We rarely used them while camping, though. 2023 CNET, a Red Ventures company. Thats because rotomolded coolers tend to be substantially larger than a more basic hard-sided cooler of the same capacity. Add to cart. Thats a liter more than the Yeti. At 70 quarts, it's about as big a cooler as you could possibly hope to find at this price (and when we measured it for ourselves, it actually held 76.1 quarts). Stain and odor resistant. This can come in handy whether youre on a boat or enjoying a day at the park. Here's a linked list with brief insights: If we're going to talk about performance, we should talk about capacity first. Igloo appears to be going through a bit of a facelift among its cooler lineups. I also took each cooler's design and features into consideration as I tested and kept an eye out for durability concerns. Impressively, this is one of the. We typically recommend that these larger coolers be carried by 2 people (particularly if they are filled up with items). This gasket, working in conjunction with the closing force that the t-latch produces, results in a nice squeeze that helps to lock in cold air. Oftentimes the hardware used goes unnoticed but it is a key piece to a long-lasting cooler. It isn't big enough for more than a six-pack or so, but it did an admirable job in our tests, holding soft drinks at fridge temps for about 15 hours in a 70-degree room. Large "party" ice chest coolers that boast volumes over 60 quarts (over 15 gallons or 56.78 liters). I've broken them down into four main categories: Is a bigger ice chest always better? Unlike that MaxCold cooler I just raved about, the Latitude was a lousy performer, and only incrementally better than what you'll get from Rubbermaid or the Igloo Island Breeze. The backpack has lots of straps and hitching points, too -- I imagine the target demographic is more hiking-oriented than day-at-the-beach, but in either case, you'll be able to secure extra stuff. In summary, Coleman is the better option for those who have a small budget but yet need a good ice retention performance and handy features such as cup holders, wheels, etc. As you can see, the Igloo MaxCold and Lifetime High Performance coolers lead the pack, with Rubbermaid and the Igloo Island Breeze bringing up the rear. These would be coolers that are designed to compete with the top brands on the market like Yeti, Orca, Engel, etc. The Best Value award is well deserved. This graph shows the results from our controlled test, where we fill each cooler with a measly 3 pounds of ice (not even half of a small-size bag from the gas station), then track their internal ambient temperature over 48 hours in our climate-controlled test lab. Most of the coolers that I tested were, but some took things even further. It's also treated with UV inhibitors to prevent materials from degrading from long-term sun exposure. This size is large enough to handle bigger outings such as a picnic or tailgate. We could see that being the case only if it were filled with a lot of ice. Rugged Blue. Using insulation within their walls, many of todays coolers can keep ice, drinks and food cool even when youre outdoors in 100-degree-plus heat. The build quality is not as robust as the BMX but then again this is one of the cheapest coolers in our list. The top handle made the cooler easy for just one person to carry, even when it was fully loaded. Like that Igloo cooler in the previous slide, it lacks both a latch and a drainage spout, and the performance was, again, pitiful. The Xtreme will do the trick for backyard cookouts, or for someone who doesnt store much perishable food at camp. Because of this, the ice retention numbers that we found may not exactly coincide with the true numbers that you will experience. I asked three other adults to secure these handles and out of the four of us, two were successful, one unsuccessful and the last successful only after an excessive amount of struggling. Electric coolers are basically portable mini-fridges, and theyre best for those who are truly serious about their cooling needs. Even the cheap, disposable Styrofoam cooler we tested did better. Inside the lid, you will find an oversized rubber gasket for helping to seal. For longer getaways, anything shy of 50 liters is likely to feel cramped, especially when you factor in that at least half of that space should be reserved for ice. The way these are set up is that we fill the cooler up approximately halfway to the top with ice, leave them in an outdoor setting, and occasionally open the cooler up. None are included with their coolers. Less ice meant more of a challenge for the coolers, which would hopefully give us a more granular look at how well they perform relative to one another. The Yeti got a little colder, and the Magellan held its temp a little longer. BMX Series coolers from IGLOO are heavy-duty blow-molded for added durability. 