Cooler Showdown

[huachuca]

Thanks for the post. I was looking at that deal too, so appreciate the feedback. What kind of rig do you have and how do you feel it fits?

We have a Tacoma DC short bed, a TJ and a Montero but I don't really see a problem with room in any of them. Its usually just me and the missus and the Pelican will be replacing a Coleman Xtreme of roughly the same dimensions that previously worked in all three. The Jeep and Taco both have roof racks so most of our lighter gear goes up top. We typically carry two coolers - one for food and the other for drinks; I'm hoping this will handle the food duties.

I did confirm that, with either or both seats dropped, it fits in the rear of the Tacoma in either orientation with enough clearance to fully open the lid. It'll also go in the TJ with the rear seat removed.

After handling it a bit today, I'm even more impressed with the quality. I filled the cooler with water and found no moisture around the drain after a couple of hours. Also put a cap with a Schrader valve on the drain and slightly pressurized the cooler without detecting any noticeable leakage.

We're planning a 4-5 day trip to Nantahala NF before Thanksgiving so I hope to add some performance comments when we return.

 

[BulldoginaJeepwithaColt]

Made in the USA

I have two Grizzly coolers, both comparable to similarly sized Yeti's, just a little bigger and cheaper while being made in the USA! Customer service has been quick and great! Both keep Ice cubes for days, keep with white colors to keep it longer.

Grizzly also had a scratch and dent or imperfections area on their website for those wishing to save some coin who don't care about miniscule visual imperfections.

 

[Accrete]

I mentioned in a prior post we are utilizing two 80qt Engle Deep Blue coolers we've wrapped with reflectix.

This coming season we are going to go out with the brown one in use as a dry food storage locker and the white one for our to-be-cooled food items. We purchased two of the wire racks for inside the cooler and found we can also utilize the vertical divider accessory between the two areas and gain a bit more organization.

First _real_ trip (one week) is in april, and we usually go out one out of four weeks from spring to late fall so our test config will yield some feedback.

Happy 2016 : )
Thom

 

[Semi-Hex]

We picked up a Canyon Cooler 75 in sandstone a couple of years ago at the Overland Expo and couldn't be happier. We don't have to buy ice often and it stays pretty cool.

 

[Tazman]

I just started using a Techni Ice that I bought on EBay. Thus far, I couldn't be happier. I have a shed full of sub par ice chests and after looking at all the choices, I bought one for my wife for Christmas (she didn't need any appliances.) I put a case of cold beer in with one bag of ice 9 days ago. I have added another case and a half ( New Years and all) all cold from the store. Yesterday I added one of their supplied Dry Ice packs and I still have most of the ice. It has been 30-57 f so not a test of summer conditions but I am impressed. I will probably buy another one, maybe a size bigger. The stainless latches, bear proof, 3" top, and 2.5" sides, large bung, and very white.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ICE-CHEST-B...307671?hash=item2c9bac1757:g:Ac0AAOSwZd1VZ9Ca

 

[2025 deleted member]

Noticed the cooler showdown on the home page. Thanks for the write-up Chris Collard. I was surprised to not see an Esky cooler in the test.

 

[Cromanow89]

I'm intrigued by these RTiC coolers. I just read it's a terribly long wait for them


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Jamin_GX]

I'm intrigued by these RTiC coolers. I just read it's a terribly long wait for them


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It is/was. I preordered mine in Aug and just received it last week. Haven't had a chance to test it yet. It would hardly be fair since it's been 25F or colder here lately.

I have a Yeti Hopper I've been extremely satisfied with. Curious to see how a hard sided cooler compares.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[el_topu]

It is/was. I preordered mine in Aug and just received it last week. Haven't had a chance to test it yet. It would hardly be fair since it's been 25F or colder here lately.

I have a Yeti Hopper I've been extremely satisfied with. Curious to see how a hard sided cooler compares.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

How did your RTIC cooler performed? Does it work as advertised on their website?

 

[kojackJKU]

Out of all these, I would get the ozark if you absolutely need that style. If not, just get a coleman. You can buy 3 of them for the price of most of these and they cool 90 % as well!

 

[Ducky's Dad]

Out of all these, I would get the ozark if you absolutely need that style. If not, just get a coleman. You can buy 3 of them for the price of most of these and they cool 90 % as well!

I gotta disagree. I have half a dozen Coleman and Igloo "extreme" coolers (the ones that claim ice for 5 days at 90 degrees) and a couple of 58-qt Orca roto-molded coolers. The Orcas are waaaaay better in desert summer heat. Whether they are worth the money depends on your usage patterns and conditions, but I like mine a lot. I usually carry one of the Igloos for readily accessible drinks and for the ice melt that comes in handy for lots of things, but the Orca is right behind it with a full load of ice and food/drinks. I have found that the Igloo can be significantly improved by putting a compressible gasket around the underside of the lid, and stretching a snug bungee across the top of the cooler (between the handles) to keep the lid tight against the body. Holds ice a lot longer and minimizes water leakage around the lid on rough roads. KojackJKU is in Newfoundland. That's nothing like Arizona in the summer. Different strokes.

 

[perterra]

The very first Coleman extremes were pretty impressive, not from the tough stand point but from the ice holding. About the size of a 48 quart chest but due to the insulation thickness it held 35 quarts. Rubber gasket on the lid and no drain plug. Pretty close to a Yeti in ice holding. They have cheapened them considerably.

 

[kojackJKU]

Hell no it is nothing alike. 30 deg celcius is HOT here. 45 is hot in arizona. ha ha! BUT you have to look at cost per performance. If I was spending 300+ on a normal cooler....I would just get a powered fridge!

 

[Ducky's Dad]

Hell no it is nothing alike. 30 deg celcius is HOT here. 45 is hot in arizona. ha ha! BUT you have to look at cost per performance. If I was spending 300+ on a normal cooler....I would just get a powered fridge!

45C is actually pretty mild for southern AZ in late August and September. Last year on August 31 it was over 53C between Yuma and Gila Bend. And after I got the Orcas, I got an Indel B fridge to sit behind the driver's seat. I can keep frozen water bottles in there or an extra bag of ice, or ice cream for "emergencies." Dazzles the kids when it's 120F and I ask them what kind of ice cream they want.

 

[trnorman]

The very first Coleman extremes were pretty impressive, not from the tough stand point but from the ice holding. About the size of a 48 quart chest but due to the insulation thickness it held 35 quarts. Rubber gasket on the lid and no drain plug. Pretty close to a Yeti in ice holding. They have cheapened them considerably.

I have the exact same Coleman and love it, but over the years the top has warped slightly and it does not seal as well as it once did. Still holds ice days longer than a new "extreme". Someone needs to bring back this style of cooler, most people don't need a rotomolded $300 unit.

Sent from my VS990 using Tapatalk