Coolers? What you do have?

[Ringbill27]

Hey everyone,

So I’m in the market for a good cooler.

I’ve been going on canoe trips to the Boundary Waters for years now but this last winter I’ve blown up my shoulder up in a snowmobile accident. Paddling is out for the year. I’m switching to boat trips in instead, which means I can go in way heavier with real food.

Typically I have to hang my food in a tree for bear protection(black bear). But that sucks and bear are not the issue that the rule makers make it out to be Most trips are 2-3 day boat trips sometimes 5-6. I’m looking for a yeti style cooler in the 60qt range that I can lock shut and chain to a tree. There a lot on cheaper then yeti coolers out there for less money. I’m currently looking at “Blue Coolers” but there so many it’s hard to decide.

Wondering what you have, what you like, what’s works best?

Appreciate the input.

Picture for attention but also the lake I’ll be boating into.

 

[rayporter]

an R tic can be bolted shut with a couple eye bolts and chained to a tree. mine [ 65 q] has never been bear tested but it has fell off the back of the truck and survived with minor scratches

 

[Zdub02]

I have a 20qt RTIC, a 45 qt VIBE, and a 150qt coleman. The Vibe was a waste of money as it's on par with the coleman. Recently filled both up for a party kept outide for 4 hours on a 65 degree overcast day with folks getting drinks out of consistently. Then both were stored in my basement. Ice was completed melted to water in 4 days for both coolers. I've consistently had better luck with the RTC for ice retention.

There are also a ton of good youtube videos comparing multiple brands if you really want to go down the rabbit hole. My vote would be for the RTIC based on personal results.

 

[chancey]

Check out Grizzly as well. I have both Grizzly and Yeti, while the yeti is slightly better in build quality it’s not worth the cost over the Grizzly. Grizzly is also made in ‘Merica.

 

[rogerdoger]

I have a grizzly cooler, I think it’s around 65. It has worked great. I just picked up a yeti 125 on Facebook for $350. Was looking at the RTIC as they are really similar to Yeti but cheaper. I would keep an eye out for used.

The key I have found for ice retention is freezing meals, cooler layout (layering food so last day is in the bottom). I like having a small cooler to transfer my day snacks to so I am only opening the big cooler a couple times a day. Watching cooler packing tips and tricks from rafters on the grand has helped.

 

[JJ.]

IMO, pelican will out perform all the rest.
Ice retention and durability.
Made in USA.

Only downfall, they are heavy.

 

[kpk]

I've got a Canyon that I've been super happy with for at least 10 years. We picked up a Bison off Marketplace last summer that looks super nice, but don't have a lot of experience with it yet.

 

[jcaud]

I have a Pelican (110 I think?) that holds ice great, but like others have said it's an absolute boat anchor. Load it up with meat and put it in the back of a truck, good luck getting it out with the grippy feet.

I bought a smaller RTIC 52 a few years back on sale and I have used it for pretty well everything (minus hunting out west) since. Holds ice well and is light enough that you can move around easy. Seems to be much less lb/qt space compared to other coolers.

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

There is no real difference in the higher end roto coolers. I have a ton of Yetis and also grizzly, orca, and canyon. When I need a cooler now, which is rare because I have way to many, I look for something the dimensions I want. I wish I would have paid more attention to that earlier on than just brand. A 65qt orca might be taller than a yeti but the yeti wider, just get what fits your needs the best. They all hold up and have places for locks.

 

[ColPenguin]

I have a 65qt RTIC from when they were the original Yeti copycat.

Rotomolded coolers are more ubiquitous now. RTIC is still a good value with the increased competition. It looks like a common price point is $270.

The Yeti equivalent for a 65 qt is $400. Even if the Yeti were better than the RTIC and other rotomolded knockoffs, it's not so much better that it's worth that price.

 

[ColPenguin]

I look for something the dimensions I want.

Really important point. Get a cooler that fits in your truck bed. Fits under soft/hard cover if running one.

 

[SuperDUECE22]

Pelican are the best as mentioned by a few others. RTIC are decent value but definitely don't hold ice as well as pelican.

 

[Wheels]

Most important rule for any cooler is keeping it out of the sun. Pre cool it if possible and cover it with a tarp or blanket in the shade.

 

[brandon.andersen]

I own 2 Yeti's (60qt and 20qt), a Grizzly (150qt), a Kenai (60qt), and a Cordova (35qt), I owned a Pelican but gave that to my parents to save some room in my Garage. I use each of them differently, but all are high quality. The Kenai is not bear proof rated. The Yeti's are more sleek and pack better in my rig, the Grizzly I have is huge, and the Cordova is only big enough for a day or two, each of these are bear proof rated ( i think). Ice retention seems to be similar across the brands, maybe a slight edge to the Yeti. It really depends on how they are packed and how many times we open them through the trip. If I was buying one that I wanted to be bear proof and used as you describe, I would probably look hard at the Cordova line based on price. Price excluded, I would probably get the Yeti.

