Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. At Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure igloo trailmate all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest. She’s an experienced product tester and recipe creator, trained in classic culinary arts and culinary nutrition. She has worked in test kitchens for small kitchen appliance brands and national magazines, including Family Circle and Ladies’ Home Journal.
We noticed the zipper is hard to pull one-handed, and we typically need to counter-pull the side handles to open or close it. The insulation is a metal-coated plastic blend, which did a solid job of preserving the ice and goods. We loved the soft interior liner and the waterproof zipper that prevents any leaks from the top.
Reviews are available in case you need a second opinion and you’re new to the cooler world. The color and size options are also made clear so that you don’t end up getting a soft cooler bag that is either too big or too small for your needs. The thick extruded closed cell foam in the Marine Ultra will keep whatever sodas, water bottles, beer, or snacks you keep inside cold for the entire day. This also makes the cooler reliable for days at the office when you want to have your lunch outside when the sun is out. We didn’t throw this backpack cooler off the side of a mountain (yet), but we probably could, and it’d be fine.
The cooler is a breeze to clean, partly because the drain plug is located in between the wheels. It comes with a user maintenance manual that provides instructions on first use and includes directions for cleaning and care. For retail purchases returned with a receipt, please return the unused and unopened item, with the
original sales receipt, for a full refund or exchange. All returns with a gift receipt will receive a store
credit for the amount of the item at the time of purchase. There has been an improvement to the zipper design and the outer fabric is comprised of 300x600D polyester.
Nicole is constantly testing new coolers in real-life situations, whether she’s at the beach or in her backyard (and also probably testing grills at the same time). According to our testing, the RTIC 65-Quart Hard Cooler held the largest amount of ice after two days of testing. It had some water, but ice probably could have lasted another day or two with the amount that was left. The Tundra Haul is YETI’s first cooler with wheels, which many will appreciate, since it can exceed 100 pounds when full. You can pack it up to its capacity and still be able to move it around your backyard or your favorite park for a family barbecue.
And not surprisingly, it had some of the best ice retention and coldest temperatures at the end of our 24-hour test. The Hopper Flip’s inside temperature only raised by about 6 degrees over 24 hours, thanks to Yeti’s closed-cell insulation, for which it’s become infamous. While we tested during cooler fall temperatures, the Walker delivered days of ice retention versus the hours we got from flimsier bag-style soft coolers. Those times would be shortened in direct sun and high temps, but the thick walls of the Walker are more than enough for a day at the beach. In our lab, the temperature inside the tote actually dropped 8 degrees between two hours and 24 hours after filling it with ice.