Moreover, this Yeti cooler comes with a couple of extra features that make it even more useful and convenient. One of these features I particularly liked is the presence of LipGrip handles – carrying this thing around is as easy as it gets. I also liked the model’s T-Rex lid latches, as these keep the Yeti cooler completely sealed at all times and ensure that the lid doesn’t pop off. First of all, this Yeti cooler features the so-called rotomolded construction, which makes it very durable. The proprietary Permafrost insulation of this Yeti cooler, on the other hand, helps with ice retention, while the Fatwall (another proprietary technology) design provides 2” of ice insulation.
We have been receiving a lot of complaints as of late from people who are mentioning that the zippers on their soft-sided coolers are going out after 6 to 12 months. We are looking into this problem in more detail and may adjust this review accordingly once we get to the bottom of it. Our favorite feature of the Ozark Trail Soft Coolers is their additional storage options. Every model will come with at least one separate zippered pocket and many will have multiple zippered pockets in addition to mesh side pockets.
Then I measured out the exact number of quarts each cooler could hold — important information to have when you’re dealing with large quantities of melted ice. A. A personal-size Ozark Trail soft-sided cooler works well for taking lunch to work or school. Even the smallest hard-sided coolers are too large to make an effective lunch box. Ozark Trail soft-sided coolers usually have a durable polyester exterior and an FDA-compliant polyethylene vinyl acetate (PEVA) hard liner that’s fully waterproof to prevent leaks. Ozark Trail’s lineup of soft coolers tries to adhere to their “affordability first” approach.
Depending on if you go with an Ozark Trail hard-sided cooler or an Ozark Trail soft-sided cooler, you can expect different features. We will break down the specific features for each type of ice chest in the sections below. In addition to this, Ozark Trail also has some more mainstream designs for those who are simply on a tight budget and looking for a product to pack their lunch or picnic in.
This is because Yeti coolers, tumblers, and mugs, and other products typically have a better construction quality and can keep beverages hot or cold for longer. After all, this brand is not a favorite of millions of outdoor enthusiasts all over the world for no reason. All of these features combined turn the Yeti Cooler into one of the most rugged, leakproof, and easy-to-carry coolers you can get for your money.
Overall the Pelican coolers have sharper edges and a bit more of an industrial feel than the competition. One of the first things to note about it’s design is that it has a larger drainage hole and a tethered drain cap, which is a nice feature. I have lost a couple of drain caps in my day which makes the cooler unusable until a replacement arrives. I spend a great deal of time on the water every summer boating and fishing in Northern Michigan.
We ended up purchasing a YETI but let me tell you how we got there. We really tried to buy a cheaper cooler but the universe wanted us to buy a YETI. Remember last summer when we spent over $100 on ice for our two week trip to Montana? If you would like to read about how not to pack a cooler click here to read about it. We are committed to finding, researching, and recommending the best products.
To make it even more affordable, you can pick it up in-store and avoid shipping costs. To make transporting your Ozark Trail cooler from place to place as easy as possible, it’s important to have durable, easy-to-grip handles or straps. Hard-sided Ozark Trail coolers are available in three sizes.
Unfortunately, the deal breaker is that it intermittently leaked water from the drain spout. Prior to purchasing the cooler I had read several reviews that said this cooler collects condensation around the drain spout. I didn’t think much of the comments until I saw the amount of water leaking from my cooler. We tightened the spout and it ozark trail chair leaked three more times over two days, so the cooler went back to Walmart. 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.
As is expected, the larger hard-sided coolers had a clear advantage over the soft-sided coolers. They are not only larger but utilize thicker insulation, rubber gaskets, and an overall more ice-friendly design. Their low-cost, soft-sided cooler options don’t have a lot of storage volume ozark trail chair or insulation to help them out. While the Ozark Trail Hard-Sided Coolers are mostly designed to compete with the premium coolers of the industry, their soft-sided coolers are more balanced. Smaller Ozark Trail soft-sided coolers have padded shoulder straps for comfortable carrying.