It fits easily in my trunk, and I can count on it, with a few ice packs, to keep dairy cold even after hours driving around in tropical heat. In our testing, we also found that the Ultra-Light Cooler consistently keeps ice frozen and maintains a food-safe temperature (40 °F) for up to three or four days in the shade with use. They’re good if you prefer a little extra ozark trail canopy organization while packing your cooler. Outside of the premium models (with their thicker insulated shell), these coolers aren’t designed to keep ice for long periods. Rather, they are a good companion for a lunch outing or small picnic. Specifically, the smaller models will have ice life that starts at just a couple of hours and creeps up to around half a day.
What I found most fascinating about this test is that the water in the YETI stayed cold for three additional days after the ice melted. The water was cold enough that had the gallon jugs been milk, we would have been able to drink out of them for three days after the ice melted. All-in-all, the YETI lasted for five days and the Coleman for one day. 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.
While Rtic coolers aren’t the cheapest coolers on the market, a 20-quart model will run you about $159, and the 65-quart comes in a little under $300. They’re certainly cheaper than their Yeti counterparts, and they’ll still get the job done with flair. With its hard-bodied style and blocky black logo, RTIC is clearly making a run at Yeti’s business model. Honestly, a lot of the time the decision really does come down to Rtic cooler vs. Yeti cooler. On the beach or the deck, this Pelican cooler has the ice retention and skid resistance you’ll want for life by the waves. This soft side cooler is ever-popular online and perfect for a day outdoors.
The Pelican 50-quart Elite Cooler is made for life on the water. Built to be skid-resistant, it can handle choppy surf without sliding around. It opens with one hand and even sports a ruler on top, with cupholders and a bottle opener. Our testers noted that the Arctic Zone Titan Cooler kept ice cold for about 2.5 days, which should be more than enough for most people. There’s a reason the Rtic Ultra-Light 52 Quart Hard Cooler is one of the most value-packed ice coolers you can buy. Stuffed with ice, it kept our sensors under 40 degrees for three days.
This is the hardest cooler category to test and ultimately choose a pick within. All high-end roto-molded coolers are increasingly coalescing into a single position, with similar price, performance, and construction. The three that currently rise to the top are from RTIC, Canyon, and Yeti. RTIC’s coolers are always ozark trail chair the least expensive, but they aren’t certified as bear-resistant. Yeti has all the name recognition, a consistent track record, and bear-resistant certification. But in our comparisons, The Outfitter cooler is a touch cheaper per quart of space and has slightly more insulation than either the RTIC or Yeti coolers.