Whether you are going on a picnic or planning a hike through the woods, it is imperative that you are able to keep cold water on hand and keep any food supplies properly chilled. To do this when you are out in nature, you have to turn to a cooler. These units are designed to help keep your food and beverages at cold temperatures even if the air around it is hot.
They are essentially a very simple portable refrigerator. Most do not require electricity. They are usually easy to carry as well. They come in all different sizes and materials. You should have no trouble finding a cooler that meets your needs, but sifting through all the options can be tough.
We want to help you out by arming you with important information to help you decide what type of cooler is best for you. We also went ahead and reviewed the top 10 coolers on the market right now, so you know which are the best. Read through our review of the best coolers of 2018 and arm yourself with everything you need to know to make sure your next cooler purchase goes smoothly.
Comparison Table
Cooler FAQs
Before you start shopping for a cooler, it can help to learn a little more about your options along with getting a better idea of how coolers work to keep contents cold. Find out answers to common questions and build up your knowledge base to help you make the right decision when it is time to buy.
1. Does a cooler have to be pre-chilled?
2. Should I add salt to my cooler?
3. What size cooler should I buy?
4. What is the best cooler material?
5. What's the most important consideration when buying a cooler?
How We Reviewed
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To put together our reviews of the top 10 coolers in 2018, we did a lot of research. We looked at manufacturer specifications, read expert reviews and took a look at what consumers had to say about each model. We used all of this information to create an accurate and unbiased review of each cooler on our list.
We present you with this information so you can make an informed buying decision. You can trust that the information presented here is correct and truthful. It provides a clear picture of each cooler and what to expect if you should buy it.
Overall Price Range
Coolers have a huge price range. You can pick up a simple cooler for around $, but the more features and advancements the cooler has, the more it will cost. Top brands can sell for hundreds of dollars. However, you are often paying for quality. Longer lasting coolers cost more as do those with advanced cooling features that will keep your items cold for a long period of time. Materials may also affect the price. Hard coolers are more expensive than soft coolers. You will pay more for a better-insulated cooler or one with more insulation, as well. Overall quality is often reflected in the price, but as with any product, there are also instances where you are paying for a name more than the actual quality of the unit, so watch out for that, too.
Top 10 List of Coolers
Yeti Tundra 65
- The YETI Tundra 65 is just as adept at keeping your catches cold in the field as it is storing the drinks and food for...
- Ice stays ice thanks to up to 3 inches of PermaFrost Insulation and an extra thick FatWall design is certified...
- The Rotomolded Construction makes the Tundra armored to the core and virtually indestructible so wherever you decide to...
Key Features:
- Dry goods basket
- 30 1/2 x 17 3/8 x 16 inches
- 27 pounds empty
- 3 inches of PermaFrost insulation
- FatWall design
- Certified bear-resistant
- Rotomolded construction
- T-rex lid latch
Pros
Cons
Polar Bear Nylon Series 12 Pack
Key Features:
- Holds 12 cans
- 1000 Denier luggage grade nylon
- 1-inch high-density foam insulation
- Leak-proof
- Sweat-proof
- FDA food grade liner
- Heavy-duty #10 YKK weatherized zipper
- Comes with ice packs
- Fabric cooler
Pros
Cons
Coleman Xtreme
- Xtreme Technology; Insulated lid and extra wall insulation keep ice up to 5 days in temperatures as high as 90°F
- High Capacity: Holds Up to 100 Cans
- HAVE-A-SEAT LID: Closed lid supports up to 250 lb.
Key Features:
- 70-quart capacity
- No-crush comfort handles
- Hinged lid with molded cup holders
- Have-a-seat lid holds up to 250 pounds
- EZ-clean top
- Xtreme 5 technology for ice retention for five days
Pros
Cons
Coleman FlipLid
- Portable ice cooler keeps food and beverages cold
- 5-quart capacity holds up to 6 cans
- FlipLid is designed with reversible hinges so it can double as a mini tray table
Key features:
- Personal cooler
- FlipLid hinge
- Lid doubles as tray
- EZ-clean top
- Molded beverage holders
- 5-quart capacity
Pros
Cons
Orion 25
No products found.
Key features:
- Holds ice for seven days
- Made in the USA
- 2-inch insulation
- Corner bottle openers
- Tie down points
- Snag-free cam latches
- Certified bear resistant
- Large drain plug
- Gear track integration
- Motorcycle grip handles
Pros
Cons
Igloo Marine Ultra Square
Key features:
- Fabric cooler
- Easy to clean
- Anti-mildew
- UV protection
- 1-inch extruded closed cell foam insulation
- Ice keeps for up to two days
- Leak resistant
- Antimicrobial liner
- Odor resistant
Pros
Cons
RTIC 45
- BEST COOLER ON THE MARKET: Up for any occasion, the RTIC 45 will be the star of the show at any barbecue, fishing trip...
