The juddering of pulling hard-wheeled models over smooth surfaces, like city sidewalks, can quickly leave blisters on your hands from the vibration of the plastic wheels (this really happened to a tester). But pulling the RovR with its air-filled wheels lets you glide over imperfections in the ground and keeps your hands happy. The IGBC specifically states that this does not mean the product in question can’t be opened or destroyed by a bear, nor does it mean the product is leakproof. That said, even the minimum construction standards required to deter a hungry 10 foot long, 900 lb grizzly lend a lot of credibility to the durability of a product. Models we reviewed that are IGBC certified include the Yeti Tundra 65, Orca 58 and 40, Pelican Wheeled 80 and Elite 20, Engel 65, Arctic Zone Titan 55, and RovR RollR 60. These products proved to be very durable, despite the fact our team was unable to find a grizzly bear willing to test each of them rigorously.
The American Homebrewers Association breaks down the optimal serving temperature range for different types of beer, which we based this threshold on. Without a buddy to help you lug the fully-loaded Engel HD30 to the beach, it can feel quite heavy while using its shoulder strap. We also discovered after a rainstorm that the external pocket isn’t waterproof, though this is a small gripe.
The Coleman Xtreme, Cabela Polar Cap, and Pelican coolers have leashes attaching their drain plugs to the body of the chest. Both Pelican models, the Igloo IMX 70qt, the Engel, and the Xspec all have built-in bottle openers hidden in various spots. Equally as important, the RovR’s handle swings out far enough from the chest’s body to avoid painful heel smashing. And with motocross-style rubber handles located on the edges of the sides of the wide trolley handle, it’s clear that this product is designed with the user in mind. Attachment is easy, and the flexible, pivoting arm allows for freedom of bike movement and no loss of turning radius or steering ability.
A cooler’s latch or closure system is one of the defining characteristics of a premium model and plays a significant role in overall cooling performance. Among high-end hard-sided coolers, you’ll commonly coleman instant tent find two rubber T-handles along the front that keep the lid locked securely in place. These handles are fairly user-friendly, extremely strong, and minimize any openings for cold air to escape.
But they’re made with multiple pieces—unlike the single, uninterrupted form with rotomolding—which can lead to a drop in durability and added susceptibility to cracking. That being said, a high-end build like RTIC’s 52 QT 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. Roam is primarily a rooftop tent manufacturer and well regarded among serious outdoor-goers like overlanders and those who like to get off the grid.
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 coleman instant tent in regular use for several years now, and each season we update their durability and performance information, documenting how they change over time. We’ve tested over 40 coolers since 2016 in search of the best, most well insulated models.
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. Tack on a price that undercuts the similarly sized Tundra 65 above by a considerable $135, and the Xspec stands out as a very well-rounded design at a great value. Orca (Outdoor Recreation Company of America) isn’t a household name like Yeti, but the Tennessee brand has gained a dedicated following of committed outdoorspeople. Their 40-quart cooler gives premium rotomolded models here a real run for their money.
Still, for bringing some cool refreshments and a chilled lunch for a few friends on a longer walking journey, this comfortable backpack cooler is our top choice. The RTIC Ultralight 52 has nearly everything you could want from a coleman screen tent cooler. It manages to keep a medium to large internal volume while staying lightweight and portable. While we can’t control how much you plan on throwing in the cooler, it was noticeably lighter than the competition when empty.