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We've tested 35 models over 9 years in search of the best cooler. This review covers 17 top ice chests available today we bought and tested side-by-side. We started in the lab with rigorous insulation testing and continued assessments through a wide range of real-world uses. From picnics in the park to beach BBQs, we carted these models everywhere we went to learn which models were most portable and enjoyable to use. We also went through hundreds of pounds of ice and frosty cans in our rigorous insulation tests. Whether you're setting out on a road trip or a hunting trip, we can help you choose your perfect icebox.
For a more packable cooler, check out our comparison of the best soft coolers. We've also tested the top powered coolers for those who have access to a power source and prefer an iceless approach. Whether you're planning on a relaxing beach day or a weekend camping trip at your favorite spot, we've done the hard work to help you find the best camping gear. We've got your outdoor needs covered, from the comfiest camping chair to relax in at the end of the day or a top-rated camping tent for when it's time to hit the hay.
Editor's Note: We updated our cooler review on November 1, 2022, removing three discontinued products and adding in more info on our test metrics.
Measured capacity: 56 quarts | Days Below 40Âş F: 6.5
REASONS TO BUY
Top-notch insulation
Very durable
Simple to use
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
No plug leash
Smaller than expected
Yeti is one of the most recognized names in the game for a good reason. The Tundra 65 boasts the most impressive all-around performance out of any cooler we tested. Through numerous rounds of our intensive insulation testing, the Tundra 65 continued to outlast the rest in keeping contents at safe temperatures for consumption. It's a straightforward, rotomolded design that just works. This is one of many chests we tested with a bear-resistance certification from the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee (IGBC). Its sturdy latches are easy to use and durable. It also comes with a removable dry basket inside the top to keep sensitive items out of melty ice water and can be outfitted with loads more accessories for all kinds of activities. The Tundra 65 is a reasonable weight for its size, and its low profile makes the last beverage easy to find. It's also narrow enough for a single person to load into a truck. Even after regular use over several years, the Tundra 65 performs just as well as the day we bought it. Yeti also continues to diversify the colors and personalization options available for this cooler, providing more choices to match your style better.
We are a bit disappointed to have measured this large model with "65" in the name at just 56 quarts, but our testers ended up appreciating this surprisingly useful size more than the models that are actually 65 quarts. The Tundra line also includes a plethora of other sizes, many of which we've tested — from small, personal boxes to giant behemoths. Like many of its competitors, the Tundra 65 has a tiny lip on the inside of the bottom of the drain, making it challenging to fully empty without flipping the cooler upside-down. Still, we think the Tundra 65 is a super useful choice for almost any activity where you drive your car.
Measured capacity: 67 quarts | Days Below 40Âş F: 6
REASONS TO BUY
Performance per dollar
User-friendly
Great insulation
Two drains
REASONS TO AVOID
Heaviest empty weight of non-wheeled coolers
No dry bin included
High-end coolers are not cheap. Luckily, the RTIC 65 competes neck and neck with the best coolers out there while costing significantly less than its premium competition. With this model, you get the construction elements and features of top coolers, such as a rotomolded design, robust hinges, comfortable grips for carrying, and two drainage spouts. The non-skid rubber feet on the bottom help it stay in place during transport, and the stretchy rubber latches for the lid are not as stiff and difficult to maneuver as the competition. This cooler is not IGBC certified, but after months of testing, our team agrees that this model is built to last. And in our insulation test, this cooler lasted an entire six days before the internal temperature rose above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Impressive. All in all, this cooler completely feels premium without the sticker shock.
There aren't any major complaints to lodge against the RTIC 65, but one would be that it's the heaviest of all non-wheeled coolers we tested. This is offset by it having the greatest storage space (67 quarts, measured by us) of all non-wheeled models tested, so at least the extra weight gets you more internal room. Still, this large and heavy model is not the easiest to transport. We wish there were leashes for the drain plugs, and there isn't a dry bin included (sold separately at a low price). These quips are minor. If you're looking for a cooler that feels high-end without the accompanying high-end price tag, this model delivers.
Measured capacity: 68 quarts | Days Below 40Âş F: 4.1
REASONS TO BUY
Good insulation for the price
Lightweight
Inexpensive
Large capacity for its size
REASONS TO AVOID
Not sealed
Not overly durable
Uncomfortable handles
We are impressed with the insulation performance of this rather inexpensive product. Up against models that are three or four times its price, the Coleman Xtreme 70 holds its own. Though it can't match the premium models' rotomolded insulation prowess and rugged durability, the Coleman clearly shows its worth and value, considering the massive chunk of change you'll save. It's also much lighter than the majority of the rest of the competition, even lighter even than several of the personal-sized models we tested. And to top it off, it has a deceptively large internal volume for a comparatively small overall size. With a simple pull-open lid and no latches to slow you down, the Coleman is one of the most natural-feeling chests to use — like opening your fridge at home. It's a simple design that does what it's meant to do.
That said, if ruggedness is something you need, the Coleman may not be the best choice. Its handles, hinges, and latches don't inspire confidence in their ability to last the years in the same way as the high-end, IGBC certified, and rotomolded models do. Every time we've used it over the past several years, it seems to pick up numerous extra scratches and dirt, though it still works the same. We also aren't in love with the comfort of its narrow, plastic handles in the shadow of some of the broader, more cushioned options utilized by its competitors. While we appreciate the simplicity of the pop-open drain, its small size can't offer the same rapid flow rate as the much wider drains found in the competition. It also lacks a rubber gasket around the top or lid. Still, you could purchase 3 or 4 of these coolers for the same price as some of the competition, and it works to keep your goods cold for days.
