High Quality Ice Chests

[Jesus_man]

I think my wife and I are going to get a nice ice chest for our family Christmas gift. We have a cheap coleman and the lid is warped so bad, it does not seal without a ratchet strap. I don't know it's capacity, but it is a fairly large one at ~3ft long, 16" wide and 14" deep.

Doing some initial research, I think we will target around a 70qt capacity. We are in a buy once and buy right scenario.

So what do you have and what are the pros and cons?

Thanks!

[ManTruck]

I am a RTIC fan. I have used many but today RTIC is the best value. Yeti and RTIC were in a legal dispute but that was mostly drink ware. The product and value is there. I vote RTIC. I have the large 110 cooler which is awesome, and two soft cooler's which are awesome and great value. The beach type totes are great value as well. They blue ice is cheap and seems to hold longer than any I have used. when looking at it note the price is for two.

I have bought cases of coffee tumblers for gifts and have purchased almost every drinking cup they have, and gifted as well. Also the screw cap jugs are awesome. The 16oz, up to 1 gallon and everyone in between is in my possession. The larger 1 gallon and 1/2 gallon are great for growlers....just saying.

So short story is I highly recommend. I have owned, and own the others and think value and quality and the keeping ice I vote RTIC.

Also I have watched for sales after the first of the year for some clearance pricing. If you are not in a big hurry it may be wise to sit tight for a while. I believe my cost on the 110 cooler was somewhere around $200 at a closeout pricing after the first of a new year. That was over two years ago. Same for the soft coolers.

https://www.rticcoolers.com/

https://www.rticcoolers.com/shop/cooler ... C-110-Grey

https://www.rticcoolers.com/shop/cooler ... ck-30-Grey

https://www.rticcoolers.com/shop/travel ... foam-Green

[Digger]

I've heard lots of good things about RTIC coolers from owners.


I also like my Lifetime cooler. It works well and I like supporting a Made in the USA product. They have a 77qt version and their coolers are certified bear resistant.

[ZOSO]

You cant go wrong with any of them. I have 3 different sizes. Dont need to fall into the "name brand" either. The cabelas brand are good. I have an orca that is great. My small cooler is a subzero. Works awesome. But my next is gonna be a fridge. Dometic or ARB. Not dealing with ice and having more cooler space appeals to me.

[Jesus_man]

Thanks for the info guys. RTIC is certainly on my list. And as you say, you really can't go wrong. Been watching many head-to-head tests on all of them and they all perform well enough for my needs.

Here are the others I am interested in and I NEVER knew so many existed! Actually there are many more!
Culcutta - Nice square design, freezer style gasket, LED light


Orca


Pelican - just looks cool, but I wonder with the handles sticking out if I'd be annoyed with packing it. Lots of cool colors


Otterbox (yes, that otterbox) - Again, handles an issue? But it has a really neat system for adding accessories, including wheels if the need ever arised. And many colors to choose from.


Cablelas Polar Cap - handle issue?


Grizzly


RTIC


Yeti Tundra


Siberian

[Jesus_man]

Orion is another awesome cooler that has some amazing features that you don't see on any others, but their price is significantly higher than all the others, so for me, it's out.

[kbank6]

I have several of the Grizzly coolers that are also made in the USA. They have been a great cooler for my muzzle loading trips as I did not have to add ice to the food cooler for the week. The beer cooler however melted a little bit faster...

[ManTruck]

one item you should research is the amount of insulation in the lids. There is some info out there if you dig deep enough on the web. Roto molded coolers are all pretty heavy duty in design but insulation is your friend. Research what it takes to be bear proof and I believe all you have in your list and pics of are bear proof. So itΓÇÖs not a show stopper but the insulation is. Just my opinion.

[ManTruck]

My son is a fan of the Engel coolers. I think his is awesome. But smaller coolers will keep colder when fully packed. His is a 45 I believe.

https://www.engelcoolers.com/shop/hard-coolers.html

[Jesus_man]

Agreed, bear proof isn't a top priority for me, but insulation is.

I think Engel makes a great cooler, but they didn't make my list because the latches don't seem robust enough.

I have watched several youtube videos of 10-day ice retention tests and surely that equates to insulation efficiency.

[Moab Mike]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0YmWvLvcRA

[Friday]

I like the pelicans wheels and the latches are great. I have the 80qt wheeled version and itΓÇÖs a good cooler. Get a larger one than you think you may need is my suggestion. The ones I really liked are cabelas, pelican and rtic.

[Justin]

I've got a Yeti 110 and a smaller Grizzly. If I had it do over again I'd save up the extra few hundred over what I spent on the Yeti and buy a Dometic or ARB plug-in.

[cw72]

I have a Dometic CX45, IΓÇÖll never go back to a cooler again. You do however need a power source.


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[Jesus_man]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0YmWvLvcRA

I have spent a lot of time on that site. Even sent an email and am awaiting a response.

