Looking to upgrade from my plastic Coleman junk. Anyone recommend a small 30 qt or less soft or hard sided cooler that'll keep ice for at least 2 days and is easy to carry? Budget is $250 but more bang for the buck obviously better 
High end coolers?
- Thread starter Mindreader1
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I've tried quite a few. Bison, k2, yeti, and guide gear (orca) . Out of those 4 orca performs the best. Bison and yeti the worst. Problem with most is that the lid will warp if left out in the sun which let's hot air in and your ice melts.
Look into these guide gear coolers. It is not 100% confirmed but almost positive these are by Orca. They look identical and both USA made. I have the 60 QT version and it's been my best performer. I can fill it with ice, leave it sitting on the back of my flatbed in the 100 degree heat and it will hold ice for at least 5-6 days
But honestly if you are only looking for 2 days any of the premium brand coolers will do that.
Look into these guide gear coolers. It is not 100% confirmed but almost positive these are by Orca. They look identical and both USA made. I have the 60 QT version and it's been my best performer. I can fill it with ice, leave it sitting on the back of my flatbed in the 100 degree heat and it will hold ice for at least 5-6 days
But honestly if you are only looking for 2 days any of the premium brand coolers will do that.
Guide Gear 20 Quart Cooler
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Have an orca extremely happy with it.
I'm south of Topeka KS loaded with ice in back of truck in September drive to Creed CO area and back 6 day trip. Opened cooler 4 to 5 times a day still had ice when I got home.
I'm south of Topeka KS loaded with ice in back of truck in September drive to Creed CO area and back 6 day trip. Opened cooler 4 to 5 times a day still had ice when I got home.
I have an RTIC 45 quart cooler. It does real well, but, like all coolers like it, it's heavy. It's also made in China, but it's a lot cheaper than the Yeti coolers.
I have an Rtic 60 quart cooler, it's very nice and holds ice for quite a while. Just too large for me.
Rtic has a pretty good sale going on right now. Last week i bought a 14” waterproof case (similar to pelican), a bag for the wife while we fishing 2 30oz tumblers and a 1/2gal stainless jug All for 80.00. I think the 45 qt hard cooler is about 189.00. Was free shipping also.
Igloo Marine coolers are decent for the price.
RTIC coolers are as good if not better than Yeti.
Walmart sells a 40qt Yeti style for like $150 that gets great reviews.
I have a Yeti 45 that does double duty on my boat as a cooler and casting platform.
No issues with the sun or anything else. It was just too expensive.
RTIC coolers are as good if not better than Yeti.
Walmart sells a 40qt Yeti style for like $150 that gets great reviews.
I have a Yeti 45 that does double duty on my boat as a cooler and casting platform.
No issues with the sun or anything else. It was just too expensive.
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For two days you are fine with just about any cooler.
FWIW, I do a ton of extended trips and my Canyon Coolers are the best. Had ice until day 21 in my Canyon Navigator on a Grand Canyon raft trip. That said it was a 150qt so a whole different animal from the little guys. I also had it in a walk in with the contents frozen in a block for 14 days prior. Canyon is a smaller company and some (if not all their stuff now) is made in USA. Lifetime, no bullshit warranty on their hard coolers.
Longevity boils down to cooler maintenance along with quality. If you are all day in and out of it and dumping new hot beers in, no cooler will last. If you pre chill the cooler and contents, are in and out of it as little as possible, keep it out of the sun/ covered, etc. it'll last longer. If all I needed was a two day cooler that I was going to be in and out of 20 times a day , I'd buy a cheapo, save the money and weight, go heavy on the ice and not give a shit.
FWIW, I do a ton of extended trips and my Canyon Coolers are the best. Had ice until day 21 in my Canyon Navigator on a Grand Canyon raft trip. That said it was a 150qt so a whole different animal from the little guys. I also had it in a walk in with the contents frozen in a block for 14 days prior. Canyon is a smaller company and some (if not all their stuff now) is made in USA. Lifetime, no bullshit warranty on their hard coolers.
