Why Buy A Yeti Cooler REPACK
Today, YETI has raving fans around the world who swear by their coolers, but the company is more than just a good story and a wildly enthusiastic community. They back it up by having really, really good products.
why buy a yeti cooler
Many YETI owners care less about the technical specs of their coolers and more about what the YETI stands for: the highest standard and quality of outdoor equipment. In a way, YETI represents taking the outdoors seriously, being prepared and focusing on the experience rather than the cost of a cooler.
One of the major benefits of Yeti coolers is that they can keep ice for days. My Yeti ice test challenge showed that these coolers can keep ice for 10+ days. However, that was great conditions and the cooler was 100% full of ice.
Sure there are some negative reviews of ice melting too quickly (generally there is a reason why your ice is melting quickly in your Yeti and it can be fixed) or other issues but the overwhelming majority is largely positive and Yeti coolers are often rated 4.4 stars or higher.
Yeti have more sizes available than any other brand of cooler out there. There are 12 primary sizes of Yeti coolers plus then you have the Yeti Haul, which has wheels, as well as other soft sided coolers, lunch bags and even a drink dispenser.
One cooler brand I turn to in lieu of a Yeti is RTIC. Apart from the logo, RTIC coolers are not only spitting images of Yetis, they work just about every bit as well with a few minor exceptions: the handles, hardware, and accessories (particularly the seat cushions) don't last as long.
But if you're slinging your coolers out of pickup beds, going on week-long excursions, and taking (or caching) raw meat or seafood, a Yeti will treat you well so long as you keep a 2:1 ice-to-whatever ratio.
To be honest, when I began shopping for a high-quality cooler to take with me to Africa I wanted to buy a YETI. I think their excellent marketing worked on me. However, when I began seriously researching coolers, I reluctantly came to the conclusion that there were simply better quality options to YETI coolers on the market that actually cost much less.
When testing any cooler for cold endurance, a lot depends on how much ice the cooler started with, the ambient temperature, and how often it is opened during the day. This is why many of the YETI comparison tests have varying results.
Like many coolers, the handles on YETI Tundra coolers are made with rope and a rubber grip handle. While this is a simple and durable design, it is also a pain in the but when the cooler is fully loaded. The disadvantage to rope-style handles is that they tend to sway especially when you are sharing the load with another person.
A bottle opener should be standard equipment on a premium cooler. Take heart though, if you want a bottle opener on your YETI, they sell do their branded bottle opener for north of thirty bucks! Give me a break!
Pelican coolers are definitely my top pick. They beat YETI on every level. They cost less are ultra-rugged, hold ice longer, have more features, better drain mechanism, better closure, more secure, and are guaranteed even against damage for a lifetime.
Kong Coolers, as the name suggests, are absolute beasts. Next to Pelicans, these are the toughest coolers on earth. Kong coolers feature solid heavy-duty handles and heavy-duty mechanical latches, and plenty of brilliant accessory options like a side-mountable cutting board that stows inside the cooler.
Yes, Yeti coolers will occasionally run a Black Friday and Cyber Monday sale for Yeti coolers by offering a free gift with your purchase, such as a free pack of Yeti Ice or a free rambler bottle. There are usually never percentage discounts from Yeti.com.
RTIC Coolers have certainly caused some fretting over at YETI corporate since the company first took off (which even resulted in a now-settled lawsuit). These coolers intentionally market themselves as a YETI knockoff cooler at a much better price. In fact, most tests show that RTIC performs about the same or better than YETI when comparing the ice life of each cooler.
In March 2020, Slickdealer inkee spotted a pretty major RTIC sale featuring 25% to 45% off coolers sitewide, which includes other coolers like the RTIC Softpak and the RTIC 20. The company also gave shoppers a coupon for 10% off sitewide in December 2022. That brought the price of a 45-quart RTIC cooler down to $197.99 (reg. $219.99) and a 65-quart model to $224.99 (reg. $249.99).
Even without a deal, RTIC coolers are roughly half the price of YETI coolers, which can save you a ton of cool cash. These coolers are also known to hold more ice (the RTIC 65, for example, holds 13 pounds more ice than the YETI Tundra 65 according to one comparison), and they come with a one-year warranty.