Measured capacity: 60 quarts | Days Below 40Âş F: 4.7
REASONS TO BUY
Beefy wheels with pumpable rubber tires
Durable
Easy to pull
Useful included accessories
Bike attachment (sold separately) is seriously awesome
REASONS TO AVOID
Not the best insulation
A tad heavy
Expensive
The Rovr RollR 60 is easily our rolling favorite. It's the only model we tested that has actual pneumatic tires instead of cylindrical plastic chunks labeled as wheels. You can pump them up just like your car or bicycle tires, giving you the freedom to run over the same types of terrain. While other models often have tiny wheels, rigid wheels, low clearance, or narrow, uncomfortable handles, the Rovr is what a wheeled chest should be. It has a broad handle featuring comfortable and functional rubber grips on either end, making it a breeze to stroll down the sidewalk, through the grass, and across the beach with this box in tow. The Rovr also boasts solid, durable construction, hefty latches, and integrated hinges to help it last through countless picnics and get-togethers. If that's not enough, it also comes standard with some of the most useful features we've seen (no extra purchase required), including a large, removable dry bin and a giant dry storage box that attaches to the lid and literally doubles the amount of stuff you can haul. You can put everything you need for the barbecue in and on this cooler and wheel it to the park with one hand. Feeling fancy? You can also pick up the handy bike attachment and tow the Rovr behind your bicycle. It costs extra, but we bought it, tried it, and now we can't imagine life without it.
The most crucial aspect of any wheeled model is how easily it gets you there, which the Rovr does spectacularly. That said, it lags a little in the insulation department compared to some intense rivals, which is likely due to the imperfect seal between the top of the body and lid. It is important to remember that you're probably not interested in taking a wheeled chest on a ten-day rafting trip or a three-week road trip, but rather to the picnic down the road or a tailgating party. We think the latches are a bit stiff to manipulate but can become easy to learn with some practice. After using it for years now, this rolling icebox is like nothing we've ever experienced before and is the only one that our friends request to cart around.
Measured capacity: 40 quarts | Days Below 40Âş F: 3.5
REASONS TO BUY
Superb rubber seal
Very convenient size
Large, exterior pocket
Durable construction
REASONS TO AVOID
Slightly stiff latches
No included dry bin
Though it's tempting to assume all sizes of a particular model are the same, we put that to the test. When it comes to mid-sized coolers, our favorite of the bunch is the Orca 40. True to its name, this thin-profile ice chest has a full 40 quarts of internal storage. Additionally, you get bonus storage on the outside of the ice chest with this line's external, velcro-sealed mesh pocket stretching across the entire back of the box. While most of the Orca 40's competitors include some sort of rubber seal around the lid, this is one of the very few that actually creates an airtight seal, with a thick tube that squishes flat when closed, filling in gaps, and a cleverly welded-shut seam (rather than the taped-over gap we see in so many others). We're also thoroughly impressed with the overall design and construction of this super-durable box, which not only is certified bear-resistant by the IGBC but demonstrates obvious attention to detail, with sturdy, confidence-inspiring features and smooth finishing touches.
Though it was just a few hours shy from being the top mid-sized insulation performer, the Orca 40 was surpassed slightly by the Yeti Tundra 45, a cooler that's actually 5 quarts smaller. Still, the Orca 40 achieved 3.5 days at food-safe temperatures of sub 40ÂşF in our hot room — plenty of time for a weekend of camping and most needs. Despite its taller profile, it can't quite fit an upright, standard-sized bottle of wine or 2L of soda, though it comes fairly close, at 11.25 inches of internal height. The thick, stiff latches of this Orca provide additional security, as well as require a little extra muscling to maneuver them in and out of place. While more and more competitors now automatically include an internal dry basket, Orca continues to offer it as an extra accessory, subbing in the external mesh pocket instead. Despite these few minor gripes, we love the all-around size, feel, and performance of the Orca 40 as the best mid-sized option on the market today.
Measured capacity: 24 quarts | Days Below 40Âş F: 2.6
REASONS TO BUY
Rugged construction
Super easy to use latches
Good insulation for a small model
Multiple handles for carrying
REASONS TO AVOID
Top handle can get in the way of opening
Not completely airtight
No drainage spout
Sometimes you don't need that much space, but you do need excellent performance. That's where the Yeti Roadie 24 comes into play. The rugged Roadie has a beefy, integrated hinge, and the sturdy rotomolded exterior protects contents from the trials of all your outdoor adventures. It's built to be a seat when you finally reach your destination (Yeti even sells a seat cushion to go with it, though we haven't tried that out). This latest version of the Roadie includes numerous upgrades we love, including redesigned latches that let you easily open the lid one-handed and a flexible, webbing top handle. The Roadie 24 is just over 13 inches tall inside, which allows standard wine and 2L bottles to stand upright. The Roadie also outlasted all other personal-sized models in our insulation testing. Just as its name suggests, this little box has proved itself to be our go-to road trip companion.
It's our favorite personal model, but it's not perfect. The webbing top handle is a bit short. This makes it more comfortable to carry but also frequently positions the handle in a way where it inhibits opening the lid. It also lacks a drainage port, and this version doesn't boast the IGBC certification of larger Yeti hard coolers. Yet, because it's so small (relatively speaking), we hardly miss those extra features. The Roadie is not airtight or leakproof — there is a sizeable gap where the ends of the rubber seals meet that's only covered by a piece of fabric tape. It's also almost alarmingly expensive compared to others. If you don't often need a small ice chest, we think the Igloo BMX 25 is a better value for your money, but if your cooler comes with you everywhere and needs to be the best and withstand the most, there's no other personal icebox we'd recommend more for the task than the rugged Yeti Roadie 24.
