But not all features, add-ons, and extras are created equal, and their value may depend on how and where you intend to use your gear. Other features that are still useful but are more specific to certain styles of use received lower scores. coleman screen tent These include things like cup holders, bottle openers, and measurement notches. We also only ranked contenders based on the features they come with and not on all the accessories you could choose to purchase for an additional charge.
Overall, the contenders with the most durable combinations of design, construction, and features are the Roadie and Tundra models, with the Orca and RovR not far behind. As such, they are easy to use, lacking the stiff stubbornness of many other latches. Still, more flexible rubber might have a shorter lifespan than denser rubber, though we haven’t had an issue after using this product for years. The Igloo IMX 70qt is similar, with exceptionally flexible, soft, easy-to-use latches, also giving us pause about how well they’ll hold up through years of use and UV exposure. However, this is just speculation and not something we witnessed during our extensive testing. The Igloo BMX also has T-grip latches with slightly different shapes and thicknesses that both get the job done just fine.
To help you find the right model, we tease apart performance differences between contenders, implementing specific tests spanning five exhaustive, mutually exclusive metrics. We test the insulation performance, durability, ease of use, portability, and features of every single model. As some performance aspects are more important than others, we weight each metric accordingly. We ran and re-ran insulation tests under controlled but harsh laboratory conditions.
We also started tracking the internal temperature of the coolers with the ThermoWorks Signals thermometer to see exactly when temperatures began to rise. A cooler’s latch or closure system is one of the defining characteristics of a premium model and plays a significant role in overall cooling performance. Among high-end hard-sided coolers, you’ll commonly find two rubber T-handles along the front that keep the lid locked securely in place. These handles are fairly user-friendly, extremely strong, and minimize any openings for cold air to escape.
While more and more competitors now automatically include an internal dry basket, Orca continues to offer it as an extra accessory, subbing in the external mesh pocket instead. Despite these few minor gripes, we love the all-around size, feel, and performance of the Orca 40 as the best mid-sized option on the market today. Most cooler manufacturers provide a “claimed ice retention” spec in their product listings (YETI is one major brand who does not).
The Roadie 24 has a flexible webbing strap that more comfortably facilitates an over-the-forearm carry. It also has a pair of indented handles hiding underneath both sides of the top for two-handed carry. The Pelican 20 isn’t very enjoyable to carry, with a hard plastic top handle and a tall, gangly shape with too many rigid edges that smacked our legs and ankles as we walked.
I expected the Yeti to go at least one more day, but I wasn’t really disappointed as I know that their claim of 7 days is with a pre-cooled cooler that is full to the top with ice, so 6 days was pretty good all things said. After the 4th day, the Coleman was about 90% water and 10% ice but still very cold. The paper pulp of the Recool composts easily in the backyard, and it performs basically as well as any cheap single-use cooler. This cooler feels like you can roll it across anything without the handle straining or bending, or the wheels breaking. If you’re an angler, you might appreciate a model with an integrated ruler across the top to measure your catch. Many of the options we tested have this feature, including the Pelican Wheeled, Arctic Titan, Xspec, and Igloo IMX.
The RTIC and RovR RollR are two more of our favorites among the crowd for their ease of use. This feat is made even more impressive by all the bouncing you’ll be doing with the enormous wheels over debris on your way to the party. It also boasts one of the tallest internal heights of any cooler we tested, so you can rest assured your chilled Pinot Grigio will stay that way all day. The RTIC offers a similarly simple interior that’s spacious enough to bring a ton of food with you on your hunting trip or camping adventure. Its dual drains make cleaning it a breeze, and the flexibility of this model’s rubber latches means it’s easier to open and close with a single hand than other rubber-latched models.