So this may be just total overkill of analysis I don't know. But hopefully it helps someone. And note that I have no axe here for or against any of these manufacturers. I don't own any of them. I have cheapo Coleman and Igloos. Yes I am considering a high end cooler and believe the quality is probably worth the price (although not sure versus a fridge so still doing research).
(Oh and if anyone can show me how to put in paragraph breaks I would REALLY appreciate it! I did not want this post to look this way with no line/paragraph breaks!
)
I also welcome comments by any mfr reps who wish to explain what is going on or if I have done the math wrong or misinterpreted something.
I had read a couple of reviews on Amazon of Yeti coolers and one of the comments stated that the capacity of the Yeti's is not as large as what they suggest. So being a #'s geek I checked the Yeti site and then compared them to Pelican. I then added RTIC given some of the recent threads on here about them. I wanted to compare them to Coleman but can't find the interior dimensions of Coleman coolers readily at their website. But suffice to say the Yeti's have significantly less capacity than what I think a normal person would believe based on the cooler “number”.
The only reason I can see to do this is that if the coolers WERE the actual advertised size/capacity the cost differentials would be even greater. A Coleman Extreme Marine 70 Quart lists for $89.99 at Coleman's site. They state it holds 98 cans. The Yeti 75 is $449.99 at their website. Yet they state the cooler holds 50 cans. In fairness to Yeti they do state that they use a 2:1 ice to beer ratio. Coleman may simply be filling the cooler with beer and no ice I don't know. But the bottom line is based on the interior dimensions the Yeti 75 has an actual capacity of 60 quarts. To get 70 “actual” quarts of capacity (based on my calculations) I have to go to the Yeti 105 which is which costs $479.99. Yeti states this one holds 59 cans of beer so there may still be some difference in the beer to ice thing for Yeti v. Coleman. But the bottom line is to get a comparable cooler (SIZE ONLY) you are now looking at an additional $390 over the Coleman.
Yes buy it once, get the quality, I get that…..but it also calls into question some of the differences between the Yeti and the other quality coolers- Pelican and RTIC. If I was comparing the Yeti 65 to the (old style) Pelican 65 the price is the same: $399.99. But the Pelican 65 has 68.8 quarts of capacity where the Yeti 65 has 44 quarts. To get approximately the same capacity in the Yeti I need to get the Yeti 105 which has actual capacity of 70.9 quarts (yes 2.11 quarts more). But the Yeti 105 is $479.99 so I would pay $80 more for the Yeti of the same size.
For all of the math below I used the dimensions from the manufacturer's website. I did notice that the Yeti coolers have a larger top than bottom so the interior dimension is provided at the "midpoint" of the cooler. Presumably the difference at the bottom and the top is equally different from the midpoint so as not to throw off the math too much. The Pelican's just provide you with the interior dimensions so I have no way of knowing if the walls are sloped and if so how much. The RTIC's appear to be similar to the Yeti's in that the walls slant but again, no idea if the midpoint they state has a measurable difference than the volume calculation. Enough of the legal disclaimer....
But this clearly shows Yeti plays some games with their capacity calcs. And while Pelican maybe kept to more accurate numbers with their initial line of coolers, the new ones are following Yeti's path albeit not to the degree Yeti has. RTIC is kind of in between. As I said earlier if Coleman or Igloo do the same thing then maybe I wouldn't notice a big difference if I switched from similar sized coolers. But this kind of stuff pi**es me off. I see no reason to lie about the size of the cooler. I would love to hear a Yeti Rep (or a Pelican Rep on the new line) explain why they are doing this. People know the high end coolers with greater insulation have a larger footprint, but why BS on the interior size? Anyway.....I hope this helps someone.