We've tested soft coolers for many years, and the Engel HD30 continues to impress us. It offers some of the best insulation of any soft cooler, keeping its contents below 40Âş F for just over three days in our insulation testing. While many similar coolers have thick zippers that are a struggle to operate or very narrow openings that are difficult to navigate, this soft cooler is impressively easy to use. The corners unclip, allowing the top to open quite far for swift loading and locating items. And with a large (for a soft cooler) capacity of 48 cans, the Engel HD30 just might be enough to get you through a weekend of camping. Despite this oversized stature, it's more portable than we expected, with comfortable handles on each end that make carrying it that much easier. After years of regular use, this durably constructed soft-sided model looks and works just about the same as the day we first bought it.
Without a buddy to help you lug the fully-loaded Engel HD30 to the beach, it can feel quite heavy while using its shoulder strap. We also discovered after a rainstorm that the external pocket isn't waterproof, though this is a small gripe. All in all, this big cooler bag is our favorite thanks to excellent insulation and great features like rounded handles and a removable bottle opener.
For the ultimate in portability, the IceMule Pro is where we turn to. Though the number of backpack-style soft coolers has continued to increase, this one is the only one we truly find comfortable to carry for serious and longer distance hikes. Its walls can be inflated or deflated to match your load, body, and preference and its shoulder straps are soft and flexible. It offers solid insulation to keep your peak-bagging beverages chilled until you reach the summit and an easy roll-top design that's beyond simple to use. Made of thick, waterproof material, this backpack cooler proved itself more than capable of holding its integrity through all our backcountry rough handling.
Those inflatable walls can be a bit tricky to get the hang of at first, finding the happy medium that matches appropriate insulation with reasonable comfort, but we think is worth the effort. The durable fabric edges of the roll-top and thick sides make it very difficult to get a truly watertight seal when the cooler is inverted, so be careful when setting it down in the back of your car. When fully loaded, the IceMule Pro carries 39 cans — and makes us wish it had a weight-bearing waist strap. But for what we most like to carry for a daytime adventure, it's not bad. We wish it had exterior pockets. Still, for bringing some cool refreshments and a chilled lunch for a few friends on a longer walking journey, this comfortable backpack cooler is our top choice.
If you're dreaming of a cold, refreshing beverage at the top of that peak you just summited, the IceMule Pro is the backpack cooler that can make those dreams come true.
Lowest Temperature Achieved: -7.6Âş F | Power draw while cooling: 50.7 Watts
REASONS TO BUY
Outstanding temperature control and range
Good insulation
Sturdy and well-built
Great app
Easy to use
REASONS TO AVOID
No power saving mode
Cords shorter than average
Expensive
If you spend enough time car or van camping, you might consider upgrading from the old ice chest to a powered cooler that uses the energy from your vehicle or camper to keep things cold exactly like your fridge at home might. The best powered cooler we have tested is the seriously impressive Dometic CFX3 45. It offers some of the coldest achievable temperatures and above-average insulation. It's built rugged and tough enough to withstand those questionably-maintained roads you may find yourself driving down. And it is practically bursting at the seams with ridiculously convenient features and well-thought-out usability. Two internal baskets make loading and locating things that much easier, as you can lift out the basket to find what you need. An internal light helps you find that last beer in the dark, and a tall interior easily accommodates your celebratory champagne. A free app on your phone lets you easily control and monitor your powered cooler without having to get out of your sleeping bag or camping chair.
Though the Dometic CFX3 doesn't have an energy-saving mode like many other powered coolers, it does have different levels of battery conservation that ensure it won't prevent you from starting your car in the morning. And even while cooling, it draws just 50.7 watts, which is on the low end of powered coolers we tested. Our biggest complaint about this cooler is that its cords are barely over six feet long, which just doesn't get you very far from the outlet. It's also very expensive, but if you're ready to take the plunge into the iceless world of powered coolers, the Dometic is consistently the best-performing model we've tested.
With a powered cooler, like the Dometic CFX3 45, bring items camping that you'd otherwise have to leave behind if you were using a soggy, meltwater-filled regular cooler.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
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All of our coolers underwent head-to-head tests against the same five performance metrics.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Why You Should Trust Us
This review represents over 600 combined hours spent using, abusing, and meticulously testing over 35 different ice chests over a span of nine years — not including the time spent researching hundreds of new and promising models to find the ones worthy of inclusion. We ran and re-ran insulation tests under controlled but harsh laboratory conditions. We dragged our test subjects through the gravel, sand, mud, and grass while road tripping, tailgating, camping, and hanging out on the beach. We asked our friends and family, who span three generations, to help us dive into these coolers (sometimes literally) and identify the top performers. From being dropped from waist height, thrown into vehicles, jumped on by a 200lb tester, dragged across hot surfaces, yanked on, jerked around, and otherwise abused, these chests have seen it all.
