Yeti burst onto the scene by marketing its coolers as apocalypse-grade, premium-priced pieces of luxury outdoor equipment. The company’s founders, Texan brothers Roy and Ryan Seiders were avid outdoorsmen themselves. After breaking one too many coolers on their own expeditions, they bet that expert hunters, anglers, and wealthy wannabes would drop an avalanche of cash for a stronger icebox. Depending on the model, Yeti coolers can support the weight of a fully grown man, are bear-proof, and come in sizes large enough to hold your deep-sea fishing catch. 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.
If you want a large, good-looking hard shell cooler for your backyard BBQ, we’ve got options. And we do it so you can have a more enjoyable experience with fresh, cold snacks and beverages just a cooler away at all times. That’s enough to hold plenty of ice, drinks, and food for a family of three.
Boasting a lightweight frame but keeping a 50-quart capacity, the RTIC Ultralight has found the perfect balance between size and weight. Its rope straps extend far above the cooler, making it possible to carry it without slamming your hands against the frame. These were particularly useful for loading onto the counter igloo ice chest or into the car. The Xspec 60qt, Engel, and Yeti Roadie 24 are some that buck the trend of popular T-grip closure mechanisms on high-end coolers. The Engel has part-rubber-part-metal latches, and the Xspec mixes plastic clasps with rubber straps that ditch the brawn for a bit more finesse when securing them.
Unlike several other competitors, the RTIC 65 has two drainage ports for quick cleaning and draining. The Cabela Polar Cap 80 takes one of the top spots in our insulation tests with temperatures lasting below 40º F for eight days. This, in part, is due to raised feet and its airtight seal created by the freezer-grade lid.
If you’re worried about re-stocking, ice packs are a viable alternative. Most major brands have their own designs that work well in their coolers, and the best part is that you can use them repeatedly without ever having to drain melted ice. That said, ice packs are fairly expensive (YETI’s range from $15 to $30 depending on size) and require refreezing once they lose their coldness, which limits practicality for longer trips. Most of the hard-sided coolers on our list have drainage systems to help you empty out water once your ice has melted. Typically, this comes in the form of a screw-on or pop-off cap at the base of the cooler—simply take it off and let the water pour out. Some also boast drainage channels that funnel water through the opening, which is a nice touch for helping with the clean-up process.
If we had to generalize it, we would say that you should expect to get approximately half of the claimed ice retention time in real-world use, give or take depending on your specific circumstances. For example, when heading on a camping trip, you’re sure to need a cooler that will keep ice cold for long periods of time, since you’ll be away from electricity and refrigeration. For this task, the Igloo Latitude 60-Quart Rolling Cooler might be your best choice. With its impressive 70-quart capacity, this cooler offers ample space to store all your essentials. The MaxCold insulation technology provides extended ice retention, keeping your items cold for up to five days, even in scorching temperatures.
All metalheads can shop the brand-new Slayer x Igloo cooler collection now on igloocoolers.com/slayer. “Collaborating with SLAYER to capture the band’s distinct and influential look onto our world-famous coolers has been incredible,” said Adrienne Berkes, vice president of marketing at Igloo. “Through our effectively chilling KoolTunes and Playmate, we’re providing SLAYER’s legion of fans a unique and practical way to show their undying devotion to the band.” The handle and wheels on the Yeti Tundra Haul are the best we’ve come across. This cooler feels like you can roll it across anything without the handle straining or bending, or the wheels breaking. We previously noted that Yeti had suspended sales of our backpack pick, the Hopper M20, due to a potential safety issue with the closure, which could fail, releasing magnets, which would be dangerous to ingest.
When it’s time for storage, the dry bin folds flat and can be easily and securely stored on top of the lid. 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. As for large, non-wheeled models, we still noticed many differences that lend themselves toward making specific units more portable than others. The Coleman Xtreme is just a few ounces heavier than the personal-sized Igloo BMX, which is astounding for its 68 quart capacity.