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. All models are super easy to transport thanks to multiple carrying methods including optional wheels, padded shoulder straps, and more. While this isn’t quite as high as we have seen in other premium coolers, the much lower asking price helps to justify it. For most people, being able to keep ice for 3 days or more is plenty.
The Ultra-Light Cooler has two drain ports with cap stays made of wire. While the Ozark Trail Hard-Sided Coolers are mostly designed to compete with the premium coolers ozark trail canopy of the industry, their soft-sided coolers are more balanced. Ozark Trail’s soft-sided coolers have gone through quite a bit of variation over the past couple of years.
Ozark Trail, despite their best intentions, doesn’t quite live up to the level of ice retention and toughness of a Yeti. While they do have many of the same features, there are more notable quality issues with Ozark Trail models. This can include things such as premature leaking, warping of the lid, and ozark cooler stitching coming undone. No matter which model you go with, you will get to enjoy multiple storage options. This comes thanks to both the large, insulated area as well as storage pockets on the front and/or sides. The pockets on the front will be zippered while any on the sides will be open and mesh.
The Yeti Tundra Haul Wheeled Cooler pairs the indestructible nature of a roto-molded cooler with top-of-the-line handles and wheels for moving around with ease. To be fair, we could say this about most any roto-molded cooler with bear-resistant certification. The Outfitter’s ozark trail canopy trick is its minimal exterior, which leaves very little purchase or edge to catch on if the cooler takes a fall. It feels and carries like a well-packed brick, which makes sense given its IGBC (Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee) bear-resistant certification.
This can cooler even has a bottle opener in the bottom for your friends drinking from a bottle. REI had a member sale over Memorial Day weekend and we were able to save 20% on our cooler. We still spent more money than I’d like but at least we saved 20%.