Our testing of coolers is divided across five rating metrics:
Insulation (50% of total score weighting)
Durability (20% weighting)
Ease of Use (15% weighting)
Portability (10% weighting)
Features (5% weighting)
This review is the brainchild of a team of testers, led by Senior Review Editor Maggie Nichols. Maggie has been playing and guiding in the outdoors for over fifteen years, from backpacking the Tahoe Rim Trail to kayaking the Caribbean. She is an avid camper and even lived in her teardrop trailer for several seasons. She spent eight years at Iowa State University completing two science degrees and teaching numerous college science courses, so she has a comprehensive understanding of the importance of rigorous and scientific testing processes. Maggie doesn't underestimate a great cooler's value, whether it's for off-grid living, celebratory summit beers, road trips, or backyard barbecues. She ropes in friends and family to her testing to gain perspectives from all ages and abilities. Our testing team also includes Max Mutter and Steven Tata. Max spends most springs harvesting maple syrup at a remote tree farm and relies on ice chests to keep that perfect amber elixir from spoiling. Steven has spent numerous months living and climbing in Yosemite National Park, where he lacks a fridge; instead, he stores all of his food in a cooler, working to keep it safe from the hundreds of black bears that call the park home. Maggie, a trained scientist, put her head together with Steven, a mechanical engineer, to design our detailed, intensive insulation testing process.
Testing the portability of the Rovr with its bike attachment accessory.
Hard at "work" testing the Stanley.
Though it's large enough to fit a four-year-old, we don't recommend closing one inside.
Analysis and Test Results
The market for ice chests continues to grow over the years, resulting in some extremely close competition and hard-fought rivalries. To help you find the right model, we tease apart performance differences between contenders, implementing specific tests spanning five exhaustive, mutually exclusive metrics. We test the insulation performance, durability, ease of use, portability, and features of every single model. As some performance aspects are more important than others, we weight each metric accordingly. Below, we discuss our test results and which models stand out in each area.
Testing on hot summer days in the woods.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Value
Though our scoring system of each contender's performance does not include the cost of the unit, we recognize that this is a crucial aspect influencing the decision of which one to purchase. This particular market includes a huge range of prices that make one wonder if a plastic box could be worth that much money. In some cases, that extra cash does bring excellent insulation performance, greater utility, and convenience. In other cases, you can spend far less without a substantial drop in overall performance. It's also helpful to consider how often you find yourself needing the cooling and insulating services these ice chests provide and how burly and rugged you need your gear to be.
When it comes to high durability and above-average insulation and usability, the RTIC 65 is a fantastic example of a high-value item. This lower-priced (yet over-performing) model has been accompanying our team for years of adventures now, handily getting the job done for weekends full of summer fun. If you don't need such a beefy box or a lengthy time frame for storing delicate food items like raw meat, the Coleman Xtreme 70 is another good choice, saving you both money and weight. On the other hand, if you're the type of explorer heading off the grid for extended periods and pushing your gear to the limits, the extra cash you'll drop on the Yeti Tundra 65 is well worth the investment. This bear-resistant box provides top-notch insulation and superb usability that's become our team's go-to companion for longer trips.
Insulation
The most important metric for most of us is how well an ice chest keeps food cold and fresh. This metric is also the source of a lot of really extraordinary claims from manufacturers. From models with "5-Day" in the name to stickers boasting up to 16 days of ice retention, it seems that just about every product out there will knock your socks off. That is until you read the fine print, which typically includes a litany of stipulations such as the entire chest has to be pre-chilled (walk-in freezer, anyone?), its contents must also be pre-chilled or even frozen (no more buying drinks straight off the shelf and tossing them in the cooler), you can only open it once a day when it's cool (what about lunch?), or you'll need twice as much ice as food (gonna need a bigger cooler…) While all these things will of course help extend the life of your ice and, therefore, the freshness of your food, it's unlikely that you'd actually be able to follow all these rules every time you use it. So we tested a more realistic usage. We bought some ice, filled each model about â…“ full, and put a mixture of cold and room temperature cans in them. Then we simulated a midsummer trip by sealing them in a heated room for over a week while tracking and recording each unit's internal temperature.
There are two critical temperature thresholds we made a note of; 40Âş F, and 50Âş F. 40Âş F is the maximum acceptable temperature recommended by the FDA to ensure food safety, as it minimizes the growth of pathogenic bacteria. Put simply, keeping refrigerated food items below 40Âş F greatly reduces the chance of food spoiling and making you sick.
Results from our rigorous insulation testing.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
The 50ÂşF threshold we highlight represents the average maximum ideal temperature to serve beer. The American Homebrewers Association breaks down the optimal serving temperature range for different types of beer, which we based this threshold on. We chose 50ÂşF in part as an average maximum ideal beer serving temperature and also to easily see the rate at which each cooler gains degrees as its ice melts within by comparing how much time there is between when each model crosses the 40Âş and 50Âş lines.
A comparison of results from our insulation testing of coolers 55 quarts and larger.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
The Orca 58 and Yeti Tundra 65 are the winners of our demanding insulation testing. Both maintained a temperature of less than 40Âş F for 6.5 days. While the Orca outlasted the Yeti here by just shy of 30 minutes, the Yeti then hung out below 50Âş F for an hour and a half longer than the Orca, demonstrating that it has a slower warming rate. When all was said and done, the top-scoring Tundra 65 provided a whopping 7.3 days of sub-50Âş F refreshments.
Impressively, the Orca is one of the top performers in our rigorous insulation testing.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
Additional close contenders include the Pelican Elite Wheeled and RTIC 65, which both maintained FDA safe temperatures of less than 40Âş F for about six days and acceptable beer temperatures for just shy of 7 days. These are impressive scores for a lineup with an average performance of maintaining sub-40Âş temperatures for just over 4.2 days, and sub-50Âş for just over 4.7 days.
