We filled each model with water to see how well their seals worked (or if they worked at all) and left them all out in the scorching midday desert sun for hours on end to see what would happen. Several of our top-performing contestants have been in regular use for several years now, and each season we update their durability and performance information, documenting how they change over time. 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.
And a look at the market reveals a surprisingly wide range of available manufacturer guarantees. At the top end are ORCA and ROAM, which offer lifetime warranties that cover defects, while most others range from one to 10 years. It’s also important to point out that some companies provide different warranties for their hard-sided versus soft-sided offerings. For example, YETI covers its Tundra series with a five-year warranty, while their soft-sided Hopper is only covered for three. For retail purchases returned without a receipt, the refund will be issued as a store merchandise
credit at the lowest price within the last 90 days.
This review is the brainchild of a team of testers, led by Senior Review Editor Maggie Nichols. Maggie has been playing and guiding in the outdoors for over fifteen years, from backpacking the Tahoe Rim Trail to kayaking the Caribbean. She is an avid camper and even lived in her teardrop trailer for several seasons.
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).
All returns with a gift receipt will receive a store
credit for the amount of the item at the time of purchase. And, no matter that, you can potentially buy up to 5 replacements before reaching coleman screen tent the price of just one Yeti Tundra 45 Cooler. I’d like to run an updated version of this comparison in the future where I keep both coolers in my car trunk for the duration of the experiment.
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. 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.
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. Made of thick, waterproof material, this backpack cooler proved itself more than capable of holding its integrity through all our backcountry rough handling. This review covers 16 top ice chests available today we bought and tested side-by-side. We started in the lab with rigorous insulation testing and continued assessments through a wide range of real-world uses.
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 coleman ice chest 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.
The Arctic Titan has an oversized drain to decrease the time you spend emptying it. And if one drain isn’t enough for you, the RTIC features two drains, one on either end. 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. Of course, if you want a faster flow, a total plug removal is advised, but don’t misplace that cap, as most models we tested don’t come with a leash to keep it attached to the body of the box. The Tundra(s), RTIC, Engel, Arctic Titan, Orca(s), Kenai, Xspec, and RovR all have this handy dual drain hole feature.