Yahoo Lifestyle 9 Top-Notch Coolers That'll Keep Your Drinks Perfectly Chilled
- 1/10
9 Top-Notch Coolers That'll Keep Your Drinks Perfectly Chilled
Weirdly, a cooler can say more about someone than their wardrobe choices. A creative director's white sneakers, a graphic designer's work pants, a business guy's packable down jacket, none of these speak so deeply to someone's core as their cooler of choice. Yeti's display a certain status. Igloos and Colemans are the basic man cooler (and we're not mad at that). Everything else is probably niche and hyper-researched. So where the fuck do you start?
You made it here cause you actually want a cooler, and you aren't dumb enough to be swayed by branding. (Congrats!) And we're here to provide you an expert opinion, so let's get to it. All the coolers on this list are worth your money, it's just about deciding what you want. Any one of these coolers will quickly become your favorite camping gadget or backyard buddy. So buy now, and spring for that express shipping, because you'll wanna post up, throw some tunes on, and put this cooler to use ASAP.
Courtesy - 2/10
Tundra 45
Yeti
yeti.com
$325.00
The original status cooler, and nowadays you don't have to be a rich guy who goes fishing to own one. It'll keep your ice chilled for days, and impress passerbys checking out your beach setup.
yeti.com - 3/10
45QW Elite
Pelican
pelican.com
$429.95
Pelican cases are the industry standard for anyone carrying gear—DJs, photographers, or other people who do actual work. Just like the cases, Pelican coolers are overbuilt and crazy tough. This 45-quart wheeled option will have ice retention similar to Yeit's Tundra 45, but with the big-ass wheels, you can pull this one over anything.
pelican.com - 4/10
Legacy 54 Qt Cooler
igloo
igloocoolers.com
$249.99
Can't believe I'm giving this idea away for free, but you should buy this retro remake Igloo in faux Tiffany Blue. Then, buy a set of Tiffany Sterling Silver Paper Cups to serve drinks in. Nothing is more fun than going high brow-low brow!
Honestly the cooler looks great, but that stainless steel isn't going to be the best at keeping ice. It'll keep your drinks cold all day, but here it's less about specs and more about the looks.
igloocoolers.com - 5/10
Ultra-Light 52 Quart
RTIC
amazon.com
$219.99
You'll see RTIC on every one of these online lists. Why? Performance wise, most people won't notice the difference between these and a Yeti. It's also become the kind of "anti" choice, for the real heads that don't care about brand names. All you need to know is it's high quality performance at mid-tier pricing. That my friend, is up to you.
amazon.com - 6/10
62-Quart Wheeled Cooler
Coleman
amazon.com
$84.99
What makes the best budget cooler different than the best value cooler? Well, because unlike with the RTIC, you will notice this cooler is inferior to others on this list. Ice will melt quicker, and it doesn't look as good. But a 62-quart wheeled cooler for under $100? It's an unbeatable deal. Let the nerds argue about which cooler is the best. You enjoy your cheap cooler bliss for a low price.
amazon.com - 7/10
Grizzly Cooler
Snow Peak
ssense.com
$580.00
Wait a minute... When did they start selling coolers at SSENSE?? When Japanese luxury camping brand Snow Peak collaborated with USA-made cooler brand Grizzly. Everyone else at the beach thinks they're stunting with Yeti coolers. You're over here with a $600 cooler from the GORP brand they don't even know about.
ssense.com - 8/10
Pro Backpack Cooler
IceMule
amazon.com
$144.95
If you're only packing for a few people, hiking, or have any sort of long trip to your destination, go for a backpack cooler. As far as that category goes, IceMule is the premier name.
We say go for the 33L size, since it's only $10 extra. And whatever space you don't use can be compressed with the roll-top closure.
amazon.com - 9/10
Tote Cooler 35L
Hydro Flask
amazon.com
$59.99
Ok, if you're buying a soft cooler, it seems logical to buy from those brands that make great hard coolers, right? NO!
Soft coolers will just never be very good at keeping ice. They're meant to be easy to carry for city folk going to the beach or park. Save yourself the frustration and do not buy a $200+ soft cooler. This Hydro Flask tote cooler will work just fine!
amazon.com - 10/10
Roadie 24
Yeti
yeti.com
$200.00
Soft coolers are great for small groups, but for those that want a hard cooler to tote around, Yeti's Roadie is a great fit. Everything amazing about the original, shrunken down into a size that's comfortable to carry.
The only downside is the carry strap, and it's a strange one. Depending on your size—if you're anywhere on the bigger or smaller than average spectrum—the strap can be both too long and too short. Too long to farmer's carry, too long to sling over your shoulder. All in all, a very minor issue, but one that can be annoying.
yeti.com
