Building A Yeti Style Cooler

[AZGUY]

I thought this looked like something interesting to try on an old cooler and maybe save a few bucks. Has anyone else tried this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tjh6RDTgMuQ

 

[KMT]

I haven't tried it. But I remember seeing a descent article comparing various coolers, including yeti coolers. The yeti didn't keep ice significantly longer than their cheaper competitors. Certainly not worth the price difference. The yetis are built to last, though. I think this guys idea would work. Or you could even wrap the cooler with reflective and insulative material.

I just can't justify spending $300 on a cooler. But it would be worth $5-10 bucks to modify an existing cooler. I'm gong to give it a shot this summer.

 

[Travis Bertrand]

I haven't tried it. But I remember seeing a descent article comparing various coolers, including yeti coolers. The yeti didn't keep ice significantly longer than their cheaper competitors. Certainly not worth the price difference. The yetis are built to last, though. I think this guys idea would work. Or you could even wrap the cooler with reflective and insulative material.

I just can't justify spending $300 on a cooler. But it would be worth $5-10 bucks to modify an existing cooler. I'm gong to give it a shot this summer.

Yetis and other "extreme" coolers hold ice considerably longer than cheaper coolers. It is how you load them and you can't take them from your hot garage, fill them with ice and expect them to last any trip into the woods. They need to be pre-cooled because of the thick insulation. If you take that extra planning step you will see a considerable amount of difference between the two types of coolers.

 

[JJHACK]

Those high end coolers do hold ice longer, but the big advantage for me is durability. You can sit on stand on and do whatever you want to them they are indestructible!

I bought an 85 qt many years ago and it looks brand new today. It's been a good investment for my boat.

 

[Brock A]

Yetis and other "extreme" coolers hold ice considerably longer than cheaper coolers. It is how you load them and you can't take them from your hot garage, fill them with ice and expect them to last any trip into the woods. They need to be pre-cooled because of the thick insulation. If you take that extra planning step you will see a considerable amount of difference between the two types of coolers.

There is alot of truth to this! I couldn't believe the difference I would get out my cooler by putting a few bags of ice in it a few days before I leave then swapping the melted ice out for my frozen jugs.

 

[brewer427]

Yetis and other "extreme" coolers hold ice considerably longer than cheaper coolers. It is how you load them and you can't take them from your hot garage, fill them with ice and expect them to last any trip into the woods. They need to be pre-cooled because of the thick insulation. If you take that extra planning step you will see a considerable amount of difference between the two types of coolers.

Agreed, I always put ice in the night before and make sure anything I put in is either frozen or refrigerated. When you have cold products going into something, that helps keep the whole area colder for a longer period of time. We take a 3 day fishing trip down the Yellowstone river every year and I take my 75qt when we go. We load it up with beer, burger, vegetables and water. The cooler does great for the whole trip, the burger is frozen and the beer is borderline frozen, while the vegetables and water are just refrigerated. The key is to keep it closed as much as possible, and when you do open it, just grab what you need and close it right away. That's the biggest mistake I see people making, in addition to not pre chilling, is opening it and leaving it open for a bit. That allows all your outside air in and kills the cooling efficiency.

Another great thing to try with a Yeti is add a little Ice cream salt in with the ice, we do this at the very end of the trip with just beer, what results is a gloriously refreshing beverage that is so cold, sometimes even a little slushy, but is amazing on a hot day fishing out of a drift boat.

 

[Broz]

I used 2" foam board silicone tight in a large cardboard box to mail some meat once. Two days later it arrived still frozen hard with zero leakage. So the idea in the video does work. But the Yeti coolers I have been around are very good coolers and do keep ice longer than our $120 igloo's. When you consider the fact the yeti is so tough the price difference is reasonable and a value. If you take them out of the truck and into rocky mountain terrain you will still be using the yeti when the others are all busted up.

Jeff

 

[fillthefreezer]

ah the perks of working at a giant freezer. i like to put 6" of water at the bottom and store it overnight at -20

 

[Travis Bertrand]

http://www.rokslide.com/2012-01-09-...the-heat-cool-strategies-for-ice-conservation

 

[Broz]

ah the perks of working at a giant freezer. i like to put 6" of water at the bottom and store it overnight at -20

I like that plan!!!