Cabela Polar Cap 80 Review

With a 68-quart capacity, this rotationally molded (rotomolded) cooler is rugged, large, and built to last. It is designed to withstand the toughest wear and tear, making it perfect for camping trips, tailgating, picnics, and more. With how much this will fit, the options are endless. The cooler features anti-slip feet that provide excellent stability on any surface. With its impressive features and performance, the Cabela Polar Cap 80 is an excellent, high-quality cooler that can handle any occasion.

Performance Comparison

Insulation

The Cabela Polar Cap 80 was a top performer in our insulation test, holding temperatures below 40º for eight days in the middle of the summer. This is thanks to the rotomolded body, which provides excellent insulation and durability. The freezer-grade gasket seal in the lid creates an airtight barrier, preventing warm air from entering and cold air from escaping. Additionally, the pressure release valve makes opening the lid easier by equalizing the pressure inside and outside the cooler.

The measured time below 40º and 50º may vary depending on the location you plan on using your cooler. Many companies are now using rotomolding technology in the construction of their coolers. Rotomolding, or rotational molding, is a process that creates one piece, thick walled coolers that are tough, weather resistant, and retain cold temperatures. Some companies simply have the right recipe when it comes to rotomolding, and these coolers perform better. This is the case for the Polar Cap. The combination of the tough body and airtight seal locks in cold temperatures lasting longer than the competition. For the best results, it's recommended to pre-chill the unit. Though we didn't do this (as most consumers do not), we were impressed by its multi-day functionality in some toasty weather.

Durability

The Cabela Polar Cap is a rugged cooler that can withstand a lot of wear and tear. It can handle being sat on, used as a table, jumped on, and even toppled around without showing any signs of damage. The cylinder-shaped, thick rubber latches stayed secure throughout our tests, and the cooler never once leaked. As with many coolers using rubberized latches, we worry that, over time, they could stretch or break. We didn't run into any issues with this, though replacement latches are available if needed.

We left all of our coolers out in the hot sun for hours. The Polar Cap was lightly warm to the touch but nothing unbearable. By evening, it was back to feeling cool to the touch. This is partly because of the light-colored body of the cooler of its plastic construction. Being over three feet wide, this would make an excellent camp table or chair.

Ease of Use

The Polar Cap features a simple yet effective design that makes it effortless to use. The lid of the cooler stays open at a 90-degree angle, ensuring it won't slam shut unexpectedly while loading your food and drinks. Likewise, the hinges feel secure and sturdy. Because of the coolers freezer-grade gasket, it has an airtight seal. Although, this does make it a little tough to open the lid, especially when changing elevation. Luckily, Cabela's includes an easy-to-use release valve to equalize the pressure. The T-shaped latches are another thoughtful design feature, as they are easy to grasp and use to open the cooler. These latches are bear-resistant, though we wouldn't want to rely completely on this as a bear-proof method.

With its large capacity, you can fit almost anything, including wine bottles or birthday cakes. For extended trips or preparing for large groups, you won't be disappointed in the size. However, this extended capacity comes with its downsides. The large size is not the easiest to move around, and getting the last bits drained can be cumbersome.

Portability

While the Cabela Polar Cap is a sturdy and reliable cooler, it can be difficult to transport. Due to its large size, it's a bit tough to lug around alone. Ideally, you'll have another pair of hands helping out, though it isn't impossible to do alone. Additionally, it can become quite heavy when it is full of ice and food, making it difficult to carry overhead. We resorted to dragging it from point A to point B, which was actually pretty easy and effective. When empty, the cooler weighs in at 34.9 lbs, which isn't as heavy as we'd expect from a cooler this large.

The cooler has large padded side handles along with tucked-away rope straps. Both did great when tugging it around, and it's nice to have more than one option. They are sturdy enough to handle being yanked, dragged, and jostled around. However, we wish the Polar Cap 80 included some sort of dolly system to make it easier to transport. Those with smaller frames might have trouble picking this up, as it's about three feet wide and can get heavy when full. Without a second person helping out, this cooler is hard to load into a car.

Features

The Cabela Polar Cap 80 has some of the best features of any cooler we tested. One of the standout features is the bottle openers on the latches, which make it easy to crack open a cold one without having to search for a separate tool. The rope handles on the cooler have glow-in-the-dark tracers along with integrated handle retainers, which keep the handles securely in place when not in use.

The cooler has non-skid rubber feet that provide excellent stability and prevent it from sliding around. As the cooler is lifted slightly off the ground, the bottom of the cooler doesn't pick up heat from whatever surface it's resting on. These thought-out details don't get in the way of the cooler's functionality and overall improved its performance.

Should you buy the Cabela Polar Cap 80?

The Polar Cap is an excellent option if you're headed on multi-day trips or need to pack for multiple people. It withstands hot desert days and is among the most durable. However, we wouldn't recommend this to just one person. Due to its size and weight, it is difficult to transport solo. Likewise, the volume might be overkill for an individual.

What other coolers should you consider?