Northern Virginia Roll Call

Classic lmao!

 

I disagree and will take you up on it, and also explain my rationale.

First, a question, If RTIC was the same cost as yeti or vice versa, would you still say rtic is better?

I will say they both will easily keep them cool. I mean OZARK trail is just as good as RTIC at that.
Durability wise, the only thing i think that is close to yeti would be pelican, but if they have locking latches like (the hole for a lock) like they do on their normal cases, Id take a hard pass as Ive broken those before. The reason I can confidently speak about this so much is intimate knowledge gained from prolong usage, in the field, for months. For the average user, Id 100 percent agree that purchasing a rtic is a good buy, and to not think twice about it. But they are not even in the same league. I bought my yeti WAY below retail. I'd do it again at full retail, because I bought mine because of the threat of bears getting into my cooler. Not because it will just keep it cold.

As an example of durability, one of my very close friends is cadre at robin sage. He spends almost a month per cycle at his training lane. Living in the field. His cooler exposed to the elements. Getting thrown in and out of trucks every time they have to move camp. Thats where his food is, his life blood. They are provided one meal a day as cadre, so anything else he has to bring. He has been using the same Yeti 65 for 40 cycles. He told me he bought that cooler because he was going through ( read, destroying) 3 coleman coolers every cycle. At 20 bucks a pop, that adds up fast. Before I purchased mine, I asked him if it would be worth the purchase, and he explained that for most people an RTIC or any other off brand would be fine, but he showed me his cooler. Thing is beat to shit. But it still locks, still keeps it cold. and he still uses it. And that is why I bought it.

 

You can also check pelican, 5.11, etc for gun cases that might work.

 

That's a pretty sweet idea. Take a look at SKB cases as well to see what sizes they make. They're on par with Pelican. Pelican will make custom cases as well. If something can be mocked up that works, it might not be too expensive to order a few cases. Then sell off the extras to other members.

 

If RTIC was the same price as a Yeti, I'd probably call them equals. Yeti of course, has country songs and stickers and shit so they'll always have the jump.

I've put mine through some shit, I use mine while hunting, camping and anything involving getting way too drunk at a public event. I've got friends with way messed up versions of the same cooler and they still seem to work fine.

 

Oh, I also had a drunk person try and ride it down a staircase upside down.

 

Those were Pelican Vaults that I posted. I'm gonna look into the 5.11s. Thanks

 

Pelican coolers are insanely well built. If you can break the lock slot then you are a beast.

 

Im not saying RTICs don't work. Im also not saying that your investment in a quality cooler that doesn't have yetis name on them was bad. That you only have to buy yeti. And I actually didn't know of the country songs. But remember, companies with money will always pay for product placement. I think your usage of your cooler is what it was designed for, and that is "average" use.
Does RTIC meet the same bear certification as YETI?

 

That looks very well built.

Enough so that I would look at them if I was in the market again

 

I’m pretty sure it does. It’s bear certified of some sort iirc

Edit: not sure if there’s an actual certification but I don’t feel like digging for it if there is

 

Agreed , but for most here rtic will do for cost. Like You said It depdends on usage.
I have a few buddies similar to yours that swear by yeti etc. i tried to get yeti as a DS but nobody wanted to drop the coin on them so we continued to waste money every damn cycle lmao. Basic pvt beat the shit out of stuff but rangers 10 fold lol. It always comes down to budget and actuall usage.

 

Just looked it up. Pelican does. Rtic does not.

 

Are you looking for it to be removable or just fit under seat?

 

The certification list is here https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1...1..gws-wiz.......0i71j0i67j0j0i10.NkZD7WxwD2M

 

https://www.popularmechanics.com/te...results-of-our-bear-proof-cooler-test-are-in/


Looks like Yeti’s are not bear proof...

 

To replace the rear seats. Put it on hinges and everything.

 

That's true, and for what I use it for (IMO at least) it works just as well as a comparable cooler. I don't do enough cool shit to torture test it to that extent.

 

Ozark trails have bear certs.
That means they are better than RTIC.



Fight me.

 

They meet the certification, and are approved for food storage on public lands, if it is a tundra series. Which I have. So, Im comfortable with it.

Also, the certification states a padlock must be used. So the video test is irrelevant based on the test not performed withing the parameters of the statemnts made by yeti, or the certification.