Opinions on coolers

maximus

New Member
Jun 13, 2015
44
0
Arizona
I'm looking to buy a cooler, in your experience and opinion i'm looking at Yeti, pellican and Grizzly, from what i read the pellican is made in the US and has better ratings but the articles and ratings some times are bias.
please let me know of your experience.
thank you
 

JimP

Administrator
Mar 28, 2016
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Gypsum, Co
They are all over rated and over priced.

I have a pair of Gott coolers that will keep ice just as long as any of the above. If you read the way that they test coolers you will see that most of the test are flawed. They place ice into a cooler and then never open the cooler until it is gone. Most coolers will be opened and closed hundreds of times to get thing out or put other things into them.

There are tricks to keep ice in a cooler and if you follow them you should have no problems keeping everything cold.
 

Colorado Cowboy

Super Moderator
Jun 8, 2011
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Dolores, Colorado
I use Coleman Extremes and they keep ice as long as the expensive, overpriced ones mentioned in the op. I tak a 50 qt cooler, put it in my big chest freezer and fill it about 1/4 to 1/3 with water. The water freezes solid. I remove it just before I want to use it and fill with drinks, etc. Lasts a week or more easily.
 

arwaterfowler

Active Member
Dec 4, 2011
229
15
Omaha, NE
I have a Yeti 30 and two K2 120's. I know some folks that have Pelicans. Not much difference really. To me the biggest difference is the latching system. The harder decision is what size is best for you.


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Timberstalker

Veteran member
Feb 1, 2012
2,242
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Bend, Or
I use Coleman Extremes and they keep ice as long as the expensive, overpriced ones mentioned in the op. I tak a 50 qt cooler, put it in my big chest freezer and fill it about 1/4 to 1/3 with water. The water freezes solid. I remove it just before I want to use it and fill with drinks, etc. Lasts a week or more easily.
Same here, I freeze a couple milk jugs and keep them in the coolers. Keep them in the shade and keep them closed and a week in no problem. The only issue I've had is hinges wearing out, but I bought new ones for a few bucks and I was back in business. I don't see me ever buying an expensive cooler, I'm a cheap bastard.
 

brianboh

Active Member
Jun 4, 2015
396
1
Powell, Wyoming
I have a Yeti 30 and two K2 120's. I know some folks that have Pelicans. Not much difference really. To me the biggest difference is the latching system. The harder decision is what size is best for you.


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K2 is better for the money. You can buy the scratch and dent model. I did with the 120 and there was nothing wrong with it. My K2 120 cost less than a 65qt Yeti. The thing is the owner of K2 invented Yeti. He had some investors that kicked him to the curb and then he left yeti and made the K2. Best money for the value period. Now from my understanding Yeti has a scratch and dent store too but you have to go the their warehouse in Texas
 

Tim McCoy

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Dec 15, 2014
1,855
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Oregon
Where the roto style cooler shines is ruggedness. I could wear thru the bottom of a regular igloo/coleman in a season or two of salmon fishing, not so the Roto style I got.

The Outfitter 115 is a good price vs name brands, as is the K2 scratch and dent price. I have screwed a couple strips of uhmw on the bottom of a couple igloos, that helped a bunch. As far as ice retention, the Roto style has better sealed lids that offer a little advantage, but not enough IMO. I have no issues with my igloo/Coleman style's ice holding capabilities.
 

tim

Veteran member
Jun 4, 2011
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north idaho
for a week, most coolers will work. when you go over a week, that is where the expensive coolers shine. A buddy of mine came off of the grand canyon and 23 days later he still had ice. yes he is a cooler Nazi, but he did have ice 3 weeks later. most people a normal cooler will work, but long river trips, the better coolers shine.
 

buckbull

Veteran member
Jun 20, 2011
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The only issue I've had is hinges wearing out, but I bought new ones for a few bucks and I was back in business.
I also use the coleman extremes and have been really happy with how long they keep ice. The biggest complaint is the lousy hinges. They aren't really hinges, its a peice of plastic that bends and with enough open and close they eventually break. I have bought replacement stainless steel hinges and latches from amazon at a reasonable price. Yeti coolers are definitely nice, I just can't justify the cost of one.
 