I'm not at the stage yet of needing a powered cooler. Perhaps someday.

As to size, I figure if I match what I have I should be ok. I could even go a little smaller because I'll need less ice? But I dont want to go too small either. I will measure what I have today.

I dont like what wheels do to the interior space, which is why the otterbox is appealing as they can be added later. But i certainly see the appeal of wheels!

Great discussion guys. Helps me narrow down what is important

[Justin]

I wish my yeti had wheels. Bought the 110 because it was a g deal at Costco. Its 38 lbs dry, and sometimes needs two people to move it full. Holds ice forever though, especially if I drop a couple blocks of dry ice in.

[Jesus_man]

My current cooler is somewhere just north of 60 qts. I assumed it was larger. There are times I wish it was, but I think the way I pack it (frozen milk jugs), I can use less of those and get longer refrigeration. And if it's really important...get dry ice. 70qt +/- is still my target size, but I have noticed that the next size up is only marginally more $$.

I certainly don't want to go smaller, but at least I can compare apples to apples now.

Friday - do you find the handles on your pelican hard to pack around? Do you find you waste space under them? That is really the only reason I haven't settled on that design.

[Friday]

Friday - do you find the handles on your pelican hard to pack around? Do you find you waste space under them? That is really the only reason I haven't settled on that design.

I donΓÇÖt really think the handles are hard to work around. They actually provide a good anchor point for lashing down or lashing things to the top. Oh and the wheels in the pelican donΓÇÖt encroach on the interior space. I do like the cables box because you can get the wheels for it as an add on. If you are going to mount on a swing gate IΓÇÖd get something without wheels.

[B.O.B.]

https://denver.craigslist.org/pts/d/aur ... 74726.html

[Jesus_man]

https://denver.craigslist.org/pts/d/aurora-brand-new-ford-raptor-otter-box/7017174726.html

That's interesting! It's only 45 qts but cool nonetheless.

[ManTruck]

Amazon has Pelican products on the deal of the day. Looks like a 50 qt for $200

[Jesus_man]

Wow. Will check that out. Fear it's a bit too small but that is a great price!

[Eck]

So I have 2 Yetis. I bought one years ago with a friends and family discount (45 quart) and then got the one with built in wheels as a gift. I liked the 45 quart one for the Bronco because the footprint was a bit smaller and just fit better on a cooler rack that a built for my rear bumper.

When filled- itΓÇÖs pretty damn heavy and I much prefer using the one with wheels when IΓÇÖm able to (tailgating, trips in my truck, etc). I have found too that having various sized coolers is a bonus since youΓÇÖre not always taking a 5 day tripΓÇö sometimes you want a smaller cooler when youΓÇÖre only packing for a long weekend.

Here is a picture of the 45 YETI on my Bronco.



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[Jesus_man]

Currently a cooler gets used most for when I go 4 wheeling for a weekend. Usually it's just me and maybe my son. So I see the appeal of having various sizes. They are just too expensive to buy in all at once so the smaller ones will have to come later unless I win one (otterbox) in a raffle at the local grocery store.

It was just odd to me that Otterbox is at the top of my list but I could not find one locally to see in person. Then one day visiting the small family run store in town, there one is right in front of me as a raffle. I do still love the otterboxes ability to add wheels to any one of their coolers. My only concern remains how much those handles stick out if I'm trying to pack tightly.

[landshark]

Look at the rtic backpack soft cooler. They work very very well have normal handles up top and straps to carry it like a back pack. I plan on picking one up here soon.

[Gunnibronco]

Woot (part of Amazon) has the Pelican 70 on sale at $299. Deals on this site only last a while, so there is no telling how long it will last. I've bought from Woot for years (before it was Amazon) and they are reliable. Prime members get free shipping.

https://sport.woot.com/offers/pelican-e ... cnt_wp_2_1

[Jesus_man]

Thanks Gunni...that is a good deal and a cooler i really liked. Never ordered from woot and I dont see if I get to choose a color??

[Gunnibronco]

Thanks Gunni...that is a good deal and a cooler i really liked. Never ordered from woot and I dont see if I get to choose a color??

It doesn't look like they have any choice of color. Woot used to just sell one thing for 24 hours or until sold out, then the next day sell something else. Amazon bought them and started adding categories and 'side deals'. I'm sure they are a means for Amazon to clear out excess inventory. So they won't always have a full selection of options.

It will usually take a couple days to ship the order out, but I've been getting things within a week since I moved here. I'm close to the Sacramento & Reno distribution points, so that helps. You can 100% trust the site, I've never had any problems. I've placed 15 orders with them since January 2008.

[Jesus_man]

The green isnt a bad color... just need to man-up and make a decision.

[Gunnibronco]

If you haven't bought one already, the Otterbox Venture45 are FREE this month with an awesome logo.