Reviews You Can Rely On

ORCA 58 Quart Review

Excellent insulation in a compact, durable cooler
gearlab tested logo
orca 58 quart cooler review
Credit: Orca
Price:  $385 List
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Manufacturer:   ORCA
By Maggie Nichols ⋅ Senior Review Editor  ⋅  May 9, 2019
73
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#4 of 18
  • Insulation - 50% 8.0
  • Durability - 20% 8.0
  • Ease of Use - 15% 6.0
  • Portability - 10% 5.0
  • Features - 5% 6.0

Our Verdict

Tied for the best performance in our insulation testing, the Orca boasts some seriously impressive insulation capabilities. Rotomolded construction and an airtight seal help earn this cooler an IGBC certification. The tall, thin design helps it stand out among the coolers we tested, though we think it also makes this cooler a little more challenging to dig through. We also feel that this shape makes it less conducive to carry, and we weren't the biggest fans of the narrow, rigid handles. Overall, it's a high performing cooler and might be precisely the cooler you've been searching for.
REASONS TO BUY
Excellent insulation
Great drainage
Durable
Compact design
REASONS TO AVOID
Tall narrow shape is hard to dig through
Expensive
Not our favorite handles

Compare to Similar Products

 
orca 58 quart cooler review
This Product
ORCA 58 Quart
Awards  Editors' Choice Award Editors' Choice Award Best Buy Award Best Buy Award 
Price $385 List
$358.74 at Amazon
$350 List$375 List
Check Price at REI
$200 List
$219.99 at Amazon
$80 List
$79.99 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
73
82
78
73
45
Star Rating
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
Pros Excellent insulation, great drainage, durable, compact designExcellent insulation performance, very durable, useful featuresExcellent insulation, super durable, easy to use, great sizeLightweight, easy to use, great featuresSuper lightweight, decent insulation for the price, surprisingly large capacity, inexpensive
Cons Tall narrow shape is hard to dig through, expensive, not our favorite handlesHeavy, difficult to transport soloExpensive, no leash for plug, smaller than claimedFlimsy latches and hinges, leaky lidNot airtight, not particularly durable, uncomfortable handles
Bottom Line Excellent insulation in a compact, durable coolerThe Cabela Polar Cap 80 is a rugged, high-capacity cooler that will keep your perishables fresh for daysIf you want the best insulation and the longest lasting cooler, look no further than this simple yet effective modelA lightweight and colorful update to the RTIC line that includes nice accessories at a more accessible priceA functional cooler for a mere fraction of the price of the competition
Rating Categories ORCA 58 Quart Cabela Polar Cap 80 Yeti Tundra 65 RTIC Ultralight 52 Coleman Xtreme 5-Da...
Insulation (50%)
8.0
9.0
8.0
7.0
4.0
Durability (20%)
8.0
9.0
8.0
6.0
3.0
Ease of Use (15%)
6.0
7.0
7.0
8.5
6.0
Portability (10%)
5.0
4.0
8.0
9.0
8.0
Features (5%)
6.0
8.0
7.5
8.0
4.0
Specs ORCA 58 Quart Cabela Polar Cap 80 Yeti Tundra 65 RTIC Ultralight 52 Coleman Xtreme 5-Da...
Shelf Life of Food (Measured Days Below 40ºF) 6.5 days 8.0 days 6.5 days 6.0 days 3.7 days
Measured Weight 30.6 lb 34.9 Ib 29.6 lb 21.4 Ib 11.4 Ib
Measured Capacity 56 qt 68 qt 56 qt 50 qt 68 qt
Advertised Capacity 58 qt 80 qt 65 qt 52 qt 70 qt
Days of Cold Beverages (Measured Days Below 50º F) 7.3 days 8.8 days 7.2 days 6.8 days 4.9 days
Internal Maximum Body Height 13" 12" 10.5" 12" 12.25"
Does it Fit a Wine or 2L Bottle Standing Upright? Yes Yes No Yes Yes - indented lid
Exterior Dimensions (L x W x H) 26.75" x 20" x 19.4" 40" x 20.5" x 20.5" 30.75" x 17.5" x 16" 27" x 13" x 14" 28.5" x 15.5" x 17.5"
Construction Rotomolded Rotomolded Rotomolded polyethylene Rotomolded not specified (not rotomolded)

Our Analysis and Test Results

Performance Comparison


orca 58 quart cooler review - up against some stiff competition, the orca performs quite well.
Up against some stiff competition, the Orca performs quite well.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Insulation


As one of the top performers in our torturous insulation testing, the Orca kept pace with the best of them. It maintained USDA-recommended safe food temperatures of 40º or less for the longest time, reaching a full 6.5 days of cool, and beating the next contender by about 30 minutes. It also maintained refreshing beer temperatures of 50º or less for an impressive 7.3 days. The Orca is one of many rotomolded coolers we tested with a rubber gasket to seal its contents and an integrated hinge to help prevent bear entry. When it comes to keeping things cold, the Orca is one of the top contenders.

orca 58 quart cooler review - the orca tied for first in our insulation testing, offering one of...
The Orca tied for first in our insulation testing, offering one of the best performances of any model we tested.
Credit: Max Mutter

Durability


Another metric in which the Orca excels. This beefy icebox joins the ranks of several other Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee certified products we tested. The official testing that goes into this certification gives some sense of durability to any product bearing the official sticker.

