while camping? The most important feature of a cooler is to make sure you get the appropriate size for you and your needs. The other variations in the cooler world besides the size is how long it keeps ice and whether or not it has a lock. A critter lock on the cooler is nice for raccoons, but again, not a necessity. The cooler we have used for years does not have a lock and it has served us just fine. The best place for your cooler is to place it underneath the picnic table bench if it fits, or even better, in the car!