Yeti (Not Al) Coolers

[izzyandsue]

Okay, here we go, it's the fall 2015 Overland Journal, nice magazine. Not the whole article but some highlights below. The article goes into some depth of the manufacturing process that makes them different from standard blow molded coolers.

I hey put a large block of ice and observed and measured losses, also had thermocouples throughout, etc

Ease of drain test. They had tip over test, drop test, bear test...

This gives you an idea of which they tested and the observations.

 

[izzyandsue]

They added two plebeian mortal coolers too.

And the results of the day expensive ones

And the Walmart ones

 

[elkaholic]

I recently bought an Engle and really like it. Bought it after I received the copy of OJ that Izzy posted. I believe I like it better than the smaller Yeti I have ... And it was less expensive to boot.

OJ rated the Engle as the best value as I recall.

 

[Rice]

Write up was a great help. Thanks for taking the time to post up.

Now let's see what Santa has up his sleeve. I really have been a good boy this year.

 

[elkaholic]

They are reasonably priced from Amazon ...

 

[izzyandsue]

You are welcome. I have a Walmart igloo, ice lasts for the weekend but that's all I need. I think one of the most telling tests is how much water melted in 24hr increments. Looks like the Canyon is a good performer too for the money.

 

[ErikinSC]

try to pre-cool your cooler during the summer time. put it indoors overnight or preload it with ice if you have access the day before you intend to use it.

I have been very fortunate using dry ice. Keep it seperated from the food stuff, and it will help you to keep ice longer.

I havent had not one bear get into my garage and open a cooler, yet....

 

[mtweller]

Looks like the Yeti actually was a good bit better at ice retention - nice. My FIL has a Tundra 50 that somehow seals better than any other Yeti I've been around. It's a pain to open when it's hot out from the vacuum it creates. It also keeps ice considerable better than my Tundra or any other I've dealt with. Wish I knew the secret - manufacturing tolerance maybe, and he got lucky?

Thanks for testing those test results.

R

 

[jamesurq]

$350 for a cooler just seems crazy. Although I've had the 2nd or 3rd day warm beer blues once or twice camping... And it's hard to put a price on that.

 

[JohnVee]

$350 for a cooler just seems crazy. Although I've had the 2nd or 3rd day warm beer blues once or twice camping... And it's hard to put a price on that.

That's why you switch to liquor when the ice runs down.


...via IH8MUD app

 

[izzyandsue]

Here's another opinion for overlanding.

Head to Head: Refrigerator or cooler | Expedition Portal

 

[jamesurq]

Interesting article.
Left out one variable that I think is very important. Especially to people that are not full-time or even part-time over landers. You don't need to plug in a cooler. Just fill it and go, wherever. Taking it on the beach, taking it to a friends party, using it at home for some on the patio beer storage - are all tasks that the overland fridge won't work well for.

I do wonder what so fancy about the special plastic coolers tho. I wonder if you could more properly insulate one of the cheap coolers and get a similar improvement in performance? Fill the empty space between the walls of the cooler with great stuff insulation perhaps? Yes I'm a cheap ass.


Sent from my iPhone

 

[izzyandsue]

I have the Coleman extreme, 50qt, with wheels. About $40 from Amazon, claims to hold ice 4-5 days. Bullsheet, but does hold ice for 3 days in 90 degree days.

 

[SeanLX]

I have the Coleman extreme, 50qt, with wheels. About $40 from Amazon, claims to hold ice 4-5 days. Bullsheet, but does hold ice for 3 days in 90 degree days.

^ What he said.

 

[JohnVee]

I have the Coleman extreme, 50qt, with wheels. About $40 from Amazon, claims to hold ice 4-5 days. Bullsheet, but does hold ice for 3 days in 90 degree days.

They work a lot better this time of year . The Extreme versions do seem to work a little better than standard models.

 

[Rice]

I have the Coleman extreme, 50qt, with wheels. About $40 from Amazon, claims to hold ice 4-5 days. Bullsheet, but does hold ice for 3 days in 90 degree days.

Roughly equal $$ to the amount of food mr. Bear got from my cooler last time out.

A fridge does not meet my needs ... Just another $800 machine waiting to break down.

A cooler that performs well and will last a lifetime I don't mind spending extra cash on.

 

[mtweller]

If you fish much, it makes more sense. Love my Tundra. OTOH, I would have never spent the money on the soft-sided Hopper, but got one for Christmas and LOVE it. Too many times on the trails with leaky coolers. Plus, it's the right size to throw on the boat for a 1/2 day when the heavy ass Tundra gets to stay home. In retrospect, I think I like the Hopper more.

 

[lowtops]

I went camping a month ago and there were two guys there that each had a large Yeti bag cooler and those Yeti can koozies. Then there was me with my 20 year old igloo 48 and neoprene koozie.
One guy bought beer that would not fit the Yeti koozie so he let me use it all weekend. The one thing I found myself doing with the koozie was trying to drink an empty beer. Those koozies are heavy and its hard to know when your beer is empty until you turn it up and nothing comes out.

An anecdotal reference point, at the end of the weekend both bag coolers had ice in them and my igloo was a swimming pool. No ice added all weekend.
My only gripe about the bags (besides price) would be that the zipper pull was made with very thin wire. I can see this being the first thing to break and they are not easy to open even with the pull.
Also the koozie does not fit in most camping chair cup holders.

I would pass on the koozie. If I'm drinking, my beers usually don't get hot. The koozie is overkill.
Although the coolers work great, I can't wrap my head around the prices.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

That's why you switch to liquor when the ice runs down.
...via IH8MUD app

LOL. John, I hope I get to meet you. We agree on many issues.

Just sayin'. Buy a real refrigerator. Engel, Arb, whatever, but the moment you do, all talk of ice box coolers becomes irrelevant. If you have a fridge, any decent 5 day cooler becomes "just fine". You've elevated yourself and your camp out to a different dimension. The moment you consider a $300 cooler, you should be buying a fridge. Really. Like, don't go there. A 12v fridge is the best single thing I ever purchased for travelling in my Land Cruiser.

 

[Teddy]

I have a 65 qt Yeti, but will also own a fridge one day. But, I think they serve different purposes. The Yeti is great for moving between multiple vehicles, boats, and truck beds on hunting trips. Fridges, not so much. My cooler is iced down almost 12 months out of the year and even in the summer ice stays frozen for a week with a bit of dry ice in there. Another thing is, wheeling in the southeast and east coast, you can always get more ice if needed. Another plus to them is the toughness. Mine has rolled off a flatbed going down the road and it was fine. Like I said, serves a different purposes than a fridge.

If I wheeled out west, or was traveling for multiple weeks in the back country, it'd be a fridge hands down.