Though the OtterBox Venture isn't rotomolded, its insulation performance outstrips many coolers that are, proving that rotomolded construction isn't the only important factor when it comes to insulation prowess.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Just because a cooler is rotomolded doesn't necessarily make it the best insulator. For example, the OtterBox Venture, one of several non-rotomolded chests we tested, lasted five days below that critical lower temperature threshold, a performance that bested numerous rotomolded models. The Coleman Xtreme is another great example. Though it lasted just 4.1 days under 40Âş F, it came in only 14 hours behind several burlier (and far more expensive) rotomolded models.
Mid-sized model insulation performance, comparing results of our rigorous insulation testing in units with capacities from 35 to 54 quarts.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
Among mid-sized models, it's useful to point out that the internal volume of the Yeti Tundra 45 measures roughly 35 quarts. Don't let the "45" throw you off. We measured the Orca 40 true to its name with 40 quarts of internal volume. In our insulation tests, the Tundra 45 eeked out a marginal win, lasting 3.8 days under 40Âş F. Impressively, with an extra 6 quarts of internal volume, the Orca 40 maintained food-safe temperatures for 3.5 days. These two top-scoring options continued to warm at nearly equal rates, with the Tundra 45 topping out at 4.2 days of sub 50Âş F and the 40-quart Orca 40 crossing that final threshold at 3.8 days.
Comparing results from our insulation testing, showing performance differences between small models with capacities lower than 35 quarts.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
The small, personal-sized models can't keep up with their larger brethren regarding insulation. The Yeti Roadie 24 impresses us, though, and is the best personal-sized model we tested. It lasted 2.8 days in keeping its contents under 40Âş F and just a few minutes shy of 3 full days under 50Âş F. Not far behind, the Igloo BMX 25 also scores well in this arena. It managed to maintain sub-40Âş F temperatures for 2.6 days, leaving the Pelican 20 Elite in the dust (which had a disappointing performance of just 1.4 days under 40Âş F).
The Yeti Roadie 24 is an impressive personal-sized model both in long-lasting insulation power and rugged construction that make it a great solo beach day companion.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
Of our test subjects with a manufacturer's claim for ice retention attached to them, not a single one lived up to it in our tests. As the market continues to grow, many manufacturers have stopped including specific number-of-day claims or have started adding asterisks to those claims that require limiting conditions to exist for them to be met. However, while the results from our insulation testing are in many cases far below some of the manufacturer's claims, we went out of our way to push these competitors to their limits. There are many tips and tricks that can help you get even more from your ice, such as pre-chilling the cooler, keeping it in the shade, and packing a 2:1 ice to contents ratio.
The Orca 40 is a mid-sized cooler with impressive insulation and convenient features.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
Durability
Knowing your investment will last through years and years of adventures is important for any piece of gear you own, and these products are no exception. Though we didn't have ten years to spend testing each model, we spent months subjecting them to prolonged use and a fair amount of abuse to see how they stood up to the pressure. We overextended hinges, jumped on lids, yanked on latches and handles, and dropped full chests from a carrying height. We set accident-prone friends, young children, and hefty humans loose on them to see what they're made of by pushing them in ways more typically spread across many years of use. We filled each model with water to see how well their seals worked (or if they worked at all) and left them all out in the scorching midday desert sun for hours on end to see what would happen. Several of our top-performing contestants have been in regular use for several years now, and each season we update their durability and performance information, documenting how they change over time.
Several of the models we tested have IGBC certification - what does that mean, though? A certification from the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee verifies that the product in question has been tested by said committee and meets minimum standards for design and structural standards that are considered "bear-resistant" by a team of grizzly bear experts. The IGBC specifically states that this does not mean the product in question can't be opened or destroyed by a bear, nor does it mean the product is leakproof. With that said, even the minimum construction standards required to deter a hungry 10 foot long, 900 lb grizzly lend a lot of credibility to the durability of a product. Models we reviewed that are IGBC certified include the Yeti Tundra 65 and Tundra 45, OtterBox Venture 65, Orca 58 and 40, Pelican Wheeled 80 and Elite 20, Engel 65, Arctic Zone Titan 55, and Rovr RollR 60. These products proved to be very durable, despite the fact our team was unable to find a grizzly bear willing to test each of them rigorously.
The Yeti Tundra 45 is one of many models we tested bearing (pun intended) an IGBC certification.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
This bear resistance is with the assumption that you use bear-resistant locks (sold separately) to secure the lid closed of each model. Don't expect the rubber latches alone to protect your food from bears. And depending on where you find yourself on your adventures, it might not even be a legally accepted way to store your food, so be sure to always check local regulations for your destination before you leave home.
We also tested Yeti's bear locks on the Tundra in Yosemite National Park. This is necessary to actually make IGBC certified coolers bear-resistant. However, many parks still require the use of bear lockers, regardless of what kind of gear you're using.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
Additionally, several other aspects add to each one's overall durability, beyond just a sturdy hinge and a set of bearproof locks. The latches and handles don't factor into an IGBC rating, as they are entirely irrelevant to bear safety but extremely relevant to any model's longevity. Rubber T-grip latches are popular as a durable, easy-to-use solution for keeping your ice chest closed. The Yeti Tundra (both the 65 and 45 models) latches performed the best in our durability testing, with a combination of thickness and sturdiness mixed with the right amount of flexibility to stay tightly in place when needed and not give away to the incessant yanking of a bored four-year-old. Even after several years of use, the Tundra 65's latches are virtually the same as the first day we got it. If you prefer thicker, sturdier latches and don't mind the extra muscling they require to operate, the Orca 58 and Orca 40 both have brawny rubber T-grips (in the shape of orca tails) that practically exude security and confidence.
