The interior has been treated with a stain and odor resistant coating so the cooler always stays fresh. While you will pay more for the than most other Igloo products, we still feel that it is a bargain for what you are getting. The sheer number of great accessories justifies a lot of this higher asking price and even as a simple cooler, it does a decent enough job to not make us gasp too much at the asking price. As for toughness, the cooler is comprised of an aluminum frame and utilizes stainless steel hardware. You don’t have to worry about this ice chest falling apart when you are towing it to your next adventure. However, it still won’t be quite as tough as the simpler premium coolers on the market from Yeti, RTIC, Engel, etc.
The Igloo managed to hold refreshing brew temperatures at or below 50º for an additional several hours, for a total of 3.4 days of cold beers. Though we aren’t totally shocked at this lackluster performance when considering the Trailmate is a relatively thin cooler, standing up to some rather thick, rotomolded competition. In which case this level of insulation will surely get you through a single warm summer’s day. The Trailmate Journey features an included dry food basket, storage compartment, fishing rod slots, and a massive interior space.
For example, the Yeti 75 is nearly $200 more expensive and does not have wheels nor the added features as outlined above. It goes without saying that the Trailmate is the perfect beach, tailgating or surf fishing cooler capable of handling rugged terrain at a reasonable price. The Igloo Trailmate, due to its many additional features, large size, and decent ice life, does fetch a higher asking price than most other Igloo products. But for someone who is after a truly unique, mobile, and well-performing ice chest, the asking price is more than fair.
As for the hardware, it is made of stainless steel which is also rust-resistant and extremely tough. In the case of the Trailmate Marine, it comes with special UV inhibitors built into the wall. They help to protect against sun damage (which can be a major concern in marine settings). You will also find an antimicrobial liner that helps to offset bacteria growth and is very easy to clean up as well.
And we have seen instances where a cooler loaded with features ends up having subpar ice performance as a result of all of these additional features. The next most notable feature is the glide handle that also doubles as a butler tray. This igloo soft cooler feature is something that you will find on very few other coolers on the market and it is a great way to stand out from the crowd while having a nifty feature. A cooler that boasts a ton of features and is ready to tackle the trail.
It may require a firm push to securely close the lid as well. The very radical business of producing products people love. Party anywhere you want with the ultimate all-terrain cooler.
There isn’t anything that Yeti offers that can match Igloo in these areas. Also, despite all of these additional features, you will still find that the Trailmate is typically more affordable than a similarly-sized Yeti. Yeti has been the go-to premium cooler brand for many years. Its combination of impressive ice performance, great build quality, and helpful features make it a go-to for many outdoor enthusiasts. The color selections, while limited, all look quite nice. If you go with the Trailmate Liddup or Trailmate Marine models you will only have a single color to choose from.
First, you have the butler tray that is built into the inside of the lid. Second, there is a removable dry storage box on the front of the cooler so you can and keep the phone/keys in there without fear of water or sand damaging then. As we mentioned in the opening, we feel the Trailmate is the best bang for the buck when it comes to wheeled coolers. This cooler others impressive ice retention, more features than most competitors, yet doesn’t break the bank. Prices are constantly fluctuating, but normally the Trailmate can be picked up for under $250. Some may find this price point to be steep, but a comparison of a similar sized roto molded cooler will reveal the value.