Yeti Roadie 20 Review
by Travis Bertrand
After that long hike back to the truck, nothing is more satisfying than reaching into the cooler and grabbing that ice cold beverage. This feeling of satisfaction used to be nonexistent on short outings where bringing a big cooler seemed too much for just a one or two day trip.
In my previous article, Cooling Strategies for Ice Conservation, I recommended investing in a quality cooler. Although expensive, they will save you money and frustration in the long run. With the same thinking, I invested in the Yeti Roadie 20 but also on a morale standpoint. I believe in boosting the the spirits when returning to the truck after a long greuling hike!
The Roadie 20 is the perfect size to keep a few cans of your favorite beverage along with snacks for a couple guys for those weekend scouting trips. The inside roughly measures 13″ long x 8.5″ wide x 10″ deep while the outside measures 20″ x 13.5″ x 14.5″ respectively. At this size, it makes for a good seat and is durable enough to handle any reasonably sized person. I also highly recommend pre-cooling to get maximum ice retention and the Roadie will fit in most chest freezers, something you can’t do with bigger coolers.
The Roadie 20 is made using the same Roto-molded process as all Yeti coolers. It also sports the same bombproof latches and hinge design as its bigger brother, the Tundra. The built in carry handle is designed for one-handed carrying then folds out of the way when not in use. It also has rubber feet to keep it from sliding. The drain plug is handy for the rare time you have to drain water while retaining the ice. The walls are slick inside and out for easy cleaning and sanitizing.
The Roadie 20 comes in white, desert tan, and ice blue. You can customize it for your individual needs with accessories such as a beverage holder, sea deck(non slip top), and tie downs if you really don’t want it to go anywhere.
Pros-
Size- Perfect for holding down the middle seat in your truck
Efficiency- long lasting ice retention you expect from a Yeti cooler
Cons-
Handle- the handle is awkward making the cooler hard to carry when full. I would like to see it have two handles similar to the Tundra line of Yeti coolers.
I rely on my Roadie to keep my drinks and food cold when we head out camping, fishing, riding quads, or any other excuse we can think of to get out of the house. The size and capabilty make it hard to leave behind.
The MSRP is $250 and, in my opinion, is money well spent.
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