Longevity boils down to cooler maintenance along with quality. If you are all day in and out of it and dumping new hot beers in, no cooler will last. If you pre chill the cooler and contents, are in and out of it as little as possible, keep it out of the sun/ covered, etc. it'll last longer. If all I needed was a two day cooler that I was going to be in and out of 20 times a day , I'd buy a cheapo, save the money and weight, go heavy on the ice and not give a shit.
My $30 no name works for two days in pretty hot temperatures if you don't go in and out of it every 20 minutes.
I have a friend with a YETI and it is damn nice. Camping in the summer and it is good for many days but the company is anti-2A and they are super expensive. I would probably go that route if I had to have something good for more than a couple of days but that isn't my use case.
Have heard good and bad regarding RTIC
I have a friend with a YETI and it is damn nice. Camping in the summer and it is good for many days but the company is anti-2A and they are super expensive. I would probably go that route if I had to have something good for more than a couple of days but that isn't my use case.
Have heard good and bad regarding RTIC
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This big time. Dumping hot drinks in a hot cooler, and one bag of ice equals no ice in 2 hours. Prechill the cooler, have the drinks be as cold as possible before going in, and have your ice be as cold as possible. If your ice is already wet and dripping going into the cooler it's not gonna last long.
Pelican.
They just ran a 30% off for Fourth of July. Got a 30qt for $165. But they are $235 new.
I also have an older gen 65qt that is badass
They just ran a 30% off for Fourth of July. Got a 30qt for $165. But they are $235 new.
I also have an older gen 65qt that is badass
If you're using it as a "beer cooler" save your money- any cooler will perform about the same. "Performance coolers" only really perform when they're not being opened.
But, Yeti still gets the looks from the jacked-up-trucks and skinny-jeans crowd.
But, Yeti still gets the looks from the jacked-up-trucks and skinny-jeans crowd.
yeti is reportedly anti-2nd amendment and should be crossed off your list.
but there are lots of pics of girls butts sitting on them if that's your thing,
but there are lots of pics of girls butts sitting on them if that's your thing,
and made in China yet sold at US standard of living/regulation prices........fuck them.
Another vote for pelican here! Had a 45qt in a bear locker for a week and the ice we put in from our freezer was still in the same shape as when we put it in.
I won't deny that I'd like a few coolers to go on out boat. Couple years ago, My Lady got a great deal on an Ice Maker from one of our local Cambodian Tire stores. (some of ya'll will be familiar with that chain).
It's great, so that we can constantly replenish the ice that we've got in our coolers that we already have, but only when tied to the dock. The best cooler we have, is a 20 year old "Coleman Extreme" and I won't deny that it's good. These new-fangled coolers that are coming out with all kinds of claims and wall-thickness's are just insane.
Sure does make me wonder though, two things about 'ice makers'. One, why dont' they come 'insulated' themselves, to keep the ice that they've made, "cold". And two, how can one "turn down" the icemaking temperature, so-as-to make "colder ice" as opposed to "just enough to freeze?"
And yes, this ALL has to do with "what cooler is bestester" as opposed to expensivest or most-cupholders or most-fishmeasurer's or whatever.
Only other thing I can say to "what makes a good cooler" is one that comes with a bottom drain. If you're sitting in water, then it ain't gonna get any colder than that.
And as to the ice-maker on the boat, well, we simply haven't had the opportunity to try it out yet. The Boat hasn't been launched now, since the summer of '17. Sure do miss it though. We haven't even take the cover off it since it was put on back in the Fall of '17.
It's great, so that we can constantly replenish the ice that we've got in our coolers that we already have, but only when tied to the dock. The best cooler we have, is a 20 year old "Coleman Extreme" and I won't deny that it's good. These new-fangled coolers that are coming out with all kinds of claims and wall-thickness's are just insane.
Sure does make me wonder though, two things about 'ice makers'. One, why dont' they come 'insulated' themselves, to keep the ice that they've made, "cold". And two, how can one "turn down" the icemaking temperature, so-as-to make "colder ice" as opposed to "just enough to freeze?"
And yes, this ALL has to do with "what cooler is bestester" as opposed to expensivest or most-cupholders or most-fishmeasurer's or whatever.
