Just as its name suggests, this little box has proved itself to be our go-to road trip companion. The Tundra 65 boasts one of the most impressive performances out of any cooler we tested. Through numerous rounds of our intensive insulation testing, the Tundra 65 continued to outlast most others in keeping contents at safe temperatures for consumption. This is one of many chests we tested with a bear-resistance certification from the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC).
Yet, because it’s so small (relatively speaking), we hardly miss those extra features. The Roadie is not airtight or leakproof — there is a sizeable gap where the ends of the rubber seals meet that’s only covered by a piece of fabric tape. It’s the only model we tested that has actual pneumatic tires instead of cylindrical plastic chunks labeled as wheels.
Other than the minor issue with the lid not staying open, this is a good choice for a casual cooler enthusiast. But for someone after a significantly longer ice life, expect to pay a lot more for a cooler that will meet your specific needs. Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time).
The Igloo BMX also has T-grip latches with slightly different shapes and thicknesses that both get the job done just fine. The best powered cooler we have tested is the seriously impressive Dometic CFX3 45. It offers some of the coldest achievable temperatures and above-average insulation. It’s built rugged and tough enough coleman sundome to withstand those questionably-maintained roads you may find yourself driving down. And it is practically bursting at the seams with ridiculously convenient features and well-thought-out usability. Two internal baskets make loading and locating things that much easier, as you can lift out the basket to find what you need.
At the other end of the spectrum, budget-oriented models like the Coleman Xtreme and Igloo ECOCOOL forgo latches completely and rely on a good fit between the lid and cooler body. This results in reduced insulating performance and means you need to keep a close eye on coleman screen tent the lid to make sure it doesn’t pop loose or fall off in transport. Rotomolded coolers like YETI’s Tundra above are made out of a single piece of continuous plastic, which is great for durability but means they typically lack built-in features and mounting locations.
That being said, a high-end build like RTIC’s 52 Ultra-Light stacks up favorably to top rotomolded coolers in overall toughness. Many injection-molded designs also allow for various mounting locations for accessories like tables, cup holders, and cutting boards—something you don’t typically get with rotomolding. Boasting a lightweight frame but keeping a 50-quart capacity, the RTIC Ultralight has found the perfect balance between size and weight. Its rope straps extend far above the cooler, making it possible to carry it without slamming your hands against the frame. These were particularly useful for loading onto the counter or into the car. The market for ice chests continues to grow over the years, resulting in some extremely close competition and hard-fought rivalries.
We set accident-prone friends, young children, and hefty humans loose on them to see what they’re made of by pushing them in ways more typically spread across many years of use. We filled each model with water to see how well their seals worked (or if they worked at all) and left them all out in the scorching midday desert sun for hours on end to see what would happen. Several of our top-performing contestants have been in regular use for several years now, and each season we update their durability and performance information, documenting how they change over time. The 316 Series coolers can also keep your drinks cold for up to 5 days, so it’s ideal for a long trip to the beach.
That said, many manufacturers offer some exceptionally handy add-ons that, should you choose to purchase them, can easily turn a product into your perfect hunting companion, tailgating buddy, or camping friend. Both Pelican models we tested — the Pelican Wheeled and the Pelican 20 stand out to our testers as having exceptionally coleman sundome easy to use latches. When it comes to high durability and above-average insulation and usability, the Ultralight 52 is a fantastic example of a high-value item. This lower-priced (yet over-performing) model has been handily getting the job done for weekends full of summer fun, all while being kind to the wallet.
In our testing, the Coleman Xtreme kept ice frozen for a full week (170 hours), 30 hours longer than the Igloo MaxCold (140 hours). It measures 28.4 by 15.8 by 17.5 inches, its design incorporates bevels and angles all over the place, and it has a ruler and cup holders molded into its lid. Insulation obsessives may want to fill those cup holders with Styrofoam, but considering how well this cooler performed in our tests, doing so doesn’t seem to be all that critical. Unlike most of the other models, the Coleman Xtreme has a channeled drain, which made draining much easier and required very little tilting on our part. This makes it more comfortable to carry but also frequently positions the handle in a way where it inhibits opening the lid. It also lacks a drainage port, and this version doesn’t boast the IGBC certification of larger Yeti hard coolers.
The 50ºF threshold we highlight represents the average maximum ideal temperature to serve beer. The American Homebrewers Association breaks down the optimal serving temperature range for different types of beer, which we based this threshold on. While the Cabela Polar Cap 80 boasts impressive features, there are some areas where it falls short. First, it is a heavy cooler, which can make it difficult to move around, especially for just one person.