*All Dimensions are Length x Width x Height in inches
Yeti Coolers
www.yeticoolers.com
Yeti 50
Interior Dimensions: 16.625 x 10.625 x 12.125 = 2141.768 cu in
Volume: 37 quarts
Difference: -13 qts (26% LESS)
Yeti 65
Interior Dimensions: 23.375 x 10.75 x 10.125 = 2544.223 cu in
Volume: 44 quarts
Difference: -21 qts (32.3% LESS)
Yeti 75
Interior Dimensions: 26 x 11.125 x 12 = 3471 cu in
Volume: 60 quarts
Difference: -15 qts (20% LESS)
Yeti 105
Interior Dimensions: 23 x 12.5 x 14.25 = 4096.875 cu in
Volume: 71 quarts
Difference: -34 qts (32.38% LESS)
Yeti 160
Interior Dimensions: 37.375 x 12.375 x 15.5 = 7168.992 cu in
Volume: 124 quarts
Difference: -36 qts (22.5% LESS)
Pelican
www.pelicancoolers.com
“New” Elite Pelican 30
Interior Dimensions: 14.6 x 10.2 x 11 = 1638.12 cu in
Volume: 28.36 quarts
Difference: -1.64 qts (5.47% LESS)
“New” Elite Pelican 50
Interior Dimensions: 17.5 x 11 x 13.7 = 2637.25 cu in
Volume: 45.66 quarts
Difference: -4.34 qts (8.68% LESS)
“New” Elite Pelican 70
Interior Dimensions: 23.5 x 11 x 14.3 = 3696.55 cu in
Volume: 64 quarts
Difference: -6.0 qts (8.57% LESS)
“Old” Elite Pelican 65
Interior Dimensions: 26.5 x 12 x 12.5 = 3975 cu in
Volume: 68.8 quarts
Difference: +3.8 qts (5.85% MORE)
“Old” Elite Pelican 95
Interior Dimensions: 27.34 x 12 x 17.62 = 5780.77 cu in
Volume: 100 quarts
Difference: +5.0 qts (5.26% MORE)
“Old” Elite Pelican 150
Interior Dimensions: 34 x 15.75 x 17 = 9103.5 cu in
Volume: 157 quarts
Difference: +7.0 qts (4.67% MORE)
RTIC Coolers
www.rticcoolers.com
RTIC 45
Interior Dimensions: 19.375 x 10.5 x 11.875 = 2415.82 cu in
Volume: 41.8 quarts
Difference: -3.17 qts (3.17% LESS)
RTIC 65
Interior Dimensions: 24.75 x 11.75 x 13 = 3780.563 cu in
Volume: 65.46 quarts
Difference: +.46 qts (0.71% MORE)
(Oh and if anyone can show me how to put in paragraph breaks I would REALLY appreciate it! I did not want this post to look this way with no line/paragraph breaks!
)I also welcome comments by any mfr reps who wish to explain what is going on or if I have done the math wrong or misinterpreted something.
I had read a couple of reviews on Amazon of Yeti coolers and one of the comments stated that the capacity of the Yeti's is not as large as what they suggest. So being a #'s geek I checked the Yeti site and then compared them to Pelican. I then added RTIC given some of the recent threads on here about them. I wanted to compare them to Coleman but can't find the interior dimensions of Coleman coolers readily at their website. But suffice to say the Yeti's have significantly less capacity than what I think a normal person would believe based on the cooler “number”.
The only reason I can see to do this is that if the coolers WERE the actual advertised size/capacity the cost differentials would be even greater. A Coleman Extreme Marine 70 Quart lists for $89.99 at Coleman's site. They state it holds 98 cans. The Yeti 75 is $449.99 at their website. Yet they state the cooler holds 50 cans. In fairness to Yeti they do state that they use a 2:1 ice to beer ratio. Coleman may simply be filling the cooler with beer and no ice I don't know. But the bottom line is based on the interior dimensions the Yeti 75 has an actual capacity of 60 quarts. To get 70 “actual” quarts of capacity (based on my calculations) I have to go to the Yeti 105 which is which costs $479.99. Yeti states this one holds 59 cans of beer so there may still be some difference in the beer to ice thing for Yeti v. Coleman. But the bottom line is to get a comparable cooler (SIZE ONLY) you are now looking at an additional $390 over the Coleman.
Yes buy it once, get the quality, I get that…..but it also calls into question some of the differences between the Yeti and the other quality coolers- Pelican and RTIC. If I was comparing the Yeti 65 to the (old style) Pelican 65 the price is the same: $399.99. But the Pelican 65 has 68.8 quarts of capacity where the Yeti 65 has 44 quarts. To get approximately the same capacity in the Yeti I need to get the Yeti 105 which has actual capacity of 70.9 quarts (yes 2.11 quarts more). But the Yeti 105 is $479.99 so I would pay $80 more for the Yeti of the same size.