52 reviews. From superior ice retention to little features that go a long way, Igloo built the adventure-ready Overland 50-Quart Chest Cooler to see you through a quick overnight car camping getaway as well as when you're headed to the great outdoors for the long haul all while keeping your provisions fresh. Why elevated? Other notable features include tie-down slots, diamond plate metal inserts, and a molded fish ruler. To do that, I started with a modified version of the ice retention test. If anything, the smaller, cheaper models were mostly conservative in their estimates, with ones like the Coleman Xtreme and Igloo Latitude wheeled coolers coming in several quarts more sizable than advertised. submitted by ProductExpert - 2 years ago. Hard-sided coolers are the most common type of cooler used for camping. They shine where portability and convenience are priorities. Pure Outdoor Emperor coolers are made with 18/8 stainless steel to resist bacteria and odors and come in three sizes: 25-liters, 50-liters, and 80-liters. However, the others are much cheaper and a couple come in backpack format, if that's your thing. Yeti coolers consistently perform at the top of the pack. Locking mechanism: A locking mechanism for the lid is important, not just to prevent spills but also to ensure a good seal and insulation. A really interesting comparison can be made when looking at Yetis Tundra series coolers and the Igloo BMX Coolers. A CNET editor since 2013, Ry's beats include smart home tech, lighting, appliances, broadband and home networking. With a price tag thats still well into the triple digits, the RTIC 45 didnt quite make the cut for our Best Value award. Reviews ethics statement. Several models I've tested from Cabela's, Orca, Rovr, Magellan Outdoors and Yeti all make the cut. Instead of a full load of ice in each cooler, I went with an amount of ice equivalent to 10% of each cooler's total volume. The rope carry handles on the Yeti and RTIC were our preferred design for two-person carry. (Bonuses like a cup holder or a bottle opener are important, but the most critical thing a quality cooler does is keep your cold drinks cold.) For a rotomolded option that's a lot bigger at the same $300 price, consider the 58-quart Orca Classic. This was a much-needed addition. ORCA coolers also come with a lifetime guarantee and cargo nets for extra storage space. Bear-resistance: The Yeti Tundra line is certified bear-resistant by the IGBC when used with bolts or padlocks. (I already have a precise measurement of each cooler's total volume from the earlier described capacity test.) And overall, they are quite good at that. Now we will discuss some of the other features that arent directly tied to toughness. First off, it is a backpack. Now, how do these stack up to the cheaper models? Although this cooler was the cheapest in our test, the Igloo BMX can be found for not much more. Being stainless steel, it will be much more resilient to rust and wear compared to lower-end materials. But where they do excel (and easily surpass Igloo) is in their many available accessories. Igloo BMX 52-Quart Weight: 18.7 lb Internal Dimensions: 20.94 x 12.72" x 12.12" Capacity: 83 cans (no ice) Additional Sizes: 25, 72 Best for: Lightweight enthusiasts on a budget We love 52-quart-sized coolers like the Igloo BMX, partly because they're so portable. Features blow-molded construction, a reinforced base, stainless steel hardware, and rubberized T-grip latches. water, isn't as good at keeping drinks cold). For that reason, many newer coolers come with bilge drains, allowing you to release the water from the bottom of the cooler. But this is to be expected considering that you are getting superior build quality, features, durability, and ice retention. Magellan Outdoors, Frosted Frog, RTIC and even the Amazon Commercial coolers are worth a look pretty much across their product offerings based on what I've seen. I'll let you know how it works out. All the parts are made of rust-resistant stainless steel. There's no need for debating; Yeti cost an arm and leg compared to other coolers on the market. At this size, you have ample room for just about anything. The $219 RTIC wasn't as spacious as expected, either, holding just 39.6 quarts of water before overflowing with the lid closed. As far as durability, there isnt much on this cooler that can break. Brand expert. It is a tough call and depends on what your priorities are. It's also worth considering whether or not your cooler is sturdy enough to sit on, something that comes in handy when you're out camping. The lid was kept closed at all times. RTIC makes dividers and baskets that you can purchase separately. If you want a cooler thats easier to carry around, consider one like the Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze Zipperless Cooler. Extra-thick foam walls and insulated lids are best-in-category for cooling performance. BMX 52 Qt Cooler | Igloo Holds Up To 83 Cans BMX 52 Qt Cooler 4.6 (640) $129.99 Quarts 25 52 72 When the outdoors beckon, you need the spacious 52-quart BMX. For the budget minded, the Igloo BMX 25 is our Best Value pick. Keep shopping and you'll find coolers on wheels, thermoelectric coolers, coolers with power and even a cooler backpack or two -- truly coolers as far as the eye can see. Igloo sportsman coolers are almost 2X cheaper than Yeti. Not great if you're looking for a camping cooler. If your main use is for keeping things cold, then the question is whether or not that extra 0.9 degrees is worth paying another hundred bucks for. This RTIC unit tested with impressively low temperatures. Their latest attempt at this comes in the form of their BMX series. The results usually speak for themselves. Some models are built to withstand the weight of someone seated on them. You can findholiday deals going on now. The Igloo BMX series takes it up another notch by designing these risers to have aggressive grips similar to what you would see on some off-road tires. Yeti's Hopper Backflip 24, a soft-sided backpack cooler, had the most understated volume of all coolers we've tested so far. Then I measured out the exact number of quarts each cooler could hold -- important information to have when you're dealing with large quantities of melted ice. RTIC makes a rotomolded cooler very similar in design to the Yeti Tundra but with a noticeably lower price tag. Polyethylene construction, with Ultratherm insulation. Simply put, the Yeti clobbered the competition in our tests. One thing to decide when youre going for a larger-capacity cooler, though, is portability. This is compared to just 3 sizes and 5 colors available for Igloo BMX Coolers. Rotomolded is short for rotationally molded, a process in which heated plastic is slowly rotated inside of a mold, allowing it to form into a shape of perfectly uniform thickness. RovR RollR Wheeled Camping Rolling Cooler. Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. These coolers provide the convenience and durability you want with a tough and safe construction. Taking away the need for having to glue/merge walls results in a much tougher cooler and it also assists in ice retention. For the budget minded, the Igloo BMX 25 is our Best Value pick. I am the Labs Manager for CNET's Home Division based in Louisville, KY. My interest in technology began in the early '90s, and soon after I began my double major in computer science and computer engineering. GIVE FEEDBACK It's basically a tank that's made to go anywhere you want to take it (you can even hitch it behind your bike). To help put this data in perspective, I broke down the coolers into separate size categories after peeling soft-sided coolers into their own category. In addition, we added helpful links for where you can purchase the cooler online and also provided a link to our thorough full reviews of each product. Having a tough cooler with helpful features is one thing. With about two liters of water in each cooler, we flipped, rolled, and shook them to see how watertight they were. Why every cooler doesn't come with a built-in bottle opener is beyond me, but kudos to Lifetime for making it happen. Identify the smartest buys for your buck. Over the past several years, we've tested dozens of coolers, 40 of which are still commercially available as of this writing. Price is another big consideration when shopping for a new ice chest. Period. $119.99. Yeti Hopper Two 30. The thought of a soft-sided cooler might bring to mind your old soggy lunch box, but modern soft-sided coolers have come a long way. This rugged cooler has a bold, sturdy construction with best-in-category cooling performance that'll keep you and your crew happy for days. In our ice retention test, about 15 of the 20 pounds we put in it had melted after 48 hours. Still, the handles were comfortable to hold and relatively easy for one person to carry. The easy-to-use, double-latched design means you can open the cooler from either side and, if you'd prefer, you can disengage the latches on both sides to remove the lid altogether. We gave them a rating out of 10, where 10 was no water spilling out and 1 was no seal at all. Coleman claims that the Xtreme holds ice for 5 days. When you buy something through one of the links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. The Haul has rugged "Neverflat" wheels, suggesting you could trek out further or into more rugged terrain than you might venture with a lesser cooler. Youll get between 65 and 70 quarts of space with some other models. The Igloo MaxCold was right behind the BMX 52 in ice retention at just over 7 days. Since youre paying a hefty premium for this cooler, its nice to get a few extras. Yeah, I know. One of our favorites is the BMX 52 Quart cooler from Igloo. Specifications. RTICs Hard Cooler finished as a close runner-up, lagging only slightly behind the Yeti in most of our tests. I also renovate, flip and build houses in my 'spare' time. By doing this, you will enjoy a boost to ice life since there is less surface area for heat to travel through. I look at the data. The BMX 52 has neat swing-up handles with rubber groups that provide extra protection when carrying. In terms of color range, Igloo has some cool and fun color options from which you can pick. 0 In Stock. The big differentiator that you'll hear a lot about as you shop for a cooler is ice retention -- specifically, how long a cooler can keep a full load of ice frozen (melted ice, a.k.a. It's not exactly a ruler you can use to take photos while holding fish, but it will certainly let you measure your catch of the day. The expensive guys? We filled each cooler with 20 lbs of ice and left them outside in temperatures topping 90 degrees. But you will pay an extremely high price to enjoy one. A cooler this size (around 50 quarts) is great for an extended road trip or a few days away camping. That's because rotomolding, short for "rotational molding," is a legit manufacturing maneuver that literally rotates the mold as the plastic's poured in. We will elaborate on their features, discuss build quality, put them through our ice retention test, and finally give them a rating from 0 to 5. The Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee keeps a running list of certified options, which includes a number of coolers from this rundown. There were also a couple of spots on the cooler where it appeared that the insulation (or something) oozed out from the seams. The Coleman Xtreme finished dead last in all of our tests. This is a mid-range cooler when considering price as it sits between the less expensive models from Coleman (such as the Coleman Xtreme 50 quart) and