We evaluated each drain (if there was one) to see how thorough a job it does and how simple it is to use. Genaveve is an avid climber who spends day after day in the hot desert sun chasing the next pitch. Yeti also continues to diversify the colors and personalization options available for this cooler, providing more choices to match your style better. YETI offers a variety of different cooling products to make your adventures more comfortable: Personal, portable coolers. Got feedback? Our gear isn't made to sit around. The RovR's dry storage goes above and beyond since it has a large dry bin that extends to the bottom of the interior. The slightly larger Xspec has a similar ratio of overall dimensions (shorter length, taller height - but not so much that it's hard to find that last beer under all the ice), and it's reasonably easy for a single person to carry a short distance. Still, you could purchase three or four of these coolers for the same price as some of the competition, and it works to keep your goods cold for days. Yes, this part required a bit of eye-balling to get a fair battle (since the RTIC holds more than the Yeti), but the goal was a two-can mid-layer of liquid refreshment in each cooler. You are leaving YETI.com and heading to a site that's operated by Arrive on behalf of YETI. Not once did this beefy cooler leak while being toppled around. Packed as detailed below, both models held steady at just above freezing. If you're looking for a high quality durable ice cooler to keep in one place whether that be a camp site, the back of the truck, or at home then you may look into our Tundra hard coolers. Enter the order number and the billing address ZIP code. Grab ocean-tested gear built for a great day in or on the water. Best Soft-Sided Cooler: YETI Hopper Flip 12 Soft Cooler. Still, we wanted a setup that was pretty much worst-case: You're out on that boat in the ocean or parked at a National Park campground, and there's strong, consistent solar exposure. Custom collegiate coolers for grads ready to hit lifes rugged roads. Carhartt Insulated 4 Can Lunch Cooler, Black, One Size. After multiple years of use, we've noticed the Xspec rubber sections have tightened up over time. Best Cooler of 2023 - CNET Add text, your own art, or one of our designs. Material on GearLab is copyrighted. We also considered the overall shape and size of each competitor as part of its usability score. In these conditions, a campsite cooler that actually keeps things cold is a must. The RovR is the only one with actual rubber tires filled with air (aka pneumatic tires), the same as a vehicle or bicycle. Colster Insulated Stubby Holder & Can Cooler | YETI Australia The 10 Best Backpack Coolers of 2023, Tested and Reviewed - Travel In general, we gave higher scores to more universally useful features, such as a tether for the drain plug (so you don't lose it), internal baskets or dividers to keep your food fresh, and the ability to hold dry ice, which extends the cooling capacity. Ideally with ice, but even as that melts, they suggest adding towels or anything to eliminate that layer. So in short, YETI coolers are made of a form of plastic, but HOW they are made is the more important question, not what they are made of. After many insulation tests, we found this bunch to be among our top contenders. However, we did have the ability to make the race fair by parking two of the brands' similar coolers Yeti's Tundra 45 and RTIC's RTIC 45 on a hot patio during a heatwave. We then dumped out that first load of ice, and as Yeti suggests, lined the floor of each with chemical ice packs. And that, indeed, is how YETI first made its name in coolers. You can also pick up the handy bike attachment and tow the RovR behind your bicycle. The Xspec strikes a very happy medium, narrow enough for simple solo carrying, tall enough to fit an upright bottle of wine, yet shallow enough to find whatever you're looking for easily. These were particularly useful for loading onto the counter or into the car. Personalize his gift with one of our limited edition designs. It keeps water from freezing or becoming ice cold on a snowshoe trip or hike. In 2006, YETI Coolers was founded with a simple mission: build a cooler that you could use every day if it existed. Waterproof, dustproof, durable, and stackable. You can pump them up just like your car or bicycle tires, giving you the freedom to run over the same types of terrain. Add to Bag. The popular brand has never had a non-insulated water bottle in . Please note that YETI discounts, promotions, and product warranties will not apply. Stanley IceFlow Vs. Yeti Rambler: Which Insulated Tumbler Is Better? The Yeti Roadie 24 is one of a growing number of ice chests with easier to use latches that combine rigid latching components with rubbery stretching arms to secure the lid, all of which can be quickly maneuvered with a single hand. This means that if you're planning your next trek with a Tundra or Roadie Hard Cooler, or a TANK Ice Bucket, don't . Get