The Orca latches are thicker than many others, securely closing your contents in their bear-resistant interiors.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
The RTIC has visually similar rubber latches that are much more flexible. As such, they are easy to use, lacking the stiff stubbornness of many other latches. Still, more flexible rubber might have a shorter lifespan than denser rubber, though we haven't had an issue after using this product for years. The Igloo IMX 70qt is similar, with exceptionally flexible, soft, easy-to-use latches, also giving us pause about how well they'll hold up through years of UV and user exposure. For the time being, though, this is just a concern and not something we witnessed during our extensive testing. TheIgloo BMX also has T-grip latches with slightly different shapes and thicknesses that both get the job done just fine.
The Igloo BMX offers a slightly different take on the rubber T-grip latch that works just as well.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
The Xspec 60qt, Engel, OtterBox Venture, and Yeti Roadie 24 are some that buck the trend of popular T-grip closure mechanisms on high-end coolers. The Engel has part-rubber-part-metal latches, and the Xspec mixes plastic clasps with rubber straps that ditch the brawn for a bit more finesse when securing them. After multiple years of use, we've noticed the Xspec rubber sections have tightened up over time. This makes them just as secure as ever but requires slightly more force to operate. The Roadie 24 and OtterBox Venture both have plastic and rubber latches similar to the Xspec, but they're both exceptionally easy to use, requiring less finagling and feeling much stronger overall.
The latches of the Xspec are secured with a rubber section to the lid and a plastic piece for a closure system, making them a bit easier to use.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
When it comes to handles, models with immobile handles have an additional advantage. Many models accomplish this by having two sets of handles—one indented in the sides of the chest for single-person lugging and a second set of mobile handles that extend above the top of the chest for two-person toting. The Engel, Tundra 65 and 45, Xspec, Titan, Orca58 and 40, RTIC, and Igloo IMX all follow this model. The thick handles jutting out from the OtterBox sides also impressed us with their obvious strength. Overall, the contenders with the most durable combinations of design, construction, and features are the Roadie and Tundra models, with the Orca and Rovr not far behind.
Thick foam-covered rope handles and a rubber gasket sealing the drain plug help make the RTIC one of our favorite models we tested.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
That being said, there's something a little bit extra about a plastic box that's not only well-designed and durably built but clearly shows attention to detail at every turn. The Orca 58 and 40 both are those coolers. Where so many competitors have visible screws holding on the latches (Kenai 65) or hinges (Igloo BMX 25, Coleman Xtreme 70, and others), rope ends and knots visible (RTIC, Engel, and others), or even tiny plastic ridges leftover on edges from the manufacturing process (Yeti Tundra models), every unit we've tested from Orca appears clean and polished. These details perhaps don't matter in the long run from a durability standpoint, but go a long way toward making your expensive cooler look as impressive as its price tag and performance suggest.
The Orca models we've tested prove themselves not only to be durable, but to look clean, polished, and put together as well.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
Ease of Use
So your cooler works. And it's going to last a good long while. But is it a pain in the bum to use? Ease of use is a critical factor in your overall happiness with any given product. We tested each model's ease of use by, well, using them. A lot. We gauged how easy each one is to open and close - does the lid stay open while you load it? Are the latches easy to maneuver with full hands? We also observed how easy they are to load: is it a conducive configuration for oddly-shaped items? Is it tall enough for 2-liter soda bottles or celebratory champagne? Does it come with any handy features like a dry bin for items that shouldn't touch ice or soak in slushy water?
We gauged the ease of grabbing the handles without looking and noted whether they require extra steps to slide them out into place or push them back down out of the way. We evaluated each drain (if there was one) to see how thorough a job it does and how simple it is to use. And for wheeled models, of course, we considered how that pair of spinning discs affects the chest's usage when you're not actively pulling it around.
We love the Pelican's easy to use latches.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
Both Pelican models we tested - the Pelican Wheeled and the Pelican 20 stand out to our testers as having exceptionally easy-to-use latches. Unlike the rubber latches of many of their competitors that you stretch into place, Pelican's latches are a simple push design, featuring a release button in the middle that 'unlocks' the lid, allowing you to lift the latch away from the body and raise the top. When asked by a four-year-old which model she thinks is the easiest to open, she picked the Pelican latches, hands down.
The OtterBox wins points for being one of the easiest latches to use among models we tested.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
The Xspec, Roadie 24, and OtterBox Venture are also notable for innovative and fairly effortless latch experiences. Both of these big boxes combine a rubber latch for tightness and security with a plastic locking mechanism that makes them a breeze to use and requires much less brute strength than any of the 100% rubber latches demand. The Kenai 65 features mostly rubber, stretchy latches, but swaps out the rubber T-grip section for short metal posts that grip grooves underneath the rim of the body. Though they're comfortable and easy to use, they proved to be less secure when jostled or dropped, and occasionally popped open during our testing.
The Yeti Roadie 24 is one of a growing number of ice chests with easier to use latches that combine rigid latching components with rubbery stretching arms to secure the lid, all of which can be quickly maneuvered with a single hand.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
As far as drains go, several products have dual-function drains, meaning there's a hole through the shaft of the drain plug that lets water run out without having to remove the entire drain cap. Of course, if you want a faster flow, a total plug removal is advised, but don't misplace that cap, as most models we tested don't come with a leash to keep it attached to the body of the box. The Tundra(s), RTIC, Engel, Arctic Titan, Orca(s), Kenai, Xspec, and Rovr all have this handy dual drain hole feature.
