Yeti coolers are great—but these 12 affordable dupes might be even better
Why spend hundreds on a cooler when you don't have to?
Credit:
Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
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It used to be that if you needed a cooler, you grabbed the flimsy styrofoam option from the grocery store. If you’d planned, you might have dragged one of Dad’s old Colemans out of the attic, hosed it off, and hit the road.
Things have changed in the world of coolers, and brands like Yeti have not only upped the design aesthetic of what used to be a fairly utilitarian item but have also revolutionized the icy technology that keeps food and drinks cold longer than ever. Of course, all that premium insulation and design commands a hefty price tag.
Yeti coolers—the most sought after and Instagram-visible brand in the cooler market—can run up to $800, depending on size and model. That’s pretty steep, even for a product that even we noted is pretty darn awesome.
Here’s the deal: While it always feels great to have the best, shiniest, and hippest item on the market, most of us will never, ever need the cooling capacity that an $800 Yeti offers—even if it would make a cool Instagram post. That’s why we’ve rounded up some equally great and far more affordable alternatives, which are perfect for keeping a case of beer on ice at a tailgate, or a picnic lunch cool at the beach. Here are 12 affordable alternatives to Yeti coolers.
1. Brümate Magpack 24-Can Backpack Soft Cooler
Even with nothing inside and a 15-pound weight on top, the Magpack holds its shape well.
When shopping for a cooler, chances are you’re planning on getting outside. Many coolers with the best insulation are also so heavy and rigid that they make it a struggle to get to your destination. Not so with a great backpack cooler like the Brümate Magpack 24-Can Backpack Soft Cooler, which is easy to carry and retains ice better than a Yeti.
This highly rugged cooler is designed to withstand scrapes and jabs, ensuring it remains in top condition. It doesn’t have a lot of auxiliary storage, and since its cooler component is vertically oriented, it takes some digging to get at anything buried in the ice. However, when packed right, it’s a superior cooler for keeping your beverages and snacks cool wherever you roam.
This high-end backpack cooler goes toe-to-toe with Yetis, where ice-retention is concerned, but leaves the competition at basecamp when you start to hike.
Read Our Review2. Rtic Ultra-Light 52 Quart Hard Cooler
Going places? This Rtic cooler is easy to carry.
There's a reason the Rtic Ultra-Light 52 Quart Hard Cooler is one of the most value-packed ice coolers you can buy. Stuffed with ice, it kept our sensors under 40 degrees for three days.
Even with excellent ice retention and a killer seal, this cooler is far lighter than many alternatives. Based on our measurements, it's lighter than the average by 30 percent. If you’re looking for a solid-value cooler, this is it.
Lightweight is the rule with this stand-out cooler from RTIC.
3. Brümate BruTank 55-quart Rolling Cooler
Haul your Brümate cross-country, it's built for it.
Sure, we love backpack coolers, but a rolling cooler might be the best bet if you’re hauling along a weekend's worth of beverages. The Brümate BruTank 55-quart Rolling Cooler is one of the best coolers with wheels we’ve tested.
Equipped with large all-terrain wheels, the Brümate BruTank is built to handle just about any outdoor adventure, from potholes to scree. Its cushioned top doubles as a comfortable seat, making it a versatile addition to your campsite.
Plus, in our testing, it outperformed a Yeti, maintaining its cooling capabilities for an extended period.
Rugged and well-insulated, this rolling cooler has the capacity your vacation needs.
4. Arctic Zone Titan Cooler
Our testers noted that the Arctic Zone Titan Cooler kept ice cold for about 2.5 days, which should be more than enough for most people.
Hard-sided coolers are great, but sometimes you want—or need—a soft-sided cooler you can throw over your shoulder and take to an outdoor concert. Yeti makes some great ones, of course, but they’re hundreds of dollars. The Arctic Zone cooler has a 4.6-star rating and over 27,000 rave reviews on Amazon. It costs just about $30 and should get the job done for most people.
While our testers noted it only kept ice cold for about 2.5 days, that should be more than enough time to get through a nice cold bottle of white wine while watching your local orchestra from a blanket on a lawn.
This soft side cooler is ever-popular online and perfect for a day outdoors.
5. Pelican 50-quart Elite Cooler
On the beach or the deck, this Pelican cooler has the ice retention and skid resistance you'll want for life by the waves.
The Pelican 50-quart Elite Cooler is made for life on the water. Built to be skid-resistant, it can handle choppy surf without sliding around. It opens with one hand and even sports a ruler on top, with cupholders and a bottle opener.
When it comes to ice retention, this Pelican cooler outperforms even a Yeti, retaining a temperature under 40°F for 135 hours in our tests. This makes it the perfect companion for fishermen, and a must-have for anyone in need of a reliable and long-lasting cooler.
This heavy-duty Pelican cooler is made for life on the waves and holds ice even better than some Yetis.
6. Coleman Xtreme Wheeled Cooler
This Coleman cooler is a timeless workhorse, but it works.
