Simply put, if you want a low-cost, relatively effective ice chest for most typical outdoor excursions then Coleman has just the product for you. Quite frankly, most people don’t need a cooler that can hold ice for 6 days and be able to survive a bear attack. Their ice chests are designed to last for many days and you can put them through the extremes that nature can throw at you and they will typically come out the other side unscathed. There are also some unique features exclusive to Yeti as well as some accessories that harness their power. But you will pay a very high asking price to enjoy this Yeti experience. Oh, and if you’ll be spending lots of time camping in a place where bears are a concern, then you’ll probably want to invest in a bear-resistant cooler.
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 many 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.
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. 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.
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 coleman sundome 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.
The performance of Magellan’s largest offering was very close to Cabela’s Polar Cap Equalizer. The lowest temperature recorded between the two in our cooling tests was less than a degree apart (44.6 vs. 45.5 degrees Fahrenheit). 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. Our experts tested multiple brands to bring you the best cooler to fit your needs.
The semi-recent update to the design resulted in more attractive styling and subtle ice life improvements. It can be an adequate personal cooler for an afternoon outing but may struggle beyond that. Also, if you are needing a simple solution for an afternoon picnic (ice life of just a coleman ice chest few hours) or a more long-term solution that will keep your items chilled for several days, Coleman has you covered. The Yeti Hopper Backflip 24 was the first backpack-style cooler that we’ve tested, and although its overall performance wasn’t stellar, there were things I did like.