By adding a small hole in one or both sides of the drain plug, many manufacturers have increased drainage options to make cleaning up after your trip even easier.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
The drain plug isn't the only factor that makes emptying water easy or annoying. Most of the contenders we tested also have a sloping channel behind the drain to help gravity pull water out. Still, several have unfortunately paired this with a large lip or other obstruction that then stops your drainage progress before it's 100% complete. Models that we found the easiest and most thorough to drain include the Engel, Kenai, Xspec, Orca(s), Titan, and Tundra(s), which all feature either a tiny lip or a sloped lip to make emptying your meltwater a breeze. The Arctic Titan has an oversized drain to decrease the time you spend emptying it. And if one drain isn't enough for you, the RTIC features two drains, one on either end.
Even just a small drainage channel allows the opening to be below the floor of the chest, making it easier to effortlessly empty it after an outing.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
We also considered the overall shape and size of each competitor as part of its usability score. Models featuring a compact, packable shape and handles that hide away easily are easier to pack into a vehicle for your next adventure. On the flip side, those products with large handles and awkward shapes that are difficult to Tetris into the back of the minivan, along with everything else you need for the party in the park, don't score as well. Of course, the internal dimensions and capacity also make a big difference in what you can bring with you in your icebox and how many extra bags and boxes you'll need to bring along. And the proportion of these dimensions to one another also makes a big difference. A low and long model is easy to find things in but harder for one person to carry. On the flip side, one that's too narrow and tall is easier to carry but harder to locate items that have wormed their way to the bottom. The Xspec strikes a very happy medium, narrow enough for simple solo carrying, tall enough to fit an upright bottle of wine, yet shallow enough to find whatever you're looking for easily. If you're interested in a smaller capacity option, we're big fans of the exceptionally useful 40-quart volume and compact shape of the Orca 40.
The Xspec's dimensions are right in the sweet spot of being shallow enough to find the last can of your favorite brew, tall enough to bring along a 2L of soda upright, and narrow enough to carry by yourself, all while still boasting a 61 quart capacity.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
The RTIC and Rovr RollR are two more of our favorites among the crowd for their ease of use. The Rovr has a sizeable dry bin and tall interior with nearly vertical walls, making it much more comfortable than most models to pack it exactly how you want it and keep it organized. This is a feat made even more impressive by all the bouncing you'll be doing with the enormous wheels over debris on your way to the party. It also boasts one of the tallest internal heights of any model we tested, so you can rest assured your chilled Pinot Grigio will stay that way all day. The RTIC offers a similarly simple interior that's spacious enough to bring a ton of food with you on your hunting trip or camping adventure. Its dual drains make cleaning it a breeze, and the flexibility of this model's rubber latches means it's easier to open and close with a single hand than other rubber-latched models.
The largest dry bin of any cooler we tested, the Rovr's bin is also the only one that hand screws into place.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
Portability
At first glance, the matter of portability seems obvious: wheels? Portable. Small size? Portable. Large capacity? Not so portable. And while, in general, this is true, it's not the whole story. We not only considered these self-evident factors in our testing but also looked at them in more detail. We challenged every pair of wheels to roll not only over the smooth, paved driveway of your friend's house but also over the soft sand at the beach, the chunky construction debris that's strewn across the path to the park, and the lumpy uncut grass of your Saturday picnic spot. We scrutinized every handle's design, shape, location, and comfort while carrying a full load. And we considered not just the sheer weight of each chest, but what that weight gets you in terms of capacity - as in how worth it are the extra pounds? We filled them up and loaded them in and out of cars, slogged across beaches, and traipsed through neighborhoods to see which ones bashed against your knees, bite the backs of your heels, or formed blisters on your palms.
Much to no one's surprise, personal cool-boxes like the Pelican 20, Yeti Roadie, and Igloo BMX are much more portable than larger models. A combination of low weight, small size, and large carrying handles help make this possible. But being small isn't the only aspect affecting portability performance. Among these smaller coolers, the Igloo BMX has a much broader, more comfortable to use, plastic top handle, and a smoother overall design that makes carrying this product full of heavy glass bottles of craft beer a much more pleasant experience. It also weighs less by a significant margin, which adds to its portability. The Roadie 24 has a flexible webbing strap that more comfortably facilitates an over-the-forearm carry. It also has a pair of indented handles hiding underneath both sides of the top for two-handed carry. The Pelican 20 isn't very enjoyable to carry, with a hard plastic top handle and a tall, gangly shape with too many rigid edges that smacked our legs and ankles as we walked.
The over-the-top handle of the Yeti Roadie 24 is made of flexible webbing and is far more comfortable to carry on your forearm than a rigid handle.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
Wheeled coolers may appear astoundingly portable, but we found that their actual usefulness in this metric is wildly dependent on their wheel design and clearance. We've tested several rolling models over the years. The Rovr is the only one with actual rubber tires filled with air (aka pneumatic tires), the same as a vehicle or bicycle. While competitors may point to this as a downside (more maintenance, the potential for flats, etc.), it makes for a vastly better system of pulling. The juddering of pulling hard-wheeled models over even smooth surfaces, like city sidewalks, can quickly leave blisters on your hands from the vibration of the plastic wheels (this really happened to a tester). But pulling the Rovr with its air-filled wheels lets you glide over imperfections in the ground and keeps your hands happy.
Installation of the bike attachment takes no more than two minutes initially. If you leave the small black piece on your rear hub, adding or removing the cooler takes just a few seconds.
Our testers were thoroughly impressed at how smooth towing the Rovr was by bike.