Basecamp Class 65 QT Cooler | Cordova Outdoors

Experience superior outdoor convenience with our Basecamp Class 65 qt hard cooler. With a rotomolded design, this 65 qt cooler is the ultimate companion. Shop now!

cordovaoutdoors.com

 

[HairyScandinavian]

Down here on the Texas gulf coast we have a lot, and I mean a lot of experience with coolers. What I own and can grab out of garage, storage, or camp right now:
Yeti (3), RTIC (2), Legend, K2, Coleman Xtreme (3), Orca, Cordova (3)

The 145qt RTIC the lid warps up and down randomly and seemingly not tied to temps/sun, smaller one doesn't do it. Yeti have been the best and I have 3 of them but obviously they're expensive. K2 I found floating in the ocean and it's a solid cooler that we use for hogs when we get one to bring back home, Coleman Xtreme holds ice just as well as the rotos and is lighter but they're not bear proof. Cordova are cool and I like the upside down latches, but the handles stick out goofy and take up space needlessly, this is on the smaller ones I think the larger don't have the stick out handles. The design Cordova carves in them costs insulation space. Orca I really like but the lid doesn't quite tilt back far enough so a slight wind will blow it down on your hands. Legend is a copy of a generic I've seen with various different brands but it's a really great cooler. The CaterGator I believe is the same cooler, bang for buck and quality I think this is what you want:

CaterGator CG65CAMO Camouflage 65 Qt. Rotomolded Outdoor Cooler / Ice Chest

Built for the great outdoors, the CaterGator CG65CAMO camouflage 65 Qt. rotomolded outdoor cooler / ice chest keeps your food items cold for any occasion! This impressive feat is made possible with a triple-insulated design, which boasts a layer of high-density polyethylene, a layer of...

www.webstaurantstore.com

 

[LongWayAround]

I have 77qt Lifetime from Walmart that has been great. It would be good for what you are describing. Ice retention is great, I've had food start to freeze in it. There's a padlock point on it and could be strapped to a tree through the rope handles.

 

[cubdriver84d]

I have 77qt Lifetime from Walmart that has been great. It would be good for what you are describing. Ice retention is great, I've had food start to freeze in it. There's a padlock point on it and could be strapped to a tree through the rope handles.

I also have one of these. It's great. Probably the best value out there.

 

[S-3 ranch]

Down here on the Texas gulf coast we have a lot, and I mean a lot of experience with coolers. What I own and can grab out of garage, storage, or camp right now:
Yeti (3), RTIC (2), Legend, K2, Coleman Xtreme (3), Orca, Cordova (3)

The 145qt RTIC the lid warps up and down randomly and seemingly not tied to temps/sun, smaller one doesn't do it. Yeti have been the best and I have 3 of them but obviously they're expensive. K2 I found floating in the ocean and it's a solid cooler that we use for hogs when we get one to bring back home, Coleman Xtreme holds ice just as well as the rotos and is lighter but they're not bear proof. Cordova are cool and I like the upside down latches, but the handles stick out goofy and take up space needlessly, this is on the smaller ones I think the larger don't have the stick out handles. The design Cordova carves in them costs insulation space. Orca I really like but the lid doesn't quite tilt back far enough so a slight wind will blow it down on your hands. Legend is a copy of a generic I've seen with various different brands but it's a really great cooler. The CaterGator I believe is the same cooler, bang for buck and quality I think this is what you want:

CaterGator CG65CAMO Camouflage 65 Qt. Rotomolded Outdoor Cooler / Ice Chest

Built for the great outdoors, the CaterGator CG65CAMO camouflage 65 Qt. rotomolded outdoor cooler / ice chest keeps your food items cold for any occasion! This impressive feat is made possible with a triple-insulated design, which boasts a layer of high-density polyethylene, a layer of...

www.webstaurantstore.com

The Texas coast is a bitch on keeping ice , I have just about every roto cooler made , yeti has lid warping problems, buffalo seal gasket is weak, I have a grey Life time from Walmart that has lived in my truck bed for two+ years I think it’s the best bang for your buck’s besides PELICANS ( and are on every small bay boat We have as day trip fish boxes and a 2nd as the lunch , beer , water cooler
I have a 320 Qt Engel I use on my offshore charter boat, bear proof and very very heavy , a pre chilled 120 qt pelican is bear proof and would probably last 7-8 days for food storage if you use freezer racks to keep the food off the bottom of at least the stuff that cant get wet ! Or freeze enough 1 liter water bottles and line the bottom if racks aren’t your thing .

 

[Joshk358]

Ive got a 65qt Rtic that has worked well. If you pre cool it...it'll hold ice very well. I have 3 of the cheaper coleman 150's and 100. They work fine just not as sturdy.

 

[Flswamprat]

I’m in Fl and own 2 Yetis, a 65 and a 165. I use them frequently due to the heat and often for fish, hogs and deer. They perform really well and I’ve been happy with them! I also have one soft side RTIC and it does reasonably well for a soft cool.