Alternatives to Yeti products

With the current debate and several locked threads, let's keep the politics out of this one. Stick to the facts and not argue because of fanboy or a fanatic.

Feel free to post links or any first hand comparisons/contests you've participated in.


Yeti's Tundra 65
-$350 ($50 off now) $300 now
-29 pounds empty
-65 qt
-2733 cubic inches capacity
-"up to 3 inches of PermaFrost™ Insulation"
https://www.yeti.com/hard-coolers/t...ard-coolers#prefn1=type&prefv1=tundra&start=1

Pelican 70qt Elite
-$350
-33.29 pounds empty
-72.42 qt (68.53 liters)
-3696 cubic inches capacity
-Polyurethane Foam insulation
-Certified Bear Proof from the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee
https://www.pelicancoolers.com/coll...or-coolers/products/pelican-70qt-elite-cooler

Otterbox Venture 65 Cooler

-$350 + Free shipping
-32.95 pounds empty
-"Capacity: inside capacity is exactly 65 quarts"
-4333 cubic inches capacity
-Two-part polyurethane insulation
-Certified bear-resistant by Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC) (when secured with Locking Kit)
https://www.otterbox.com/en-us/venture-65/cooler/otr56-cooler-65.html


Igloo Sportsman™ 70
-$350 + Free Shipping
-30 pounds empty (13.61kg)
-70 quarts (66 liters)
-It lists a tapered interior and I'm not doing the capacity calculations because I'm too lazy at this point. Top - 27.25" x 11.75" x 13.55" Bottom - 26.13" x 11.13" x 13.55"
-"Minimum 2" foam in gasketed lid and 1.5-2" body foam for superior cooling performance"
-Certified "Bear Resistant" by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee​

https://www.igloocoolers.com/collections/hard-coolers/products/sportsman-70-qt-rotomold-cooler

Rtic RTIC 65 - White
-$192 + Free Shipping
-36.5 pounds empty
-65 quarts
-Doesn't list interior size.
-"Up to 3" Insulated Walls Commercial grade insulating foam"
-"Bear Resistant Designed to keep bears out"
https://www.rticcoolers.com/shop/coolers/roto-molded/RTIC-65-White​

Now for some lesser known coolers I googled up.

Coleman 54 Quart Steel Belted® Cooler
-Cool Retro like Paw Paw had when I was a kid.

-$150 + Free Shipping
-Low CO2 insulation for reduced carbon emissions from foam manufacturing
-Not many more details on their website
-Will allow a 2l bottle to stand upright
-can support 250 lbs on the lid
https://www.coleman.com/54-quart-steel-belted-cooler-red/3000003539.html

Coleman 85-Quart Heavy-Duty Super Cooler
-$300 + Free Shipping
-3672 cubic inches capacity
-"Retains cold and keeps ice for 7 days at temps up to 90°F thanks to 2.5-inch lid and floor insulation, 2-inch sidewall insulation, and tight-fitting gasket seal around lid"​

https://www.coleman.com/coolers-wat...0005501.html?cgid=coleman-coolersandwaterjugs

ENGEL 65 ROTO-MOLDED COOLER (Possibly the winner!!!!)

-$280 + Free shipping
-26 pounds empty
-58 quarts
-3456 cubic inches capacity
-2 inches of insulation in the lid, on the sides, and on the bottom
-"IGBC Certified Bear Resistant Container" - molded on rear lid of cooler
-10 Year Warranty
https://www.engelcoolers.com/engel-65-roto-molded-cooler.html

Bison 50 Qt. Bison Cooler (GEN2)
-I chose the smaller 50qt for comparison due to pricing
-$330 + Free Shipping
-34 pounds empty
-50 quarts
-2784 cubic inches capacity
https://www.bisoncoolers.com/collections/coolers/products/50-qt-bison-cooler

Grizzly 60 Cooler - G60 (Possibly another winner!!!!)
-$250 + Free Shipping
-30 pounds empty
-IGBC Certification Number 3359 (Bear Proof)
-Lifetime Warranty
-This is a Pro 2A company and offers a 2nd Amendment limited edition cooler, too. ​

https://www.grizzlycoolers.com/catalog/product/view/id/4/s/grizzly-60/category/59/


Ozark Trail 73-Quart High-Performance Cooler

-$184 + Free Shipping
-35.25 pounds empty
-73 quarts
-4044 cubic inches interior
-"And just in case you run into any trouble, this cooler has been tested by the USDA's Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee and certified bear-resistant."
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Ozark-Trail-73-Quart-High-Performance-Cooler/49229408#read-more

Orion 65
-$400
-36 pounds empty
-65.98 quarts
-Not much info
https://orioncoolers.com/products/orion-65-2017.html

Thermeter drain sound nice. I’ll have a look into that.
​

Vibe Element 45 Cooler
$170
-2483 cubic inch capacity
-23 pounds
-Pressure release valve

 

I love my Pelican! It also beat the Yeti in an ice test by two days.

