Cooler Throw Down: Does Ozark Trail Stack up with Yeti and Pelican?

When you arrive, move the airplane case to the inside of your backpack and it doubles as a pack liner. Really appreciate the ability to carry it different ways and to carry it alone on days in town. Saves much time and aggravation as you can get to most things you need during your hike when carried on your chest. So there you have it, when looking at just the ability to keep ice cold over a period of 6 days the Pelican has just slightly won, but we are talking about decimal points. I have to say that I am very impressed with the performance of the Ozark Trail 45Q cooler. This cooler is not only smaller in its overall size but also a fraction of the price of the competition.

ozark trail backpack

Bottom line is that this is a good general trekking sock if you’re on a budget. This full size roll top dry bag protects the entire internal contents of your backpack. This is a good option if you prefer to use non-waterproof stuff sacks instead of individual dry bags. It is also nice as an extra layer in very wet environments. Multiple sizes are available.This is also available in a heavier material with a handle for dual-use as a protective Airplane Case for checking your backpack on an airplane. Shoulder Pouches are the ideal place to keep your small camera or phone in reach for taking quick photos.

The Wigwam Hiking Outdoor Pro is a burly synthetic model that continues to perform after years as well. After 600 miles, it has compacted a bit but continues to go strong. While the Darn Tough varieties show large amounts of pilling after this ozark trail chair time, the Wigwam sock has little to note. After years of testing this sock, we can confidently say it is highly durable. Socks do take a beating while exploring outdoors, but a good one should last you for several hundred miles before failing.

Additionally, the three-pack means you get each pair for less than half the price of other socks, extending your mileage. For the fashionable, they also come in multi-color packs so you can color coordinate with your favorite outdoor threads. Another low-priced competitor we like is the Injinji Liner Crew.

Yeti has clearly set themselves apart as the biggest player in the cooler space. Since they launched, they have carved out an incredible market share delivering products across the board from coolers to dog bowls. In a sheer stroke of luck for this test, we are having a very aggressive heatwave in Southeast Michigan with temperatures around the 90’s during the day and staying in the 70’s overnight. I’m using my North facing deck as the staging area which receives direct sunlight at almost all hours of the day. I also placed  a small weather system on the deck rail to help get a sense of how hot surface temperatures are in the area. On one of the hottest days, the remote sensor reported temperatures exceeding 107 Degrees Fahrenheit while the air temp was in the high 80’s.

It was one of those planned events in 2020 that was delayed for years, from what else, but the Covid-19 pandemic. Since the trip was three years in the making, the anticipation was doubly intense. This hydration compatible backpack has a connection for a water bladder built in to the design. It also includes loops to hang your trekking poles when not in use. Of course it has no side water holsters, or lid pocket, or hipbelt strap, but I think that all contributes to its low weight. For the water bottles I just use Platypus .5 liter and 1 liter flat style bottles, which you can fit in the main body of the pack on top of your other gear.

I normally don’t need it, but it does a good job at tightening up the bag up. They don’t work well, and they tend to get in the way. The pack size and weight is good for all my day hiking to any shower. I’m not sure if it is durable ozark trail canopy enough to hold any of my camera equipment. This pack will make great for a day at the beach with an extra change of clothes, flip flops, keys, tanning oil, towel and a iPod or stuff your lightweight sleeping bag and a jacket.

I saw this pack at Wally World and figured, $19 for a 28-liter pack, I’d give it a shot. If it doesn’t suit my needs, one of my daughters would be able to use it. Water sources like rivers and streams may only be available seasonally. OT maps are a great resource to help identify places where you can access water. Backpacking stoves are a convenient way to boil water for dehydrated meals and instant coffee without adding a lot of weight to your pack. In the great spirit of American entrepreneurship, they came up with a line of coolers that have a bunch of premium features but are also affordable.

Back in 2020 my wife and I decide on a last-minute backing trip to the Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge. Because of this we realized we didn’t have all the gear we needed. They were more camera bags and short-day sling bags designed to be warned for light duty walking or short hikes where all I need is water and place to store my wallet, phone, and trail snacks.