For what it’s worth, this was one of our “fan favorites” among friends and family while we were conducting an ice retention test which included 25 different coolers. A quick look at the will reveal its’ unique stance. This is not a run of the mill budget cooler yet not a roto molded cooler, it falls somewhere in between. Though at first glance the Trailmate looks like a great deal, we’re not so sure. But if wheels and features are what you’re after and a budget is what you’re on, the Igloo might be the right fit for your life.
And when you aren’t using it, simply store it away under the cooler’s lid. The Igloo Trailmate Cooler Series is a relatively new offering by the popular cooler company, Igloo. These coolers are designed for those people who need a quality cooler with good ice life but also something easy to transport and entertain with.
This cooler has been out a few years and we finally got our hands on one to put to the Tailgating Challenge. The Trailmate cooler claims to keep ice for 4 days and go anywhere with it’s 10 inch all-terrain wheels. We are on the quest to find the best coolers for whatever adventure life gives you, so now let’s learn more in the Igloo Trailmate Cooler Review. Additionally, its telescoping trolley handle provides an ample amount of space between the front of the cooler and the backs of your heels. This added space makes the Igloo the only wheeled cooler we tested that we never hit our heels on – a pretty big deal. And while we greatly appreciate this fact, we feel that the Trailmate still can’t quite live up to the smooth ride we got from coolers with air-filled tires.
If you are simply after an ice chest with the longest ice life and most impressive build quality (and have a very large budget), then stick to Yeti. But if you need something more mobile and plan on doing a lot of entertaining, the Trailmate should be on your list. As always, ice life is one of the most important metrics of a good cooler.
These provide additional stability when the cooler is laid flat. The no-slip grip combined with the aggressive tire tread means that you can place this cooler on uneven surfaces and slopes without worrying about it falling over or rolling away. Easily the most recognizable feature has to be the massive wheels. These are some of the largest we have seen on any cooler. And they come with some aggressive tread that allows for great traction through dirt, sand, and grass. And combine with the fact that they are never-flats, you have a great mobility solution that is designed to last.
We built our up-for-anything cooler so it’ll roll right over rough terrain like it’s on a paved path. The Igloo Trailmate Cooler is a new product by Igloo that aims to bring more mobility to a large cooler. By incorporating huge wheels and an intuitive glide handle, the Trailmate turns into a very easy-to-use ice chest that can go over some pretty rough terrain. In addition to this, you will find tons of great additional features and the styling isn’t bad, either. The Igloo Trailmate Journey is a burly, wheeled cooler with a 70qt capacity. Keep 112 beverage cans cold in this cooler, which has two oversized rugged wheels, a telescoping handle, and built-in bottle openers.
These two round discs are the most redeeming feature of the whole cooler. At just over 35 pounds, the Trailmate is also one of the lightest wheeled igloo water cooler models we tested. To experience the Trailmate Journey firsthand, we suggest purchasing it on Igloo’s website now before it sells out.
It is large enough to fit all of the food and drinks for a decent-sized group while still not being overly large to the point that it is a challenge to transport and store. But for someone after the maximum storage space, the 70-quart model may prove to be a bit limited. On numerous occasions, we found our hand searching for a front handle that doesn’t exist, only to latch onto the bottom of the little white box nestled on igloo water cooler the front. Unfortunately, that little white box slides up and off the cooler as soon as you apply pressure – not a great handle, so the retracted trolley arm will have to do. Our least favorite aspect in terms of usability is the drain found in this cooler. Though it has a wide channel to help empty it of meltwater, the inside of the drain also is turned into a protruding tunnel into the interior by a white plastic tube.