Simply put, coolers are unlike most other categories of outdoor gear that may last for just for a couple seasons before needing to be replaced. This means that when you’re making the calculation of whether spending $300 or $400 on a cooler is worth it, you are getting a product that literally should last for decades. That said, if you don’t need multi-day ice retention, even a cheaper hard-sided cooler should be around for many years as well. If we had to nitpick, the Venture 45’s handles are rigid and don’t fold down like much of the competition.
Also, make sure your wheels are made of durable materials and offer traction to get you across any terrain at any weight. The Maelstrom Cooler Backpack is the one for you if you’re looking for a safe, leak-proof cooler at a reasonable price. This cooler keeps drinks cold for up to 16 hours, due to the high-density insulation material and leak-proof lining inside the insulated cooler pack. Due to its one-piece rotomolded design and thick polyurethane insulation, Hard Ice Chest Cooler has four-day ice retention.
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Thick foam-covered rope handles and a rubber gasket sealing the drain plug help make the RTIC one of our favorite models we tested. The Xspec 60qt, Engel, OtterBox Venture, 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. After multiple years of use, we’ve noticed the Xspec rubber sections have tightened up over time. This makes them just as secure as ever but requires slightly more force to operate.
The coleman ice chest Xtreme features replaceable hardware, whereas some of the company’s cheaper models don’t. This is an important detail because the first thing that will wear out on a cooler is either a hinge or a handle, and having affordable replacements means a cheap repair rather than a brand-new purchase. At the moment, you can buy Coleman’s replacement hinges and replacement handles for less than $10 each.
But while it’s hard to argue with the premium quality and rugged nature of a YETI rotomolded build, the Roadie 24 realistically is a niche cooler with a steep price tag. Food and drinks stay chilled longer with the 120-Quart Hard Ice Chest Cooler, which Keeps the Ice up to 6 days. One of the most important factors in choosing a cooler is its ability to stay cool and maintain ice for as long as possible. Coleman soft coolers have a much shorter cold retention time than the hard models, usually 24 hours.
It’s big enough to fit all my freezer items and it’s supposed to hold ice for many days. We have two of these 150 quart coolers for camping, one for food, one for drink. Outperforms any comparably priced cooler – I bought this due to its large size and low price after a good amount of research. I just could not justify paying $400+ on premium coolers such as Pelican or Yeti. I got this so we could have enough room for drinks for 4th of July party.
They’ve successfully disrupted the market and changed the way that consumers view coolers with aggressive marketing and extremely high-quality products. The RTIC 65 weighs 36.5 pounds and measures 32 by 17 by 18 inches on the outside. Unlike several other competitors, the RTIC 65 has two drainage ports for quick cleaning and draining. Many companies have spent an astronomical amount of money and time to convince people that they need to spend ridiculous sums just to keep a drink cold.
Further, you get a handy basket for coleman ice chest goods, secure closures, and multiple tie-down slots to easily secure it on a boat or truck bed. What’s more, the Tundra is certified as bear-resistant (locks are sold separately for $35), which is great for those who plan to spend time in bear country. In our testing, the Coleman Xtreme kept ice frozen for a full week , 30 hours longer than the Igloo MaxCold .
Previously, we tested hard coolers in the summer in Baltimore through a week that saw highs of 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit and lows of 64 to 72 degrees. And more recently we tested most of our picks again throughout the year in Hawaii. But after using and testing 15 backpack coolers over the past seven years, we’ve found that the extra attention to detail becomes increasingly important the more straps and layers a soft cooler has. Fully loaded, this Yeti backpack cooler is still remarkably easy to carry.