For all of the math below I used the dimensions from the manufacturer's website. I did notice that the Yeti coolers have a larger top than bottom so the interior dimension is provided at the "midpoint" of the cooler. Presumably the difference at the bottom and the top is equally different from the midpoint so as not to throw off the math too much. The Pelican's just provide you with the interior dimensions so I have no way of knowing if the walls are sloped and if so how much. The RTIC's appear to be similar to the Yeti's in that the walls slant but again, no idea if the midpoint they state has a measurable difference than the volume calculation. Enough of the legal disclaimer....
But this clearly shows Yeti plays some games with their capacity calcs. And while Pelican maybe kept to more accurate numbers with their initial line of coolers, the new ones are following Yeti's path albeit not to the degree Yeti has. RTIC is kind of in between. As I said earlier if Coleman or Igloo do the same thing then maybe I wouldn't notice a big difference if I switched from similar sized coolers. But this kind of stuff pi**es me off. I see no reason to lie about the size of the cooler. I would love to hear a Yeti Rep (or a Pelican Rep on the new line) explain why they are doing this. People know the high end coolers with greater insulation have a larger footprint, but why BS on the interior size? Anyway.....I hope this helps someone.
*All Dimensions are Length x Width x Height in inches
Yeti Coolers
www.yeticoolers.com
Yeti 50
Interior Dimensions: 16.625 x 10.625 x 12.125 = 2141.768 cu in
Volume: 37 quarts
Difference: -13 qts (26% LESS)
Yeti 65
Interior Dimensions: 23.375 x 10.75 x 10.125 = 2544.223 cu in
Volume: 44 quarts
Difference: -21 qts (32.3% LESS)
Yeti 75
Interior Dimensions: 26 x 11.125 x 12 = 3471 cu in
Volume: 60 quarts
Difference: -15 qts (20% LESS)
Yeti 105
Interior Dimensions: 23 x 12.5 x 14.25 = 4096.875 cu in
Volume: 71 quarts
Difference: -34 qts (32.38% LESS)
Yeti 160
Interior Dimensions: 37.375 x 12.375 x 15.5 = 7168.992 cu in
Volume: 124 quarts
Difference: -36 qts (22.5% LESS)
Pelican
www.pelicancoolers.com
“New” Elite Pelican 30
Interior Dimensions: 14.6 x 10.2 x 11 = 1638.12 cu in
Volume: 28.36 quarts
Difference: -1.64 qts (5.47% LESS)
“New” Elite Pelican 50
Interior Dimensions: 17.5 x 11 x 13.7 = 2637.25 cu in
Volume: 45.66 quarts
Difference: -4.34 qts (8.68% LESS)
“New” Elite Pelican 70
Interior Dimensions: 23.5 x 11 x 14.3 = 3696.55 cu in
Volume: 64 quarts
Difference: -6.0 qts (8.57% LESS)
“Old” Elite Pelican 65
Interior Dimensions: 26.5 x 12 x 12.5 = 3975 cu in
Volume: 68.8 quarts
Difference: +3.8 qts (5.85% MORE)
“Old” Elite Pelican 95
Interior Dimensions: 27.34 x 12 x 17.62 = 5780.77 cu in
Volume: 100 quarts
Difference: +5.0 qts (5.26% MORE)
“Old” Elite Pelican 150
Interior Dimensions: 34 x 15.75 x 17 = 9103.5 cu in
Volume: 157 quarts
Difference: +7.0 qts (4.67% MORE)
RTIC Coolers
www.rticcoolers.com
RTIC 45
Interior Dimensions: 19.375 x 10.5 x 11.875 = 2415.82 cu in
Volume: 41.8 quarts
Difference: -3.17 qts (3.17% LESS)
RTIC 65
Interior Dimensions: 24.75 x 11.75 x 13 = 3780.563 cu in
Volume: 65.46 quarts
Difference: +.46 qts (0.71% MORE)
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