Only other thing I can say to "what makes a good cooler" is one that comes with a bottom drain. If you're sitting in water, then it ain't gonna get any colder than that.
And as to the ice-maker on the boat, well, we simply haven't had the opportunity to try it out yet. The Boat hasn't been launched now, since the summer of '17. Sure do miss it though. We haven't even take the cover off it since it was put on back in the Fall of '17.
I am on a permanent ban from buying coolers.
I sold shrimp for years out of igloo marine 248qt coolers and marine Gott coolers. In their day they were the cats ass. I wore them out, they were great except for weak hinges.
After years of cheap coolers, and using my old worn Gotts, that had been rehinged with tooling leather, I had opportunity to buy a Yeti 20...just to try out. It was so far above what I'd always had, I bought a 65qt. Both were on sale at much reduced prices.
I swore them off when they stepped on their dicks over the 2A, becoming "2A butters".
I did buy a wheeled yeti for 33% off at tackle store in Destin. Only reason I bought it was they were doing a fundraiser for hurricane Michael relief....and at 33% off, a hell of a deal.
They are tough, they will take all the abuse you want to throw at them. They don't warp(who said that? Mine live in the sun, ain't true). A brown one will fade and haze a bit. As far as I can tell they can't be ruined.
That said, I'll not buy another. Most all the rotomold coolers are just as good as a Yeti. If the wife ever lifts the ban, I'll try an orca or an Ozark trail(Walmart).
As an ardent outdoorsman of many decades I can confidently say they should last you a lifetime. I beat the shit out of my Yetis.
I sold shrimp for years out of igloo marine 248qt coolers and marine Gott coolers. In their day they were the cats ass. I wore them out, they were great except for weak hinges.
After years of cheap coolers, and using my old worn Gotts, that had been rehinged with tooling leather, I had opportunity to buy a Yeti 20...just to try out. It was so far above what I'd always had, I bought a 65qt. Both were on sale at much reduced prices.
I swore them off when they stepped on their dicks over the 2A, becoming "2A butters".
I did buy a wheeled yeti for 33% off at tackle store in Destin. Only reason I bought it was they were doing a fundraiser for hurricane Michael relief....and at 33% off, a hell of a deal.
They are tough, they will take all the abuse you want to throw at them. They don't warp(who said that? Mine live in the sun, ain't true). A brown one will fade and haze a bit. As far as I can tell they can't be ruined.
That said, I'll not buy another. Most all the rotomold coolers are just as good as a Yeti. If the wife ever lifts the ban, I'll try an orca or an Ozark trail(Walmart).
As an ardent outdoorsman of many decades I can confidently say they should last you a lifetime. I beat the shit out of my Yetis.
Ice makers don't need to hold ice for 7 days because they make their own, hence less the need for insulation, also if you have a commercial ice maker you are usually pulling ice out as fast as its being made.I won't deny that I'd like a few coolers to go on out boat. Couple years ago, My Lady got a great deal on an Ice Maker from one of our local Cambodian Tire stores. (some of ya'll will be familiar with that chain).
It's great, so that we can constantly replenish the ice that we've got in our coolers that we already have, but only when tied to the dock. The best cooler we have, is a 20 year old "Coleman Extreme" and I won't deny that it's good. These new-fangled coolers that are coming out with all kinds of claims and wall-thickness's are just insane.
Sure does make me wonder though, two things about 'ice makers'. One, why dont' they come 'insulated' themselves, to keep the ice that they've made, "cold". And two, how can one "turn down" the icemaking temperature, so-as-to make "colder ice" as opposed to "just enough to freeze?"
And yes, this ALL has to do with "what cooler is bestester" as opposed to expensivest or most-cupholders or most-fishmeasurer's or whatever.
Only other thing I can say to "what makes a good cooler" is one that comes with a bottom drain. If you're sitting in water, then it ain't gonna get any colder than that.
And as to the ice-maker on the boat, well, we simply haven't had the opportunity to try it out yet. The Boat hasn't been launched now, since the summer of '17. Sure do miss it though. We haven't even take the cover off it since it was put on back in the Fall of '17.