 

Ozark Trails makes a cooler too, I don’t think it’s as big as the ones above but I know it’s a hell of a lot cheaper.

 

Uncle has two Yeti's, I had an RTIC, now have an Engel 50qt and love it. Best cooler for the price by far IMHO. Much more space than my RTIC 45, not as heavy, better drain. Holds ice all day in the sun on my boat with little to no melt even without a fully packed cooler. Also like buying from a Florida company. If you find an Engel for cheap online west marine will match the pricing plus free shipping, got me about 60 bucks off my 50qt.

Only complaints with the Engel are the latches and handles, they have held up for now. Latches don't seem to seal as tight as the Yeti/RTIC and aren't as solid feeling. Plus a little odd till you get used to them. Handles are rope, but a plastic grip instead of foam. Wouldn't go back to RTIC quality was iffy and Yeti, just never been a fan.

 

Cabela's makes coolers also, I've never owned one but everything else I've had from them has been top notch.

 

I looked at the Cabela's cooler, but the molded in handles stick out pretty far and would've been really clumsy as a console seat in a boat. Could see a lot of legs/knees getting caught running front or back in the boat. Otherwise looked like a great cooler. Just something I noticed, depending on your application they could be an advantage.

 

If I'm going to spend an insane amount of money on a cooler that needs ice, I decided I'd spend a little more and never need ice. Can make ice. Holds more in less space due to not using ice. 2:1 is the recommended ice to product on most high end coolers.



There's other brands and the prices are actually fairly close. You MUST get a compressor style NOT the cheap 20* above ambient temp. These will freeze water in the back of your truck in the desert. Runs on both 110 and 12 volt. I've used a lithium ion battery to power mine at times.

 

I have an RTIC. I am very happy with it. I'd like a fridge, but I like the portability of a regular cooler.

 

I've got an rtic. If you're ordering one if these roto coolers without seeing them in person yet, the weight can surprise you. A 65 cooler loaded up is going to weigh a ton. They work great, but beware if you go really big, you'll probably want to fill it up while it's in the bed of your truck and leave it there.

 

You've got a point. It's nearly triple the price of a good cooler but hands down worth it if you need one.
http://store.arbusa.com/ARB-Fridge-Freezer-50-Qt-10800472-P3626.aspx

 

Canyon 75qt Oufitter
-$270
-30.5 pounds empty
-74 qt (70 liters)
-Environmentally friendly pressure-injected HUNTX foam insulation (made in Alabama)
-Lifetime Warranty
https://canyoncoolers.com/outfitter-75-quart-cooler-sandstone.html

 

Grizzly coolers

Actually made in America 100%

https://www.grizzlycoolers.com/catalog/product/view/id/406/s/kenai-coolers/category/3/

 

I have a pelican 35 qt , Yeti 20 qt and a Rtic soft 20 qt ...

If I had to do it all over, RTIC all day. Same cooler as yeti for half the money.

 

For what I need mine to do I am leaning towards the Walmart one linked earlier. The Ozark Trail 73qt. The Grizzly and Engel are runner ups if the OT-73 should get stolen or doesn’t keep cold like I think it should.

 

Pelican all day. The new ones are injection molded, something that they have perfected over several years. Eliminates the variability inherent in the roto-molding process which can lead to some coolers that don't seal well. I love mine, holds ice for days.

 

All lies. After spending 3 hours online looking at reviews and real life usage at dozens of random websites, I went with the RTIC 45. My wife has a blue Yeti 45 from a few summers back and I'll do some real life testing this summer.


Last summer we made a 4 hour trip back from Florida to Mississippi with her Yeti in the southern heat. Stopped for a couple of hours at an outlet mall as well as lunch at Fudpuckers. In it was some left over deli meat, 1/2 loaf of bread, condiments, and a half gallon of ice cream. The cooler was left in the rental house at 70* +/- for 4 days, so it was acclimated/cooled. The ice cream was frozen and the meat stuff was refrigerated and all went straight into the Yeti with no ice. When we got home that afternoon the ice cream was still frozen enough a regular spoon wouldn't get it out. That sort of justified a $300+ cooler (at that time).

 

Solid. I'm sure you will be stoked. Really, any cooler listed above would be just fine for 99% of us weekend warriors.

 

I have the igloo sportsman 55 ($167 @ sams club). used it a few minor trips and one major. had stuff spill, become soggy which led to running out of ice. decided never again and bought the whynter 45qt fridge ($500 @ Amazon)

huge difference in ease of use. more room without ice, can put warm items in and chill them down without melting. ill never go back to the cooler except for maybe tossing stuff in/food storage.

 

I just picked up a Lifetime cooler from Walmart. It's 55 qt, made in America (Utah) and was under $100. Reviews and people on other sites say it's just as good as the rest of the stuff. I can't fathom, and won't pay more than that for a freaking cooler.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Lifetime...5035&wl11=online&wl12=850043843&wl13=&veh=sem

Taking a trip up to Broken Bow this weekend so I'll be able to test it out and see how it performs.