- INSULATION THAT DOESN'T QUIT: Going on a long trip? No problem. Up to 3" of insulated walls will keep your ice cold for...
- THE BEST OF THE BEST: No fail hinges, no sweat exterior, cool lift design, molded side handles and tie downs so your...
Key features:
- Roto-molded construction
- Heavy-duty T-latches
- Freezer grade gasket
- Molded tie-down slots
- Non-slip feet
- Integrated locking system
- Bear resistant
- Rapid V-drain system
- No fail hinges
- No sweat
- Cool lift design
- Molded side handles
Pros
Cons
Orca BW058ORCORCA
- Product Type: Ice Chest
- Package Dimensions: 71.12 L x 53.34 W x 53.34 H (cm)
- Country of Origin: United States
Key Features:
- Cargo net for dry storage
- Made in the USA
- Lifetime warranty
- Flexgrip handles
- Lid gasket
- Roto-molded insulation
- Purchase benefits conservation
- 40 quart storage capacity
Pros
Cons
K2 Summit 20
Key features:
- Roto-molded construction
- Padded shoulder strap
- ICE vault lid gasket
- POSITRAC lid latches
- ENDURA integrated hinge system
- SURE grip rubber feet
Pros
Cons
Ozark Trail 73-Quart High-Performance
Key features:
- Roto-molded construction
- Holds ice up to nine days
- Heavy duty, comfort grip handles
- T-handle latches
- Certified bear resistant
- Fish ruler on lid
- Built-in drink holders
- Stainless steel locking plate with bottle opener
Pros
Cons
Key Specifications
PRODUCT: | PRICE: | SIZE: | TYPE: |
|---|---|---|---|
Yeti Tundra 65 | 30 1/2 x 17 3/8 x 16 inches | Hard | |
Polar Bear Nylon Series 12 Pack | Holds 12 cans | Soft | |
Coleman Xtreme | 70-quart capacity | Hard | |
Coleman FlipLid | 5-quart capacity | Hard | |
Orion 25 | No products found. | 25-quart | Hard |
Igloo Marine Ultra Square | 24 can capacity | Soft | |
RTIC 45 | 45-quart | Hard | |
Orca BW058ORCORCA | 40-quart | Hard | |
K2 Summit 20 | 16.9 x 15.6 x 12.6 inches | Hard | |
Ozark Trail 73-Quart High-Performance | 73-quart | Hard |
The Verdict
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When it comes to buying a cooler, it is a very personal process. Your needs may differ from someone else's, so choosing the best cooler is difficult. However, when looking at overall quality, it is really hard to top Yeti. Yeti coolers are by far the best rated coolers on the market. However, the price point scares many people away. A less expensive option that consumers feel has the same quality as Yeti is RTIC. The downside with RTIC coolers is that if something breaks or you need help, customer service is not very responsive. So that is where you get the trade-off for the lower price.
When it comes to more affordable coolers, Coleman is at the top of the list. These coolers have a lot of great built-in features. They are designed with comfort in mind. They come in a variety of sizes to suit your needs, too. They are very easy to find and sold pretty much anywhere that coolers are sold. The main issue is Coleman coolers tend to have weak seals. If you do not ensure it is sealed tight, you will lose ice and not get as long of a cooling time as you might expect.
Image via Unsplash
Soft coolers often have many downsides. First, they simply are not as strong as plastic coolers. They usually are not expected to last as long, and they are more likely to leak. However, we found the cooler from Polar Bear stands up well to its plastic counterparts. You will never get the storage capacity you can with hard coolers in a soft cooler, but the Polar Bear model is still rather large, holding 12 cans. It also had great reviews when it came to durability and not leaking. It seems well-made, and the price isn't too bad for this size and type of cooler.
Choosing the best cooler out of the ones we reviewed is tough. There are best coolers for certain situations, but no one cooler that we could say is the absolute best based on our research. It comes down to what is best for you. The cost will likely play a large part because many of the top-rated coolers are also the most expensive. For some people, spending $$$ or $$$ on a cooler doesn't make sense compared to their needs, so a cheaper cooler will work just as fine. The best option is to arm yourself with the information we've presented, check out the coolers yourself and then go from there to make your final decision, and buy the cooler you feel best fits what you need.