Tim McCoy

Veteran member
Dec 15, 2014
1,855
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Oregon
for a week, most coolers will work. when you go over a week, that is where the expensive coolers shine. A buddy of mine came off of the grand canyon and 23 days later he still had ice. yes he is a cooler Nazi, but he did have ice 3 weeks later. most people a normal cooler will work, but long river trips, the better coolers shine.
Agreed, never tried to go even half that long. Your buddy needs to do a commercial...
 

Gr8bawana

Veteran member
Aug 14, 2014
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Nevada
They are all over rated and over priced.
I must agree. A 65qt cooler is an average size more or less that most of us probably use. The Yeti Tundra in that size goes for around $400, that's crazy. I can buy an awful lot of ice for that much money. How many of us really need a cooler that tough? I think it's just a prestige thing. I mean how often are we really that far from someplace to restock on ice if needed. Also most of us don't have a grizzly bear just waiting to tear into our coolers. Even on our August antelope hunts here in NV the temps are 80-90 degrees during the day and regular coolers will keep ice for a week just by keeping then in the shade.
Then again I feel the same way about all the overpriced name brand camo out there that is made in china just like the cheapo kmart and walmart camo.
 

missjordan

Veteran member
Dec 9, 2014
1,136
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Missoula, MT
I have two yetis a 65 and a 125 and if I were to buy them all over again I'd get two or three smaller coolers over the one big cooler. They are super nice and worth the money if you plan on needing to ice things down during a hot trip. We usually only ice the cooler down once and it will hold all week with temps in the 85-100 degree range


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tim

Veteran member
Jun 4, 2011
2,423
1,072
north idaho
Agreed, never tried to go even half that long. Your buddy needs to do a commercial...

that boy likes to drink ice cold beer, and he is willing to go the extra mile to have a multiple cold ones everyday of his trips. River runners really give coolers, there work outs and have all kinds of tricks to keep ice.

one way to make hinges is, cut up old inner tubes from bikes and then use a screw and washer to attach to the lid and body.

I did buy a yeti soft shell for a main salmon trip this summer. It is a nice soft shell and we have used it a lot. Next time I would get a smaller one. when you load it down, it is heavy. But breaking beer out of ice 4 days into a summer trip is awesome.
 

CrimsonArrow

Very Active Member
Feb 21, 2011
854
362
Minnesota
I agree that the rotomolded high end coolers are overpriced, but they will outperform any other kind of cooler. When you are going into a remote place, far away from a convenience store, is where they really shine. If you're thinking about making that kind of investment, look at Orca coolers. As good or better than the others, and a lifetime warranty.
 

Finsandtines

Very Active Member
Jun 16, 2015
586
177
Florida
For me it came down when and where I was using it. I have about 5 coolers in my garage that all frustrated the hell out of me (Mostly the warm beer!) but of course I live in Florida and it's 80- 90° in 10 months out of the year. Might be 11 months this year since it was 82 again today. I invested in a yeti 50 last year and it has absolutely done the trick for me out on the water or in the woods. When I've done my weekend hunts here in Florida, one bag of ice does the trick for a long weekend.
 
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Timberstalker

Veteran member
Feb 1, 2012
2,242
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Bend, Or
I think the expensive cooler would do me more good in cold weather. Last winter on a coyote adventure I put my stuff in a cooler to keep it from freezing. Everything froze solid but the vodka, made for some strong drinks and very cold hot dogs.
 

Triple BB

Active Member
Jun 22, 2013
296
16
Wyoming
Might want to check out Rtic coolers if yer wanting a roto molded cooler for a good price. I just ordered a 65 qt the other day for $169.00 which included shipping. They're getting strong reviews on a few other hunting sites.
 

Tim McCoy

Veteran member
Dec 15, 2014
1,855
4
Oregon
I think the expensive cooler would do me more good in cold weather. Last winter on a coyote adventure I put my stuff in a cooler to keep it from freezing. Everything froze solid but the vodka, made for some strong drinks and very cold hot dogs.
Have had the same issue, frozen stuff anyway, a several different times. A couple hand warmer packets help...