But for some people who are budget conscious or who won’t be using the cooler a huge amount the Ozark Trail might do the trick and save you hundreds. For me the quality just isn’t there so I wouldn’t invest in an Ozark Trail but would instead buy another brand like Yeti, RTIC or Engel. The only area where Ozark Trail is better than Yeti is in the price.
Both of these cooler brands offer T-Rex lid latches, easy-to-use threaded drain plug, rotomolded construction, industry-standard gasket, and premium insulation on their coolers. Actually, premium Ozark Trail soft-sided coolers are built within an EVA compression molded base, giving them that premium look and efficiency. Consequently, not only do these coolers look good but they are also highly resilient, reflective and heavily padded. Indeed, not only do they establish a premium first impression but they carry the part nicely all along.
We will go into more detail about the specific features later in this review. The weather was in the high 90s during the test, the coolers were in full sun for most of the morning, and we opened them several times throughout the day. The ice melted in the Coleman in 24 hours and the YETI in 48 hours. 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.
In that respect, we think that Ozark Trail hard-coolers have successfully blended with high-end products as they exhibit a rich look with flattering colorful bits on the locks & handles. While quality is paramount to the durability and performance of an ice cooler, design is still relatively important. Indeed, it would not make sense to design a Yeti the same way as some off-brand cheap copy because the look of a cooler says a lot about it. Unlike their hard-sided collection, the soft Ozark Trail line is surprisingly richer.
Further, to complete the collection , Ozark Trail invested in a backpack design that is large enough to cater for a small beach party as well as a fun hiking/picnic experience. Accordingly, this cooler measures 19 x 8.5 x 13 inches, totalling in an impressive 2.4 pounds. Cover much more space is the 36 can premium model that is a much better option for picnics and small gatherings. Indeed, this cooler is definitely large, measuring 18 x 10 x 14 inches & weighing a total of 2.9 pounds straight out of the box.
Accordingly, the Ozark Trail 12, 36 can and backpack premium coolers share a distinct elegance, smooth finish inside & out and a record low-cost. Being a premium cooler, you’d expect the 12 can model to cost a lot more than $50 but it doesn’t. All of these features combined turn the Yeti Cooler into one of the most rugged, leakproof, and easy-to-carry coolers you can get for your money.
This can include things such as premature leaking, warping of the lid, and stitching coming undone. The asking prices for the various ozark trail chairs will fluctuate quite a bit depending on which model you are going with. But seeing how Ozark Trail is in the business of making cost-effective products, all models should be affordable (particularly when compared to their industry competition). Also included in the 52 and 73-quart models is an internal wire basket. Oftentimes, this basket doesn’t come with the cooler and costs extra as an accessory. So we appreciate Ozark trail going ahead and throwing that in free of charge.
This is right up there with Yeti as one of the best soft sided coolers on the market and sells for about $100 less than the similar sized Yeti. Yeti soft sided coolers are much higher quality and perform better than Ozark Trail soft sided coolers. Yeti soft sided coolers are made from heavy duty 840D nylon that is TPU laminated and uses RF welding to seal it all together. s have similar features to the Yeti Hopper Flip coolers with thick insulation, a waterproof zipper and shoulder strap. They don’t keep ice quite as long as the Yeti but still hold ice for about 2 days.