There is definitely a difference in ice quality. Around me the little ice kiosks that dispense 20lbs bags barely have the ice below freezing. It's probably only at 30 degrees. It is already melting before it makes it to the cooler. Ice from say buccees in a deep freeze is very cold, probably below 0, and lasts MUCH longer.
My yetis lid will warp if it's left out in the sun. I think it's mostly luck of the draw if your lid warps. Buddy of mine has one that lid won't warp.
My orca doesn't warp in same conditions
If you aren't using the ice for consumption. You want to hold ice for a long time in a rotomold? Throw a pound of salt in on that 20lbs of 30 deg ice.....
It won't be 30 degrees long!
You can literally freeze vacuum packed fish bone hard in a yeti cooler with a little salt.
It won't be 30 degrees long!
You can literally freeze vacuum packed fish bone hard in a yeti cooler with a little salt.
I would send it back, it's guaranteed not to rip, rattle, or run down at the heels.
Rtic is good. Have 4 between and and soft side (including my daily lunch cooler).
Pelican is a better cooler. Doesnt fit as many places easy with funky design.
As for Yeti.
The new CEO (new shortly before that big NRA mug decision) ruined them.
The founders and main owners (brothers) werent happy but due to BOD and investors didn't have complete control.
Got this info from one of Momma’s closest long time friends at their place in Austin. He was a (I think the head of) top IT guy for Yeti and left shortly after the nRA mug decision as he didnt like the way the new bosses were driving things.
Pelican is a better cooler. Doesnt fit as many places easy with funky design.
As for Yeti.
The new CEO (new shortly before that big NRA mug decision) ruined them.
The founders and main owners (brothers) werent happy but due to BOD and investors didn't have complete control.
Got this info from one of Momma’s closest long time friends at their place in Austin. He was a (I think the head of) top IT guy for Yeti and left shortly after the nRA mug decision as he didnt like the way the new bosses were driving things.
Buy once cry once. Make your own ice.
Runs on 12 volt or 110. Is super efficient and you get way more stuff in less space because you need no ice. Weight will be similar to a similar size cooler full of ice but it will be beer instead of ice. ?
I've had a 50 QT. for five years w/o any issues. Keep it going in the garage w/ beverages so it's cold when needed. Have run it on lithium ion batteries as well. Cools extremely fast. Used by off-roaders, Outbackers for years and can take some serious use and abuse.
*Does NOT need to be level to work.
There's some other brands available. Seems pricing is similar unless you find something on special. Look for a Danfoss compressor in the specs.
www.arbusa.com
Runs on 12 volt or 110. Is super efficient and you get way more stuff in less space because you need no ice. Weight will be similar to a similar size cooler full of ice but it will be beer instead of ice. ?
I've had a 50 QT. for five years w/o any issues. Keep it going in the garage w/ beverages so it's cold when needed. Have run it on lithium ion batteries as well. Cools extremely fast. Used by off-roaders, Outbackers for years and can take some serious use and abuse.
*Does NOT need to be level to work.
There's some other brands available. Seems pricing is similar unless you find something on special. Look for a Danfoss compressor in the specs.
CLASSIC SERIES II FRIDGE FREEZERS
www.arbusa.com
Been seeing these pop up. Seem good. Rugid Gear. RugidGear.com.
www.rugidgear.com
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How quickly everyone forgets..........
Yeti is anti - 2A. Please don't support them and don't purchase their products.
Do your homework and support a pro 2A manufacturer !
Yeti is anti - 2A. Please don't support them and don't purchase their products.
Do your homework and support a pro 2A manufacturer !
RTIC
Forgot about a dismembered hooker's body in my trunk for like 2-3 days when it was 100+ outside.
When I finally remembered where we put her, there was still ice in the cooler.
Forgot about a dismembered hooker's body in my trunk for like 2-3 days when it was 100+ outside.
When I finally remembered where we put her, there was still ice in the cooler.
Anyone have experience with the igloo trailmate? Seems really versatile and keeps ice for well over 4 days
How quickly everyone forgets..........
