I need a new cooler, and I know all the hype that surrounds Yeti, but are they worth the money? I would feel strange spending $400 on a cooler...
I'd have a tough time with the price too. There seems to be an entire new generation of these super coolers out now, I'd evaluate them closely if I really wanted something like that. I know Yeti, Pelican, and Grizzly are all making similar coolers now, and I think Grizzly is making a line of them for Cabelas too.
yeah, but what if I don't have access to ice for 2-3 days? That $40 coleman is not going to keep that ice.
I have a coleman that has kept ice for up to a week. I've read some of the reviews on the Yeti that were split about in half as to how well they perform as advertised.
...really? I'm assuming it was during the winter? It is hard for any ice chest, especially the cheap ones, to keep ice for a full day down here in the summer. Especially if you are on the water.
I've been really happy with my 150 (160?) quart Igloo. I paid less than $100 for it. It will hold ice for days even sitting out in the sun on the deck of the boat.
2-3 days without ice should be no problem for a good coleman or igloo. Especially if you keep it shaded and don't leave it open for long. Buy one that is rated at least '5 days' and is white. (because cold is racist and shuns colored coolers)
August in Ohio and West Virginia traveling in a pickup bed and camping. Have you read what you have to do for the Yeti to keep cold as long as it does? Precooling and packing a 4 inch block of ice in the bottom?
I bought a Coleman Marine Extreme 70qt cooler last year (along with a nice .50cal bottle opener). While I havent tested it in extreme temps, it has no problem keeping ice for 2 full days in the 80's. I think the key is the white color to reflect the sun. Granted this is really just a beer cooler, so it's being open and closed constantly.
Depends on what you want it for? I do a lot of multi-day raft trips. Near the end of a 4 or 5 day river trip, the other guys with the cheap coolers run out of ice and want to put their stuff in my Yeti. On river trips I sometimes use my small Yeti as a seat that I row from. We stand on them, sit on them and otherwise really abuse them. They're pretty bullet proof. That said, if you don't need multi days of ice when replenishment is unavailable, go with a Coleman or Igloo.
Unless you are heading out into bear country for a week at a time, I can't see spending that kind of money on a frigin' cooler. Keeping any cooler in the shade makes a huge difference. Make sure you find one with an insulated lid and I think you'd be fine for what most of us need.
Not worth it. The yeti cooler is one of those products that have very good marketing. I cant believe this is even a question, it is only just a cooler.
Would taking two coolers, one packed full with ice that you only open to transfer ice to the food/beer cooler and the other to hold your stuff? If you pack a good cooler full of ice I would think that would get you through.
It's worth the money just for the "YETI" sticker for my truck so I can fit in with all the other cool kids.
I have done this on extended house boat trips... its another aternative. Take your regular favorite big cooler and enhance it so that it will extend ice life by a couple of days. This is about a 1 hr process. All that is needed is a sheet of Owens Corning Foamular board 2 inches thick, ($30) and your favorite large cooler. One Foamular board usually does two coolers. Basically you line the inside of your cooler completely with Foamular board and that's it. You can use glue or double sided tape to hold the insulation to the bottom, walls and lid. Its not pretty but it works and for a little money you can have a cooler that will hold ice for 5 days at least