Never ones to just trust a label, we still put the Orca through the wringer. We found it to be super sturdy to sit or stand on - though it's narrow base makes it easier to tip or wobble than most the other coolers we tested. It has thick rubber latches and sturdy rope handles to facilitate this cooler lasting a long time. We found the integrated hinge to be as solid as we'd hoped. When we left the Orca in the hot sun for several hours, it, like several other coolers we tested, bowed slightly in the heat but quickly returned to normal when we put it back in the cool shade.

orca 58 quart cooler review - the latch design on the extra heavy duty takes inspiration from its...
The latch design on the Extra Heavy Duty takes inspiration from its namesake aquatic mammal.
Credit: Max Mutter

Ease of Use


With a simple design, the Orca is reasonably user-friendly. The thick rubber latches are slightly more challenging to operate with a single hand than those of some of its competitors. But the Orca does have one of the easier drains to use, with a sloping channel that facilitates a complete water exodus, rather than blocking it with an ill-placed ledge leading up to the drain, as several others do.

Our biggest complaint about the usability of the Orca has to do with its size. As a tall, narrow model, it's all too easy to lose items in the bottom of the cooler underneath layers of other food and ice. This translates into more time spent with the lid open searching for that last craft beer or the dijon mustard you swore you brought with. This is at least partially offset by the slightly smaller size of the Orca 58, but compared to the long, low profile of other models we tested, we certainly noticed the difference.

orca 58 quart cooler review - the orca has one of the smoothest channel-to-drain transitions of...
The Orca has one of the smoothest channel-to-drain transitions of any model we tested, making it one of the easiest to empty.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

Portability


Tipping the scales at 30.6 pounds and with a measured capacity of about 56 quarts, the Orca is about average weight vs. capacity among the coolers we tested. Without wheels, this cooler isn't bound for portability magic. It's more narrow profile does facilitate a single person being more comfortable to carry it for short periods, and if it's not too full. However, this same taller profile also bumps uncomfortably against the knees and legs of some of our testers. Like several other coolers we reviewed, the Orca has a second set of handles for two people to better co-carry it from the car. The Orca's version of these handles isn't our favorite of the bunch, as the rigid plastic grips aren't quite wide enough for two hands or cushy enough for most of our testers not to complain about. That being said, they're not the worst handles we tested, and they still get the unpleasant job of hauling around a big cooler done.

orca 58 quart cooler review - a narrower design helps make the orca more manageable for one person...
A narrower design helps make the Orca more manageable for one person to carry.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Features


With no internal dry storage, drain plug leash, or bottle openers, the Orca isn't the most flashy cooler we reviewed. It does have one exceptional and unique feature that we find quite handy though - a large netted pocket on the back of the cooler. Though we don't think it's the best space for squishy objects like a loaf of bread or bag of chips, it works remarkably well to bring along spices for the barbecue, plates for the guests, or paper towels for clean-up. The Orca also has tie-down points on either end to secure your cooler in transit while still being able to open it and retrieve a refreshment or the next ingredient in your outdoor meal.

orca 58 quart cooler review - stash some of your dry goods in the mesh pocket on the back.
Stash some of your dry goods in the mesh pocket on the back.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Best Applications


The Orca offers excellent insulation and a high level of durability in a different-shaped package than most of the competition.

Value


With a similar price to many other top-performing coolers, the Orca is unlikely to save you money. However, it offers excellent performance in a different-shaped package that just might be the perfect fit for your vehicle or patio. If you're looking for a cooler that has a smaller physical footprint but offers the same capacity and performance as other impressive coolers, we think you'll like the Orca.

orca 58 quart cooler review - the orca is a high-performing cooler with a slightly taller, more...
The Orca is a high-performing cooler with a slightly taller, more compact shape than others we tested.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg

Conclusion


In what sometimes feels like a sea of identical coolers all making fantastical claims, the Orca 58 Quart brings something a little different to the table. With great insulation and durable design, this handy model pulls it together in a slightly different shape than most the competition. If this shape ticks the box for what you want, we think you'll be quite pleased with the performance of the compact Orca 58.

orca 58 quart cooler review - all of our coolers underwent head-to-head tests against the same...
All of our coolers underwent head-to-head tests against the same five performance metrics.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman

Maggie Nichols
 

Ad-free. Influence-free. Powered by Testing.

GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison.

Learn More