Cooler Showdown

[WillBeck]

I'm in the market for a good cooler, so i've been doing some research. I figured i would compile a list of what i've found so that others can benefit. Tried to compare similar sizes, and styles.

Half the effort was finding all the different options out there. I will refrain from posting all the details, but include links so you can check them out yourself. Any personal experiences with any of the below would be welcome. As well as any additional options i haven't found.

Yeti Tundra 45 - $349.99
http://yeticoolers.com/tundra-45-cooler/#details

Bison Coolers 50 - $329
https://www.bisoncoolers.com/shop/brute-box-50-qt/

Orca 40 - $349.99
http://www.shoporca.com/product-p/orct040.htm

Pelican 45 - $280.76
http://www.pelicancoolers.com/products/45-quart-custom-color-elite-cooler?variant=822525691

Canyon Coolers Outfitter 50 - $289.99
http://www.canyoncoolers.com/outfitter-50.html

Canyon Coolers Pro Cube 50 - $239
http://www.canyoncoolers.com/pro-cube-50.html

Grizzly Coolers 40 - $339.99
http://www.grizzlycoolers.com/catalog/grizzly-camping-coolers/medium-camping-coolers/g40.html

Engel 50 - $329.99
http://www.engelcoolers.com/coolers/deepblue/high-performance-coolers/engel-deepblue-50-cooler

Orion Coolers 45 - $449
http://store.orioncoolers.com/orion-45/

RTIC 45 - $174.99
https://www.rticcoolers.com/shop/coolers/RTIC-45-Tan

Esky 55 - $339.99
http://www.eskyseriescoolers.com/pr...000003046?contextCategory=300000#.ViKLBrQ-Ci5

Icey Tek 55 - $294.99
http://www.icey-tek-coolers.com/55-quart-icey-tek-cooler-ice-box/

 

[WillBeck]

So far, based on price, options, aesthetics, and reviews, i'm leaning towards the Bison.

 

[tonkaman]

Wow, I had no idea there were so many similar options!

 

[fog cutter]

"we got a live one!"

 

[Jtai]

Great post. I to had no idea there are so many choices.

I'm leaning towards Yet I now that I have my refund on my Rtic

 

[safariguy]

Wow, so many options that are similar in price to a Yeti [surprised].

 

[WillBeck]

Found another Igloo


Igloo Yukon 50 - $329.99
http://www.yukoncoldlockers.com/why-yukon.php

 

[jeep-N-montero]

There are test reviews and videos for pretty much everything you listed above, some of us simply go with the Coleman Extreme Ultimate that is supported by numerous tests and have 4+ years of abuse without issue.

 

[OCD Overland]

I think past threads have judged these mostly the same, with the Pelican getting the quality hardware award, the Coleman getting the value award.

 

[Terex]

The less expensive ones, including Coleman, don't appear to be bear resistant certified. That may work for many of you, but not for me. We like our Yeti, but others looks very serviceable. Thanks for the great compilation!

 

[jeep-N-montero]

I think past threads have judged these mostly the same, with the Pelican getting the quality hardware award, the Coleman getting the value award.

You are correct sir.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

The less expensive ones, including Coleman, don't appear to be bear resistant certified. That may work for many of you, but not for me. We like our Yeti, but others looks very serviceable. Thanks for the great compilation!

A little bit of common sense can go a long way....

 

[piratenation90]

No matter what brand get white

I have owned 3 Yeti's, 2 K2's and 1 Engel cooler all at the same time. I have now reduced them down to 1 45 Yeti, 1 50qt K2 and 1 65 Engel. I also have a Ice Mule soft sided cooler for day kayak and paddle board trips. I will tell you from experience that color of the cooler plays a huge part in ice retention. Each cooler has its pluses and minuses. The yeti is a real pita to open if it is really humid out to the point where i have to pry it open with a screw driver, but you the seal is airtight if you have to pry it open. The Engel is the easiest to open in that it has rubber coated metal latches. The K2 can leak if you don't tighten the drain plug really tight. In my opinion the are all good in their own way. My yeti's are all tan because they are Ducks Unlimited editions and yeti only offered them in tan. My engel is a tan DU edition also, the K2 is a DU one too but it is white. If I am going to use a cooler and it will be in direct sunlight I use the white K2. I have filled my 45 tan yeti and my friends 45 white yeti all the way up with ice, left them outside in the sun and the white yeti retained ice for a day longer than the tan. I personally would never pay for a Yeti or Engel as they are two expensive, all my coolers I have won on raffles at Ducks Unlimited banquets. For the price of a 65 yeti you could buy a 45qt edgestar and hold just as much as the 65 yeti because you don't have ice taking up space.
If I was going to pay money for a cooler it would be a K2 cooler. You can get a 50QT k2 off their main website's scratch and dent page for around $250 with shipping.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

Color sure does play a huge role in ice retention, most of us learned this in junior high science class, why on earth cooler manufacturers build them in anything but white or very light tan is beyond me. The better question is why someone would choose to purchase a darker color cooler. I personally have the Coleman Extreme Marine Ultimate going on 5 years and it gets used for camping, hunting, and on our boat. I have even backed up into it with the Montero to the point I felt it push the body upward, aside from a few scrapes it survived unscathed. If I feel the need for 'bear proofing' it I can simply put a ratchet strap around the cooler but never had to do this.

 

[outdoornate65]

OJ has an in-depth article about coolers in the latest issue. Good reading. Yeti was top pick and Engel was the budget choice.

Having just come off a week-long Green River float trip, I can endorse both Yeti and Engel as quality products. We had ice after 6-7 days.