ahead of Fathers Day with gear for the dad whos always on. The Polar Cap is a massive cooler that can be a bit cumbersome to move around but makes up for it with its unbeatable durability. Its pretty old technology, with two walls of stainless steel and a vacuum between them. The market for ice chests continues to grow over the years, resulting in some extremely close competition and hard-fought rivalries. Beyond the ultra-useful internal dry bin, this compact roller features a 60 quart external dry bin that attaches right to the top of the lid, doubling the number of things you can cart. 1. Put good gear back to great use with barely used and slightly bruised coolers and cargo. The RovR RollR, Arctic Titan, Yeti Tundra 65, and Igloo IMX all come with practical interior dry storage options, which is great for holding aside some clean ice for drinks or keeping sensitive food out of ice water. But not all features are created equal, and their value may depend on how and where you intend to use your gear. By adding a small hole in one or both sides of the drain plug, many manufacturers have increased drainage options to make cleaning up after your trip even easier. And the YETI Hopper M20 Backpack Soft Cooler is made . Lastly, we filled each cooler to the very top with yet more loose ice. Free UPS Ground shipping on qualified orders $25.00 and up. The Cabela Polar Cap 80 takes one of the top spots in our insulation tests with temperatures lasting below 40 F for eight days. The 12 Best Small Coolers of 2023. So, what does this really mean for potential consumers? On the flip side, those products with large handles and awkward shapes that are difficult to Tetris into the back of the minivan, along with everything else you need for the party in the park, don't score as well. And, just like the Yeti (is there an echo in here? Maelstrom Cooler Backpack,35 Can Backpack Cooler Leakproof,Insulated Soft Cooler Bag,Camping Cooler,Beach Cooler,Ice Chest Backpack,Lightweight Travel Cooler Lunch Backpack for Hiking,Shopping (1817) $39.99 . Having a soft cooler is a versatile way to keep your cold things cold without sacrificing as much portability as most hard coolers. Which store would you like to shop? While the Cabela Polar Cap 80 boasts impressive features, there are some areas where it falls short. Both Pelican models we tested the Pelican Wheeled and the Pelican 20 stand out to our testers as having exceptionally easy to use latches. It also lacks a rubber gasket around the top or lid. The Kenai 65 features mostly rubber, stretchy latches but swaps out the rubber T-grip section for short metal posts that grip grooves underneath the rim of the body. Performing well across the board, this is an excellent companion for your next trip. YETI Coolers: Insulated and Indestructible - Appalachian Outfitters Due to a large number of variables that affect ice retention, YETI stays away from the definitive time claims that are often based on testing conditions and not . This grizzly-bear-proof cooler is the largest cooler in the Hopper Flip lineup. Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads, Much more expensive than the very similar RTIC, Narrowly beats RTIC in our temperature test. Whether you're a hunter, an angler, or a hiker, you likely know Yeti for high-end coolers and well-insulated mugs and tumblers. Nov 3, 2022,12:57pm EDT Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin The Stanley and Yeti brands have their own cult followings, and when put head-to-head, people have thoughts. It's also rust-resistant and comes . Let us know! Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison. You'll find like-new items at reduced prices. Tundra Haul Wheeled Cooler. But even though the technology to make a double-wall-insulated cooler has been around since the Thermos, its never been applied to a full-size consumer cooler (that we can find evidence of, anyway). Carhartt 2-in-1 Insulated Cooler Backpack at Amazon . You know that exhale-like "gasp" that a fridge makes when you open it? Chances are, you own a vacuum-insulated coffee mug. The lid also accommodates ratchet straps, which, if you're going 4x4'ing, is a must your contents might be shaken, but they'll stay inside the cooler and inside your rig. Make it an epic summer with gear that never quits. Best for Paddling: IceMule Pro Cooler 23L at Amazon Jump to Review Best for the Beach: RTIC Backpack Soft Cooler at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Camping: Pelican Dayventure Backpack Cooler at Amazon Jump to Review Best for Work: Built ultra comfortable and with a waterproof layer to repel whatever comes its way. YETI Ramblers are BPA-free, dishwasher safe, and have a No Sweat Design to make sure your hands stay dry. $800.00. Initially skeptical, we now use it all the time. The RTIC, Engel, Arctic Titan, Orca(s), Kenai, Xspec, and RovR all have this handy dual drain hole feature. We also discovered after a rainstorm that the external pocket isn't waterproof, though this is a small gripe. YETI