Yeti is anti - 2A. Please don't support them and don't purchase their products.
Do your homework and support a pro 2A manufacturer !
I agree. I wouldn't have bought the last one if it wasn't an inventory reduction in an effort to support hurricane victims and an effort to eliminate all their Yeti inventory. A few stores in lower Alabama were eliminating their Yeti inventory as well.
I had some friends that suggested I blow mine up with Tannerite......
Destroying a piece of $400 equipment isn't a "smart move".
I will sell them off and replace them with something else as opportunity presents itself.
How quickly everyone forgets..........
Yeti is anti - 2A. Please don't support them and don't purchase their products.
Do your homework and support a pro 2A manufacturer !
I haven't forgotten.
Mine was purchased before the whole 2A bullshit fiasco.
I'm with Chikin on this one. I won't blow up my cooler to make a statement and I'll keep using it for the reasons I bought it.
Few months back, I was all set up to buy an RTIC 45 then discovered the Lifetime 55, made in the USA and sold at WallyMart for $97.
Its performance isn't quite as good as a Yeti (or RTIC), but it ended up residing in the bed of my pickup on a 13 day road trip out west and I was VERY impressed with its ice retention.
Its performance isn't quite as good as a Yeti (or RTIC), but it ended up residing in the bed of my pickup on a 13 day road trip out west and I was VERY impressed with its ice retention.
Buy once cry once. Make your own ice.
Runs on 12 volt or 110. Is super efficient and you get way more stuff in less space because you need no ice. Weight will be similar to a similar size cooler full of ice but it will be beer instead of ice. ?
I've had a 50 QT. for five years w/o any issues. Keep it going in the garage w/ beverages so it's cold when needed. Have run it on lithium ion batteries as well. Cools extremely fast. Used by off-roaders, Outbackers for years and can take some serious use and abuse.
*Does NOT need to be level to work.
There's some other brands available. Seems pricing is similar unless you find something on special. Look for a Danfoss compressor in the specs.
View attachment 7116723
View attachment 7116724
CLASSIC SERIES II FRIDGE FREEZERS
Got me one of those small 12 volt "fridges/coolers" when we took the Honda Pilot cross country.
Fit nicely between the kids feet in the back and kept things nicely refrigerated.
Unsure how it would keep ice but seeing as it's insulated just as well as your average Igloo and has a chiller compressor to boot would probably work fine.
For bigger backyard parties we have a similar "drum" fridge for drinks, 120v AC, keeps the beverages cool.
Yeah, no, not proposing that. I have a couple of pairs of Levi's in my drawers. Probably not gonna turf them, just won't buy any more from here on out.
I have three items made by Levis, one denim jacket that I've had since my first daughter was born, a lined flannel shirt/jac and one pair of jeans.
The jeans are almost threadbare but my ass looks so good in them.
There are a few videos on youtube about using the $5 spray foam on cheap coolers.... many cheap coolers don;t have an insulated lid...
When in the sun, the ice melts fast...
If you don't have bears, I would not spend the money on a cooler with thick plastic sides so a bear cant squish it easily...
If you don't have kids leaving the lid loose, the straps on yeti style coolers are not needed...
The yeti style straps remind me of the closures on an old jeeps hood...
I have seen folks add epdm straps to a regular cooler to keep the lid sealed
If you use foam, understand how it cures... get the large gap foam that cures when more foam is applied. do 1/3 of holes and wait 48 hours... then do the next 1/3rd.. wait 48 hours and then the last... you need air to let the foam cure...
When in the sun, the ice melts fast...
If you don't have bears, I would not spend the money on a cooler with thick plastic sides so a bear cant squish it easily...
If you don't have kids leaving the lid loose, the straps on yeti style coolers are not needed...
The yeti style straps remind me of the closures on an old jeeps hood...
I have seen folks add epdm straps to a regular cooler to keep the lid sealed
If you use foam, understand how it cures... get the large gap foam that cures when more foam is applied. do 1/3 of holes and wait 48 hours... then do the next 1/3rd.. wait 48 hours and then the last... you need air to let the foam cure...