Equally as important, the Rovr's handle swings out far enough from the chest's body to avoid painful heel smashing. And with motocross-style rubber handles located on the edges of the sides of the wide trolley handle, it's clear that this product is designed with the user in mind. Lastly, the bike attachment accessory is seriously impressive. Initially skeptical, we now use it all the time. Attachment is easy, and the flexible, pivoting arm allows for freedom of bike movement and no loss of turning radius or steering ability. We are so genuinely impressed by this rolling icebox's portability that we hardly even notice or mind its heavier initial weight.
A reasonably compact cooler, the Engel isn't terrible to carry if it's not loaded down, though the hard plastic hand grips aren't our favorite.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
As for large, non-wheeled models, we still noticed many differences that lend themselves toward making specific units more portable than others. The Coleman Xtreme is just a few ounces heavier than the personal-sized Igloo BMX, which is astounding for its 68 quart capacity. The Engel and Tundra 65 both are relatively portable as well; their combined overall shapes and mid-50-quart capacities make finding what you're looking for easier. They're big enough to bring everything you need without being so big that they require two people to lift them out of the car. The Xspec is slightly larger but maintains the same overall dimensions ratio (shorter length, taller height - but not too much to make it hard to find that last beer under all the ice), making it reasonably easy for a single person to carry a short distance. Interestingly, the RTIC is the only model we tested with straight-up foam handles for a two-person carry. You may not enjoy lugging its extra weight around, but at least it probably won't leave big red marks on your fingers.
The RTIC has a soft foam handle to help ease the pain of carrying this relatively large, fully-loaded cooler.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Mid-sized models offer a middle ground between the many large options that can often be overkill for a simple picnic or road trip but offer more storage space than the small personal chests. The Orca 40 is our favorite medium-capacity contender. It fits a full 40 quarts of contents as well as whatever you can cram into the large external storage pocket covering the back of the box. Its taller, narrower shape is also more comfortable for a single person to carry from the car to the beach.
Both the Orca 40 (pictured) and the Orca 58 have a velcro-sealed mesh pocket on the back to help you more easily get everything you need all in one trip. Over time, we grew to appreciate these handy pockets much more than we anticipated.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
Features
Little things that make a product easier to use, more conducive to your lifestyle, or help you not have to carry so much stuff with you can make a difference in how excited you are to use it. But not all features, add-ons, and extras are created equal, and their value may depend on how and where you intend to use your gear. In general, we gave higher scores to more universally useful features, such as a leash for the drain plug (so you don't lose it), internal baskets or dividers to keep your food fresh the way you want it, and the ability to hold dry ice, which extends the cooling capacity. Other features that are still useful but are more specific to certain styles of use received lower scores. These include things like cup holders, bottle openers, and measurement notches. We also only ranked contenders based on the features they come with and not on all the accessories you could choose to purchase for an additional charge. That said, many manufacturers offer some exceptionally handy add-ons that, should you choose to purchase them, can easily turn a product into your perfect hunting companion, tailgating buddy, or camping friend.
The OtterBox Venture, Rovr RollR, Arctic Titan, Yeti Tundra 65 and 45, and Igloo IMX all come with practical interior dry storage options, which is great for holding aside some clean ice for drinks or keeping sensitive food out of ice water. The Igloo IMX wire basket is a tighter wire weave, making it much easier to keep small items contained than most other models. The Titan, Tundra 65 and 45, and Igloo all feature a simple basket that sits across the top of the opening, while the OtterBox is a similar concept but is a solid plastic bin instead.
The OtterBox Venture is one of several coolers boasting a dry storage bin included with your cooler.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
The Rovr's dry storage goes above and beyond since it has a large dry bin that extends to the bottom of the interior. It also attaches to the side of the interior with a simple hand screw, which means it won't move during transit like all the other baskets are wont to do. The OtterBox, the Coleman Xtreme, and Pelican have leashes attaching their drain plugs to the body of the chest. Both Pelican models, the Igloo IMX 70qt, the Engel, and the Xspec also all have built-in bottle openers hidden in various spots. Helpfully, many of the units we tested are rated to hold dry ice, so feel inspired to take that long midsummer canoe trip with your Xspec, Tundra, OtterBox, Engel, or RTIC ice chest.
Though we don't recommend delicate navigation with this compass, it does generally point north.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
If you're an angler, you might appreciate a model with an integrated ruler across the top to measure your catch. Many of the options we tested have this feature, including the Pelican Wheeled, Arctic Titan, Xspec, and Igloo IMX. Still, others have specific slots to tie them down in your boat, backseat, or truck bed.
Bring it all along with your handy dandy Rovr RollR.
Credit: Maggie Brandenburg
The Rovr RollR does a bang-up job of living up to its claim as being "the most feature-packed 60-quart cooler ever." Beyond the ultra-useful internal dry bin, this compact roller features a 60 quart external dry bin that attaches right to the top of the lid, literally doubling the number of things you can cart with you. When it's time for storage, or you get to your destination, the dry bin folds down flat and can easily and securely be stored on the top of the lid. We found these two features to be very handy in countless situations. And if you are so inclined to make additional purchases, the Rovr can be mounted to the back of your bicycle like a tiny, ice-filled wagon.
Bring fresh food and cold beverages just about anywhere with the right cooler.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Conclusion
We've been researching, testing, and retesting popular coolers for years to bring you the most competitive models out there, and this most recent round of contenders is no exception. After months of rigorous side-by-side testing and years of extended examination tent side and use of top performers, conducted by our experts and a veritable crowd of friends and family who also enjoy fresh food and cold drinks, we got to know these models quite literally inside and out.
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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.
