Unsurprisingly, wheeled coolers had been the best to maneuver over longer distances. I additionally most well-liked coolers with lengthy, rope handles with massive silicone grips, which prevented them from twisting round or biting into my palms. In order for you a cooler that is tremendous transportable, you may in all probability simply wish to go for a smooth cooler.

They Have been Hardier Than Anticipated

The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee charges a number of the coolers I examined as bear-resistant (beneath sure circumstances). I anticipated these to be sturdy, however what concerning the others? Nicely, not one cooler escaped the abrasive amalgam of my driveway with out at the least some superficial harm—however that was the extent of it. I anticipated some to lose tops or break handles, however they didn’t. Curiously, each cooler landed the other way up on its lid, the place it took scuffing and some deeper scratches. No cooler broke, although. 

Drains May Be Efficient—or Not

Each cooler I examined had a plugged drain that labored with various levels of success. The Orca and Yeti Tundra 45 had the simplest drains, eradicating water fully on their very own. Essentially the most infuriating drains had been ones with deep depressions round them that trapped residual liquid, even after turning the coolers over to empty them.

The Standards: What to Search for in a Cooler

One of the best cooler is the one which fits your wants. Would you like a high-capacity cooler or one which holds ice for days? Additionally, take into account how typically you’ll use it. The coolers I examined vary in value from $48 to $400, so you could not wish to make a significant funding in the event you’ll solely use it yearly. My favourite coolers balanced chilly retention and cupboard space, with weight as a tertiary consideration. 

Our Favourite Coolers

What we preferred: The Roadie 48 has a dice form and a big storage capability. The telescoping deal with has a cushty 6.5-inch grip and the cooler options rugged, seven-inch wheels. Its built-in handles are additionally snug, and I had no points carrying the cooler round. It had nice chilly retention with a tight-latching lid that complemented the thick polyurethane insulation.

What we didn’t like: At 28 kilos, it wasn’t the heaviest cooler I examined, however beginning off at that weight interprets to a heavy cooler when it’s full. Its drain is extra irritating than others. Sure, it drained water, however a couple of half-inch remained on the backside. I rocked the cooler again on its wheels, and many of the remaining water got here out. 

Key Specs:

• Capability: 76 cans/54 kilos ice
• Exterior dimensions: 20.6 x 20.1 x 19.8 inches
• Inside dimensions: 14.5 x 11.4 x 15.8 inches
• Weight: 28 kilos
• Wheels: Sure
• Further options: Telescoping deal with, dry bin, tie-down factors, non-skid ft

What we preferred: The Orca has among the best storage capacities of any cooler I examined. It held ice for over 60 hours and was one in every of two fashions that drained fully with out the necessity for human intervention. It had robust latches and, although it took some superficial harm once I pushed it repeatedly to the bottom, was fairly sturdy. 

What we didn’t like: The handles, that are curved plastic grips masking woven straps, are snug to carry, however the cooler is heavy sufficient that it’d be tough for one individual to hold simply.

Key Specs:

• Capability: 46 cans
• Exterior dimensions: 27 x 19.4 x 19.4 inches
• Inside dimensions: 19.9 x 13.4 x 13.1 
• Weight: 36 kilos
• Further options: Cargo web for storage, slip-resistant ft

What we preferred: The RovR held its temperature for over 72 hours and was one in every of solely two coolers that fully drained by itself. Due to the outsized nine-inch tires and cozy, T-shaped deal with with twin four-inch grips, this cooler rolled down steps and throughout sand, grass, and concrete with nice ease. It’s robust, too. Though it scuffed within the sturdiness testing, this cooler is bear-resistant when taking the correct additional steps (like utilizing bear-resistant locks).

What we didn’t like: Whereas this cooler rolled over any floor I examined it on, the wheel association hit my legs once I was carrying it, making motion clumsy. The wheel wells ate into usable cupboard space.

Key Specs:

• Capability: 60 cans plus 10 lbs of ice
• Exterior dimensions: 16.9 x 20.8 x 20 inches
• Inside dimensions: 19.6 x 10.6 x 12 inches
• Weight: 39 kilos
• Wheels: Sure
• Further options: Tie-down factors, dry bin, non-skid ft

What we preferred: I’ve had Coleman merchandise in my orbit since I used to be a toddler, together with a tent I’ve owned for about 30 years that protected me from a tropical storm that handed over thrice. Coleman gear isn’t flashy, however the merchandise are easy and dependable, such because the 316 Sequence. It has not one of the extremely engineered, inches-thick insulation of a lot of its rivals. It received’t maintain tempo with them, nevertheless it did maintain a food-safe temperature for over 36 hours. It didn’t take vital harm within the fall assessments and is a wonderful cooler for in a single day journeys that prices lower than $50. 

What we didn’t like: This cooler has no latches, and the lid popped open throughout three of the 5 fall assessments. 

Key Specs:

• Capability: 80 cans
• Exterior dimensions: 26 x 16.3 x 16.5 inches
• Inside dimensions: 22 x 12.7 x 12 inches
• Weight: 16.4 kilos
• Wheels: No
• Further options: Molded cup holders

The Competitors

• Yeti Tundra 45 Laborious Cooler: The Tundra carried out nicely in most of my testing however lacked capability. I couldn’t stand a wine bottle up inside, I might solely match two of three ice packs, and I couldn’t shut the lid with out crushing the bread.
• Rtic 52-Quart Extremely-Mild Wheeled Laborious Cooler: The Rtic held ice for over 48 hours and had cheap cupboard space. It wasn’t notably snug to hold; the molded grips required me to carry it like I used to be doing bicep curls to alleviate stress on my fingers. 
• Canyon PRO 45 Quart Cooler The Canyon may be discontinued at this level, which is a disgrace as a result of it rated very extremely in testing. There have been a couple of downsides: The cooler weighed 38 kilos empty, and after about two hours within the solar, the deal with grips emitted an oily, sticky substance that coated my fingers and was tough to clean off. 
• Igloo BMX 52 Quart Laborious Cooler: There was nothing incorrect with this cooler; it simply didn’t impress. It held ice for over 48 hours, and if I needed to discover fault with it, the positioning of the fold-up handles induced pressure on my wrists.
• Yeti Roadie 32 Cooler: The Roadie 32 is a smaller-capacity cooler that’s nice for an in a single day journey for 2, nevertheless it’s not extremely versatile. It held ice for over 72 hours.
• Yeti Roadie 15 Cooler: The Yeti 15 is a more recent mannequin that was even smaller than the 32 however had equal efficiency. It’s a terrific picnic cooler however not massive sufficient for an in a single day journey.

FAQs

The place are Yeti coolers made? 

Yeti has manufacturing amenities worldwide, together with the USA, Vietnam, the Philippines, Poland, China, Mexico, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Thailand.

Why are Yeti coolers so costly?

Yeti coolers have a popularity for top costs, and many of the Yeti fashions I examined ran between $300 to $400. The value comes from the just about over-engineering of the one-piece molded design and thick insulation. However coolers of an identical caliber and manufacturing fall according to Yeti’s costs, just like the RovR RollR 60 Rolling Cooler (about $400).

Why We’re the Consultants

• Greg Baker is a multi-time James Beard Award-nominated former chef from Tampa, Florida. 
• He’s reviewed knife sharpeners, charcoal starter chimneys, and extra for Critical Eats.
• Greg punished 11 coolers within the Florida summer time warmth for this evaluate and desperately wants hydration.