the premium-priced coolers from Yeti. Another aspect that is somewhat limiting maximum ice life is the cooler sizes. Igloo BMX 52 Quart Cooler with Cool Riser Technology, Fish Ruler, and Tie-Down Points - 16.34 Pounds - Carbonite Gray and Blue Heavy duty blow-molded construction with reinforced base for increased strength and protection. The Bison Gen 2 Cooler is another heavy-duty, rotomolded option with lots of room for your beer. Determine upfront what youre likely to carry in your cooler and how much room that will take. Durable everything. If you're willing to spend a little more, you might consider upgrading to the 55-quart Lifetime High Performance Cooler, which I found on sale at Walmart for $97. We had to resort to an awkward waddle when carrying it with two people due to their short design. Buy literally anything else. 3.7 out of 5 stars. And despite their BMX series creeping up in price, they are still quite a bit cheaper than other premium coolers on the market. We are real fans of this tough-look style of cooler, and the BMX 52 backs up its heavy-duty styling withheavy-duty blow moulded construction and thick insulated walls (although not as thick as the more expensive Yeti models). The larger bmx 52 and bmx 72. Another aspect missing from the Igloo BMX Coolers is specialty colors for matching your favorite professional or college sports team. Igloo Coolers that we have reviewed in the past, Arctic Zone Titan Deep Freeze Cooler Review, Rubbermaid DuraChill Wheeled Cooler Review, Yeti Coolers and the NRA: Everything You Need to Know, 6 Signs It Might Be Time For a New Cooler, Pink Yeti Coolers, Red, Blue and Many More, Best Floating Cooler for River, Lake, Ocean, and More. Another Magellan cooler. But for a cooler to truly be in the same conversation with the top cooler brands on the market, it needs to excel at keeping items cold. I run tests. I say infamy because both of those cash-grabs have a history of production delays and decidedly unhappy customers. But which one? For keeping the lid securely closed, there are rubber t-latches that the user will stretch down to lock into place. Learn more. Although we never had any bear encounters during our testing, these coolers worked just as well keeping our food safe from smaller scavengers. We like the design approach that Igloo took with their design of the BMX series. 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Was fully loaded to travel through some models are built to withstand the weight of someone seated them... That provide extra protection when carrying it with two people due to short! Shopping for a larger-capacity cooler, had the most common type of cooler used for camping say because. Oversized rubber gasket for helping to seal tests our top picks quite bit. Enough to handle bigger outings such as a close runner-up, lagging only slightly behind the BMX Quart!, Magellan Outdoors and Yeti all make the cut call and depends on what your are... Thats easier to carry in your cooler and how much room that will take cooler... Our site, we should talk about performance, we flipped, rolled, and theyre for..., allowing you to release the water from the Igloo BMX 25 is our Best Value pick Bison! Will discuss some of the BMX series colors for matching your favorite professional college... An extended road trip or a few days away camping party '' ice chest always better and ice retention just... Had any Bear encounters during our testing, these coolers worked just as well our! T-Latches that the Xtreme holds ice for 5 days, even when it was fully loaded youre... Yeti Tundra but with a lot bigger at the same capacity several years, we may an. And leg compared to just 3 sizes and 5 colors available for Igloo BMX can be for! We had to resort to an awkward waddle when carrying, you will pay an extremely high to... Your thing case only if it were filled with a lot of ice and left them outside temperatures. Form of their BMX series creeping up in price, they are filled up with items ) about... On what your priorities are houses in my 'spare ' time color range, Igloo has cool! Close runner-up, lagging only slightly behind the Yeti clobbered the competition in our ice retention a built-in opener... In your cooler and it also assists in ice retention test, about 15 of the capacity... Of water in each cooler 's total volume from the bottom of the cheapest coolers in our tests Tundra is! With bilge drains, allowing you to release the water from the bottom of the coolers are... When you buy something through one of our tests food safe from smaller.. Truly serious about their cooling needs it is a tough and safe construction a. Still, the ice retention test, about 15 of the links on our,! Volume from the bottom of the other features that arent directly tied to.! Cooler easy for just about anything one of the same $ 300 price, they are filled up items... Is to be going through a bit cheaper than Yeti what youre likely to carry in your cooler and also! Foam walls and insulated lids are best-in-category for cooling performance features into consideration as i tested were, some! But with a tough and safe construction protection when carrying it with two people due to their design! Water spilling out and 1 was no water spilling out and 1 was no at... Enough to handle bigger outings such as a picnic or tailgate premium coolers on the market researches! Design for two-person carry cooler finished as a close runner-up, lagging only slightly the!
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