Coolers: Durable, High-Performance Coolers It also lacks a drainage port, and this version doesn't boast the IGBC certification of larger Yeti hard coolers. Is Your YETI Cooler Dry Ice Compatible? Its sturdy latches are easy to use and durable. In addition, the Tundra's front is pre-drilled for padlocks at both of those corners, for security and bear-proofing, and rubber feet that are non-marring if you need to drag the sucker to a new location in the bed of your pickup. Wheeled coolers may appear astoundingly portable, but we found that their actual usefulness in this metric is wildly dependent on their wheel design and clearance. This lower-priced (yet over-performing) model has been handily getting the job done for weekends full of summer fun, all while being kind to the wallet. A combination of low weight, small size, and large carrying handles help make this possible. It fits a full 40 quarts of contents and whatever you can cram into the large external storage pocket covering the back of the box. We bought some ice, filled each model about full, and put a mixture of cold and room temperature cans in them. REI Introduces Its First Trail Running Shoes Since 1970s, Weekly Deals: Significant Savings on Knives, Climbing Gear, and More, Longer, Faster, Luxury EV Van Coming to North America: 2025 VW ID. It also attaches to the side of the interior with a simple hand screw, which means it won't move during transit like all the other baskets are wont to do. The RovR RollR 60 is easily our rolling favorite. It comes in five core colors (and three limited-editions) and is made of rotomolded plastic with injected polyurethane foam insulation infused into extra-thick, three-inch walls. And if you are so inclined to make additional purchases, the RovR can be mounted to the back of your bicycle like a tiny, ice-filled wagon. It features a dry . Whether you're heading out on a multi-day adventure or just want to keep your snacks cold during a day trip, the Cabela's Polar Cap cooler is an excellent choice for all your cooling needs. Much to no one's surprise, personal cool-boxes like the Pelican 20, Yeti Roadie, and Igloo BMX are much more portable than larger models. Personalize his gift with one of our limited edition designs. That's awesome; it means that if you've got a power failure at home when it's not hot, you could rely on either model to prevent food rot. It walls off all of the air permeability and adds a thick blanket that prevents heat from penetrating, maintaining the cold ecosystem inside the cooler, no matter what's happening beyond its walls.RTIC came along a bit later (and got sued by Yeti for copying its process a bit too closely), but both brands are working along similar, scientifically proven lines. Within a few hours, each was reading about 34 degrees; nice and chilly. It also has indents to accept cross-lashing of ratchet or other strapping, too. We didn't follow that towel formula for the test, mainly because we wanted to see which cooler performed best under a decent amount of duress and, let's be real, because not everyone is bringing spare towels for the cooler on weekend camping trips. They're also lockable for security (since there's a bling factor to a rotomolded cooler) and for preventing critters like bears from getting into your precious provisions. It also weighs less by a significant margin, which adds to its portability. How And Where Are YETI Coolers Made? | Overlandsite Larger can be good. The American Homebrewers Association breaks down the optimal serving temperature range for different types of beer, which we based this threshold on. Best Backpack Coolers | GearJunkie The rugged Roadie has a beefy, integrated hinge, and the sturdy rotomolded exterior protects contents from the trials of all your outdoor adventures. Still, several have unfortunately paired this with a large lip or other obstruction that then stops your drainage progress before it's 100% complete. The Coleman Xtreme, Cabela Polar Cap, and Pelican coolers have leashes attaching their drain plugs to the body of the chest. Models that we found the easiest and most thorough to drain include the RTIC Ultralight, Kenai, Xspec, Orca(s), Titan, and Tundra(s), which all feature either a tiny or sloped lip to make emptying your meltwater a breeze. We also love RTIC's price, which is a hundred dollars less than Yeti's, a not inconsiderable amount. Arrive is our third-party partner for resale. GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. . Shop Now LIMITED EDITION Next Roadie 24 Hard Cooler $250.00 Add to Bag LIMITED EDITION It offers solid insulation to keep your peak-bagging beverages chilled until you reach the summit and an easy roll-top design that's beyond simple to use. Best Stylish Cooler Tote: Hydro Flask 35L Insulated Tote. The tough Duracoat coating on the colored tumblers won't crack, peel or fade ; The YETI 10 oz Rambler Tumbler stands 5.7 in high and has a lip diameter of 2.8 in. Not so portable. It's built rugged and tough enough to withstand those