It’s the battle of the coolers: Rtic vs. Yeti. In a single nook, we’ve got fan favourite Yeti, and within the different there’s Rtic, wanting simply as beefy and spectacular however at a fraction of the value. Yeti supporters will let you know there is no such thing as a query: this cooler has the insulation and the sturdiness to make it definitely worth the value. Rtic boosters will let you know that you’re being gouged for a model title when the Rtic coolers are just about an identical. Prepared to put your wager?
Design and Look
Look-wise, these coolers are awfully comparable wanting. (And that is even after Yeti sued Rtic for copying their designs.) Aside from the emblem, most of the merchandise from every model are almost indistinguishable. Comparable wanting rotomolding building, thick partitions, anchor-shaped latches. The Rtic has an additional drainage port, so there’s something no less than. These similarities are partly why some folks declare that you’re simply buying a brand whenever you spend further on the Yeti.
Rtic vs Yeti Worth
That is arguably the largest distinction between these two merchandise. Yeti coolers, throughout each dimension and mannequin are considerably costlier than the comparable Rtic mannequin. Right here’s a breakdown of some sizes and fashions.
| Dimension | Yeti Tundra collection | Rtic Unique collection |
| 45-quart | $325 | $220 |
| 65-quart | $375 | $250 |
| 110-quart | $550 | $400 |
Should you’re questioning if a few of this value distinction is as a result of location the place the products are manufactured, the reply is … perhaps. Rtic coolers are made in China. Yeti coolers, then again, are made in a wide range of areas, from the Philippines to Mexico to the USA. To verify whether or not a specific mannequin is made within the USA requires a name to Yeti.
Rtic vs Yeti Efficiency
In my take a look at of the insulation of the finest tenting coolers, it was pretty clear that Yeti does make a slightly higher cooler than Rtic, though not one of the best cooler (that will be the ROVR RollR). To check these coolers, I emptied a bag of ice into every cooler after which checked to see how lengthy it took for every to soften, with one of the best of the lot lasting almost 4 days. The ice within the Yeti (the Roadie 48) lasted 35 hours whereas the ice within the Rtic (Unique 65) lasted a bit underneath 27 hours.
Whereas the Yeti beat the Rtic, for most folk it’s most likely not sufficient efficiency to account for the additional price. Particularly significantly you may simply purchase a number of further of one of the best ice packs for coolers and nonetheless have saved round 100 {dollars}.
Past Roto-Molded Coolers
Each manufacturers have grown far past the roto-molded cooler world. Each supply traces of soppy coolers, drinkware, luggage, and merch. Rtic makes SUPs, tubes, and onerous circumstances. Yeti additionally makes onerous circumstances, but in addition canine bowls, chairs, blankets, French presses, and extra.
Right here too, Yeti merchandise are considerably costlier. For instance, a 20-ounce Yeti tumbler price $30. A 20-ounce Rtic tumbler prices $15.
Rtic’s 24-can backpack comfortable cooler prices $160. Yeti’s backpack comfortable cooler prices $325.
Now it’s true there are extra options within the Yeti merchandise. However is a “Magslider” lid on a Yeti tumbler price an additional $15 to you? Solely you possibly can resolve that one. Nevertheless, it’s clear that whenever you purchase Yeti merchandise, a part of what you might be paying for can also be the notoriety and cool-factor of the model. For some, that’s price it. For others, not a lot. —Alex Robinson
Sturdiness
In terms of Rtic vs Yeti, they’re not simply competing on value, ice retention, and product line variety, it’s additionally sturdiness. Let’s check out how they evaluate.
Throwing Coolers off of Buildings!
Yeti first bought our consideration by throwing their coolers off of issues: constructing, cliffs, and so on. Have been these clearly advertising and marketing stunts? Sure. Have been they nonetheless freakin’ superior? Additionally sure.
As a result of right here’s the factor: the Out of doors Life workers (and particularly the members of the gear crew) are usually not good to our gear. I drop and break issues on a regular basis, generally accidentally, which occurred with one other cooler, the Oyster Tempo, throughout my testing of the finest tenting coolers. However I additionally drop take a look at merchandise on goal, in order that OL readers know that are robust sufficient for the outside, reminiscent of I did with the finest energy banks for backpacking.
Nevertheless most of us most likely aren’t going to drop a cooler off a two-story constructing. That’s not likely what you do with coolers. I attempted my hardest to search out some documentation on what occurs to an Rtic cooler whenever you throw it off a constructing and I couldn’t discover it, most likely as a result of it doesn’t occur. So Yeti’s efficiency, whereas flashy, might be not practical.
BEARS!
After I did a deep dive on the testing behind the finest bear canisters, I discovered that the easiest way to check if a product is bear-resistant is to use precise bears. The workers on the Wolf and Grizzly Discovery Middle in West Yellowstone, Montana, are the masterminds behind this sort of testing, they usually don’t simply take a look at bear canisters. They’re additionally accountable for testing trash cans and coolers to be used in bear nation. They stuff the merchandise with peanut butter, honey, and fish, after which hand them over to the bears to see what occurs. Generally the bears are in a position to smash the cooler aside in a matter of seconds; generally they battle for over an hour earlier than giving up.
You’ll be able to view their full checklist of authorised merchandise right here, however that is what it is advisable know: Yeti has 18 coolers that survived this testing protocol on the checklist, together with their total Tundra line. Rtic has one. Within the battle of the coolers, that’s a degree for Yeti.
In fact, you don’t have to go away your cooler outdoors for bears to get at—you possibly can all the time put it in your automobile. Should you do plan to let bears play along with your cooler, make certain to buy locks, which Yeti sells on its web site.
Weeks Adrift at Sea!
Look, Yeti knew what it was doing when it stuffed one in every of its coolers with peanut butter and kippers and caught it in a grizzly bear enclosure. They clearly meant to drop it two tales (they wouldn’t have posted the video on their social media if the cooler had burst aside on the hinges). However they didn’t imply to have an entire transport container’s price of Yetis get dumped into the Pacific Ocean throughout a freak storm.
Which is precisely what occurred in 2021 when 1600 Yetis went into drink off the coast of Alaska. For a lesser cooler, battered by waves and inundated by water, that may have been the top of the story, as they sunk to the depths of the ocean ground. However not the Yetis. As a substitute, these coolers began washing up on shore all over the place from Alaska to Seattle to Hawaii.
The coolers have been in such fine condition that individuals even went searching for them, hoping to snag a free best-in-class cooler that was just about new so long as you didn’t thoughts a number of scratches. I’m not saying that Rtic ought to contrive to have one thing comparable occur to their coolers (the Pacific rubbish patches are lots huge already), however I’m saying that is the type of sturdiness take a look at that’s just about not possible to match.
Guarantee
In fact, we most likely may have simply skipped the above and jumped straight to the guarantee: How lengthy a producer is prepared to ensure their product is an efficient indicator of high quality you possibly can anticipate from the manufacturing course of. Listed below are the stats:
- Yeti: 5 yr restricted lifetime guarantee
- Rtic: 1 yr restricted lifetime guarantee
That’s recreation, Yeti.
Last Ideas on Rtic vs Yeti
Yeti has greater than earned its repute for toughness and sturdiness. Should you’ve been saving up for a brand new cooler, this can be a nice funding that can final you for a few years. However for those who’re considering your cooler received’t have to survive a grizzly bear or a fall from a cliff or being thrown overboard into the Pacific, then you definitely’ll seemingly even be proud of an Rtic. When you possibly can select between two nice coolers, one constructed to outlive each conceivable torture take a look at and one constructed for worth, the true winner is the buyer.