This YETI-like cooler boasts excellent reviews thanks to its heavy-duty construction and lightweight build, which can be carried with ease using its flex-grip handles. Powerful T-latches ensure long-term ice retention, plus this YETI alternative features UV inhibitors in the lid and walls that protect the cooler against sun damage and can keep drinks icy cold for up to five days at 90F. Its molded base keeps the cooler elevated from hot surfaces, therefore boosting its cooling performance.
Additionally, there are deals to be found if you decide to go with a Pelican Elite. Slickdealer crbphd spotted the Pelican 50-Quart Elite Cooler on sale at Home Depot for just $166.39 (reg. $299.99) around the Fourth of July. Plus, the Pelican store discounted its coolers for Black Friday, which brought the price of the 20-quart Elite Cooler down to $130 (reg. $149.95).
Though mostly absent from the Slickdeals archives, Canyon Coolers are a plausible YETI cooler alternative that can keep ice cool for up to eight days. Plus, the company backs its coolers with hassle-free lifetime warranties.
At $175, this YETI cooler alternative ice chest is a solid choice thanks to its Microban antimicrobial protection, which prevents the build-up of bacterial odors and stains (and makes the cooler easier to clean). This rotomolded cooler is ultra-durable even compared to similar hard-sided coolers. The Arctic Freeze Titan Deep Freeze Premium Ice Chest is certified bear-proof and corrosion-resistant latches that keep your ice cold and insulated with the added benefit of peace of mind.
Since the Coleman was bigger and you used the same 20lb. bag of ice for both coolers there was more of an air gap to cool on the Coleman. I'd say (non-scientifically) that pretty much evens thing out. I'd say the best bang for the buck goes to the Coleman. Just my 2 cents !
I wouldn't pay over 200 bucks for a cooler. I have 3 Coleman Extreme coolers that are over 20 years old.They haven't failed me yet on any camping trip over the years. I just washed them up for a family BBQ this weekend and I am surprised how well they are holding up considering how old they are. They may be modestly priced but they sre durable. They claim to keep their ice for 5 days per Coleman, but usually I have to add ice on day 4 to my main cooler (meats etc), I always use 2 coolers for trips. Second o e is drinks etc which is opened frequently.
I'm Coleman all the way. Picking up used coolers from the old metal to the older extreme series. I find they last and are the best bang for the buck. For a extra day it's not worth the price for a Yeti.
Thanks for the comparison. Yeti is an obnoxious, non enviro friendly high priced brand that doesn't understand packing lightband their performance is poor . Their coolers are very very heavy with low capacity and if you need it to be bear proof you're camping like a slob.
I have the Coleman Xtreme 70 and I didn't need to get more ice on a 13 day trip. I had about half the cooler as frozen water 2L bottles and at least half of my food was frozen going in (like milk, yogurt, smoothies, produce). It was cool at night (30-50 F) and warm during the day (50-75). I opened the cooler 2-5 times a day. For bear safety I leave it in my car or put it in a bear box.
YETI has developed a rightly deserved reputation among outdoor adventurers for its rugged, study coolers, which are revered for their ability to keep items cold for hours on end (and sometimes for days).
All products manufactured by YETI are warranted against defects in material and workmanship for 3-5 years purchased after Jan 1, 2012, activated upon purchase. Proof of purchase is required. This warranty applies only to the original owner. This warranty is void if the cooler is used commercially (a for-profit business), structurally altered, or subjected to stress beyond the physical limits of the materials used in body or components, or is damaged as a result of abnormal use. Normal wear and tear is not warranted. This warranty does not include any manufacturer responsibility for any incidental or consequential damages resulting from the use of the cooler.
Our Tundra coolers are manufactured in the USA at facilities located in Iowa and Wisconsin as well as at a facility located in the Philippines. Our Hopper coolers and Rambler drinkware are manufactured in China
The process has inherent design strengths, such as consistent wall thickness and strong outside corners that are virtually stress-free. The rotational molding process gives the coolers one-piece construction and unmatched durability.
Our hard-sided coolers were tested by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC), a U.S. Forest Service Department of Agriculture Committee that works in both controlled and wild settings with grizzly bears.
A small amount of ice is not a good indicator of how well your ice chest can retain ice due to excess air space within the cooler. Excess air space hurts ice retention. To maximize ice retention, fill your cooler to the top with ice and products. In addition, if the ice chest starts out warm, a small amount of ice could initially melt faster in a YETI cooler than a thinner-walled cooler. 041b061a72