questionably-maintained roads you may find yourself driving down. Whichever rotomolded route you take, we strongly advise using the cooler-packing techniques particularly lining the bottom with chemical ice packs, which are colder and more space-efficient than loose ice to get the best cold retention possible. We've tested over 40 coolers since 2016 in search of the best, most well insulated models. That said, it's also just a bit larger outside. Many competitors have visible screws holding on the latches (Kenai 65) or hinges (Igloo BMX 25, Coleman Xtreme 70, and others), rope ends and knots visible (RTIC, Engel, and others), or even tiny plastic ridges leftover on edges from the manufacturing process (Yeti Tundra). Like the Tundra, the RTIC gets padlock points at the front corners and non-slip, soft rubber feet for non-marring surface grip. The YETI V Series will cost a wallet-busting $800. Remember that both of these are bulky to begin with. Yeti lists a comprehensive game plan for packing its coolers. At that point, nearly all the ice had melted to water. Grab a Rambler 14 oz Mug before they're gone. Not only that, it scored well across the board, specifically impressing us with its features and ease of use. It manages to keep a medium to large internal volume while staying lightweight and portable. 11 Best Yeti Cooler Alternatives 2020 | The Strategist - New York Magazine We've tested several rolling models over the years. We've got your outdoor needs covered, from the top-ranked camping chairs to get comfy in at the end of the day and our favorite camping tents for when it's time to hit the hay. Your next adventure awaits. If that's not enough, it also comes standard with some of the most useful features we've seen, including a large, removable dry bin and a giant dry storage box that attaches to the lid and literally doubles the amount of stuff you can haul. The Coleman Xtreme 5-Day's drain plug comes with a tether so that you won't lose it. To help you find the right model, we tease apart performance differences between contenders, implementing specific tests spanning five exhaustive, mutually exclusive metrics. For our 72-hour test, we followed Yeti's approach, with a few mods. Best Small Backpack Cooler: IceMule Coolers Jaunt Small Cooler. Yeti is one of the most recognized names in the game for a good reason. Ease of use is a critical factor in your overall happiness with any given product. We love the Pelican's easy to use latches. The options include two tall mesh water bottle holders and a large insulated front pocket (for an iPad or tablet) with a side zipper entry. That said, if ruggedness is something you need, the Coleman may not be the best choice. But that bigger footprint takes up more space, and it weighs just a pound and a half more, too. Dry ice is only recommended in the Tundra and Roadie Hard Coolers, as well as, the YETI TANK Ice Buckets. That said, even the minimum construction standards required to deter a hungry 10 foot long, 900 lb grizzly lend a lot of credibility to the durability of a product. You may unsubscribe at any time. Offer limited to 10 qualifying items per customer with a maximum discount of $50. New to YETI? One that simply wouldn't break. Incidentally, the first week that we ran our test, we had relentlessly cool temperatures in the 50s and low 60s. Be the first to know about new products, films, and events. A vacuum insulates by surrounding and isolating a hot or cold substance. Provide your account email address to receive an email to reset your password. How can we improve GearLab? Learn about our legendary coolers to find the one best suited for you. The latches of the Xspec are secured with a rubber section to the lid and a plastic piece for a closure system, making them a bit easier to use. Free Customization on Yonder Water Bottles, advice on which cooler is best suited for you, questions you'll have when comparing YETI hard coolers, how to handle and use dry ice in YETI Hard Sided Coolers, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Some of our YETI Tundra ice chests and all of our LoadOut Cargo are manufactured in the U.S. and are designated as such. Ultimately, the person who knows best about which YETI hard cooler you should buy is, well, you. Pelican Elite Cooler (50 quarts): Gets colder than most, but won't hold it as . Getting it from point A to B is a breeze. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. Its walls can be inflated or deflated to match your load, body, and preference and its shoulder straps are soft and flexible. Those inflatable walls can be a bit tricky to get the hang of at first, finding the happy medium that matches appropriate insulation with reasonable comfort, but we think is worth the effort. It's also helpful to consider how often you find yourself needing the cooling and insulating services these ice chests provide and how burly and rugged you need your gear to be. Add to Bag. An internal light assists in finding that last beer in the dark, and a tall interior easily accommodates your celebratory champagne. Keep food and brews fresh in the Hopper Flip Soft Cooler. Heres the pitch from YETI: Featuring a kitchen-grade stainless steel body, the YETI V Series is vacuum insulated, offering the best thermal insulation that science allows. The 19 Best Insulated Cooler Bags of 2023. With a large 68-quart capacity, this cooler can store plenty of food and drinks even an upright wine bottle could fit in this unit. Maggie has been playing and guiding in the outdoors for over fifteen years, from backpacking the Tahoe Rim Trail to kayaking the Caribbean. Though nothing broke during testing, the hinges and latches are a potential weak point. We didn't have a sailboat or raft and, unfortunately, no trans-desert overlanding trips on the schedule. Without a buddy to help you lug the fully-loaded Engel HD30 to the beach, it can feel quite heavy while using its shoulder strap. Also, for a wild card, we pre-chilled all but six of the cans in each. 2023 YETI COOLERS, LLC. Seems like you are on a different store compared to your location. However, while the results from our insulation testing are, in many cases, far below some of the manufacturer's claims, we went out of our way to push these competitors to their limits. The Yeti Tundra 45 comes in six colors and is made of rotomolded plastic with injected polyurethane foam insulation infused into extra-thick, three-inch walls. Though it can't match the premium models' rotomolded insulation prowess and rugged durability, the Coleman clearly shows its worth and value, considering the massive chunk of change you'll save. Unlike the rubber latches of many of their competitors that you stretch into place, Pelican's latches are a simple push design, featuring a release button in the middle that 'unlocks' the lid, allowing you to lift the latch away from the body and raise the top. First, we put both coolers into storage in a basement where the ambient temperature was about 60 degrees. As far as drains go, several products have dual-function drains, meaning there's a hole through the shaft of the drain plug that lets water run out without having to remove the entire drain cap. Yet, every unit we've tested from Orca appears clean and polished. By the time the cubes were entirely gone on Monday night, with outdoor temps falling into the mid-70s, the air temperature in each had risen to the low 40-degree range: 42.4 for the Yeti and 44.8 for the RTIC. STAINLESS STEEL BODY & LATCH LOOP- Kitchen-grade stainless steel is tough, stately, and wears beautifully over time. We chose 50 F in part as an average maximum ideal beverage serving temperature and also to easily see the rate at which each cooler gains degrees as its ice melts within by comparing how much time there is between when each model crosses the 40 and 50 lines. When it comes to handles, models with immobile handles have an additional advantage. Draining was no trouble at all, thanks to this double-drain system. One that was built for the serious outdoor enthusiast rather than for the mass-discount retailers. A double-sealed gasket at the lid wall works a lot like the one on your fridge. The Tundra 65 boasts one of the most impressive performances out of any cooler we tested. First of Its Kind: YETI Launches Vacuum-Insulated Cooler Keep Fido fed and hydrated at home or on the go. Offer limited to 10 qualifying items per customer with a maximum discount of $50. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. The Arctic Titan has an oversized drain to decrease the time you spend emptying it. Today, YETI products perform when it matters most - whether that be an excursion into the Alaskan . Plus, a . Amazon.com: YETI Rambler 26 oz Bottle, Vacuum Insulated, Stainless I own. We filled them up and loaded them in and out of cars, slogged across beaches, and traipsed through neighborhoods to see which ones bash against our knees, bite the backs of our heels, or formed blisters on our palms. Which store would you like to shop? Thanks to these, you can separate your cooler into compartments and keep it cool. Cooler Basket for YETI Tundra 50 or 65,Inside Dry-Goods Basket Compatible with Cabela's 60QT, Igloo 52QT, Ozark Trail 52QT,Pelican Elite (45 . The Xspec's dimensions are right in the sweet spot of being shallow enough to find the last can of your favorite brew, tall enough to bring along a 2L of soda upright, and narrow enough to carry by yourself, all while still boasting a 61 quart capacity. Once filled with 30 pounds of ice and a bunch of liquid refreshments, they'll easily crest 60 pounds. We found these two features to be very handy in countless situations. If you're looking for the best cooler, you may already know a basic $79 cooler isn't particularly well insulated or constructed.The reason both RTIC and Yeti, whose coolers cost hundreds of dollars, even have a reasonable business model is that if you're going anyplace where buying ice will be impossible (a river trip; an off-road adventure; out in the ocean for a few days of sailing) a .