A timeless workhorse, the Coleman portable wheeled cooler is a tailgater’s dream. This pick, which has more than 3,000 favorable reviews on Amazon, offers a 50-quart capacity, which means it can hold 84 cans. It also has a telescoping handle and heavy-duty wheels, meaning it can handle most reasonably smooth terrain.
Amazon reviewers give it an impressive 4.7 stars out of 5, with one even noting that “you can sit on this cooler as it does not have a hollow lid.” Always good to know!
This wheeled cooler has enough capacity to service a whole party.
7. Tourit Cooler Backpack
This soft-sided cooler backpack is perfect for hikes and beach days.
The Tourit Cooler Backpack is a soft-sided option that’s great for hikes and beach days. It can hold about 30 cans of your preferred beverage. It comes in five different colors and has a leak-proof liner. While it only claims to keep food cold for about 16 hours, at just under $40, it’s a much more affordable alternative to any comparable Yeti product.
Amazon reviewers love the Tourit, too: It has a 4.8-star rating and almost 10,000 positive reviews, and shoppers say it’s surprisingly comfortable, hail its versatility, and say it’s extremely useful on hikes.
It won’t go for days, but this backpack cooler is more than capable of keeping your picnic cool until it’s time to roll out the picnic blanket.
8. Igloo BMX Cooler
More than 6,000 people recommend the Igloo BMX cooler on Amazon and give it rave reviews.
A compact little cooler perfect for solo trips out camping or fishing, the Igloo BMX cooler has rubberized latches and a sturdy handle. It has tie-down capabilities for when trucks or boats get moving, and according to the company, it can keep ice cool for about four days.
More than 6,000 people have reviewed the Igloo BMX Cooler on Amazon, and it’s holding it down with about a 4.8-star rating. Reviewers say it’s “built like a tank,” with one raving that, “This Igloo BMX cooler is just as good as my Pelican cooler at a fraction of the cost... It’s got a great look and works just the same!”
Tie down this tank of a cooler, and keep it from skidding about on deck.
9. Rtic Hard Cooler
In the RTIC cooler vs. Yeti cooler showdown, the RTIC cooler might be the better value.
With its hard-bodied style and blocky black logo, RTIC is clearly making a run at Yeti’s business model. Honestly, a lot of the time the decision really does come down to Rtic cooler vs. Yeti cooler.
While Rtic coolers aren’t the cheapest coolers on the market, a 20-quart model will run you about $159, and the 65-quart comes in a little under $300. They’re certainly cheaper than their Yeti counterparts, and they’ll still get the job done with flair.
Amazon reviewers enjoy them, and they have a 4.7-star rating on the site and more than 3,500 positive reviews, with one shopper noting, “If you just want to upgrade to a decent functional cooler without draining your kid's college fund, you can't go wrong with this one.”
This hard-body cooler is a solid pick for less.
10. Coleman Steel-Belted Cooler
This Coleman steel-belted cooler is supposed to be able to keep ice cold for more than four days.
Consider this one an updated version of the cooler everyone’s parents had in their attic. The Coleman steel-belted cooler is sleek, stylish, and effective, and the company claims this model can keep ice cold for more than four days. The 54-quart capacity can accommodate 85 cans, the lid can support more than 250 pounds, and the stain-proof liner and steel hardware mean this option could look great years from now when you get it down from your attic to lend your kids.
More than 6,000 Amazon reviewers agree about the Coleman Steel-Belted Cooler, calling this 4.6-star rated cooler “beautiful” (which is not a common word you’d use to describe a cooler) and hailing its amazing ability to “take a hit and keep on going.”
This cooler brings the Coleman reputation for ruggedness to the modern era, with tip-top insulation to boot.
11. Igloo Trailmate Roller Cooler
The Igloo Trailmate roller cooler was built for off-roading adventures.
A massive, off-road friendly cooler perfect for deep treks into the woods, the Igloo Trailmate’s 70-quart option offers storage for more than 100 cans, as well as heavy-duty wheels and even a telescoping butler tray. A suspended interior basket can keep food away from loose, wet ice, and tie-down loops on the cooler mean you can even strap towels, chairs, or other awkward items to carry things to the cooler.
This thing is a beast, with one reviewer who purchased this cooler, which has a 4.1-star rating from Dick’s Sporting Goods, noting that it has “so much more to offer than an expensive rotomolded cooler.” Take that, Yeti.
This old-school cooler has everything you’ll need for a good picnic, straps gear onto itself, and keeps food away from wet ice.
12. Igloo Marine Ultra Cooler
The Igloo Marine Ultra Cooler might not look like much, but it can keep ice cold for a respectable 3.5 days.
As a nice, affordable option for fishing, the Igloo Marine Ultra is the perfect cooler to throw on a boat and fill with the day’s catch. It has two rulers on the lid for measuring fish, tie-downs on the side for when the waves get a little choppy, and very comfortable flip-up handles for moving to and from the car. It also has a 4.5-star rating and over 3,000 glowing reviews on Amazon.
Gone fishing? Don’t forget this excellent cooler from Marine Ultra.
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